Silly commuting racing

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  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Yeah, I know! I also have the 'beer wagon' up in Essex which was my university bike, it has 2 big baskets and can carry 2 cases of beer! Does have a slightly negative effect on the handling though...

    And my FCN on the old commuter would be 15! Hahaha! It's good and spinny too... don't think it would be a good trainer though... :D
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    I'm not sure if I imagined it but it seemed a bit lighter this evening as I exited work just after 17:30..........poxy front light is still playing around!

    I'm trying to follow the jedi master G66's advice of spinning rather then running in my usual gear and found it a bit easier. I think I'll need to concentrate on my upper body but it certainly didn't feel as tiring just by spinning a bit faster and running a gear lower then normal!

    I'm not sure it if was the spinning earlier in the ride tho but I did put down some decent speed through Streatham. It started out chasing a scooter down towards Streatham Common but a red light further ahead meant I had to back off just as I was getting into the swing of things!

    I then lined up at the filter lights by the common when a cyclist comes flying past on the left turn phase of the lights and goes straight over at the junction. I've got one cyclist next to me who has stopped and I'm just itching to start chasing down the guy who went flying past! He was on hybrid so he normally wouldn't even be a blip on my radar but he was doing a nice bit of speed and had a good headstart! I was feeling lucky and energetic so as the lights went green I set off like a bat out of hell down the road. I could just about make out his faint rear light up ahead and he went through the next set of lights. They changed as I approached so I didn't lose any speed! I kept the pace up, closing the gap, hoping that the next set would stay green and they did!!!!

    Traffic was now building and we where both filtering down the cycle lane and I was closing the gap even faster now! I nipped past and then tucked in back in front of him, feeling very satisfied with myself!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    After picking up my new Montane jacket (thanks for recommendation guys) I decided to take the scenic route home tonight, five miles along the Mersey estuary followed by another five miles winding my way through the leafy suburbs and the local parks.

    So glad I did. One of those rides when things like speeds and times (but not FCN's) mattered not one bit. It was back to the simple pleasure of riding a bike, taking in the cold breeze coming off the river, listening to the hum of the tyres and the occasional squawk of birds, all above the constant hiss of the wind, watching the darkness fall and the lights on the other side of the river reflect on the water. No cars or traffic lights or junctions to worry about.

    I still haven't got a decent front light. When that thread was going about Fenix lights a while back, I thought yeah I'll get one or two of them, but I didn't. Which meant the ride through the parks was, let's say, exhilarating. I probably should have gone a little slower given all I could see was a faint white glow ahead of me, but the feeling of all my senses running 110% was ace.

    Arrived home nearly 2 hours after finishing work (it's normally half an hour) absolutely starving but in a very happy mood :):):)

    I love cycling.
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Tonight I scalped my first roadie!! Must admit that I probably took him by surprise as he was pootling but it was a fair scalp - 200m up to the traffic lights where to my disappointment he RLJ'd on the pavement - shame on you sir!

    On the downside I had a mysterious creaking which I think was coming from my handlebars - got home and tightened up the bolts which had about a quarter turn slack on each - see how it goes tomorrow
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Jay dubbleU wrote:
    On the downside I had a mysterious creaking which I think was coming from my handlebars - got home and tightened up the bolts which had about a quarter turn slack on each - see how it goes tomorrow

    Might be the stem/bar union needing a smear of grease, know it sounds wrong but a light spreading of grease does work.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • tardington
    tardington Posts: 1,379
    Sadly that fancy thing is not my current bike! Its a ten year old Marin Hawkhill I've pinched off my bro (he never rides it). Must get slicks on, the knobblies are doing my napper in.

    Slightly off topic question - is it too salty in Orkney to cycle about every day?
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    I have to say I am rather impressed...........some might recall my post mid yesterday morning commenting that I had purchased a new lid from Wiggle. I placed the order online just before that post.

    This morning, around 11:15 we had a knock at the door..........the misses answered it and came in concealing a box under her dressing gown :-)
    She muttered something about "something I ordered from Japan........." and scurried into the kitchen where I couldn't see her. She then re-appeared wearing a rather fetching Giant helmet (and her dressing gown - I don't want don_don reading anything perverse into this!)

    To say I'm impressed would be an understatement, even more impressive is the fact that I was really stingy and went for the free delivery which isn't meant to be priority or fast so to get the helmet the day after I order it was amazing! I was expecting it Monday!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    redvee wrote:
    Jay dubbleU wrote:
    On the downside I had a mysterious creaking which I think was coming from my handlebars - got home and tightened up the bolts which had about a quarter turn slack on each - see how it goes tomorrow

    Might be the stem/bar union needing a smear of grease, know it sounds wrong but a light spreading of grease does work.

