Silly commuting racing

janiem

Just commuted home from Hull. Pedalling through Swanland (the posh bit) and who did I see coming the other way? Non other than Vladimir Karpets!!! Out on a training run before the Tour of Britain starts tomorrow in Scunthorpe, just over the Humber Bridge.
Oh how I wish I could have added his fabulous be-mulleted scalp to my handlebars!
Although he would have to have been walking for me to pass him.

Bassjunkieuk

Not sure if I can count this as a commute as I wasn't working today but instead needed to bring my bike back from the parents house as it was left there yesterday after meeting the family there after my half day yesterday.

Anyhow I set off at the same time as my fair lady in the family car with the kids in. I take full advantage of being on the bike and make use of a couple of bike only sections which save a tiny distance in the approximately 2.5 ride home!

I hit the longest road and it seems I'm riding fully into a rather nasty headwind. It's about a mile long and a quick check on the comp shows I'm holding between 18-20mph. A quick bit of math and I figure I'm only going to need to keep up the effort into the wind for about 4-5 minutes so hunker down on the drops and keep the effort up.

Once I reach the end and turn I look back down the road and can just see the wife about 300 yards back down the road with 2 cars in between us. The temporary lights ahead are red and I have to stop. As it goes green I shoulder check before moving into the gap and see her now one car behind :-( The next set of lights isn't so kind and we both get through and the wind again seems to be blowing towards me but I now have a carrot to chase!!

The final set of lights go red and I join her at the front of the queue, trying not to blow to hard we exchange pleasantries before the lights change and I give it one last push towards the house and manage to lay down some awesome! We both turn into our road at the same time but I get to the front door first :-)

After the ride I check the computer and it shows a 30.8mph for the final section and I mentioned that I think I nudged 30 and she said that the car concurred, apparently one of the kids said she needed to go faster to catch daddy and she said she couldn't as daddy was going as fast as she was allowed :-D

One last bit - DDD, the BDS is safe again this week - my plans have changed and I'm not needed up in town so won't be heading out that way :-(

redvee

I was out for a ride today and had the stupid idea of seeing how far I could get up Park Street in Brizzle and can proudly say that I completed the ride from College Green to Berkely Square and claimed a scalp on the way up but had to back off as I got to the top as my heart was trying to escape my body.

Now the maths:
44x16 gearing
Height gain 35 m in 500m/115ft in 0.31miles which is roughly 1:14

hellotracy

Rucksacks / messenger bags = 0.

Agree No pack =-1

This is a good adjuster...

The pedal type only really kicks in when you start to top out over the hybrids....... have you ever seen a dude on a brompton clipless?

The answer to that of course is not previously but I gather that there may well be a rake of souped up regeared bromptons with toe clips and dudes with quads like cow legs humping down the embankment banging out 120 RPM and 25 mph by monday.

Brothers - we need an evaluation of the mathematics.....

There is a stage following the base FCN and adjuster where subtle indicators start to kick in. a 6" rake thin hairy roadie with an obscure bike shop rig on and tyranosauros thighs would (in my opinion) top out over a bog standard shaved Roadie (like a lady).

These subtle clues need to be assessed by the gamer and an honesty decision made as to the validity of the scalping. This is a game you basically play with your ego after all. Your Ego is a fierce critic and will keep you dare I say it "real".......

In the same way when you are leading the pack and the clock is ticking to scalp those drafting you pick a point in your route after which you are going to claim the win - then tuck in your head take a deep breath, put it up a gear and with all the guile you can mustedr pretend it's no big deal and put the hammer down....

Let us not however even consider suggesting a scalping of a class beneath even "if they looked well tasty" if you are considering this your ego needs to be recalibrated as you are a wrong 'un.

Fixed Tractor spinny gearing - upper end fixed / hairy roadie

What would Thora Hurd do?

Roastie

Project Pig is now rolling . The Pig is a roughly 10 year old GT Palomar MTB that wasn't particularly high end in its day so carries a fair bit of weight. The 7-speed drivetrain works surprisingly well, but the gearing is fairly limited from the perspective of speed. To make matters worse, the right hand crank arm is bent, so the pedal has a wonky movement underfoot. Probably a good thing then that it has flat pedals fitted, otherwise my knees would be dead. So that all gives me a whacking FCN of 10 (I would think I should really get an additional +1 for the bent drive side crank arm, but we're splitting hairs).

This mornings commute was quite amusing. Firstly, it was educational to see how the other half live. I haven't yet mounted the HRM, but at what seemed like my normal intensity I found I was barely making 20mph where I'd ordinarily be happily nudging 25.

And how exactly do people ride with flat pedals? I kept having "non-clipless moments" when I'd lift my foot clear of the pedal and then have to fumble to find it again - espcially bad when attempting to accelerate from the lights.

Nevertheless, I had a ball; I really enjoyed riding The Pig. Which brings me to SCR . Raising one's FCN certainly makes SCR a lot more fun. I found I was being picked on my other MTB'ers and had great fun pasting a dude on a very flash looking new Carrera (slicks, locked out front sus) who tried it on from the one light (and very nearly had me due to a "non-clipless moment"). But my first scalp of the day was the best: lycra'd roadie on a Viner rolling on Ksyrium Elites .

Now, Embankment this afternoon with a 44T big ring? :shock:

roger_merriman

Roastie wrote:

Project Pig is now rolling . The Pig is a roughly 10 year old GT Palomar MTB that wasn't particularly high end in its day so carries a fair bit of weight. The 7-speed drivetrain works surprisingly well, but the gearing is fairly limited from the perspective of speed. To make matters worse, the right hand crank arm is bent, so the pedal has a wonky movement underfoot. Probably a good thing then that it has flat pedals fitted, otherwise my knees would be dead. So that all gives me a whacking FCN of 10 (I would think I should really get an additional +1 for the bent drive side crank arm, but we're splitting hairs).

This mornings commute was quite amusing. Firstly, it was educational to see how the other half live. I haven't yet mounted the HRM, but at what seemed like my normal intensity I found I was barely making 20mph where I'd ordinarily be happily nudging 25.

And how exactly do people ride with flat pedals? I kept having "non-clipless moments" when I'd lift my foot clear of the pedal and then have to fumble to find it again - espcially bad when attempting to accelerate from the lights.

Nevertheless, I had a ball; I really enjoyed riding The Pig. Which brings me to SCR . Raising one's FCN certainly makes SCR a lot more fun. I found I was being picked on my other MTB'ers and had great fun pasting a dude on a very flash looking new Carrera (slicks, locked out front sus) who tried it on from the one light (and very nearly had me due to a "non-clipless moment"). But my first scalp of the day was the best: lycra'd roadie on a Viner rolling on Ksyrium Elites .

Now, Embankment this afternoon with a 44T big ring? :shock:

spend out and get some DMG V8/12 or cheap copies they stick to your feet like pig poo.

oh and FCN of 10 try 17! though since my commute is though Bushy park at odd hours, I've yet to over take any one worth overtaking though was a kid on a plastic bike that was going a fair lick the other day...

MonkeyMonster

Anyone seen/know the white SS with purple rims? Thought he could out accelerate so keep sitting in front of me annoyingly... Grrrr

Think I need to test Roastie on his new pig No one else I recognised this morning - the usual few crappier roadies and odd ss or two scalps. Nasty headwind too - would be glorious to have it as a tail on way home...

pst88

Before setting out to work on my first bike commute in 8 weeks (broken wrist + plus a bout of shingles) I decided to make sure my tyres were at optimal scalping pressure. Foolishly tried to pump up my rear tyre which had a broken presta valve resulting in complete deflation. I toyed with the idea of putting off my first ride in for another day and getting the bus instead but I decided to MTFU, replace the tube, not break any more valves and ride in. I thought that might've been a bad omen for the ride in but it wasn't too bad.

