Silly commuting racing

cjcp

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

Nothing to report other than a monster westerly headwind on embankment. Enjoy your ride home...

Yep, good tailwind this morning and still had a drafting fairy! I mean, come on! Just jump in a taxi! Seen him before, lots of times and he's a serial drafter.

Looking forward to tonight's fun. :twisted:

itboffin

I used to ride bikes

Cafewanda

ITB - you'll be back. Besides the PF must be missing you madly :evil:

cjcp

itboffin wrote:

I used to ride bikes

When are you back in Blighty?

itboffin

Leaving here tonight back in the UK tomorrow, another 11 hr flight.

I wonder how many PF visits i've had since I've been away.

BTW I saw two cyclist whilst in Joburg - now that's MTFU

:?

prawny

I forgot to moan earluer, but can someone look at the FCN for electric bikes? I was riding up a hill on the way home last night at 12/13mph overtook a chap on a hybrid thinking I'm doing ok up here tonight (usual creaking groanin speed is 9-10mph) when whoosh! A guy on a hybrid flies past at at least 20mph for a moment I am stunned and think about lobbing my bike and catching the bus. Then I notice the massive rear hub and the quiet whirring noise.

I started catching him on the way back down but he got through the lights, I got stuck on red and then there was another similar but shorter hill afterwards and I didn't see him again.

Not fair, somebody change the rules or I'm not playing. :evil:

Jay dubbleU

prawny wrote:

I forgot to moan earluer, but can someone look at the FCN for electric bikes? I was riding up a hill on the way home last night at 12/13mph overtook a chap on a hybrid thinking I'm doing ok up here tonight (usual creaking groanin speed is 9-10mph) when whoosh! A guy on a hybrid flies past at at least 20mph for a moment I am stunned and think about lobbing my bike and catching the bus. Then I notice the massive rear hub and the quiet whirring noise.

I started catching him on the way back down but he got through the lights, I got stuck on red and then there was another similar but shorter hill afterwards and I didn't see him again.

Not fair, somebody change the rules or I'm not playing. :evil:

Have a look at page 1 of the SCR thread for full list - sadly electric bikes are listed as FCN14

prawny

Jay dubbleU wrote:

prawny wrote:

I forgot to moan earluer, but can someone look at the FCN for electric bikes? I was riding up a hill on the way home last night at 12/13mph overtook a chap on a hybrid thinking I'm doing ok up here tonight (usual creaking groanin speed is 9-10mph) when whoosh! A guy on a hybrid flies past at at least 20mph for a moment I am stunned and think about lobbing my bike and catching the bus. Then I notice the massive rear hub and the quiet whirring noise.

I started catching him on the way back down but he got through the lights, I got stuck on red and then there was another similar but shorter hill afterwards and I didn't see him again.

Not fair, somebody change the rules or I'm not playing. :evil:

Have a look at page 1 of the SCR thread for full list - sadly electric bikes are listed as FCN14

I know that's what I'm saying, they should be 1 maybe 2 max. The ezee electric bikes can do 20 mph :shock:

http://www.50cycles.com/torq_test.shtml

prawny

Right that does it! I tried to battle e-bike man again tonight, thatthing is mental. He took me on the same hill but I was nearer the top so I powered after him and caught up on the down hill, he nipped through a gap in traffic when I got held up, so I layed down the awesome (to quote DDD) and was powering along a slight uphill at 26mph, and I wasn't gaining. Come on thats just not cricket.

when we got to the next hill I tried to get out of the saddle and power up but my legs blew and he got further away and he was gone.

i've not really been overtaken on my commute before, I think I now officially have a nemesis. :twisted:

Kieran_Burns

prawny wrote:

Right that does it! I tried to battle e-bike man again tonight, thatthing is mental. He took me on the same hill but I was nearer the top so I powered after him and caught up on the down hill, he nipped through a gap in traffic when I got held up, so I layed down the awesome (to quote DDD) and was powering along a slight uphill at 26mph, and I wasn't gaining. Come on thats just not cricket.

when we got to the next hill I tried to get out of the saddle and power up but my legs blew and he got further away and he was gone.

i've not really been overtaken on my commute before, I think I now officially have a nemesis. :twisted:

What you need to do is: as you go past shout "CHARGE!"