    Thanks for the tip :D
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    Half term, the roads were clear... it was ace, on the fixed and changed the gearing to 48-16

    I pulled a massive wheel spin as I was turning right a taxi was bearing down on me... pretty scary but managed to keep it upright, I guess a mixture of awesome power and freshly painted road lines did that

    Raced with a couple of roadies binned all three of them but one who just kept rlj’ng and every time I caught him by flogging my guts out the lights changed and he got away (no bag and special drink)
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    Felt like I was running on 50% power all the way in this morning, 3 of the kids have had a bug over the w/e and I think I've caught something as I just felt like I had no omph!
    Twas pretty much plain sailing until I hit the Balham/Clapham/Stockwell drag.
    Dispensed a guy on a rather new looking Speccy Langster in Streatham after having spotted one of those electronic roadsigns warning of "delasy" on Vauxhall Bridge Road due to lane closures! You'd think they'd proof read things like that, shame I couldn't get a picture :-D

    I managed to muster up some speed on the way along to Stockwell but caught napping by the Common when a chap on a noisy Trek MTB came past. This jolted me awake and I duly dug a bit deeper and came back past. I suspect he was a RLJ as I'd only just gone through an amber and he was carrying quite a bit of speed (22mph+). Thankfully the traffic was snarled up ahead and my narrower bars allowed me to duck and weave through the traffic a bit better then him so I didn't get hassled again!

    I then had another hybrid pretender try it up South Lambeth Road. Turns out the funny sign in Streatham was right tho as the traffic was solid all the way up SLR to VB, I'm now gonna have to investigate a new route to try and avoid that area for the time being as the filtering is really slowing me down!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • warrior4life
    warrior4life Posts: 925
    i used to have a 15 mile ride to work, i used to do on my 1997 kona aa with marzocchi bomber forks and late 90's disk brakes and i could average 22mph and the only guy who ever stayed with me was a guy on a raleigh marauder £125 bike from the early 90's.
    I used to drop roadies with ease and i was dressed in shirt and trousers (i was 21 and worked in a casino)
    I could push 25mph for 2 miles.

    Now im a roadie and after 10yrs of bodybuilding im 90kg and i average 20mph on y road bike... trying to lose 10kg and get back to my skinny best...
    i love racing other commuters!
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    warrior4life wrote:
    i love racing other commuters!

    Who said we're racing? :wink: Welcome to the great unspoken game!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Player of THE GAME
    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Its balls out war on the road players! With suspension on bikes a fleeting fancy for the winter and GregT’s campaign against Hybrids an epic success, the nice bikes are out and want to play.

    Today’s commute, I turned left out of my road and was immediately greeted by a Giant SCR 2 (2007 model) the guy on top had size and power behind him. We pulled up at some lights.

    A true example of pedigree pulled up alongside us in the form of a Specialized S-works (older model that was red and white) complete with a waif-like pocket rocket on top. I have to ask, are we not being friendly to other roadies again? The S-works guy wouldn’t look at me and the SCR2 guy looked back annoyed at me as I was admiring his bike.

    “Green” The S-works sets the pace, the SCR’s follow. Scalp, the SCR3 (me) has overtaken the SCR2 and I’m keeping up with the S-works. I didn’t want to battle the S-works as simply knowing I could keep up and maintain that pace was enough for me. We stop at a lights and the SCR2 RLJ’s = such a spoil sport. .

    The S-works, SCR line up continues unchallenged until:

    Tooting and Balham drag strip. S-Works, me and the SCR 2. Suddenly another 2008 SCR 3 shoots past and rides along the S-Works – this was the single biggest chunk of evidence to prove that I don’t need a better bike. This guy was rapid. Suddenly the SCR2 rides past me on the outside and all three bikes (S-works, SCR3 and SCR2) overtake a HGV with me following behind. Heading towards Clapham I loose sight of the other SCR3, I think he turned off. The Clapham South – Clapham Common dragstrip I scalp the SCR2 one final time and keep with the S-works until I have to turn right towards Brixton. As I come up to a set of lights on Acre Lane I pull alongside a Bianchi 928 (carbon, red - I think he’s got Ultegra) and I’m thinking “not again….”

    Before Christmas I said it took me 45 – 47mins to cycle 7miles to work. A gauntlet thrown at Jash’s feet and a challenge accepted and I’m doing 43mins. Cycle computer off the bike, no psychological barriers and a stint on the 39ring and I’m doing 37/38mins. Clingfilm around the belly (to loose more weight) and a bout of so much MTFU-ness I’ve grown an extra testicle and today’s commute took me 33mins! Clearly the depths of me have just gotten deeper.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    and a bout of so much MTFU-ness I’ve grown an extra testicle

    :lol: I'm now trying to stiffle my laughing as I have the client manager sitting opposite me!