Only saw 2 other bikes on the ride in, one was a old woman on a folder on a hill ahead of me that I was closing on fast. She must've sensed me coming and gave up to walk just as I approached. The second was a bloke on a BSO that clearly hadn't mastered the brakes yet as he almost crashed into a curb, cut up the inside of a waiting car and dragged his foot along to slow down at some lights (at least he did stop). When the lights changed to green I was chasing him down and got a chance to test out my new Koolstop brake pads when a white van reversed into the path of both of us (which gave me a bit of a fright being a bit more powerful than I expected). BSO man didn't know what hit him when the road turned to an uphill and I blew him off with an awesome display of quad power. I know there was no glory in it but it was just a chance for me to show off. Not bad for a man that's been sitting around for the past 8 weeks eating pies and getting fat.... I need to lie down now though. Getting home tonight will be fun!

All the time I was off the bike, getting the bus to work I saw loads of bikes high up the food chain, lycra, a few shaved roadies, even one with tri bars! But now I'm back on the bike all I see is old ladies and BSOs, just my luck. Maybe with my delay from replacing a tube I missed all the good bikes to race against... but with that also comes the possibility of being scalped back.

blu3cat

While note strictly SCR, did the Duathlon yesterday, there were several very low FCN people on TT machines who I managed to scalp. 8)

Also it was bike porn heaven

This made up for barely being able to walk this morning and having to hand my scalp to a baggied roadie chap this morning as I couldn't get anything over 18mph without feeling like I was cycling on bloodied stumps.

Roastie

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Think I need to test Roastie on his new pig

I shall look out for a furiously ridden Cannondale.

cjcp

Very little pickings around this morning. Pootled in and still retained my scalp.

Tailwind on the way home! Hurrah!

Roastie - a bent drive side crank arm? :shock: You riding something out of The Flinstones? However, I saw the roadie you mention. He was on the pavement, curled up in the foetal position, eyes wide open, sucking his thumb. He was rocking slightly too. :twisted:

MonkeyMonster

Indeed - the wind is still in the tail for going west! and I am leaving early should be excellent.

itboffin

roger merriman wrote:

Roastie wrote:

Project Pig is now rolling . The Pig is a roughly 10 year old GT Palomar MTB that wasn't particularly high end in its day so carries a fair bit of weight. The 7-speed drivetrain works surprisingly well, but the gearing is fairly limited from the perspective of speed. To make matters worse, the right hand crank arm is bent, so the pedal has a wonky movement underfoot. Probably a good thing then that it has flat pedals fitted, otherwise my knees would be dead. So that all gives me a whacking FCN of 10 (I would think I should really get an additional +1 for the bent drive side crank arm, but we're splitting hairs).

This mornings commute was quite amusing. Firstly, it was educational to see how the other half live. I haven't yet mounted the HRM, but at what seemed like my normal intensity I found I was barely making 20mph where I'd ordinarily be happily nudging 25.

And how exactly do people ride with flat pedals? I kept having "non-clipless moments" when I'd lift my foot clear of the pedal and then have to fumble to find it again - espcially bad when attempting to accelerate from the lights.

Nevertheless, I had a ball; I really enjoyed riding The Pig. Which brings me to SCR . Raising one's FCN certainly makes SCR a lot more fun. I found I was being picked on my other MTB'ers and had great fun pasting a dude on a very flash looking new Carrera (slicks, locked out front sus) who tried it on from the one light (and very nearly had me due to a "non-clipless moment"). But my first scalp of the day was the best: lycra'd roadie on a Viner rolling on Ksyrium Elites .

Now, Embankment this afternoon with a 44T big ring? :shock:

spend out and get some DMG V8/12 or cheap copies they stick to your feet like pig poo.

oh and FCN of 10 try 17! though since my commute is though Bushy park at odd hours, I've yet to over take any one worth overtaking though was a kid on a plastic bike that was going a fair lick the other day...

