Silly commuting racing

DonDaddyD

Yesterday I had arguably one of the best commutes of my life. I got to Oval tube station and was stopped at the lights waiting to turn left onto Clapham Road heading towards Clapham. I see the glint of a yellow and black Apollo and immediately think ‘Headhunter’. It was 6.45pm

Desperate to give chase but held by the lights I won’t RLJ as the rules of SCR forbid it. I wait eagerly to reclaim my pride. The time it takes for the traffic lights to turn felt like an eternity.

“Green” and all hell breaks loose my internal monologue is doing overtime, constantly telling me to take this line, brake, change up, change down, sprint to beat those lights, ease up save some energy for the scalp. In the seconds towards a minute or so it takes to get to Stockwell tube station I catch him but traffic prevents a scalp proper. I look him up and down, deliberately filtering my bike around traffic ever in his field of vision to warrant a response maybe even an attack. God I wish I had a gauntlet to throw down beside his pedal! I soon establish that it wasn’t Headhunter. I over take him anyway and head towards the Balham-Tooting drag strip.

Besides fake-HeadHunter there were quite a lot of cyclists around yesterday but by the time I got to Balham tube we’re down to three, with me included. At the lights by Balham tube I line up against a bluish-white single speed and a guy on a hybrid clearly riding near not only the bike’s limit but his own.

Green and I’m behind the hybrid, I let the car to my right go past, check the shoulder, make my shapes, drop him and attack the single-speed. I was going faster than I thought because I’m dropping the SS in the same move and now hurtling towards the mid-point lights (before or after the petrol stations depending on direction) that are shaping to change. I’m through as they switch to amber proper. I check behind and the SS is waiting, stopped, at the lights as I pummel nothing but open air ahead.

Laurence wrote:

This is what I live for! Those few seconds on a straight road with nothing ahead of me accept the freedom to ride fast, until it hurts and though that pain to a new moment of revelation! It is the stuff my childhood was made of. It quite simply is bliss!

I arrive at the lights by Argos, glorious and enthused with adrenaline. A few seconds later the guy on the bluish-white single speed pulls up next to me, looks over and smiles “shame about those lights” he said. Yep, the ones I beat and left him at earlier.

In my minds eye I stand victorious to a chorus of pedestrians shouting….

“Champion” “Champion!”

itboffin

jedster wrote:

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

It's code you have to read the entire thread to understand

Now then where did that elitist thread go...?

TheBrogueadier

Had a great ride in this morning; woke up feeling fresh and sharp with damn good legs, managed to slice over a minute off of my previous PB (Still works out to a 10 mile time of pathetic awfulness though)

Going to try and set a new PB on the way home as well; set myself up for a fun Friday out on the town!

King Donut

cjcp wrote:

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)?

If he had sleeves on it wasn't me. What a wuss. Besides I was tucked up in front of masterchef double bill last night. Not been through the park since Tuesday.

redvee

Attica wrote:

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.

Just whipped the rear wheel out of my bike and there is enough movement in the stays to enable easy removal, if there isn't on your Kona then it is a question of undoing two plastic nuts and pulling the guard out of the way.

cjcp

Bit of catching up to do...

Last night: almost straight into the action. I pass one, two, three roadies on Lower Thames St. The final passee seems to be kicked into action by this and speeds up, but he turns off at Southwark Bridge. LTS is *not* a place for SCR though.

Then, after HoP, there are three roadies, inlcuding a very rapid, powerful SSer who I know goes all the way to Bolan Death Crash Bridge. I can pass this guy, but that was when I had a 53t; I now have a 46t and not sure how things are going to work out. immediately prepare myself for Embankment's version of the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

There are two other roadies, but it's the SSer wo looks the most threatening.
That proves to be the case along Millbank, but traffic means we're split at the lights at VB, me not making it through. I'm distraught. But another rapid SSer on a Pearson (second time I've seen him this week) rolls up at the lights. This consoles me a little and there's a bit of a chase through DSC to CB lights, where, to my delight, I meet up with the SSer again and a roadie in club kit who I've seen a few times before and, tbh, rides like a bit of a t!t e.g. weaving, sometimes at speed, and RLJing at speed. Last night, the weaving was more prevalent.

So, we set off from CB lights. They had a 20 yard headstart on me, and club kit man is off after the SSer. So he weaves behind a car to make the pass, then goes secondary, and he's going for it. And I'm catching. As I always do with this guy on the stretches. This is a major source of delight given that I'm using a 46t chainring. I pass the SSer while on the tops of the bars, but then club kit man suddenly moves out to a more primary position. So, I ease up, wondering what he's going to do next. I get ahead because of traffic, but that's the last I see of them because of a bunch of scooters blocking the lanes :x . Club kit man would not have liked the cantilever brakes catching and overtaking him though :twisted: .