Then maybe 'amp' it up a notch; tell him resistance is futile; reFUSE to give up; but don't hit him - you would be accused of assault and battery!

I ought to be on stage.... I'd make a great target.

jimmypippa

And if you get the bonk because of this you will be able to answer the question "wire you insulate?"

Mithras

I'm officially in the club, went out yesterday morning with the intentention of taking an easy ride in, my legs were tired, I felt lousy, even put a windproof on to keep a bit warmer in a cruel Lincolnsire head wind. 5 minutes into my ride, as I tuned onto the A15 I see another lycra clad racing snake comingdown the road. I'm 50 yards in front but only doing 15mph, couple of minutes go by, no overtake, looks behind and there he s sheltering behind my bulky frame. Crank it up a notch, nope still there, a bit further, nope not lost him. 5 miles later, I'm doing evens into a head wind, legs spinning on a 74" fixed and the bugger is still there. I'm feeling good, 5 miles into a headwind and I'm forcing a proper cyclist to stay behind me. Hit the road works and he pulls up alongside, apologisies for draughting but it's the first time he's been out on the bike in 6 months....Pfffffffffffssssssssssssssss. thats my ego punctured, thankfully, not my tyres. Still got my 17.5 mile ride done in an hour and 3 into that head wind...thanks buddy. (LEGS now completely blown had nothing let for the journey home.)

cjcp

Mithras wrote:

Pfffffffffffssssssssssssssss. thats my ego punctured, thankfully, not my tyres.

You're joking right?! You pulled him how far into a headwind and no sharing of the work from him? Drafting is easy on the legs I think your ego remains well and truly in tact. 8)

Anyone on here ride a a black Specialized, you were dressed all in black yesterday, and we had a tit for tat along Embankment before you turned off at Chelsea Birdge ahead of me? You proved very strong into that headwind, sir. Chapeau.

Had two drafting fairies yesterday evening, neither of whom said "thanks". :roll: I wasn't even going quickly either. (My legs were shot and, tbh, it would have been really good to have an iPod for the section through the Park just to hum away to some tunes.)

Citizen Smith

Scalped a Litespeed today tho had to pull 26mph to do so. Nice start to the week!

GamingAddict

Hi all,

So finally I got my Ride to Work after having to wait a year, so I got myself all kitted up got my bike Friday and couldn't wait for monday to come round. (I know it is strange feeling when you're actually looking forward to a monday morning).

So I get ready for this mornings commute all excited and slightly nervous over using SPD's for the first time, some slight butterflies in my stomach thinking please don't let me fall off on my first day out on the new machine.

As for the commute itself, there were a few fellow cyclists, luckily I managed to scalp one, although it was only an older gentleman on a hybrid, although since it is my first time, I think I'll count him, didn't fall off or get crushed by a car, so a bit of a result really.

The other cyclists seemed to be going the opposite way from me, which is a shame, but there is always the commute home :twisted: already can't wait until 6pm comes around so I can hop back on the bike and commence round 2 of the day.

Regards
GAddict

Kieran_Burns

GamingAddict wrote:

Hi all,

So finally I got my Ride to Work after having to wait a year, so I got myself all kitted up got my bike Friday and couldn't wait for monday to come round. (I know it is strange feeling when you're actually looking forward to a monday morning).

So I get ready for this mornings commute all excited and slightly nervous over using SPD's for the first time, some slight butterflies in my stomach thinking please don't let me fall off on my first day out on the new machine.

As for the commute itself, there were a few fellow cyclists, luckily I managed to scalp one, although it was only an older gentleman on a hybrid, although since it is my first time, I think I'll count him, didn't fall off or get crushed by a car, so a bit of a result really.

The other cyclists seemed to be going the opposite way from me, which is a shame, but there is always the commute home :twisted: already can't wait until 6pm comes around so I can hop back on the bike and commence round 2 of the day.

Regards
GAddict

Yeah, except they'll all be going the other way then. A serious SCR'r would move house to ensure they had scalps.

