Silly commuting racing

Roastie

Last night two guys were kind enough to give me their scalps; I didn't have to lift a finger.

I'm ambling along, in recovery mode (given the intention to race tonight which sadly I won't be able to make). I'm happily sitting at around 35-37km/h when I can but just spinning and keeping my HR around 150.

Along Vic Embankment, through Parliament Sq. and onto Millbank I re-pass a "lycra'd up" Jumper a on a green tyred and bar taped fixie a few times until we end up both (oddly enough) stopped at the Morpeth lights. There is also roadie dude on a lovely carbon Orbea (Orca maybe) sitting at the lights.

Before the light is green, fixie pilot is off like a man possessed, I take off slower than usual, mindful that I am near home and want to keep the legs nice, supple and acid free. A few moments later Orbea has got going and also blasts by. I'm not taking the bait and happily settle back to my 150bpm cruise. As we approach that lay-by thingie, fixie pilot is flagging and is prompty scalped by Orbea who himself is starting to tail off into the headwind.

Pretty soon, without altering my pace or work rate, I re-pass fixie pilot followed by Orbea ("I'll take both of those scalps, thanks"); both before Chelsea Bridge. I spy (what I assume to be) Orbea on my wheel for the run to Albert Bridge, where I turn off, continue my pootle...

...and then promptly get completely dumped on from the heavens roughly around the point when I look at the angry clouds and think I may just have got away with it.

jimjamyaharr

Hello everyone! I have been reading this forum for a while but i started to fell abit like a cyber stalker so have decided to post!!

Anywhoo, i do commute but its only aboute a mile at the moment but i am planning to encrease the distance soon, and horror of all horrors it on a mountain bike ( dont shoot me )

I have never been on a fourm so please be gentyl with me ( the Gregs )

J

biondino

I got heavily rained on both ways yesterday, which was fine apart from the encounter with a metal drain cover - my own fault, I tried to adjust my direction at the wrong time. Luckily the tyre re-gripped as it encountered tarmac.

I also said " what the hell are you doing?" at a Brommie rider who, this morning, thought overtaking at the lights between me and another roadie, then cutting me up, would be a wise move. Bromptons are great, and they don't have to be slow, but let's not take the mick, eh?

biondino

Ooh, I almost forgot! Last night I got to be a knight in shining armour when I saw a woman pushing her punctured Trek roadie along the pavement. I stopped to offer her my spare tube, and then thought I should check if she knew how to change a wheel...

So I ended up doing it for her - poor lass had been walking two or three miles in the rain, from Hyde Park down High Street Ken and was almost at Hammersmith Broadway, and not a single person had stopped to check if she was okay. Cyclists, show a bit of consideration TFU!

Roastie

biondino wrote:

So I ended up doing it for her - poor lass had been walking two or three miles in the rain, from Hyde Park down High Street Ken and was almost at Hammersmith Broadway, and not a single person had stopped to check if she was okay.

Tossers, all of them.

Good on ya for helping out!

itboffin

cjcp wrote:

Hehe.

What size Dolan did you buy? 3?

No 2 although in hindsight I could have gone 3 still it works for me, ace ride especially with the full campag groupset and planet-x C wheels.

sweet 8)

benno68

biondino wrote:

which was fine apart from the encounter with a metal drain cover - my own fault, I tried to adjust my direction at the wrong time. Luckily the tyre re-gripped as it encountered tarmac.

Exact same thing happened to me on Tuesday, taking a 90deg corner, front wheel went over the cover and slid right across followed by the back wheel, haven't had that feeling of excitement for a while :shock:

I was feeling heavy legged yesterday and generally tired in work so thought I'd take it easy going home. Got home a sweaty panting mess as usual, 2 minutes quicker than the night before - 8.7 miles 29 minutes.

I need to learn how to do a recovery ride - but I will need to improve my track standing skills first

Had a nice ride in this morning, no SCR action. Hit 44mph down Leckwith Hill (I think that hitting the magical 50mph will be an impossibility for me), got up 30mph on the flat down Manor Way (wind assisted of course) and had a nice tow from a bus towards Roath Park Lake, that's what they are there for.

Aidy

Hm, anyone here with a white singlespeed? I think I've seen someone post a picture of it.

Drop bars, pink bar tape/saddle.
Delogoed, but I think there was an 853 sticker on the seattube.

