Silly commuting racing

Wrath Rob

Citizen Smith wrote:

As Robs says, by this point, if you've had some decent SCR company from Millbank or VB lights, then the previous stretch would have been swift and you've hacked it up the rise to the CB lights to beat the lights. You have the nice slope down to Chelsea Embankment to build up speed but once you're on the flat on Chelsea Embankment, that stretch is a nice "blow the cobwebs away" run (provided there ain't no traffic).

Did so last night and was bitterly disappointed by my fellow (non) competitors. It was quite blow-y along there last night and was feeling that thigh pain too (I think this is something to do with the chiller temps first thing in the morn...I know, I know, MTFU, etc.)

For me I was imagining my bosses face on the pedals, so with each stroke I was mashing the TI=ime cleats into one side then the other. Consequently the wind became less of an obstacle than it would have been. Unfortunately my thighs weren't in the same frame of mind and I paid the price this morning. Holding onto my scalp was hard work.

This evening was a different matter as whilst cycling along 2 chaps in a double scull scalped me by rowing through the raging torent that had erupted along side Embankment. Chapeau sirs. I'm now icing my hands after straining all fingers trying to get the brakes to work. Pretty scary heading straight for the back of a stationary Ferrari with no brakes in evidence!

Matt the Tester

i am a Roadie with lycra with flat peddles never gotten taken over yet well... since im only getting my first road bike tomorrow

p.s i have hairyish legs.

Bassjunkieuk

Hi everyone! It's been far to long since I posted on/read this thread (about 10 pages worth!) but a combination of being off work for 3 days on opposite sides of the weekend and being rather busy when back in work has meant I've had no time to post :-(
Still due to a change of plans I was once again back up in London today, commuting right across town so expected some decent SCR action.

As would be par for the course I had sweet FA all the way up to Elephant and Castle, I'm not even sure if I spotted more then a handful of roadies before then!!!
Still it made a change not thrashing it in and arriving in a sweaty mess!

Lets see what the return journey brings :-)

TheBrogueadier

What a ride in…

After yesterdays infuriating p*ncture attack and crampgasm I had been looking forward to a smooth ride in… Turns out I should be so lucky.

Legs were a little soft out of the house, most likely due to the hot bath I needed to work the last knots from the morning’s cramp out of my legs, but the road was fast and traffic was light – Hit the Portway, or the cycletrack at least; too many quarry trucks doing 50 for my liking, a few miles later and the wonderful slappy slidey feeling grips my back wheel. Arse.

2nd P*ncture in two days, luckily easy to find as the giant staple that’s stuck in the tyre is easy to spot. Great! Shouldn’t be to hard to fix; swap tube spare goes in.. much pumping later and the wheel looks good to go.. Pull off the pump and BANG! Valve explodes.

I swear. Lots.

OK.. Second spare.. Arse.. It’s the p*nctured tube from yesterday. Knew there was something I really had to do last night..

P*ncture repair kit.. Nnnargh! Glue, tire levers, sand paper… no patches.. That’d be the other thing I meant to do last night then.

Hunt around in bag – Sure I’ve got another repair kit in there.. Aha! A third spare tube!

Struggle to replace the tube again – It’s taken to long, it’s 6.45 and I’m only wearing a short sleeved jersey and shorts, shivering is an understatement. Tube in, some vigorous pumping should help (though I fear it’s to late for the toes).. Up to pressure (or close enough) and Crack. Top of the valve comes away, though thankfully it remains sealed.

After crawling the rest of the way into work in constant fear of the damaged valve failing I had the final indignity of being pseudo scalped – A shoulder check just before turn off revealed that I’d picked up a yellow trek, in the condition I was in there was no way I could have held him off, even a few hundred yards more and he’d have taken me.

Shamed and cold to my core I pulled in to work.

MonkeyMonster

Holy crap brouge - that's a right pickle you were in and no mistake.

Clever Pun

This morning I made a resolution with myself to rag myself even when there’s no one else to get my fitness back up to pre injury & pie levels

Feeling good giving it the big spin, there’s virtually nothing until I get to the business end of the commute I see a bianchi in the distance (the god-awful colour gives it away) and the dude is wearing orange baggies…it’s just wrong. Any way I gain and gain we hit traffic he sees me before I can strike we catch up with a white scott also baggies and a blue ribble also baggies, we’re all in and out of traffic and you can tell it’s game on. The ribble rlj’s the coward. The rest of us waiting at the lights and it changes the two guys on their fancy geared bikes get off to a quicker start but I’m up and spinning I give it that little bit more and lose the colour blind bianchi (who’s also sporting a dirty sanchez…wow) and the scott is further ahead but I’m up to a pace where I’m catching I crank it a little more and the lungs are starting to hurt now I come past him a little adjust of my bag and up it a little more to insure he wont catch my tail… nice. No scalps but fun nonetheless…

Get to the dragstrip and drop something like 20 bikes as we all kick off from the lights and mange to make the 2nd set of lights leaving loads waiting as I’m off into the distance trying not to be sick…you couldn’t tell though.

itboffin

Twaz a mare out there last night, leaving work a little later than planned I headed for the Morpeth natch! but to my horror the soaking wet streets of old London town were full to bursting we all types of homeward bound crazed motorists one group in particular caught my attention, the part-time scooter riders.

I mean FFS if your going to sit on top of a motorised bicycle where nothing more than a thin high viz layer over your work clothes and crash helmet you might want to A) use your mirrors every once in a while. learn to actually ride the thing. C) choose a lane any lane and stick to it for more than 30 secs at a time.

It's was like some kind of scooter canonball run meets blade runner, I only hope the poor lady cyclist would was lying in the road at the bottom of snow hill, holborn was okay, lots of medics about but she didn't look like she was moving.

So anyway it was coming down cats & dogs and my fakenger outfit was completely soaked never the less I MTFU and ploughed on down to Blackfriars over the bridge towards Waterloo, straight past the station then the wheel and along past the hospital, nice drag strip that, giving it maximum beans until the roundabout with the stupid cycle crossing and back over the bridge with the most stupidly small cycle lane, sharp left onto the home straight, it was at that point I noticed two things, namely the huge car in front of me was towing me along plus more importantly the serious tailwind, regardless of the slight dampness all over it was heaven.

Rocket man

attica

Took the tin box to work today, had too much to carry even with the new panniers.
regretted it almost immediately, rubbish traffic beautiful weather, gah!

Still at least my shoes might dry off after yesterday's soaking.

risi

Ow, bum. Traversing roundabout at the entrance to Bristol airport, my back wheel starts slipping sideways. Managed to stay upright and correct it, but suddenly went again. Down I go, landing on right hip/elbow.
Big bit of road rash on my arm (and a hole in my nice DeFeet armwarmer) & on hip, but somehow managed to nearly take a chunk off the end of my left thumb, which was bleeding profusely.
Fortunately, a lady pulled up to drop off her husband & she was a nurse so very kindly patched me up.
Importantly, the bike appears to be ok - right shifter had moved around the handlebars, but easily straightened.

Been around that roundabout hundreds of times, wet, dry, whatever. There was a broken down lorry a bit further on, so I don't know whether it had dropped some oil/diesel.
Weekend training ride for the Exmoor Beast going to be fun with big bruise!

attica

Harsh times in North Somerset!
Commiserations to both Risi and Brogueadier.

Speedy recover Risi and remember, don't ride through the ford on the Beast, you'll only fall in. Done it two years in a row (the Beast, not falling in), decided not to this year. I'll be warming my feet by a fire that day instead.

risi

Attica wrote:

Harsh times in North Somerset!
Commiserations to both Risi and Brogueadier.

Speedy recover Risi and remember, don't ride through the ford on the Beast, you'll only fall in. Done it two years in a row (the Beast, not falling in), decided not to this year. I'll be warming my feet by a fire that day instead.

Thank you.

I'd seen some pictures of people coming a cropper at the ford, so had already decided I'd use probably use the bridge.

Doing this on Saturday with some people from PACTri, so if you see a group of riders with one hanging off the back grimacing on every right hand pedal stroke, that'll be me.

gb155

Went through "Student Vill" today (Fallowfield) and picked up 9 Scalps, Then I went down the Fallowfield Loop picking up another 2 Scalps, I should finish work early more....

redvee

Got a double scalp in one movement this morning, a Brompton and hybrid with fading batteries, Don't know which way the Brommie went but the hybrid came close to a re-scalp when I was getting my copy of Metro but I saved my scalp. Felt the rear wheel skip out a little myself but I did keep it all together.

cjcp

Risi - speedy recovery, mate. Oww, indeed.

I shall report on my speed-fest tonight in the morning, but, in the meantime:

KD - were you in RP tonight? I ask because there was a tall guy wearing earphones with shortsleeves (although also sporting a hi-viz jacket)?

blu3cat

left early to get in to work this morning (well early for me - 7:30)l not expecting to see a lot of roadies on my route, and I wasn't disappointed. Nada, until....

Approaching the cheesegrater like road surface of Putney bridge (foot wide potholes every time it rains for more than 10 mins.- really!) When I see a bright green Kona, road framed bike and at least 2 other roadies. get a little bit of a rolling start as I approach the ASL , lights change, bam roadies are disappearing dots behind me.

itboffin

This morning I opted for a new shorter commute just over 10 miles each way reasoning with myself that my leg would be fine over such a short distance besides it's well strapped up what could possibly go wrong!? I'll tell you what my bleeding old knee AND no my hip I mean FFS where's the justice, I struggled to make the last hill perhaps jeans and the SS were not the best choice.

It's frosty cold this morn can't wait for the journey home

il_principe

Thanks to the lurgi today was the first day on the bike since Sunday*. I'm so unfit at the moment, need to MTFU and get some miles in pronto or it's going to be a slow & fat winter. Had to take the bus to the office yestersay and it took me an hour to get home! :evil:

*still scalped 2 roadies though, one was on a rather lovely looking Condor, all baby blue and naked carbon, looked a treat.

Greg T

Why is everyone throwing themselves off their bikes?

Listen we all know chicks dig scars and all but the scars they dig are aristocratic duelling scars, a nick to the ear, perhaps a silver razor sharp sabre cut to the cheekbone.

What they don't dig is a bleeding knees and elbows and weeping patches of raw skin.

It's more six year old the sex machine.

Everyone stop showing off. Self harm is endemic on the commuter board.

jedster

Risi,

ouch - hand injuries are a bit of a booger really. Trust you are on industrial doses of ibuprofen. My top tip is that my GP said it is fine to take double the dose stated on the packet for four days...

I had an "entertaining" roundabout moment today. I was approaching a roundabout down a hill about to go straight on. A small hatchback of some description was coming the other way at a fair lick, no indicator, road positioning and speed suggesting that it was going straight on - i.e., into my road. I carried a bit of speed towards the roundabout but fortunately watched the hatchback closely. Good thing too, at the last minute he starts indicating to go right, car leaning heavily as he cut across my bows. I throw on the anchors and snake my way towards the line back wheel locked. Just about managed to stay upright.

Note to self: never, ever, make assumptions about what drivers will do. Be alert to the possibilities but react to what they ACTUALLY do not what you EXPECT them to do.

BTW - we take to odd week/weekend in Devon and generally bring the bikes. Possible to sneak off for a spin?

Cheers,
J

itboffin

Il Principe wrote:

Thanks to the lurgi today was the first day on the bike since Sunday*. I'm so unfit at the moment, need to MTFU and get some miles in pronto or it's going to be a slow & fat winter. Had to take the bus to the office yestersay and it took me an hour to get home! :evil:

*still scalped 2 roadies though, one was on a rather lovely looking Condor, all baby blue and naked carbon, looked a treat.

dude that sucks if it's any consolation my fitness has left me like a lover climbing out the window and after all the hard work I put into that relationship

what you need is beer x lots

Morpeth anyone?

attica

redvee wrote:

Get thee off to Cyclelife in your lunchbreak and purchase a set of Crud RoadRacer guards, play with them iun the afternoon then fit them whilst the kettle is boiling.

Attica wrote:

Cheers RV, I tried to fit my raceblades to them, strange fork geometry meant they wouldn't go on - very odd.

Got some proper mudguards in the garage at my wife's place that I shall try to liberate at some point.

D'Oh D'Oh and triple D'Oh
I liberated said mudguards, fitted the front one and then started work on the back, only to realise that the rear facing dropouts would mean that removing the wheel would be impossible without removing the mudguard as well, not something I want to do mid-commute.

So it's back to the drawing board, either try the Crud Roadracers that RV recommended or run a proper mudguard on the front and a raceblade on the back, which will look a bit daft again.

RV, have you got a set of the Crud ones you mentioned? Could I try them and see if they work with my strange geometry before I buy some myself.

Greg T

Attica wrote:

So it's back to the drawing board, either try the Crud Roadracers that RV

I've fitted Cruds and they are Dogs.

biondino

Greg T wrote:

It's more six year old the sex machine.

People like you make me sick.

I scalped my ex last night! Well, she was on a flat barred roadie (a Bianchi of some kind) and I was on the fixie so I'm not sure it counts as a scalp. She recognised me from my pink bar tape and we had a nice chat afterwards. Bit of a surprise though!

risi

Greg T wrote:

Why is everyone throwing themselves off their bikes?

Listen we all know chicks dig scars and all but the scars they dig are aristocratic duelling scars, a nick to the ear, perhaps a silver razor sharp sabre cut to the cheekbone.

What they don't dig is a bleeding knees and elbows and weeping patches of raw skin.

It's more six year old the sex machine.

Everyone stop showing off. Self harm is endemic on the commuter board.

Listen, we all know that you're a perpetual 'self-harmer' of the highest order. No need to bring it up in polite company. Actually, all the 'chicks' at work have been most concerned for my well-being - in a motherly sort of way. Only Oedipus would be happy with this reaction though. My wife, on the other hand, just laughed at me. I think I could see the pound signs spinning in her eyes.

Jedster,

BTW - we take to odd week/weekend in Devon and generally bring the bikes. Possible to sneak off for a spin?

Highly likely I would have thought.

Greg T

biondino wrote:

Greg T wrote:

It's more six year old the sex machine.

People like you make me sick.

I get that a lot.

I think the problem may be my arthritic fat fingers.

The above shoudl read

It's more six year old THAN sex machine

Scabby knees - geddit?

biondino

Oh I got it, but everyone loves paedo jokes, right?

This morning I bumped the back of a girl whose slowness away from the lights caught me by surprise. Mainly because I was looking at her legs. I'm a bad man.

Greg T

biondino wrote:

Oh I got it, but everyone loves paedo jokes, right?

Eh?

amnezia

I bumped into super tall guy on red canondale this morning. we exchanged a few friendly words with a motorist who beeped and kindly pointed at the cycle lane on the pavement along Chelsea embankment . zero energy today, could be beer related.

jedster

She recognised me from my pink bar tape and we had a nice chat afterwards

Your "pink bar tape", is that a sordid euphimism? And what exactly was this chat "after"?

On second thoughts, perhaps we don't want to know...

J

Clever Pun

Worked last last night so the roads were a little clearer which allowed more sustained speed...which was nice, dropped two baggie roadies like yesterdays garbage and whizzed past a fixed rider going up a hill...

very dark ride home but so much nicer than getting blasted with a water jet the entire way back