Silly commuting racing

cjcp

Last night was hard work. Belter of a headwind and SCR action from VB lights to Sheen.

Saw the same chap on the Look. Again, at VB lights, again I passed him heading into DSC and again, he jumped on the wheel, albeit on the wheel of another chap on a Ribble who was on my wheel. On the drops too, making sure that he's out of the way of as much wind as possible. Don't want that wind making things difficult now, do we?

Anyhoo, I waved the guy on the Ribble through. Wind seemed to be very blustery along Embankment and wanted a bit of a space. He went straight by; proper rapid. Look man stays on my wheel.

After CB lights, Look man is straight on Ribble's wheel. I'm about 30 yards back, but having to work seriously hard to make forward progress let alone keep up with Ribble guy. All credit to Look guy, he does a turn, and his fresh legs mean that I'm into Streaming Snot Zone trying to maintain contact.

All together by the NKR/Parson's Green area. Rible guy pulls away first at the lights, Look man accelerates hard to get on his wheel. As I pull away, my chain kicks onto the 39! Nooooooooo! :x I can't pull over because I'll not catch these two again, so I'm forced to up the cadence and "spin". :shock: The legs weren't used to this. To my surprise, I lose no ground (I'm not drafting, of course ). Then, I start to feel comfortable. This comfort turns to cockiness, to the point where I pass both and ask Ribble guy if he wants a bit of help. He just chuckles.

I pull through to half way along the LRR (still in the 39) when Ribble guy moves ahead. (I drop back about 10 yards, to maintain my no-drafting policy ) Guess who's behind me? Ribble guy and I split at the turning for the Park, but Look guy stays behind me (we're heading into a head/cross wind thing again). No thanks at the last set of lights. Second night in a row, so I've had enough by this stage and wave him by. He goes through. No thanks. Again. No helping some people. If you're going to get a tow from a couple of people for the better part of 7-8 miles, you've got to say "cheers" or something. :?

Anyhoo, I may try that spinning thing again, but only on the way home. It seems to reduce the risk of a double hernia.

gtvlusso

In the car today - boo :-(

Early start 05:00 and a late finish....prob near midnight tonight.

Shame as it is a lovely sunny morning.....

getting sick of headwinds both ways though - come on, one way is enough!

Bassjunkieuk

Weird one yesterday although I think I might be able to attribute it to the sensor battery needing replacing........was heading home and look down to see how fast I'm going as I pull alongside a bus and see I'm actually standing still :shock: I get a few flickers of speed varying from 4mph, then 14mph then 22mph. I gave the 'puter a bit of a nudge as I thought I might have cocked the alignment when I locked the bike up (I'd already caught the front brake and had to stop that rubbing before I set off......) it eventually settled down but I think I was missing about .5 miles of my usual commute.

No worthy scalps but I did take a few MTB/hybrid types at a good 5-10mph faster then them, helped along by a bit of a tailwind and some cars! Also took a couple of cars - nothing quite like whipping past on the inside :-)

Having some fun this morning as I have lined up a few external site visits on the way to work so I imagine I'll have clocked up about 10 miles before I arrive at the office this morning, much nicer then the usual 2.5 :-D

cjcp

Oh Lordy. After all that nonsense about not using the 39 on the way in, I used the 39 on the way in. :oops:

Part of it was experimentation to see what the difference in cruising and top end speed was, but (a big) part of it was that I just didn't have it in me this morning to fight the wind. :roll:

il_principe

cjcp wrote:

Oh Lordy. After all that nonsense about not using the 39 on the way in, I used the 39 on the way in. :oops:

Part of it was experimentation to see what the difference in cruising and top end speed was, but (a big) part of it was that I just didn't have it in me this morning to fight the wind. :roll:

Oi Chris - MTFU!

jonginge

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Oh Lordy. After all that nonsense about not using the 39 on the way in, I used the 39 on the way in. :oops:

Part of it was experimentation to see what the difference in cruising and top end speed was, but (a big) part of it was that I just didn't have it in me this morning to fight the wind. :roll:

Oi Chris - MTFU!

