Silly commuting racing

Roastie

Christophe3967 wrote:

... a guy deliberately pulled out in front of us to turn right from a side road and gave me a 'so what are you going to do about it?' look. Often its not that they haven't seen you - they just can't be ar$ed :x

Sometimes I find it so hard to stay calm and just let stuff like that go. I've just passed through an angry phase, so hopefully stuff like that will stop winding me up (too much).

Jay dubbleU

Waahay - took Brompton man this morning so either I'm getting fitter or he's suffering from burd flu - The Old Canal is MINE - Fact 8)

jedster

Well I've definitely picked up some sporadic SCR action on my longer out of town leg. Spyed the lycra-clad roadie some way ahead of me this morning and gradually reeled him in. Somewhat painfully I must admit - may need to fit in a bit more recovery time beacause my legs have been feeling achy and heavy for a couple of weeks now.

Took a bit of a breather behind him and was just wondering whether to take the lead when he sat up and slowed a little. I gave him the good morning as I passed and tried to put some distance between us. Clearly the panier, guards and baggies were too much provocation and he jumped on my wheel. There was no way I was going to drop him into the hairdrier headwind.

Anyhow, I approached a mini roundabout - one with a hump in the middle. The natural line is to take it to the right , i.e., THE WRONG WAY, I confess to doing this provided there are not other vehicles in the vicinity (on, at or approaching the roundabout). This time there was a car just approaching at the turning to my left. It was a "will she wont she" moment so I entered the roundabout on a line that would allow me to safely go behind her if she pulled out. Sure enough she pulls out but only to slam on the brakes right in front of me. I locked up but avoided any real excitement. Why did she slam on the brakes? Yep you guessed it, the competition had gone the wrong way round the roundabout right into her path. :roll:

He got out of the saddle and sprinted away, I was left stalled in the wrong gear and never caught back up with him.

Not sure whether his sprint was about him ruthlessly pressing home his advantage or just due to embarrassment at his lamentable road sense. Either way, I think he defaulted on the "don't ride like a c0ck" clause in Greg's hallowed commandments.

Ruling from the committee?

Have to say that the odd prolonged tussle combined with the hot weather is raising my effort levels and turning me into a sweaty mess.

J

risi

<stalker>
Jedster, did you go to Manchester University 89-93 and live in the toblerones for some of that time?
</stalker>

On topic, I finally saw someone going the same way as me this morning. He'd bonked going up the hill to Bristol Airport so asked if he could follow my wheel as I breezed* past with a cheery "morning". I obliged as he was a properly fit looking guy and trying to drop him would have just ended in terrible embarrassment for me once he'd recovered. So still no scalping action. Maybe I need to go the longer route and seek out Attica... though I think the same embarrassment would await there too.

* this may not be an entirely accurate use of the word.

gtvlusso

Few noobs out this morning - Fakenger on a Felt Dispatch SS with the most spinny gear every - looked like 42/18......very funny. Cycling like crazy and going so slow - not good in this heat!

had a race with a guy on a geared Kaffenback, took my by riding on the pavement to get around a red light - so I took him on the flyover and kept him at bay for the rest of the journey.

Gonne thunder this afternoon - nice wet ride home methinks!

jedster

risi

<stalker>
Jedster, did you go to Manchester University 89-93 and live in the toblerones for some of that time?
</stalker>

:shock:
North Somerset, eh? Phil?

J

risi

jedster wrote:

risi

<stalker>
Jedster, did you go to Manchester University 89-93 and live in the toblerones for some of that time?
</stalker>

:shock:
North Somerset, eh? Phil?

J

Aye. How do? (It was the "used to live around there & school governor" bit that raised my suspicions).

biondino

redvee wrote:

Seems they give driving licenes away in cereal boxes nowadays

They bloody don't - my gf was looking to take a test to get a UK licence and it was impossible! They need to do, and to know, so much more than we did 20 years ago, and with so much less margin for error. Poor kids these days.

jedster

risi,

Aye. How do?

PMed you

j

risi

jedster wrote:

risi,

Aye. How do?

PMed you

j

Nothing. Blimmin computer thingies.

benno68

biondino wrote:

redvee wrote:

Seems they give driving licenes away in cereal boxes nowadays

They bloody don't - my gf was looking to take a test to get a UK licence and it was impossible! They need to do, and to know, so much more than we did 20 years ago, and with so much less margin for error. Poor kids these days.

Shame so many forget so quickly after passing!

I drove in today, anyone got a sword I can fall on?

DonDaddyD

Right you b*tches if any of you schmucks are on my route you better be ready for war!

In fact save yourself the pain of loss and just post your blood dripping scalps to:

You need to MTFU
69 Rumble Strip Avenue
Scalp Land
1OU FWIW

itboffin

This mornings ride in from the East was fun even without padding, I promised myself i'd pootle which lasted <5 secs I had the annoying pleasure of scalping the same bunch of riders time after time as they RLJ the whole way into the city.