    Epic ride in DDD, sounds like good fun! I'm sure that I saw another chappie on a 08 SCR 3.0 (same as yours) on the way in last week. Don't think it was the same guy tho as he got scalped pretty easy and I didn't see him again after that!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Hurrah! I had 3 scalps today! Woooohooooo! :lol:

    How on earth, I hear you ask, did you manage that LiT?

    Well, I took the old commuter. Oh yes.

    And to all those who say 'it's not the bike it's the rider', sometimes it's the bike. My usual 25-30 minute ride (7.2 miles) took me 38 minutes! 38! It's the bike people, the bike.

    Now, my FCN on the old commuter goes from 7 to a massive 15. And I was away from my normal route, as I went to work via St John's Wood this morning. So, I passed 2 MTBs, one on slicks, and the piece de resistance, an old dude on a tourer! Admittedly he was moving at roughly the speed of a stranded sea-lion with a pot habit, but nonetheless, scalp!

    In other news, it's quite relaxing knowing you can only go at about 12mph. I think the chainring is about a 32... :D
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Bassjunkieuk wrote:
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    and a bout of so much MTFU-ness I’ve grown an extra testicle

    :lol: I'm now trying to stiffle my laughing as I have the client manager sitting opposite me!

    Epic ride in DDD, sounds like good fun! I'm sure that I saw another chappie on a 08 SCR 3.0 (same as yours) on the way in last week. Don't think it was the same guy tho as he got scalped pretty easy and I didn't see him again after that!

    Hi Bass,

    This guy had toe clips on :shock: claf muscles that looked like hearts and a torn of race number on his top tube. He was fast though.

    Was a really fun ride today only I got to work and forgot to pack a shirt.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    I was going great guns this morning, and I wondered if I'm pulling an anti-Linsen - I put a new Spesh Toupé saddle on the Focus yesterday, but didn't take how much thinner than my old saddle it is into account, so I reckon I'm maybe half an inch lower than before. Despite (or because of) that, I was fair blasting along the Kings Road this morning! Is it possible the seat was too high before? I might have to check the measuring guides and try to add a bit of science to the matter.

    In other news, I'd like to thank the dude who did actually look before turning right as I was riding alongside him today. No thanks to the lorry who swung out to pass a parked car who didn't. These two events happened within 200 yards of each other and reinforced my feeling that filtering on the left is safer than filtering on the right (assuming of course you don't undertake lorries etc) - on the right there is simply too much danger of being knocked into oncoming traffic.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    No real action this morning. Just very nice to have clear roads due to half term. :D

    The average speed is beginning to creep up in this good weather. About time too.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    cjcp wrote:
    No real action this morning. Just very nice to have clear roads due to half term. :D

    The average speed is beginning to creep up in this good weather. About time too.

    +1 Roads closer to home seemed a lot clearer this AM, one of the nice benefits of half term! As for the average it did seem quite good, despite me feeling like I wasn't firing on all cylinders..........I think I might even put it down to this new craze of spinning that is sweeping the boards!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • Christophe3967
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    DonDaddyD wrote:

    this was the single biggest chunk of evidence to prove that I don’t need a better bike.

    Its actually illegal not to need a better bike. Please.
    Bike1
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3258551288/
    Bike 2
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N ... otostream/
    New Bike
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3479300346/
  • Christophe3967
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    cjcp wrote:
    No real action this morning. Just very nice to have clear roads due to half term. :D

    The average speed is beginning to creep up in this good weather. About time too.

    +1. And this was the first day I didn't notice anyone in shorts :?
    Bike1
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3258551288/
    Bike 2
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N ... otostream/
    New Bike
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3479300346/
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    Where the hell have all the cyclists gone from Liverpool? The weather is getting better every day, the ride's getting better (although I was sluggish after yesterday's trek in the snow in the Peak District), but there's no-one around to scalp. Where have you all gone!
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    The Dossard on the red Giant was back tonight. Towed him from the Lower Richmond Road to East Sheen at a reasonable pace. Was laden with a laptop and a file, so no heroicss tonight, but he hit the front about half a mile from his usual turn off when I looked back at him for the oooh, tenth time maybe, and sat up a little. And despite the enormous tow, he didn't exactly charge ahead :lol: . And did he say "thanks"? :roll:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    Damn it!
    The game is a tough mistress to tame...........I set off from work today still not feeling 100% and thinking to myself that I was just going to get home in one piece and without busting a boll0ck in the process.

    I'd have to say I did manage to make it all the to Millbank (from by St James Station!) taking it nice n easy, with not another cyclist in sight! As I approached the Morpeth I saw him. He seemed to be about 7ft tall and was astride a Cannondale roadie, with lime green/white/blue decals. He didn't have any lights but did have some reflective gear on. A few other roadies where ahead but I'd already forgotten about my feeling of being less then perfect and set about chasing my new prey down.

    I got past before we had to slow for for the traffic by VB. We both turned over the bridge with him in the lead (I was trying to avoid cutting up another cyclist who seemed to have missed my left signal whilst I was waiting behind the bus). I hit the bridge and he had a few metres on me. A quick shoulder check confirmed I had the inside lane to myself, so with a small application of power, and I was past - but at what cost?

    After passing I made another shoulder check as I need to be heading round towards Brixton and that means being in the middle of four lanes at the south side traffic lights. As I got there the lights changed and suddenly I felt rather unwell :oops: Cannondale rider pulled up on the inside at the ASL and gave me a fleeting glance. I did my best to conceal how ill I felt and before i knew it the lights had changed and I was racing forwards again.

    A few more cyclist succumbed enroute as I tried my best to just keep going. Someone must have been looking down on me tho as I didn't get any trouble all the way home. I did get another pavement riding ninja tho. Thankfully he rejoined the road a bit ahead of me after using the pavement to cut a nice corner that I usually take at a fair whack. Whilst he didn't appear directly on top of me like the Langster rider the other day, he could well have done as he didn't even make a shoulder check before re-joining the carriageway :evil:

    In other news I seem to have been given what could be a blessing in disguise depending on how I feel in the morning in that I'm now required to go and work about 10 minutes ride away, so I don't need to make it all the way back up into town tomorrow. The downside is that from Wednesday I need to use the tin can as I'm working down in Woking..........still I can look on the bright side, as it's half term the traffic should be minimal and I can get my double bacon cheese burger with chips and cheese on Friday! Bring on the heart attack!!
    Who's the daddy?
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    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Well I got rid of the creaking handlebar but now my front brake is emitting a randon high pitched squeak - am I becoming obsessive ? Probably time the bike went in for a service - been running for almost 6 months without any adjustments apart from minor cable tightening :roll:
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    cjcp wrote:
    The Dossard on the red Giant was back tonight. Towed him from the Lower Richmond Road to East Sheen at a reasonable pace. Was laden with a laptop and a file, so no heroicss tonight, but he hit the front about half a mile from his usual turn off when I looked back at him for the oooh, tenth time maybe, and sat up a little. And despite the enormous tow, he didn't exactly charge ahead :lol: . And did he say "thanks"? :roll:

    Is he the one who looks like a young Jan Ulrich?
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    He's not slight, wears baggy shorts and atb shoes. He rides on the drops, balls-out to hang on to your wheel. When you stop at lights, he sounds distressed.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Interesting commute this morning - guy on a slick hybrid attempted to pass me on the Canal Straight (which is mine) - stuck beside him as he made more and more effort but I found I wasn't even trying - notched up to 6th on the big ring and left him for dead under the railway bridge - finally he caught up with me at the lights and we exchange some light conversation

    Me; " That wasn't a race"

    Him; "No of course it wasn't"

    Went our separate ways both grinning stupidly :lol:
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    @JDU - :lol:

    As for this morning, I set off a bit earlier as I did a lap of the Park before setting off on the commute proper (on an empty stomach - not clever). A proper roadie (thin, looked like a racer) passed me on Embankment during the filtering process. He looked as if he was doing some spinning training and was reasonably swift. However, he was quickly caught in the big ring and he latched on to my wheel along Chelsea Embankment and through DSC. Not so much as a raise of the finger in thanks when he pulled off at Lambeth Bridge roundabout. You'd think this chap would have known better. :roll:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • TheBrogueadier
    TheBrogueadier Posts: 89
    Fun ride in this morning, although after a few weeks of managing to pick up every cold and virus going my average speed is well down on normal (not that I can tell what it is anymore - Cycle computer bounced off my handlebars and under the wheel of a car two weeks ago).

    No scalps unfortunatly, seems most people on my route use hybrids or MTBs.. but had a fun time with an enthusiastic MTB on slicks who kept on trying to get ahead of me in traffic, only to be dropped whenever the road opened up.

    Was it just me or were the roads terrifyingly slippery today? Felt my back wheel slide on several corners on the way into work.
    FCN: 5

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