Bleeding amateur


(for the hard of humour :P )

cjcp

GamingAddict wrote:

Hi all,

So finally I got my Ride to Work after having to wait a year, so I got myself all kitted up got my bike Friday and couldn't wait for monday to come round. (I know it is strange feeling when you're actually looking forward to a monday morning).

So I get ready for this mornings commute all excited and slightly nervous over using SPD's for the first time, some slight butterflies in my stomach thinking please don't let me fall off on my first day out on the new machine.

As for the commute itself, there were a few fellow cyclists, luckily I managed to scalp one, although it was only an older gentleman on a hybrid, although since it is my first time, I think I'll count him, didn't fall off or get crushed by a car, so a bit of a result really.

The other cyclists seemed to be going the opposite way from me, which is a shame, but there is always the commute home :twisted: already can't wait until 6pm comes around so I can hop back on the bike and commence round 2 of the day.

Regards
GAddict

Welcome, GA!

Where's your commute?

cjcp

Some fun this morning.

Quiet through the Park before finding myself being drafted a, ahem, woman :shock: along the NKR. She did however have all the clobber and looked like a triathlete or roadie. She filtered by in the lights, but I wasn't having any of that , and SCR mode duly engaged. Dropped her like a hot potato (yeah, I know, but this is SCR and there's no discrimination here :P ).

Onto Chelsea Embankment and encountered a Dynamo and a chap on a huge, red Cannondale, who might be the tallest cyclist in the world :shock: . Shaved legs, looked like a racer. Would have been no contest if he'd gone for it!

GamingAddict

@KB moving home is an option I will look into, or chaing my commute times to get more work.

@CJ commute is in Crawley about 3.5miles, doesn't take long enough, I may have to lengthen this commute in order for more scalps!!!

d21dga

Bloody p*ncture fairy.

On my way home on Friday, had just got onto the rough country lane which forms part of my commute when I noticed the handling go funny. Looked round and the rear was flat. Replaced the tube with the spare I was carrying and continued home. (Thanks btw to the only 1 of 3 people who passed me who actually asked if I needed any help).

Was going away for the weekend so didn't have time to patch up the inner tube when I got home as I was running a bit late already thanks to the puncture. Got back late on sunday and was tired so couldn't be bothered to patch the tube then.
Was about to set off this morning when I realised I didn't have another spare tube and I still hadn't repaired the other one, thought to myself 'what are the chances' (schoolboy error I know!) and started off on my way. :roll:

Got to the same stretch of country lane and yep, got a flat on the rear again! :evil:
So had to repair my tube this time. Thing is, I checked round the tyre where the first puncture was and couldn't find any sharp objects or anything and I've no idea if the second puncture was the same spot in the tyre or not. Couldn't see any particularly sharp objects on the road, no glass etc.

Just my luck!

cjcp

GamingAddict wrote:

@CJ commute is in Crawley about 3.5miles, doesn't take long enough, I may have to lengthen this commute in order for more scalps!!!

I used to live near there - Maidenbower - which meant I had to catch the train to work. Dark times.

gmillsy

cjcp wrote:

Some fun this morning.

Quiet through the Park before finding myself being drafted a, ahem, woman :shock: along the NKR. She did however have all the clobber and looked like a triathlete or roadie. She filtered by in the lights, but I wasn't having any of that , and SCR mode duly engaged. Dropped her like a hot potato (yeah, I know, but this is SCR and there's no discrimination here :P ).

Onto Chelsea Embankment and encountered a Dynamo and a chap on a huge, red Cannondale, who might be the tallest cyclist in the world :shock: . Shaved legs, looked like a racer. Would have been no contest if he'd gone for it!

I saw those two guys aswell on the embankment, the cannondale man was huge - i think i've sparred round Richmond Park with him before- he's rapid. What were you riding?

Also did you see a white van/lorry try and wipe loads of cyclists out by honking and then passing about 6 inches away from them? what a w*nker.

cjcp

gmillsy wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Some fun this morning.