I'm ashamed to admit I allowed a scalp to go free, for the last 4-5 miles I cycled along side a sculpted beauty (female before you ask) jeez she had and amazing body :oops:

Somehow I suspect she doesn't get passed to often, add to that the awesome pace she held, I'm more than happy with 2nd place on this occasion.

redvee

Another fool in a tin box who needs to reread the highway code. Always thought it was mirror, signal, manoevre. In this case neither needed to be done as it was only a cyclist. He soon knew I was there when I shouted through the passenger window a polite but loud hello.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOrJe1pHnc0

bryanm

redvee wrote:

Another fool in a tin box who needs to reread the highway code. Always thought it was mirror, signal, manoevre. In this case neither needed to be done as it was only a cyclist. He soon knew I was there when I shouted through the passenger window a polite but loud hello.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOrJe1pHnc0

Looks to me like the cyclist needs to read the highway code as well. Especially the bit about changing lanes on zig-zag lines??

greg66_tri_v2.0

Now, there may have been a tailwind pushing me home tonight, but Ker-rhiste that was fast. A man fired out of a cannon might have had a chance. Might. Over the first 50 yards. Maybe.

Bassjunkieuk

bryanm wrote:

redvee wrote:

Another fool in a tin box who needs to reread the highway code. Always thought it was mirror, signal, manoevre. In this case neither needed to be done as it was only a cyclist. He soon knew I was there when I shouted through the passenger window a polite but loud hello.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOrJe1pHnc0

Looks to me like the cyclist needs to read the highway code as well. Especially the bit about changing lanes on zig-zag lines??

First I've heard of it and I can't find anything that specifically prohibits it except this:

167: You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

Which from watching the video wouldn't apply as he was already past the crossing and the car hadn't needed to stop? Of course it would be too much to expect the car driver to notice something as significant as a cyclist when he decides to change lanes......

Had a shock on my way home this evening after I managed to find a cyclist with drop bars! Not quite a roadie but a tourer but the guy was doing a fair lick by local standards, this of course thwarted all plans of a gentle ride. He took the slightly safer bus lane route as I stuck with the main carriageway and pipped him as we got to the traffic ahead. I hit a few nasty potholes that jolted me about a bit but thankfully the bike survived, those Aksiums are some good wheels :-) Arrived home VERY sweaty and gasping for a drink - not bad for a 2.5 mile dash :-)

benno68

Well, I forgot that I had to stay late in work today. So got a lift home with my lovely lady and cycled back in

I'm now back on target for 6 days of commuting.

Urrm, no SCR action, passed a couple of peds on bikes but nothing to report as usual.

By the way Lidl's have a heart rate monitor coming up for £16.99 - I may give it a go!

Eau Rouge

Being scalped when your scalp is already sunburnt is not to be recommended.
I took an unusually long commute home this evening (no cycling last weekend, none this weekend either alas). 4 miles from home, going just a tad slower than usual back on the usual route home, a full on shaved legged roadie sweeps past out of nowhere. This being the country I don't have a bike radar (:) see what I did there ) so had no idea he was there. I didn't grab his wheel as he came past, which was a mistake, and he opened a handy gap.
Then up the bit of a drag, I actually started to reel him in again, and actually caught him just as we got to the bottom of the 400m ~10% hill. Thats when I did this exact impression of Damiano Cunego in this years Giro (the bike is in the Lampre colours and everything) as he just road off away up the hill leaving me dying behind.
I got to the top and watched him scoot around a bend that leads to a junction. By the time I got to the junction, I had to worry about the stream of cars there, hoping not to have to unclip, so I don't know where he went. Either way is quickly downhill, so he'd have been a good distance ahead with the time he opened up on the hill.

Had it been just the straight commute I might have had a chance, but still, it's always nice to be reminded that I shouldn't give up the day job.

Bassjunkieuk

Forgot to mention in my last post but tomorrow will be my first "proper" commute in about 3 weeks :-) Let this be a warning to those who use DDD's Drag Strip - I'll be challenging for alpha male tomorrow :twisted:

I start by the Waitrose and continue along until Stockwell. I imagine I'll be hitting Waitrose around 8:50 so if anyone spots a black backpack ahead with a small green badge do try and keep up ;-)

Deadeye Duck

Had an interesting adventure this afternoon. after having 2 punctures and chatting with friends. I headed up union street towards home. At the first set of lights, this MTBer pulls up beside me and careers away from the lights showing no attempt to hide the fact he's pushing as hard as possible as I coast behind him. We get to the next set of lights, I pass him as I enter the cycling box thingy at the front of the queue. He slowly trackstands his way past me and initiates conversation as he does so. It went like this:

MTBer: Haha, I do not envy your skinny tyres!
Me: I've had 2 puncs already, I dont quite appreciate them myself...
MTBer: I do not envy your higher range groupie!
MTBer: I do no envy your lycra! *realises he's halfway across the junction and it's still red*
MTBer: ooooeeerrreee Aha! *light turns green*
Me: nobblies? Nice...