:? Wasn't it a tailwind this morning. Distinctly remember thinking 'this'll be fun tonight, not'

cjcp

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Oh Lordy. After all that nonsense about not using the 39 on the way in, I used the 39 on the way in. :oops:

Part of it was experimentation to see what the difference in cruising and top end speed was, but (a big) part of it was that I just didn't have it in me this morning to fight the wind. :roll:

Oi Chris - MTFU!

I know, I know; I'm a big wuss. I'm trying to sort it out. :oops:

Roastie

cjcp wrote:

As I pull away, my chain kicks onto the 39! Nooooooooo! :x

Reinstating that front mech this weekend then?

itboffin

Nothing in the tank this morning for the first six miles every request for more power was met with total silence then out of nowhere normal service resumed and I was motoring made it to the station almost on a PB damn!

It would be wrong to start doing warm ups before my morning commute wouldn't it?

Gazzaputt

First ride after the dreaded swine flu. 13 days off the bike.

Felt ok but loads and coughing and snot!

Had a tube blow out on London Bridge which wasn't fun.

cjcp

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

As I pull away, my chain kicks onto the 39! Nooooooooo! :x

Reinstating that front mech this weekend then?

Flippin' well looks like it. :oops:

@JG - it was a tailwind. I'm just having a few "stop being a girl" (sorry, girls ) issues at the moment. The sweat coming off me during the drag up to Sawyer's Hill after the battering from the wind in Priory Lane last night was unbelieveable. I couldn't bring myself to do another lap (although I did fit in a little dig up Dark Hill).

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

As I pull away, my chain kicks onto the 39! Nooooooooo! :x

Reinstating that front mech this weekend then?

Flippin' well looks like it. :oops:

@JG - it was a tailwind. I'm just having a few "stop being a girl" (sorry, girls ) issues at the moment. The sweat coming off me during the drag up to Sawyer's Hill after the battering from the wind in Priory Lane last night was unbelieveable. I couldn't bring myself to do another lap (although I did fit in a little dig up Dark Hill).

Damn, was hoping the form was returning but, no, twas a tailwind.

Your issues something to do with last week's heroic mileage?

cjcp

JonGinge wrote:

Your issues something to do with last week's heroic mileage?

Sadly not. Purely due to me being a big girl.

(Actually, I think it is. And it's what went through my mind just before I reached the top of Dark Hill. Just before I turned around.)

Roastie

cjcp wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Your issues something to do with last week's heroic mileage?

Sadly not. Purely due to me being a big girl.

(Actually, I think it is. And it's what went through my mind just before I reached the top of Dark Hill. Just before I turned around.)

You mean you're having an "active recovery week"?

Greg T

This is nonsense.

My trip in this morning was in no way aided by a following wind just a sudden and dramatic increase in my strength, fitness and endurance. Also when I stop I can move forward without pressure on the pedals.

I see no reason to think otherwise and look forward to my trip home to the west tonight.

Now I'm fit I'll have no trouble coping with the prevailing westerlies that give me such a hard time on the return leg.


oh


hang on.......

Kieran_Burns

Gazzaputt wrote:

First ride after the dreaded swine flu. 13 days off the bike.

Felt ok but loads and coughing and snot!

Had a tube blow out on London Bridge which wasn't fun.

I'm in the same boat - except it's been almost 3 weeks for me now :oops: 14 days of lung busting coughs and this week with the bike in the shop and me off-site.

I'm going to either fly on the first trip or have a coronary.

Bassjunkieuk

Chris........after all the comments about bikes with pictures of the chain on the ickle ring, how could you

Managed to finish all my errands this morning and arrived at the office just after 12:30 and then had to head back out in the bl00dy pool van as I can't at present carry a desktop PC on my bike ;-)

Had a weird one this morning just after I've set off. I've turned out onto the one-way street near me and dropped a cog at the rear to see what it would be like to ride in the 73GI cog, build up a bit of speed and have a little slalom with the lines on the road (yes the road was empty!) but as I get to the zebra at the bottom a women is crossing whilst chatting on her phone with some sorry looking dog on a lead. I see her and she spots me and then roots herself to the spot.....I was fully intending to stop but I'm not quite sure how she thought planting her rotund ar$e on the zebra was helping, unless she assumed I was just going to ignore her and zig-zag around?

Anyhow rest of the rides where fun, including my full on sprint down from East Croydon Station, was going at least 5mph faster then the buses are legally allowed and just seemed to time the lights to perfection!

King Donut

Greg T wrote:

This is nonsense.

My trip in this morning was in no way aided by a following wind just a sudden and dramatic increase in my strength, fitness and endurance. Also when I stop I can move forward without pressure on the pedals.

I see no reason to think otherwise and look forward to my trip home to the west tonight.

Now I'm fit I'll have no trouble coping with the prevailing westerlies that give me such a hard time on the return leg.


oh


hang on.......

But everyone knows that wind generally picks up in the afternoon so maybe there is some truth in what you say. Somewhere.

Found myself in a SCR sandwich this morning…
Not paying attention on LRR and had my scalp exposed by a guy on a Cube. Technically his lycra put him higher up, but the nonchalance of his pink jersey riled me so I cracked the whip. Luckily I get some help from a guy on a Spesh and together (who am I kidding, he hardly even knew I was there) we reel in the breakaway. Turning on to Embankment I play safe and wait for a gap in the traffic, where as they drop the clutch and practically wheelspin away. Lost em.

Thanking God, I ease off and remind myself what it’s like to breathe… when suddenly some old fella (32 at least) on a grey hybrid with racks, clips and millionaire shoes appears in my peripheral vision like an unwanted lovechild. He keeps popping up for the next couple of miles - annoyingly sitting off my right shoulder in exactly that spot. Every time he takes a good effort to drop, but I think[hope] he must be RLJing to keep up. By HoP he’s brought me back to the guy on a Spesh and I’m left wondering whether to: a) MTFU scalp the Speshial one - which will surely invoke an unwelcome response at this late stage of the commute; b) try to block off the old guy for the remaining few miles; or c) load up my CO2 air chuck and try to blow the old bastard off his perch.

It took me until Blackfriars pass to properly shake him but at least I arrived at work knowing my pride is still intact. As for the seat of my pants…

lost_in_thought

Just about to pop to the shops, it's really rather windy out there. And yes, it's a westerly.

Enjoy!

Greg T

King Donut wrote:

when suddenly some old fella (32 at least)

c) load up my CO2 air chuck and try to blow the old bastard off his perch.

I'm delighted.

At 38 I can now settle into my dotage and feck with younglings for fun.

I need to get me an old touring bike and some Carradine canvas panniers.

Perhaps - and it's been time since we talked about the maths of the game we need to have an age adjuster.

Every five years difference between you and your oppo is +/- something.

Whilst we may ride the same bike / wear the same stuff you have ten years on me and are churning my milky white arse to butter (thanks whoever).

Obviously this only works if your are >16....

cjcp

King Donut wrote:

Found myself in a SCR sandwich this morning…
Not paying attention on LRR and had my scalp exposed by a guy on a Cube. Technically his lycra put him higher up, but the nonchalance of his pink jersey riled me so I cracked the whip. Luckily I get some help from a guy on a Spesh and together (who am I kidding, he hardly even knew I was there) we reel in the breakaway. Turning on to Embankment I play safe and wait for a gap in the traffic, where as they drop the clutch and practically wheelspin away. Lost em.

- quality reporting.


Oh well. It's nearly time to head west. Here comes the pain again. :evil:

jimmypippa

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Weird one yesterday although I think I might be able to attribute it to the sensor battery needing replacing........was heading home and look down to see how fast I'm going as I pull alongside a bus and see I'm actually standing still :shock: I get a few flickers of speed varying from 4mph, then 14mph then 22mph. I gave the 'puter a bit of a nudge as I thought I might have cocked the alignment when I locked the bike up (I'd already caught the front brake and had to stop that rubbing before I set off......) it eventually settled down but I think I was missing about .5 miles of my usual commute.

My sigma 1106 often does that. (register 0mph)
It seems to only happen if I change the display whilst cycling. And then only sometimes.

itboffin

I'm thinking of buying another house, one in the east one in the west :evil:

Bassjunkieuk

jimmypippa wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Weird one yesterday although I think I might be able to attribute it to the sensor battery needing replacing........was heading home and look down to see how fast I'm going as I pull alongside a bus and see I'm actually standing still :shock: I get a few flickers of speed varying from 4mph, then 14mph then 22mph. I gave the 'puter a bit of a nudge as I thought I might have cocked the alignment when I locked the bike up (I'd already caught the front brake and had to stop that rubbing before I set off......) it eventually settled down but I think I was missing about .5 miles of my usual commute.

My sigma 1106 often does that. (register 0mph)
It seems to only happen if I change the display whilst cycling. And then only sometimes.

I have found 1 place that I can guarantee my comp stops working so far, as I head down here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 36.42,,0,5

Crossing that railway bridge heading south always knocks out my cycle comp, most bizarre!

jimmypippa

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

[

I have found 1 place that I can guarantee my comp stops working so far, as I head down here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 36.42,,0,5

Crossing that railway bridge heading south always knocks out my cycle comp, most bizarre!

Is it wireles?

Electrified railway?

Mine is wired, so there is no worries abou tcommunication from sensot to comouter, and the magnet-wheel bit seems pretty OK. My computer seems to stop with a particular set of keypresses, so a software bug.

redvee

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

jimmypippa wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Weird one yesterday although I think I might be able to attribute it to the sensor battery needing replacing........was heading home and look down to see how fast I'm going as I pull alongside a bus and see I'm actually standing still :shock: I get a few flickers of speed varying from 4mph, then 14mph then 22mph. I gave the 'puter a bit of a nudge as I thought I might have cocked the alignment when I locked the bike up (I'd already caught the front brake and had to stop that rubbing before I set off......) it eventually settled down but I think I was missing about .5 miles of my usual commute.

My sigma 1106 often does that. (register 0mph)
It seems to only happen if I change the display whilst cycling. And then only sometimes.

I have found 1 place that I can guarantee my comp stops working so far, as I head down here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 36.42,,0,5

Crossing that railway bridge heading south always knocks out my cycle comp, most bizarre!

Could be something to do with the signalling or power cables for the trains?

Bassjunkieuk

Tis wireless (Cateye Micro Wireless) and I'd always assumed it was something to do with the power lines or something that runs under me as I cross that bridge :-)

I seem to have picked up a fecking cough from somewhere (blame the kids........) which has reduced my speed holding ability somewhat, in some ways I'm thankful I'm not finding any worthy competition as me trying to eject my lungs via my mouth might give my approach away! I'm fine until I start breathing a bit deeper and then I get that tickly feeling and once I'm started it's useless.....

Quick question for the panel - should cornering on the drops, at higher speeds, be easier/safer then when on the hoods? I'm experimenting with this as it's one area I feel I need to improve on and am finding it feels a bit better when hunkered down. Presumably as I've lowered my centre of gravity I can more easily lean into the turn, I have a nice little section on my current route that means I can get some decentish speed cornering (18-20mph) practise through 90 degree left/right bends and just want to sharpen up a bit :-)

cjcp

*Tows home offered. Pick up on Embankment. Can drop off anywhere up to Sheen. Free of charge. Much cheapness. Just hop on. All welcome. Just fasten your seat-belts and hold on tightly to the hand-rails.*

Normal 53-tooth service resumed tonight.

cjcp

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Quick question for the panel - should cornering on the drops, at higher speeds, be easier/safer then when on the hoods? I'm experimenting with this as it's one area I feel I need to improve on and am finding it feels a bit better when hunkered down. Presumably as I've lowered my centre of gravity I can more easily lean into the turn, I have a nice little section on my current route that means I can get some decentish speed cornering (18-20mph) practise through 90 degree left/right bends and just want to sharpen up a bit :-)

Yes.

amnezia

there is a whole new level of inept driving in the city this morning what with the rail strike. Clearly a lot of people who have never driven in London before and should probably never do it again. Beware :shock: