Silly commuting racing

kurako

lost_in_thought wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

no real action of note although a flouro mashing rlj'ing nodder irritated me

he was in his top gear and going really slowly

I overtook him in my spiniest gear easily
I overtook him freewheeling
I overtook him staring at my nails
I overtook him sratching my back


wonder if he got the message?

That calls for a large cardboard sign with insulting phrases written on it, and a course in stunt riding.

Wouldn't do any good. Some of those folk can't see other traffic unless its about 1 ft in front of them. That's why they RLJ so often. Lights are way to high up to be noticed!

dresbo

I'm new here.

I do Addiscombe to Mansion house most days. Rather than read all 729 pages (I read a few), I wondered if any of you do a similar route. I do Southwark Bridge, Marshallsea Road borough high street, Walworth Road, Camberwell Road, Denmark Hill, cut down Sunray, Red Post hill, College road, Fountain Drive, Church Road, South Norwood Hill, Portland Road. Tend to get in at 08:50 ish. 34 minute record, but it's light dependant as I stop at red.

I think I'm a 4, but I wear leggings (lets pretend it's for warmth) so does that make me a 3?

I'll try harder in future not to let anyone past. I've had a few close runs up Fountain Drive in the past with other 4's. I wondered if thats anyone on here.

choirboy

Thinking of varying my route West from Charing Cross. Currently it's The Mall-Hyde Park-HSK-Hammersmith. Considering Embankment-Millbank-Fulham-Hammersmith: a longer run by about 1.5 miles but possibly more continuous? Any thoughts on the pro's and con's of the two from the London regulars?

MonkeyMonster

I go home via your proposed route if I want a longer stretch - its far, far more continuous and there are some speedy roadies to take down on it too. You easily make up the longer distance by a far higher avg speed and far less lights.

Go for it.

choirboy

MonkeyMonster wrote:

I go home via your proposed route if I want a longer stretch - its far, far more continuous and there are some speedy roadies to take down on it too. You easily make up the longer distance by a far higher avg speed and far less lights.

Go for it.

Thanks MM - what route from Chelsea Embankment to Hammersmith?

MonkeyMonster

Hmmm... swing up staying on the main route and re-join hsk near olympia I thuppose or turn left at the big tesco's and use the bypass for a bit.
In my head that makes perfect sense btw... 8)

commuterconvert

dresbo wrote:

I'm new here.

I do Addiscombe to Mansion house most days. Rather than read all 729 pages (I read a few), I wondered if any of you do a similar route. I do Southwark Bridge, Marshallsea Road borough high street, Walworth Road, Camberwell Road, Denmark Hill, cut down Sunray, Red Post hill, College road, Fountain Drive, Church Road, South Norwood Hill, Portland Road. Tend to get in at 08:50 ish. 34 minute record, but it's light dependant as I stop at red.

I intersect on the dulwich to elephant part of your route sometimes in a circuitous route to soho. (other alternates are through loughborough junction or brixton/vauxhall depends on how i feel at the time)
Normally i'm in a hurry to get back on the way home to help get kids bathed & in bed but have thought of carrying on over college road/fountain dr although to be honest my rackpack kind of puts me off though, unpleasant weight for a hill like that. Maybe I should just MTFU and stop using the kids as an excuse. On the way back Denmark hill is usually good fun once you get past the traffic outside the hospital.

I'm around fcn 7 so if you are 4 and can do that route in 34 minutes I doubt i'd cause you much trouble, but I can but try

Say hi if you see me though - silvery/turquoise maron bobcat mtb + skinny + spds + panier with rackpack - it's often too solemn at the lights, everyone staring straight ahead and i'm never quite sure whether to strike up conversation or not as it all seems too serious.

flamite

first day in work today after being run over last week, had to get bus and tube, so painful watching all the cyclist go flying down new kings road while stuck on a bus! There were actually quite a few nice bikes flying past, which i dont normally see when on way in, guess coz we are pretty much same speed and wouldnt pass otherwise...

will be back in action next week! (if ankle and knee swelling/pain has gone and g/f allows....)