This morning: encountered a drafting fairy on a Marin. Seen him many times before. In fairness, he's rapdi, and a regular drafter, so watched for him. Down Chelsea Embankment, there he is, right behind me. Don't know how long he's been there, but, perhaps harshly, tell him where to go. (However, I've already had a rider go into the back of me this week on the NKR, so I wasn't in the mood for more close attention.)

Then, on Millbank, as I'm spinning away doing about 28, a carbon Willier passes me. He looks to have plenty more in the tank too. B*ugger. I scold myself for not giving it more beans and immediately hatch a plan to re-take him after the HoP, but I hit a sodding pothole and my chain falls off. Game over with the Willier.

This evening: WTF was up with the traffic?????? Choc-a-block from just after DSC to Cheyne Walk and then from Parsons Green to Putney Bridge. :shock:

blu3cat

Tonight, traffic was horrific, cars trying to squeeze in impossible gaps next to other cars. No space to filter until...

Friday night roll when I spot a fellow cyclist out of the corner of my eye as we leave Wandsworth towards Tooting. I think it's the hybridder who was behind me at the lights and don't worry about it. Next thing I know theres a roadie in baggies cruising past me. Game on!

A swft chase ensues, with us level as we come to the S bend before Earlsfield Station crossing. He gets ahead by being on the inside of the corner, which I then pull back as the S-bend reverses.

Lights are Red.

It's a roadie I've met before on a rather nice Scott and he's been to the cycle show We have a chat about it , both keeping an eye on the lights.

Green. The pretence is dropped and we both accelerate away. The next set of lights are green right by the station and by now I'm ahead by a few metres. Keep putting on the pressure and I can see I'm getting away, when....

BANG a noise from my back wheel, something doesn't feel right and there's now a strange noise from the back. I pull over and sure enough a broken spoke for my troubles probably due to the massive pothole I've just hit.

The roadie cruises past about 5 seconds later, all that effort and nothing stuck. Damn you mechanical failure. :evil:

shoulder_of_orion

I passed a guy with a race number on his bike. It said Paris-Roubaix.

Big scalp in theory, but:

a) surely a pro would not be riding his race bike on london streets
b) I could tell he wasn't trying (but he would have had to try to get past me)
c) no pro would still have that race placard on his bike after all this time

Do they have an etape type thing for Paris-Robaix?

Also bagged a Vespa round oval with genuine Italian plates.

EDIT: added C

cjcp

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

I passed a guy with a race number on his bike. It said Paris-Roubaix.

Big scalp in theory, but:

a) surely a pro would not be riding his race bike on london streets
b) I could tell he wasn't trying (but he would have had to try to get past me)
c) no pro would still have that race placard on his bike after all this time

Do they have an etape type thing for Paris-Robaix?

Also bagged a Vespa round oval with genuine Italian plates.

EDIT: added C

Yep, it's every two years (in even yeras). It's in June too, rather than the before or after the pro race itself (unlike, e.g., Flanders). So, that number's been on there for at least 1.5 years. Good skilz, SoL. Better than the Vespa scalp.

Kanga

Overtook an electric bike going up the hill on Cedars Road towards Clapham Common last week

cambs

My first post to salute the roadie who chucked me his spare tube after my 2nd p******e last night. He wouldn't take any cash, just told me to pass on the favour to the next stranded victim fumbling with glue in the dark.
If that was you, on the Portsmouth Rd just outside Kingston - thanks mate!!

I love this thread, by the way. I'm geared up as hairy roadie but was hoping for a downgrade based on age, a point lower for mid-40's with no cycling pedigree??

Hope to see some of you on the Embankment , give me a headstart won't you?

lost_in_thought

Woop woop! Not strictly commuting as I was going to look at a flat, but I followed the exact route of my sometime commute...

And I got the FG to 30.4mph! Wooohoooo!

Alright so there was a slight lead-in off a hill, but there was a red light at the bottom of it so I had to slow down, and washed off almost all of the hill-speed. So nyerrrr. :P

I am happy with myself.

jonginge

lost_in_thought wrote:

Woop woop! Not strictly commuting as I was going to look at a flat, but I followed the exact route of my sometime commute...

And I got the FG to 30.4mph! Wooohoooo!

Alright so there was a slight lead-in off a hill, but there was a red light at the bottom of it so I had to slow down, and washed off almost all of the hill-speed. So nyerrrr. :P

I am happy with myself.

Hurrah.

Uh-oh. Plans some interval training

stuaff

JonGinge wrote:

Uh-oh. Plans some interval training

Like you need it....remember going past me like I was standing still in Wales (and I wasn't pootling...)?

jonginge

StuAff wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Uh-oh. Plans some interval training

Like you need it....remember going past me like I was standing still in Wales (and I wasn't pootling...)?

It's all relative. The April '09 JG* would kick the current JG's domesticated pack animal.

* apologies for use of the third person

cjcp

cambs wrote:

My first post to salute the roadie who chucked me his spare tube after my 2nd p******e last night. He wouldn't take any cash, just told me to pass on the favour to the next stranded victim fumbling with glue in the dark.
If that was you, on the Portsmouth Rd just outside Kingston - thanks mate!!

I love this thread, by the way. I'm geared up as hairy roadie but was hoping for a downgrade based on age, a point lower for mid-40's with no cycling pedigree??

Hope to see some of you on the Embankment , give me a headstart won't you?

Good to see that posted every now and again.

And welcome, cambs. What time are you on Embankment per chance? Do you ride along the New King's Road, LRR, Richmond Park route?

cjcp

lost_in_thought wrote:

Woop woop! Not strictly commuting as I was going to look at a flat, but I followed the exact route of my sometime commute...

And I got the FG to 30.4mph! Wooohoooo!

Alright so there was a slight lead-in off a hill, but there was a red light at the bottom of it so I had to slow down, and washed off almost all of the hill-speed. So nyerrrr. :P

I am happy with myself.

cambs

cjcp wrote:

cambs wrote:

My first post to salute the roadie who chucked me his spare tube after my 2nd p******e last night. He wouldn't take any cash, just told me to pass on the favour to the next stranded victim fumbling with glue in the dark.
If that was you, on the Portsmouth Rd just outside Kingston - thanks mate!!

I love this thread, by the way. I'm geared up as hairy roadie but was hoping for a downgrade based on age, a point lower for mid-40's with no cycling pedigree??

Hope to see some of you on the Embankment , give me a headstart won't you?

Good to see that posted every now and again.

And welcome, cambs. What time are you on Embankment per chance? Do you ride along the New King's Road, LRR, Richmond Park route?

Thanks cjcp and yep, the very route. Kingston Gate about 7.50, Cheyne Walk about 8.20 a couple of times a week. I'm on a black/silver Roubaix and black backpack (+1 FCN, phew). Returning about 5.45 on Lower Thames St.

cjcp

:shock: I'm in through Kingston Gate around 8am, sometimes earlier.

Er, what time, dare I ask, are you on that route on the way home?

cambs

Just noted you're in the running for the annual award.. um, if I don't appear to be going so fast is cos i'm enduro training...
About 6.30pm Kingston gate on the return leg.

cjcp

Hmm. You're a bit early for me both ways, but there's a prospect of meeting you both ways. I'm now commuting to/from St Katharine's Dock, so go via Thames Street.

Black/silver Roubaix. Black backpack. Ok. Got it.

itboffin

I'm outta the game for a while at least

Greg T

itboffin wrote:

I'm outta the game for a while at least

What about SCR?

I for one will miss our nights together, at very reasonable rates.

MonkeyMonster

It was SO on today, can't wait to hear other's tales... Loads of racers some not knowing the rules but understanding scalping

Minus points overall to a bianchi in north shorts who never got away from me since I said hello at olympia.

More than a few slow starter roadies at lights on the race track who never woke up. Did see a blue ribble at some point but no idea if it were one of the members here.

Little smiles were for an older larger chap hitting it hard on a mtb with fat slicks only he moved 6 inches horizontally with each stroke - had to give him a wide berth.

Couple of noticeably low seats too for some reason and fecking rubber neckers at parliament sq who slowed me up looking over at the protesters I imagine. Not the safest place to do that chaps...

gtvlusso

Back from greek Islands.....nice tan, but no way I was gonna show my legs off this morning.....full lycra!

Good to be back in the saddle after 2 weeks on a beach, with 30 deg heat, sun, sand.........screw this, I am going back!

cjcp

Engaged the enemy the moment I entered RP this morning. Scalped a quick-ish roadies up Dark Hill, then another (shaved) chap just after the summit.

Traffic wasn't great this morning, so no action on Embankment except the one scooter I was forced to scalp on Millbank.

Clever Pun

CJCP, seems you're very close to where I am, might even overtake you in waitrose

destroyed a roadie very early on today but it was fairly quiets of high end interest after that, a fella with ripped calves on a cross chanced his arm, he failed

greg66_tri_v2.0

Beautiful morning this morning. No hot SCR action, but pretty awesome ride in nonetheless.

cjcp

Clever Pun wrote:

CJCP, seems you're very close to where I am, might even overtake you in waitrose

Yep, it's about the only place I've ventured for my lunch so far. Well, there and The Dickens.

UndercoverElephant

Beautiful morning! Lovely mackerel sky round here, just missing some competition. Was chatting at the lights with a hybrid rider, lights start to change and he said, "I guess I'll see you later then.", not even an attempt, just grim resignation. Sad really. Blitzed away from him though, just to underline the point.

Also realised that in my winter kit, I'm very much wearing cycling gear, have adjusted FCN and will MTFU accordingly. 8)