Watch out for the spikes they love to embed themselves in your shins at the first op

Roastie

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - a bent drive side crank arm? :shock: You riding something out of The Flinstones?

It isn't called the Pig for nothing!

@ITB: I learnt that the hard way on my BMX. :shock: Have scars to prove it!

jonginge

Roastie wrote:

@ITB: I learnt that the hard way on my BMX. :shock: Have scars to prove it!

Me too, dagnabbit

roger_merriman

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - a bent drive side crank arm? :shock: You riding something out of The Flinstones?

It isn't called the Pig for nothing!

@ITB: I learnt that the hard way on my BMX. :shock: Have scars to prove it!

I find the better ie spikier ones are better about that, not because they will not make a mess of your leg, because they will but your shoes stay on the flats.

UndercoverElephant

JonGinge wrote:

Roastie wrote:

@ITB: I learnt that the hard way on my BMX. :shock: Have scars to prove it!

Me too, dagnabbit

And here! In fact, I'd forgotten where I got that scar, it's all come flooding back. :?

MonkeyMonster

Ooof, tail wind my arse... Careful out there chappies, can be some nasty crosswinds on the ol embankment.

Roastie

Goodness, that was fun!

Caned it all the way home, tho' I must admit that I did run out of steam a bit after Chelsea Bridge.

While ambling along Cannon Street I head this maniacal yelling from behind me. Turns out to be a twit on (what looked like) a Spesh Tarmac spouting venom at everyone; it would seem they were using his personal road. Nevermind, topic for another thread, but it winds me up.

Onto Vic Embankment the annoyance is feeding me but I'm feeling the groove and The Pig is rolling relentlessly under me. I ride hard up to the Big Ben light, but arrive just a bt late to nip through. Yay! I needed a breather!

There I come across a dude with laydee legs in Sportful kit on a lovely Cervelo who tracks stands nicely. Being SCR addict I am, I can barely resist a provocative spurt to Parliament Sq. It is game on.

Onto Passing Westminster Palace he kicks and I simply cannot respond; I have another "non-clipless" moment and fumble to plant my foot squarely on the pedals as he near instantaneously pulls a good few lengths. Nevermind, a big chase to the Lambeth Bridge roundabout.

I make contact again onto Millbank but he is winding it up something crazy. I can only grab a tow and spin madly. As we approach the queue at Vauxhall Bridge I break off left to say "Hi & thanks". Just as I'm coming around I see him look back for me - I'd like to believe he looks gutted when I say "Thanks for the tow!"

We filter to the front and wait for green. This time he as it goes green he makes no mistake and opens the biggest can of whoopass I've seen in a long time, and he empties the lot in a hard sprint to put a good 20m between us away from the light, and then opens another as he tucks in and becomes a small speck in the distance. I give it all, but it is hopeless - he is gone. No way he is giving up his scalp!

When I get to the front at Chelsea bridge, there he is. As we roll off I nail it, and he tucks in behind. Out of respect, I give it all I can but at this stage my lungs, still raw from a bad bout of asthma, are burning. CJ's record stays intact, but I do manage to nudge the high 40s (km/h - near 30) on the ramp off from the intersection. Eventually I'm spent, and the dude comes by, an very nicely offers me a tow. I'm too knackered to even try hitching on so thank him for the gesture and he accelerates away followed by a quick guy on a Langster.

At Albert Bridge I peel left and start my cool off. I'm on such a high - I don't think I've had that much fun on the commute in a long time. I do need proper pedals so I can play properly, but I am loving The Pig. I guess part of me loves playing the underdog. Maybe it is because this way it is "safer" because I can't really lose? Or maybe it is because I love a challenge? I like to believe it is the latter. Who knows.

kyoukoku

ugh, flipping nasty headwind on the way home tonight, was really struggling to avoid all the rubbish getting blown along the A10 towards me.