I shake my head laughing as I coast past him, as he pummels his way to then next lights. I get through on green, he hits the red. I chuckle to myself and congratulate my skinny tyres/ higher range groupie/ lycra on showing him why he's not as cool as he thinks. Didn't look back again as I hit every green on my relaxed journey home.

Message to the fellow, if you're on here:
Nice try, at least you gave me something to smile about on my way home. Thanks

spursn17

Feck!

Got a road bike now and my FCN has gone from 9 (good times) to 5 (bad times).

I've got to start riding hard again.

gtvlusso

So, a good battle of wits last night;

Luckily, I missed the thuindery downpour by minutes as I left the office. This is a good thing as was in a normal cycle top and baggy shorts + converse trainers on the fixie.

Fancied a bit of a stint at a PB on the way and felt suitably full of pasta from dinner to acheive greatness....

So, First target as I head over Filton flyover - Cervelo TT bike with skinsuit clad bloke, slim guy - you know the sort, you can see every tendom in his legs! Suffice to say, I was a little deflated as he had just set off from Rolls Royce building (I had already covered about 2 miles prior to that). I though he was gonna dissappear, but no, he is spinning away and not really moving that quick, so reel him in I do!

As I am getting on the back of the TT bike, I see 2 roadie another 100 yards up the road on Filton hill - short and steep. They are in full kit and are clearly having a ding dong. Anyway, I latch onto the back of the TT bike, fully expecting him to drop a gear and leave me standing - nope, I glide by with no effort on the approach to the hill (slight gradient!). Anywa, feeling a little proud, I feel it is my duty to reel in the roadies now on the steep section of the hill - I get out of the saddle swing the bike and force it up the hill (as people who ride fixed know - you have to keep the pace up to get up hills!) - ding dong, both of them passed and I am hardly out of breath. As I pass the crown of the hill and head towards the rond-a-bout, I am fully expecitng one of the roadies or both of them to drop a gear and leave me standing.......Quick glance, 50 yard gap and the two fellas look like they are struggling. I keep the pace on - check again 100 yard gap.....I feel fine and start the next ascent to Gloucester road.

81" GI, 2 roadies, one TT rider and I feel fine! Even took Wilma for a run around the common when I got home!

PB achieved fixed on a "hilly" route: 17 minutes for 6 miles......21 MPH ish average.

blu3cat

spursn17 wrote:

Feck!

Got a road bike now and my FCN has gone from 9 (good times) to 5 (bad times).

I've got to start riding hard again.

Get a hermann's lollipop on yer bike, and hey presto FCN 7 (so-so times). Now if only they made in aero-carbon stylee.

Nearly got scalped by a recumbent this morning - first one I have seen in months, but the size of his big ring, must've been running at least a million teeth up front.

Gazzaputt

Just a note to say I'm off to Cornwall for the week.

Please feel free to in my absence to nominate a new 'king of the Old Kent Road' but I will be back to regain my crown in better shape

Enjoy

cjcp

Chapeau to the chap on the green Roberts + pannier last night (and possibly shaven legs too?). Plenty of gas as we rode together from Embankment to Queen's Ride.

Christophe3967

cjcp wrote:

Chapeau to the chap on the green Roberts + pannier last night (and possibly shaven legs too?). Plenty of gas as we rode together from Embankment to Queen's Ride.

I think I've seen this bike (sans panniers but with rack) in the Park. He's pretty quick - I manged to stay with him for about half a lap before I had to get home (thankfully) :oops:

cjcp

Christophe3967 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Chapeau to the chap on the green Roberts + pannier last night (and possibly shaven legs too?). Plenty of gas as we rode together from Embankment to Queen's Ride.

I think I've seen this bike (sans panniers but with rack) in the Park. He's pretty quick - I manged to stay with him for about half a lap before I had to get home (thankfully) :oops:

Could well be the same guy. He says he sometimes heads to the Park to do some laps.

Deadeye Duck

blu3cat wrote:

Nearly got scalped by a recumbent this morning - first one I have seen in months, but the size of his big ring, must've been running at least a million teeth up front.

I've always fancied a go on a recumbent to see what it's like. I always thought it would feel like tring to pedal a submarine for some reason. As if they should have a periscope to look out of

I bet they must be hard to get used to at first.

shoulder_of_orion

The yellow jerseys are out in force - I scalped 3 this morning. Why wear it if you can't carry it off?