Highbury corner this morning, about quarter past 9?

itboffin

After the last couple of days of dabbling in the world of Ghey I ditched the little cap and MTFU, this morning I nailed it out of the house like a nutter realizing very quickly that i'd overdressed :? still onwards I charged attacking every bump, over the first col and into a nice aero tuck for the descent, speed creeping up higher and higher a quick shoulder glance confirms the van behind me is NOT gaining must be the GREEN jersey i'm wearing today, yes rich GREEN "how do like them apples?"

Anywho! i'm flying down the hill when my old friend returned, oh! yes PF was back....

I present to you No. 23



still it did give me a chance to take my jacket off and cool down. being an expert in the art of PF repairs I pushed the offending section off the rim oh er! :roll: popped and patch on juiced that baby with some co2 and hit the road.

With cjcp words ringing in my ears I steadily upped the pace to just below vomiting for the remaining 13 miles, arriving at the station a dripping mess....

That was fun

biondino

Aren't you supposed to wait a certain amount of time after patching a tyre for it all to, um, stick together? I have no doubt at all that you're doing something catastrophically wrong, ITB, and I'll get to the bottom of this...

cjcp

jimjamyaharr wrote:

Hello everyone! I have been reading this forum for a while but i started to fell abit like a cyber stalker so have decided to post!!

Anywhoo, i do commute but its only aboute a mile at the moment but i am planning to encrease the distance soon, and horror of all horrors it on a mountain bike ( dont shoot me )

I have never been on a fourm so please be gentyl with me ( the Gregs )

J

Welcome! Where's your commute?

Bassjunkieuk

itboffin wrote:

After the last couple of days of dabbling in the world of Ghey I ditched the little cap and MTFU, this morning I nailed it out of the house like a nutter realizing very quickly that i'd overdressed :? still onwards I charged attacking every bump, over the first col and into a nice aero tuck for the descent, speed creeping up higher and higher a quick shoulder glance confirms the van behind me is NOT gaining must be the GREEN jersey i'm wearing today, yes rich GREEN "how do like them apples?"

Anywho! i'm flying down the hill when my old friend returned, oh! yes PF was back....

I present to you No. 23



still it did give me a chance to take my jacket off and cool down. being an expert in the art of PF repairs I pushed the offending section off the rim oh er! :roll: popped and patch on juiced that baby with some co2 and hit the road.

With cjcp words ringing in my ears I steadily upped the pace to just below vomiting for the remaining 13 miles, arriving at the station a dripping mess....

That was fun

Please see the highlighted section above BD, obviously must be the roads he rides on that cause all those visits......;-)

blu3cat

Is it just me, or did the rain yesterday evening bring out worse car drivers than usual?

Nearly got left hooked by 2 people who had been sitting behind me for a way waiting for a break in the traffic on the other side of the road to overtake and overtook me only to pull in the next left hand corner about 20 metres ahead of me.. :roll:

Had some action this morning on Garret Lane Earlsfield to Wansdworth. I spotted a lycrad up roadie at some lights through Earlsfield, exchange glances. He's off, cruising along 20,21, 22 mph. I sit behind him and to one side (making sure I'm not in his wake), primary position in the road, there's no traffic behind, straight run ahead, bingo

Wait for the traffic to go around as as we head up towards Wandsworth one way. Decide now is the time to stike, and .... Some tw*t in an MPV pulls straight out in front of us, causing us both to brake heavily and then sits there at 15mph occupying the whole road. Grrrrrrrr :evil: And of course takes the next left.

By this time we've run out of safe road to SCR and we on and he ended up turning towards Battersea in Wandsworth.

So close, I am not sure I could have taken the chap, but it would have been fun trying.

Consolation Fakenger on Wood Lane meant the commute was not entirely without merit.

jimjamyaharr

I coummute in the forest of dean, its really hilly around hear!!

blu3cat

jimjamyaharr wrote:

I coummute in the forest of dean, its really hilly around hear!!

Hilly commute, an MTB (high FCN) could be an ideal weapon for collecting scalps..

jimjamyaharr

unfortunatley there are not many cyclists on my commute! So i have decided to try and extend it to get some scalps!!! :twisted:

Kieran_Burns

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realise where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

Jay dubbleU

jimjamyaharr wrote:

unfortunatley there are not many cyclists on my commute! So i have decided to try and extend it to get some scalps!!! :twisted:

Well done - thats the true spirit of SCR 8)

jeeyer

Hi there,

been reading this forum for a while now.
i have been commuting almost a year now towards Tower Bridge area.
anyone on the finchley-archway-holloway-old str route?
havent seen too many SCR's on there to be honest


need to have a look at this scalping thing as well hehe

biondino

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realise where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

Which of us pedants is going to point out that the "z" spelling is actually the correct one and the "s" version is a British bastardisation...

blu3cat

biondino wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realise where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

Which of us pedants is going to point out that the "z" spelling is actually the correct one and the "s" version is a British bastardisation...