Quiet through the Park before finding myself being drafted a, ahem, woman :shock: along the NKR. She did however have all the clobber and looked like a triathlete or roadie. She filtered by in the lights, but I wasn't having any of that , and SCR mode duly engaged. Dropped her like a hot potato (yeah, I know, but this is SCR and there's no discrimination here :P ).

Onto Chelsea Embankment and encountered a Dynamo and a chap on a huge, red Cannondale, who might be the tallest cyclist in the world :shock: . Shaved legs, looked like a racer. Would have been no contest if he'd gone for it!

I saw those two guys aswell on the embankment, the cannondale man was huge - i think i've sparred round Richmond Park with him before- he's rapid. What were you riding?

Also did you see a white van/lorry try and wipe loads of cyclists out by honking and then passing about 6 inches away from them? what a w*nker.

Hold the 'phone! I'm on a red bike too - see sig.

What were you riding?

Yeah, that lorry driver was a right royal @rsehole. He honked at the Embankment tube lights, didn't he? I was sat in front of him, but in a primary position and decided to make a quick getaway from the lights for once. He honked when I was about 20 yards away and I just kept checking for him coming up behind in case he got a bit too close. That was a big lorry too.

gmillsy

cjcp wrote:

Hold the 'phone! I'm on a red bike too - see sig.

What were you riding?

Yeah, that lorry driver was a right royal @rsehole. He honked at the Embankment tube lights, didn't he? I was sat in front of him, but in a primary position and decided to make a quick getaway from the lights for once. He honked when I was about 20 yards away and I just kept checking for him coming up behind in case he got a bit too close. That was a big lorry too.

I was riding a black Cannondale MTB (i know, i know - good resistance training though right?!). I was also wearing an old school Specialized top.

I can't see the photo as flickr is blocked at work, but will have a look at home - will say hi if i see you again though!

The lorry was pretty scary - he boxed loads of people (me included) further down the embankment near temple where all the motorbikes/scooters are parked - i thought a few people were going to run into them. No one did thankfully, the lorry driver was obviously a total j0hnson.

cjcp

gmillsy wrote:

I was riding a black Cannondale MTB (i know, i know - good resistance training though right?!). I was also wearing an old school Specialized top.

I can't see the photo as flickr is blocked at work, but will have a look at home - will say hi if i see you again though!

The lorry was pretty scary - he boxed loads of people (me included) further down the embankment near temple where all the motorbikes/scooters are parked - i thought a few people were going to run into them. No one did thankfully, the lorry driver was obviously a total j0hnson.

Yeah, that's actually a nasty pinch point. One way or the other, scooters are getting in the way. :P

Do say "hi" next time. I'm not the most sociable of commuters, so apologies in advance if I give you a funny look if we do see each other again. :oops:

itboffin

Back in the game tomorrow on my SS with thread bare tyres what could possibly go wrong :roll:

gb155

FINALLY Prey...Scalped 3, Got scalped once......Ohhh happy days.

Wrath Rob

What's this doing on page 2?

Nice ride in this morning, had a few roadies to play with but no long lasting battles. Either the gym classes are paying off or I'm unlucky with the time I leave. Maybe I should dust of the MTB :twisted:

blu3cat

Normal service has resumed. Finally managed to get a replacement spoke for my rear whell and am now back "in full effect". Which means of course no-one to play with on the way in

itboffin

Good ride in on the country leg of my commute, pleasant train journey we're I changed into my fakenger outfit for the London leg telling myself "you will not race" large bag with expensive company laptop and many many books etc.

First set of lights turn green and a quick glance behind reveals a gaggle of cyclists all eyeing up my finely defined calves bam! i'm off like a rat up a drainpipe, quarter of the way over Waterloo bridge before I glance back to see..... NOTHING! but distance specks

Slowing down for the normally red lights at the other side I spy the slender form of a burd fully kitted up on a proper road bike, shaved legs natch! hammer back down I cruise up beside confirming my previous obv. yep! clearly a burd, with one hell of a large rucksack, cruising up to the lights on the North side they switch to green and i'm off, who do I see on my right but the Burd, fair play... we round to the next lights red/green and i'm off this time using a pinch of speed for effect, clearly not trying and def not sweating

Good show madam, I really hope that bag wasn't full i looked big enough to carry another person