biondino

flamite, what happened? You've probably posted elsewhere, but tell us. Sorry you got hurt

dandy dan

hey hey commuterconvert and despo! New to this as well but not to riding. Sometimes use both your routes to and from work (Sth Norwood to Camden). CC - think I've seen you at the lights - will salute and smile next time. Fountain Drive's not too bad once you hit a nice rhythm. Despo - I think I ve seen you ride past the top of my street on South Norwood Hill - I'm the one hobbling round in cleats trying to get the kids to school and filling in homework books! Will wave like a nutter next time! I think all three of us at some point have been Bassjunkied at some point!
To all the rest of you SCRs - much love, you have had me in stiches for the last year. So much so that my last appraisal noted that I had a happy disposition and was always smiling at my desk (if only they knew). I have also used the term MTFU in a meeting, and had to explain where Brizzle was to a client!

King Donut

dandy dan wrote:

... I have also used the term MTFU in a meeting, and had to explain where Brizzle was to a client!

flamite

biondino wrote:

flamite, what happened? You've probably posted elsewhere, but tell us. Sorry you got hurt

Was run over by a car who wasnt looking as approached roundabout, actually ended up under car up to waist... bike totalled and busted knee and ankle, taking a week off for swelling to go down/knee to recover. Think I was very lucky! Quite frightening though, esp being hit from behind....

now need to try and claim for bike on his insurance, ambulance and police were on scene... so fingers crossed!

just want to get back out there!

dresbo

commuterconvert wrote:

dresbo wrote:

I'm new here.

I do Addiscombe to Mansion house most days. Rather than read all 729 pages (I read a few), I wondered if any of you do a similar route. I do Southwark Bridge, Marshallsea Road borough high street, Walworth Road, Camberwell Road, Denmark Hill, cut down Sunray, Red Post hill, College road, Fountain Drive, Church Road, South Norwood Hill, Portland Road. Tend to get in at 08:50 ish. 34 minute record, but it's light dependant as I stop at red.

I intersect on the dulwich to elephant part of your route sometimes in a circuitous route to soho. (other alternates are through loughborough junction or brixton/vauxhall depends on how i feel at the time)
Normally i'm in a hurry to get back on the way home to help get kids bathed & in bed but have thought of carrying on over college road/fountain dr although to be honest my rackpack kind of puts me off though, unpleasant weight for a hill like that. Maybe I should just MTFU and stop using the kids as an excuse. On the way back Denmark hill is usually good fun once you get past the traffic outside the hospital.

I'm around fcn 7 so if you are 4 and can do that route in 34 minutes I doubt i'd cause you much trouble, but I can but try

Say hi if you see me though - silvery/turquoise maron bobcat mtb + skinny + spds + panier with rackpack - it's often too solemn at the lights, everyone staring straight ahead and i'm never quite sure whether to strike up conversation or not as it all seems too serious.

Will do! I'll be wearing a new looking bright red endura raincoat from now on and I ride a crappy old giant ocr in grey and blue which is way too small for me. Maybe I should get some points added back for the crap bike.

At fcn 4 I guess I'm a bit of a target. Must train harder!

Not sure who Bassjunkied is (presuming that's a person). Care to enlighten me?

I'll make sure to smile inanely at everyone at the hospital lights next time.

dandy dan - I will be sure to look out.

Don't want to Hijack this thread (but it almost seems like it needs it's own forum given the number of pages). Just wanted to comment that the roundabout at the top of Fountain Drive is lethal, so avoid if possible. I was thinking of putting up posters pointing out to cars coming fron the left that it is a roundabout and I have right of way. 2 or 3 near misses so far including an out-of-the-car, off the bike argument with a bmw driver who narrowly missed me by emergency stopping into the kerb.

Clever Pun

dresbo wrote:

I'm new here.

I do Addiscombe to Mansion house most days. Rather than read all 729 pages (I read a few), I wondered if any of you do a similar route. I do Southwark Bridge, Marshallsea Road borough high street, Walworth Road, Camberwell Road, Denmark Hill, cut down Sunray, Red Post hill, College road, Fountain Drive, Church Road, South Norwood Hill, Portland Road. Tend to get in at 08:50 ish. 34 minute record, but it's light dependant as I stop at red.

I think I'm a 4, but I wear leggings (lets pretend it's for warmth) so does that make me a 3?