Then all the numpty cyclists who I scalped wanted to get in front of me at the lights and then get in the bloody way wobbling all over the joint! :roll: :evil: grrrrr what is the point really?

In Stoke Newington two girls jumped the lights and almost got taken out by one of those big Audi 4x4 things, fecking idiots :roll: :x

waddlie

redvee wrote:

I was out for a ride today and had the stupid idea of seeing how far I could get up Park Street in Brizzle and can proudly say that I completed the ride from College Green to Berkely Square and claimed a scalp on the way up but had to back off as I got to the top as my heart was trying to escape my body.

Hehe - the first time I rode up Park St I had a moment of madness at the bottom and decided I'd stand on the pedals and power all the way up. I made it, but ended up vomitting on the pavement outside the Hunger Hatch on the triangle. These days I prefer spinning it out up Jacobs Wells so I have some energy left for Whiteladies...

cjcp

I didn't have anything like that. I had the chap on a Look I've seen before - he couldn't hold on this time - and a quick Dynamo, but this was all after Embankment.

Roastie - was this a Sportful Sigma Sport kit?

itboffin

Avg ride this morning on the country leg, Waterloo however I nailed it away from he lights at the station leaving a wake of cyclists hit the bridge power up towards the next prey and bam! into a wall of wind, eased off and pootled into the office pretty much the same on the way home plus some cold rain added to the mix.

:evil:

Roastie

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - was this a Sportful Sigma Sport kit?

I think so. Blue shorts with Sportful on the back in white. You know him? He had a small backpack, white carbon Cervelo, RS I would have guessed - though I must admit that in that state of oxygen debt...

cjcp

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - was this a Sportful Sigma Sport kit?

I think so. Blue shorts with Sportful on the back in white. You know him? He had a small backpack, white carbon Cervelo, RS I would have guessed - though I must admit that in that state of oxygen debt...

I *think* so. I was going to say white Cervelo too. I've seen someone similar at the end of the Lower Richmond Road and then into the Park, where he rides with a couple of fast lads. He's very rapid.

jonginge

Wow, that was fantastic. Tailwind all the way and super-spinny

cjcp

Working from home tomorrow, so no SCR tomorrow. Was going to head out to RP, but the 'cross bike ain't ready for action yet.

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - was this a Sportful Sigma Sport kit?

I think so. Blue shorts with Sportful on the back in white. You know him? He had a small backpack, white carbon Cervelo, RS I would have guessed - though I must admit that in that state of oxygen debt...

I *think* so. I was going to say white Cervelo too. I've seen someone similar at the end of the Lower Richmond Road and then into the Park, where he rides with a couple of fast lads. He's very rapid.

White = R3.

I left just before 9. Really nice: quiet, mild, and wind assisted. Didn't feel like burying it this evening, so it was ideal.

Roastie

Greg66 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - was this a Sportful Sigma Sport kit?

I think so. Blue shorts with Sportful on the back in white. You know him? He had a small backpack, white carbon Cervelo, RS I would have guessed - though I must admit that in that state of oxygen debt...

I *think* so. I was going to say white Cervelo too. I've seen someone similar at the end of the Lower Richmond Road and then into the Park, where he rides with a couple of fast lads. He's very rapid.

White = R3.

Not a bad guess then!

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Roastie - was this a Sportful Sigma Sport kit?

I think so. Blue shorts with Sportful on the back in white. You know him? He had a small backpack, white carbon Cervelo, RS I would have guessed - though I must admit that in that state of oxygen debt...

I *think* so. I was going to say white Cervelo too. I've seen someone similar at the end of the Lower Richmond Road and then into the Park, where he rides with a couple of fast lads. He's very rapid.

White = R3.

I left just before 9. Really nice: quiet, mild, and wind assisted. Didn't feel like burying it this evening, so it was ideal.

I'm not sure about this wind assisted bit. It wasn't easy going when I left just after 6. :oops: