Silly commuting racing

jonginge

choirboy wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

SCR was cancelled this morning.

Due to the incidents along the river it was diversion time. Nipped back north on waterloo bridge. Went through the Strand underpass for the first time: how cool is that? Had a minute or so of 'where now?' but then followed my nose to holborn, past greys inn road and straight all the way to old street. Easy enough but those streets north of embankment are medja, I tell you.

What were the incidents along the river? Traf Sq and the Strand were grid-locked but fortunately that's the end of my ride.

---

Motorbike crash on vic embankment and cyclist/lorry incident further along. Not good:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12642177

redvee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6CdXcjS88U

This idiot ruined the morning for me and nearly ruined me for a lot longer. Was approaching a set of lights (in primary?) on red and slowed and timed it so they changed before touchdown, set off and knew a car was behind from the accoustics of the tunnel then the car is on the wrongside of the road overtaking me and comes back onto the RH side of the road and nearly into me. I move left to make way for the idiot and turn right as this is the only option and moved back into primary and show my appreciation of his driving skills with an inpolite hand signal which he returns. Luckily we went different ways then.

Bassjunkieuk

redvee wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6CdXcjS88U

This idiot ruined the morning for me and nearly ruined me for a lot longer. Was approaching a set of lights (in primary?) on red and slowed and timed it so they changed before touchdown, set off and knew a car was behind from the accoustics of the tunnel then the car is on the wrongside of the road overtaking me and comes back onto the RH side of the road and nearly into me. I move left to make way for the idiot and turn right as this is the only option and moved back into primary and show my appreciation of his driving skills with an inpolite hand signal which he returns. Luckily we went different ways then.

:shock: Feck that was a bit close! Glad your OK tho!

redvee

One thig, looking at the video and my approach to the lights, I presume that is what is called 'primary'?

cjcp

:shock: Good job you're ok, fella.

Good ride home tonight. Lots of people looking to hide from the wind.

Bassjunkieuk

redvee wrote:

One thig, looking at the video and my approach to the lights, I presume that is what is called 'primary'?

That was certainly what I'd consider primary and pretty much the same position I'd have taken give the ASL, lights and the road ahead - it gives you plenty of room whilst hopefully discouraging the idiots behind from taking the pi$$!

blu3cat

Redvee, a little too close, at least in London, the idiot Picassa drivers have Private Hire stickers on the back...

Not a good start to the week, checked my tyre pressure this morning, and the valve got stuck in my track pump as as I tried to remove it (it was wedged in there good), pulled the valve right off the tube, pffffffft flat tyre. Hadn't even got out the door yet!

Quite a headwind this evening as well, picked up a tarty Specialized Langster with bullhorns, not sure if it was SS, could've been FS as it only had a front brake), full works, rolled up jeans etc. FIltered through traffic to overtake me, and then I thought game on. Fairly easily caught up, and overtook him, although I reckon he wanted a tow, as he had no trouble pootling at 18 mph when I overtook him , and was on my back wheel at 24mph. Switched to "you cheeky f*cker" indignation power as he sat on my wheel, got up to 26mph, and was glad to see him receding behind me. He did get past me again, but this was when we were filtering through traffic in Putney and he seemed very keen on becoming an SS/FS shaped smear on the side of a bus as he filtered just before he turned off.

Ah the joys of the journey home, new tubes and new mitts as well.

itboffin

Nice avg speed ride in this morning and an easy pootle across London but this evening now that was different, mrs itboffin joined me in the big smoke for dinner the she headed east whilst I rode, not sure of the route I headed east which seemed to make sense now having put in another big (for me) miles week last week the old legs weren't that fresh today so I opted for fast spinning very fast as it would seem, after a couple of sprint demonstrations I settled into a nice breeze home pace but alas it was not to be, first I found myself two roadies with good pace, dropped those then I found a fast guy with full face mask thingy going on, that really didn't look comfy, he had good speed in his legs but alas my fast exceleration left him standing at each set of lights, shame we parted company when I realised I'd missed my turning and had to double back, if you're on this forum chapeau but loose the face mask, hope you enjoyed my blast over the flyover

there was another older chap who had me pegged for flat speed I only gained on the climbs, proper rapid like 35mph+ rapid :shock:

Still there's always the morning and tomorrow evening

spasypaddy

overtook a hell of a lot of people on both in and out today, this may have something to do with my new PB times. So close to getting the sub 35min i crave on the way in and finally cracked the sub 40 on the way home. Average of 16.9mph over the two journeys and had the lights near liverpool street not been so awful i'd of cracked the 18mph average on the way in

amnezia

seemed to pick up a few shadows on the way home. bit windy

UndercoverElephant

First trip in this morning after the Sportive at the weekend, both types of headwind (knackered legs and actual) were in evidence. I was mainly trying to keep it slow whilst maintaining my scalp. Luckily there weren't too many others on the road.

Along Porto prom I was making sure I overtook all the hybrids at at least 3 mph faster than they were, fast enough in the headwind that they weren't going to come back and make me work hard. Up ahead though I see a proper SCR battle going on.

Now, my eyes aren't great, but about a quarter of a mile ahead I'm sure I can see a hi-viz hybrid taking on a roadie at laughably low speeds up the hill to Seafield road. This I must see, though I, so I start to turn the cranks to have a look-see. I catch up in a couple of minutes, they're having a right battle. Getting closer, the roadie is of the lady-legged, full lycra variety and Mr. Hi-viz has a kiddie seat on the back :shock: I make that he's giving away an FCN factor of 11!

I'm guessing that the roadie is in a world of pain after some weekend riding, but chapeau to the hybrid, he's got a taste of blood, and he's not letting go. They jostle for the lead a few times, must have been a max speed of about 18 mph. I caught up at the lights where I turn off to go to work, I did toy with the idea of doing the both of them, but decide better of it and go in to work with my scalp intact. I don't know how it ended, but the kiddie seat hybrid is a hero to me now.

Gazzaputt

What was with everyman and his hybrid this morning wanting to race me away from the lights this morning?

Had one actually get in a tuck position! I went to make that I was going to go and off he went spinning in 34x34 by look of it going nowhere fast. I just cruised past with a little grin.

On a pain in the arse note my dogshite crank brothers pedal came clean off the spindle. new pedal purchase to be made. Sorry about my language to those in the vicinity as this happened.

MonkeyMonster

I was amused by the number of FCN 3/4's this morning who didn't appreciate being over taken and took 'illegal' game moves of traffic filtering to get back in front...

Yes - you lot on embankment.

itboffin

Fun ride in from the east this morrow

I told myself not to race but just couldn't resist the urge to catch and pass EVERYONE

WOOHAHAHAH!

oh what fun you London folk have

Might trying a sneak out early for a few laps of RP :roll:

cjcp

East? Eh?

cjcp

Saw a nice carbon Boardman sporting a pair of 404s on this morning's commute. Can only assume they're racing at Hillingdon tonight.

Another lively commute on the whole too. Scalp remained in tact.

mrc1

A house move has now plonked me in Northwest London so has upped the day's commuting to the 20 mile mark (which can be supplemented by laps of Regents Park as my route incorporates the Western and Southern part of the outer loop) so all is good!

I am yet to spot any serious competition but am keeping my eyes peeled :twisted:

cjcp

mrcartledge wrote:

A house move has now plonked me in Northwest London so has upped the day's commuting to the 20 mile mark (which can be supplemented by laps of Regents Park as my route incorporates the Western and Southern part of the outer loop) so all is good!

I am yet to spot any serious competition but am keeping my eyes peeled :twisted:

Ah, so you've immersed yourself amongst the Commentating Classes of North London. :P

Do you head down onto Embankment?

mrc1

cjcp wrote:

mrcartledge wrote:

A house move has now plonked me in Northwest London so has upped the day's commuting to the 20 mile mark (which can be supplemented by laps of Regents Park as my route incorporates the Western and Southern part of the outer loop) so all is good!

I am yet to spot any serious competition but am keeping my eyes peeled :twisted:

Ah, so you've immersed yourself amongst the Commentating Classes of North London. :P

Do you head down onto Embankment?

Indeed I have although I am only there for 2 months so hopefully I won't become too absorbed in it!

I moved at the weekend and haven't had time to plan a decent route yet but will look into a route that gets me onto the dragstrip......

blu3cat

Ah, the pleasures of an early (for me) start in the office(9 o'clock), other cyclists to SCR.

Coming towards Putney from Wimbledon this morning and what a feast, at least 5 cyclists. And in that there were 2 targets, a chap on a specialized SS/FS in London Dynamo Lycra, and another roadie who I have seen before on a Willier (seen them both before)

We all filter through the traffic to Putney Bridge and line up at the lights before the bridge.

We're off, and using my strength(well OK my gears) SS chap is history, I think the Willier person is not really trying and easily leave him as well. He does some sublime filtering as we both get stuck in traffic on Fulham palace road and gets ahead again. Same result I pass, repeat again. Get through to Hammersmith and he filters his way past and then continues on his ride while I turn off.

Only at this point do I notice his bag as well as his baggies, and realise that all my effort has been for nothing as I am bagless today.

Still nice feeling to fly past a Peloton of 6 or 7 cyclists even if they are all hybrids and tourers.

cjcp

MonkeyMonster wrote:

I was amused by the number of FCN 3/4's this morning who didn't appreciate being over taken and took 'illegal' game moves of traffic filtering to get back in front...

Yes - you lot on embankment.

MM - when are you usually on Embankment?

MonkeyMonster

I pop on at parliament sq from between 8 (if I get up in time) and 8.30 off again at blackfriars.

Usually...

Red face mask and blue courier bag.

snooks

AT LAST!

Well it's a drought in East london, so much so that reading about the epic scalping was depressing, like hearing your mates talk about eating out at good restaurants when all you have to eat is MacDonalds

When I'm on my bike East London just seems full of:

Singlespeed couriers on their way to work and a bit of game play is out of the question, and when they do nibble at the hook they RLJ at the next lights
Shoppers, which I go by in the blink of an eye
Bouncy Halford specials riding on the pavement
Hybrids who haven't discovered the game
Roadies who jump red lights

Even when I take to a knobbly mtb there is no competition

So epic battles in my end of town are as rare as an honest MP

Well that was until this morning

Oh yes! This morning :shock:

Arena: Mile end road
My weapon of choice my Felt Z65 (4) his a Bianchi Pista (3)

I breezed past some fella on a Bianchi Pista, a few lights later, Mr B goes past me in a flash of spinning legs, and before I can do anything there's a drafting focus behind him :shock: . Ladies and gentlemen I believe we have the beginnings of a game :twisted: I crank it up a bit, and pass him and the Focus by the next lights. the Focus RLJs and is out of the equation. I stay ahead the lights after that, lights after he takes me and stays ahead now this is becoming fun, from those lights he gets away like a rocket, his legs a blur of pink. I follow, I dig deep, and he keeps going, he's still ahead of me. Fcuk know what this guy had for breakfast but he was burning it up good and proper. Lights are ahead, so I know my time is limited. I'm running on fumes in the power department, but then, from my little toe, I could feel some power still left, and I was going to uses every bit I had to get past this guy well before the lights came up. I looked down and I was doing 28mph as I went past. At those lights, my skin could breath no more, and trying to show no effort was out of the window, I was shagged, he didn't pull up next to me, but stayed behind.

I was tempted to take a different route to see how much more he (and I) had, but I had to turn off towards tower hill....Today was a good day

cjcp

Way too early for me then!

itboffin

snooks wrote:

AT LAST!

Well it's a drought in East london, so much so that reading about the epic scalping was depressing, like hearing your mates talk about eating out at good restaurants when all you have to eat is MacDonalds

When I'm on my bike East London just seems full of:

Singlespeed couriers on their way to work and a bit of game play is out of the question, and when they do nibble at the hook they RLJ at the next lights
Shoppers, which I go by in the blink of an eye
Bouncy Halford specials riding on the pavement
Hybrids who haven't discovered the game
Roadies who jump red lights

Even when I take to a knobbly mtb there is no competition

So epic battles in my end of town are as rare as an honest MP

Well that was until this morning

Oh yes! This morning :shock:

Arena: Mile end road
My weapon of choice my Felt Z65 (4) his a Bianchi Pista (3)

I breezed past some fella on a Bianchi Pista, a few lights later, Mr B goes past me in a flash of spinning legs, and before I can do anything there's a drafting focus behind him :shock: . Ladies and gentlemen I believe we have the beginnings of a game :twisted: I crank it up a bit, and pass him and the Focus by the next lights. the Focus RLJs and is out of the equation. I stay ahead the lights after that, lights after he takes me and stays ahead now this is becoming fun, from those lights he gets away like a rocket, his legs a blur of pink. I follow, I dig deep, and he keeps going, he's still ahead of me. Fcuk know what this guy had for breakfast but he was burning it up good and proper. Lights are ahead, so I know my time is limited. I'm running on fumes in the power department, but then, from my little toe, I could feel some power still left, and I was going to uses every bit I had to get past this guy well before the lights came up. I looked down and I was doing 28mph as I went past. At those lights, my skin could breath no more, and trying to show no effort was out of the window, I was shagged, he didn't pull up next to me, but stayed behind.

I was tempted to take a different route to see how much more he (and I) had, but I had to turn off towards tower hill....Today was a good day

Long time no see good to hear from you again.

I'm all over your tuff this week I was there this morning burning up the mile end road around 8:30 ish oh what fun I had, the zipper on my rucksack wont shut for all the scalps.

Look out for me i'll be on my all blank Dolan dress in coordinated Castelli blur past :P

Excessive beer & BBQ for lunch may cause objects to appear faster than in reality.

itboffin

9 miles from my office to RP

RP? or beer? :roll:

snooks

The good news about the East End is that there's usually a tail wind on the way home....as there is tonight... woo hoo!

I don't leave Stratford until 8:45-9ish in the morning so you're well gone by the time I hit the road....on the way home though...what time are you leaving? :twisted:

itboffin

snooks wrote:

The good news about the East End is that there's usually a tail wind on the way home woo hoo!

I don't leave Stratford until 8:45-9ish in the morning so you're well gone by the time I hit the road....on the way home though...what time are you leaving? :twisted:

I'm toying with beers vs RP vs the drag east ...?

cjcp

itboffin wrote:

9 miles from my office to RP

RP? or beer? :roll:

Why don't you go to RP and have a beer at the Roebuck. Two birds, one stone and all that.

gb155

Had an amazing Ride today, Me and a friend from work were drafting like TT'ers lol, Fat boy me and him wearing shirt and tie on a dawes galxey, but we were flying at 25mph, catching a super skinny fast roadie, 3 miles later we hadnt missed a beat and flew past him, He did hold our back wheels till we all 3 parts 3 diffrent ways, Clocked up 19.5 miles for the day with 5 scalps, I need a long refreshing shower now