I'll try harder in future not to let anyone past. I've had a few close runs up Fountain Drive in the past with other 4's. I wondered if thats anyone on here.

I do Addiscombe to Tower Bridge, but I go in through Beckenham Jct and along the A21

you don't perchance have a mustache?

King Donut

flamite wrote:

biondino wrote:

flamite, what happened? You've probably posted elsewhere, but tell us. Sorry you got hurt

Was run over by a car who wasnt looking as approached roundabout, actually ended up under car up to waist... bike totalled and busted knee and ankle, taking a week off for swelling to go down/knee to recover. Think I was very lucky! Quite frightening though, esp being hit from behind....

now need to try and claim for bike on his insurance, ambulance and police were on scene... so fingers crossed!

just want to get back out there!

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Glad you're ok'ish

dandy dan

Yeah, that roundabout is heartstopping and not the palce to have a "failure to clip in" moment. I have sometimes just sat up and pointed directly at the traffic coming from the left - bit aggresive but then I give em a wave once I'm through.

Just worked out my my FCN - I'm a 4 when on the boardman roadbike, and a 5 when I'm having a hipster/fakenger/midlife fashion crisis on my yellow SS.

Bassjunkieuk is a SCRer who rides a similar route. I only know this because I've been reading his posts over the last year. He has never mentioned me - even though I expect he has a whole cupboard full of my scalps!

commuterconvert

dresbo wrote:

Will do! I'll be wearing a new looking bright red endura raincoat from now on and I ride a crappy old giant ocr in grey and blue which is way too small for me. Maybe I should get some points added back for the crap bike.

At fcn 4 I guess I'm a bit of a target. Must train harder!

dandy dan - I will be sure to look out.

excellent, look forward to seeing you both (in an ideal world of course it will be as I whoosh past you ).

Go easy on me if you see me in the morning on sunray or redpost though, that's just as i'm starting my ride, I always try to take it easier to warm up a bit but invariably throw that out the window when someone else tries to pull away fast at the half moon lane lights. Unless it's the guy on the fixie/ss with orange rims & no helmet, he can really shift and i know i'd probably pop something in my knee if I really went after him cold.

dresbo

Clever Pun wrote:

you don't perchance have a mustache?

I don't but, that is an idea. I've never tried that route, but I have thought of it. Any chance it avoids the big hill between me and central London?

commuterconvert - I've seen the fixe you're talking about. He always steams up red post hill at just under 20. I've tried but he's unstoppable. Can't be good for the knees.

Dandy dan - I do exactly the same nowadays. Its the ones that hide on the inside of the vans in the outside lane and treat it like there's not even a junction there that scare me.

m0scs

Forget Carbon Frames, seatposts, forks and shoes and other light weight components to make you go faster.

I have discovered that making the rider lighter, by shedding a few pounds has done wonders for my SCR endevours.

Actually I have lost about 1 stone in a matter of a few weeks, with more still to come off.

This has been tough, no alcohol or any goodies and strict calorie intake, but it has been worth it.

Notible side effects are that hills dont seem as tough, bum ache is reduced and everyone else is riding slower.!

Faster, faster, faster..Luv it.

cjcp

choirboy wrote:

Thinking of varying my route West from Charing Cross. Currently it's The Mall-Hyde Park-HSK-Hammersmith. Considering Embankment-Millbank-Fulham-Hammersmith: a longer run by about 1.5 miles but possibly more continuous? Any thoughts on the pro's and con's of the two from the London regulars?

Do it. It rocks. It's where the fun is.

cjcp

m0scs wrote:

Forget Carbon Frames, seatposts, forks and shoes and other light weight components to make you go faster.

I have discovered that making the rider lighter, by shedding a few pounds has done wonders for my SCR endevours.

Actually I have lost about 1 stone in a matter of a few weeks, with more still to come off.

This has been tough, no alcohol or any goodies and strict calorie intake, but it has been worth it.

Notible side effects are that hills dont seem as tough, bum ache is reduced and everyone else is riding slower.!

Faster, faster, faster..Luv it.

8) Good one.

cjcp

King Donut wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Slightly new commute starts today as I start a new job.

The new offices are in St Katherine's Dock, overlooking the marina , so presently mulling over whether to turn off Thames St at Southwark Bridge as usual and eventually head along Eastcheap, or keep up the Fenchurch St route and drop down into Minories, or just continue along Thames St, a road I don't particularly like.

Wait... new job? You kept that one quiet! Well done!

I go to St Katherine's docks fairly regularly, and always just stay on thames street. There are detours, but they're a bit of a faff.

Yeach congrats on the new job!

Thames st is horrible, but gotta be the quickest route

Thanks guys. It's a start up from my old firm. Really looking forward to it. Had to go via Fenchurch St this morning out of necessity, so tomorrow's the first time I head there directly.

cjcp

King Donut wrote:

Last night in the park I come up behind two roadies in Francaise Des Jeux kit, holding a steady 22 and having a good chinwag. With the start of Broomfield only half a mile away I tuck in behind them, rather than pass and blow up a minute later. On the initial climb they carry me past a guy on a new looking spesh allez, then - in DDD's words - "give me a show" and dance off in to the sunset hand in hand. Touching.

I saw these two in the summer when I was doing some laps after work. Very sweet, I thought.

I overtook them on the stretch between Ham and Kingston Gates. They then re-took me up Dark Hill - I did have a backpack on, but they're pretty flippin' quick because I spent the entire time from the top of Dark Hill to Roehampton Gate absolutely burying myself to catch them. The problem was that they had hooked up with another chap and were doing some sort of TTT and, while I started to reel them in, I wasn't far off having a massive Internal Systems Failure, so I couldn't catch them.

Wrath Rob

Had a nice run in with a guy on a red and white Pinarello along Embankment tonight. I was slightly faster but traffic put paid to any real SCR action before either of us could score a decisive victory, though with no bag and team kit he was probably FCN 3 versus my 5. ANd as I caught him up I may I could claim the moral victory

Once we hit the traffic further up at Chelsea he stayed on the road while I hit the dual pavement/cycle lane and unfortunately our paths didnt cross again. If you're on here I was on the black Boardman with 3/4 shorts and a brown t-shirt. I look forwards to our next meeting

cjcp

Wrath Rob wrote:

Had a nice run in with a guy on a red and white Pinarello along Embankment tonight. I was slightly faster but traffic put paid to any real SCR action before either of us could score a decisive victory, though with no bag and team kit he was probably FCN 3 versus my 5. ANd as I caught him up I may I could claim the moral victory

Hmmm. Saw one of these on Monday night. He was quick. Went all the way to Richmond.

redvee

Encountered a bike friendly HGV driver yesterday makes up for the idiot employed by DHL last week. Coming along beside the Feeder canal back into Brizzle approaching a railway bridge in primary with a HGV behind me at 20mph. I heard the brakes and gearbox change down so put in a little bit more speed into the bike and rode under the bridge and past the pelican crossing. Once clear raised my hand in thanks to the driver. Those that earn it get the hand of thanks, those that don't get a totally different hand signal.

d21dga

This morning was the first time I've seen anyone commuting in the same direction as me since I started 2 months ago! As I came out of the windy uphill bridleway I see someone *pushing* a bike up the short steep incline ahead :shock:
He gets to the top and gets back on his bike just as I start climbing but I notice he's spinning away in a ridiculous gear, he must be in the granny ring, on the flat! So I catch up with him, drop a couple of cogs to reduce my cadence just to create the illusion of even less effort being spent compared to his spinning and glide past him with a cheery 'morning'. :twisted:
Unfortunately no points as he was on a full susser but still, MTFU!!

Gazzaputt

Cracking sprint over London Bridge. Myself, London Phoenix rider and a guy on a Trek.

Garmin has 36mph so well happy as up to that point my legs weren't functioning at all this morning.

Aidy

Just properly overtook a motorbike down Rosebery Avenue.

He pulled up to me at the lights after, lifted his visor and... "Yeah, I was only doing 15, mate"

greg66_tri_v2.0

Ker-rhist, I felt knackered today. I hope I'm getting a virus, because otherwise I'm about a much use as a one legged wildebeest on the run.

And who the F*** turned the heating off overnight? :x