As far as I am aware originally both spellings were acceptable, and then the US standardised on the use of the letter Z, and the Brits being contrary as we are started using the s spelling as the defacto standard.

pllb

biondino wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realise where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

Which of us pedants is going to point out that the "z" spelling is actually the correct one and the "s" version is a British bastardisation...

According to my Collins Thesaurus either realize or realise is Ok, there is no "or US" to indicate US spelling. Interestingly the same is true for bastardise and bastardize.

lost_in_thought

pllb wrote:

biondino wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realise where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

Which of us pedants is going to point out that the "z" spelling is actually the correct one and the "s" version is a British bastardisation...

According to my Collins Thesaurus either realize or realise is Ok, there is no "or US" to indicate US spelling. Interestingly the same is true for bastardise and bastardize.

Spot on. I believe that in America they only accept the 'z', whereas we're more liberal with our sibiliants over this side of the pond.

itboffin

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realize where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

That's would be the dictionary character set of the company macbook

itboffin

biondino wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realise where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

Which of us pedants is going to point out that the "z" spelling is actually the correct one and the "s" version is a British bastardisation...

Ouch

@KB don't go there dude!

Bassjunkieuk

itboffin wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realize where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

That's would be the dictionary character set of the company macbook

SHOW OFF!

blu3cat

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

ITB - are you American?

If so - could interest you in the use of the letter s?

It's a lovely letter often seen in words like realize where it would be correctly used.

If you are in fact English and not American, then you have no excuse for Colonial spelling in these parts and you should submit yourself for a sound thrashing by the Headmaster.

For everyone else who can't be arsed to reset their spell checkers to use UK English.... I'm watching you.... :evil:

That's would be the dictionary character set of the company macbook

SHOW OFF!

or "meedja luvvie"

il_principe

As Noah Webster said:

"In the singularity of spelling certain words, I am authorized by Sidney, Clarendon, Middleton, Blackstone, Ash and other eminent writers, whose authority being supported by good principles and conveniences deemed superior to that of Johnson, whose pedantry has corrupted the purity of our language, and whose principles would in time destroy all agreement between the spelling and pronunciation of words."

lost_in_thought

Il Principe wrote:

As Noah Webster said:

"In the singularity of spelling certain words, I am authorized by Sidney, Clarendon, Middleton, Blackstone, Ash and other eminent writers, whose authority being supported by good principles and conveniences deemed superior to that of Johnson, whose pedantry has corrupted the purity of our language, and whose principles would in time destroy all agreement between the spelling and pronunciation of words."

Let's get our facts straight here... Johnson was the Brit, Webster was the yank. Webster criticised Johnson's dictionary upon its export to the US, decades after it was first published. And he would, they were feeling pretty independent at the time! Also, Webster updated the dictionary some 80 years after its publication... you'd expect it to have changed a little. So, Webster calling Johnson a pedant for spelling 'old' 'olde' decades earlier is a little rich.

The definitive dictionary, the Oxford (yes, that's Oxford, you light blues) English Dictionary, which was first published 150 years later, followed the same format as Johnson's and kept about 1800 of his definitions. Spellings were updated, they would be, but he can't have been that far off the mark.

Yes, you're right, I have not a great deal to do today!

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

As Noah Webster said:

"In the singularity of spelling certain words, I am authorized by Sidney, Clarendon, Middleton, Blackstone, Ash and other eminent writers, whose authority being supported by good principles and conveniences deemed superior to that of Johnson, whose pedantry has corrupted the purity of our language, and whose principles would in time destroy all agreement between the spelling and pronunciation of words."

Let's get our facts straight here... Johnson was the Brit, Webster was the yank. Webster criticised Johnson's dictionary upon its export to the US, decades after it was first published. And he would, they were feeling pretty independent at the time! Also, Webster updated the dictionary some 80 years after its publication... you'd expect it to have changed a little. So, Webster calling Johnson a pedant for spelling 'old' 'olde' decades earlier is a little rich.

The definitive dictionary, the Oxford (yes, that's Oxford, you light blues) English Dictionary, which was first published 150 years later, followed the same format as Johnson's and kept about 1800 of his definitions. Spellings were updated, they would be, but he can't have been that far off the mark.

Yes, you're right, I have not a great deal to do today!

The Pedant has awoken!

How's the bait tasting today?