Silly commuting racing

Bassjunkieuk

Greg T wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I saw an advert in a local newsagent for strict and stern massages if that's what your after I can get the number ;-)

Speed dial?

I've already run out of space on the speed dials what with all the bangkok chick boy massage parlours in my area ;-)

DonDaddyD

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Have you tried a similar exercise with the gear setup of Karen?

Nope not yet, but I need to. Right now Donovan has a bigger top end and probably gear-inch range than Karen despite only having 8 at the back. That frankly brutal 53crankset makes a huge difference.

Karen is easier to ride so I'm not bothered about gear inches yet, Donovan is more of a workout and where I fettle and figure out numbers... (as it should be).

IIRC, and I'm assuming Karen has a double, you'll probably find more "useable" gears on Karen once you account for the overlaps on Donovan. As for the top end the only times I've found that I'm spinning out in the 52*13 or 12 are when I'm nudging close to 40mph which requires a decent hill - not something often found around London but certainly came in useful (despite only getting down to the 13 cog) in Wales :-D

I have wondered if some of the gears I'm "missing" on the SCR 3.0 would prove to be of any use, but I think the idea is to try and match your effort to the conditions and the finer control offered by more gear choices helps with that!

All this makes me realize I really want a better bike

I'm not sure which bike has more useable gears, if we take into consideration that I've only every used the smallest ring on Donovan in Richmond Park a couple of times and in Wiltshire then year Karen does have more 'useable gears'.

But I'd go as far as to say even the same gear-inch (if found) on the two bikes will feel differently. The differences between the two are fascinating.

You could always sell a kid to buy a new bike...

Greg T

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I've already run out of space on the speed dials what with all the bangkok chick boy massage parlours in my area ;-)

New meaning to "fancy a Thai tonight"

lost_in_thought

Greg T wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I've already run out of space on the speed dials what with all the bangkok chick boy massage parlours in my area ;-)

New meaning to "fancy a Thai tonight"

http://www.nicethailadies.com/

Bassjunkieuk

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg T wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I've already run out of space on the speed dials what with all the bangkok chick boy massage parlours in my area ;-)

New meaning to "fancy a Thai tonight"

http://www.nicethailadies.com/

DonDaddyD

In a delirium of speed I had an epiphany at the lights at the end of the Balham drag strip; I’m on a journey of self discovery and rediscovery. In the summer, I was fascinated by my Kharma constantly learning new things, comparing it to my SCR I discovered so much more about cycling than I’d hoped. However, back on my commuter this Autumn and Winter I’m learning it all over again, it’s beautiful!

Disappointed with this mornings 27.8mph top speed I set upon beating it on the way home. I had a little practice run on the road heading towards Oval tube from Camberwell (Camberwell new road) and was again frightfully disappointed as I was hitting the mid 27mph.

I get to the lights at Oval tube, turn right and hit the slight incline with grit and anger! By the first lights I’m in the high twenties, dithering around 29.something.

“Come on Laurence, please. PLEASE” I think to myself.

Disaster! A pedestrian decides to cross at the second lights despite it being green for me and red for him and a oncoming car uses the opportunity to turn right over my lane and onto a side road. I brake, I brake and I brake some more and then I scream, I mean really scream, well more of a growl in anger and frustration.

I look at my speedometer and yes, but that is only half the story.

I go relatively slow through the rest of Clapham jostling with the other commuters, mildly pleased with myself. On the approach to Balham I back off to the joy of a number of roadies (one on a nice and new Madone) who thought they had me.

The lights go green at Balham tube and the roadies to their credit are giving it some, especially the Madone. Only, for me, it didn’t matter I had my own personal demons to scalp.

I went for it! Every pedal stroke a moment. Every gear change met with a grunt, a yelp a growl.
Fourth, “Argh”.
Fifth “Urgh”.
Sixth “Rrargh!”

Things went blurry, I nearly swallow my tongue, I manage to look down a couple of times and I can tell you, its not the top speed that amazed me the most it was the way in which I achieve it. The speedometer was spinning like the second hand of a clock 17, 21, 25, 28, 29, 29.something mph 30… relief.

I get to the lights look down:


I did it!

itboffin

You can't keep a good man down

Totally pee'd off with my current twisted mangle of a body and unable to cycle for any period of time or distance without horrific pain it occurred to me that light exercise might help :shock:

Now what kind of exercise? why cycling of course

I haven't used my turbo for ages and it was super dusty in the back of the garage, after a quick wipe I set up my TT bike on the turbo fired up the laptop with BBC iplayer and I was off - light low effort at first really focusing on smooth parallel pedal strokes and not wobbling my hips whilst trying to keep the hum consistent, anywoo 40 mins later including a couple of short sprint efforts - NO PAIN! ! !

Cool 8)

@DDD well done next stop 40 MPH natch!

greg66_tri_v2.0

DonDaddyD wrote:

I did it!

Not bad kid, not bad.

But travelling at that speed ain't like dusting crops, so keep yer eyes open...

snooks

OK show yourself...You know who you are :twisted:

Roadie with rack and 1 pannier coming down from Stratford towards Bow this morning, you saw someone almost take me out at the Stratford 1 way outside Nandos, I passed you a couple of times and at one set of lights you said something along the lines of:

"I know you're on a hybrid, and I should be kicking your rse, but I think it's all about legs, and I don't have any this morning"

I wasn't on a hybrid, I was on a slicked up MTB coming in at a lowly FCN of 8, a green rusty one at that!

You sir are a player of the game, show yourself and when ol' rusty is back on the road I might let you have your scalp back!!

jonginge

@DDD Chapeau, sir.
@ITB well, that sounds like better news on the knee front. Keep it sensible, though, eh.

Anyway, was that a tailwind or what? Fantastic ride home. It's the first time I've felt more than half-human in weeks: the cold is finally going, huzzah!

Got a free ride from the Morpeth all the way to cheyne walk thanks to a mahoosive dhl lorry. Traffic was free-flowing so it was 30+ all the way

MonkeyMonster

I had some late night fun too going back along the race track. More than a few late night players who didn't appreciate an 8 taking a few hairs from their head...

cjcp

Just got home. Am still cooling down and the chest is still a little tight...

Left work late. Was enjoying a pootle along Millbank and stopped at VB lights. Noticed a flashing light behind me. Who should roll up by my side but the fast SSer I bumped into last week. Terrific. Just what I need.

He goes and I am obliged to give chase. I keep about 10 yards behind him all the way to CB lights as he's got no rear light, so I basically act as one for him. I ask him if he wants spare batteries and he checks his light - he's forgotten to turn it on, that's all. Ok, so I've now got no excuse to not overtake.

He goes again at CB lights and I stay 10 yars back once again, I overtake on the approach to BB lights, but the lights turned red. We have a little chat at the lights - he's a triathlete who does Olympic distance and he knows somebody in my club. I take the lead and up the pace. I gun it along Cheyne Walk, along the NKR to WBR and all the way to Putney Bridge (he's on my wheel all the way, I think), by which time I basically want to vomit and he overtakes me on the slope up to the summit. I've got saliva pouring from my mouth and my chest is tightening in the colder air - should have taken my inhaler before I left the office - so it's making things a bit harder than they normally are.

A cheeky RLJ from the SSer at the lights turning on to the LRR leaves me needing to chase to catch him. I've not got much in the tank now, but I do what I can. I maybe half the distance between us by the time he turns off at the top of Bolan Bridge, but he's still got 100 yards on me. I've basically pedalled myself to a standstill trying to catch this animal, so I can't do anything but take it easy through Sheen and up Richmond Hill, but managed to up the pace again through Petersham, Ham and into Kingston.

Just sipping some green tea to chill out.

cjcp

DDD - 8). Chapeau, sir!

jonginge

Epic battle, CJ. I saw no roadies on my way home: nada, zilch, nothing. I did, however, experience the Barnes Common Wall of Cold for the first time this season.

cjcp

Yep, that chill is back. I'm going around the Park in the evening these days too, although there's a similar chill going past Ham Common. Brrr.

jonginge

RP road surface still borked? Haven't been in for a couple of months...

cjcp

It's not as bad as it was, but it's unpleasant and, at times, a bit unnerving. I'm fed up of having gravel kicked up at me by car tyres. I'm waiting until I see a police car at Ham Gate and I'm going to ask them when the surface is going to be cleared. I confess that I'm looking for an argument over it, but I can't help feeling that they've done it for no reason other than to slow cyclists down. :?

jonginge

Hmm, but gravel on a descent is dangerous even at lower speeds. Broomfield is a bit sketchy at the best of times.

cjcp

Yep. It's now even more dangerous because they restrict you to a certain line. I'm also writing to Susan Kramer MP about it. There's no information concerning what they did. It just seems as if it's a plan that's been devised by thick people.

attica

@CJ worth trying here perhaps?

roger_merriman

cjcp wrote:

It's not as bad as it was, but it's unpleasant and, at times, a bit unnerving. I'm fed up of having gravel kicked up at me by car tyres. I'm waiting until I see a police car at Ham Gate and I'm going to ask them when the surface is going to be cleared. I confess that I'm looking for an argument over it, but I can't help feeling that they've done it for no reason other than to slow cyclists down. :?

I don't think it's deliberate. but it's certinaly not nice, even on the middle your rolling on the gravel somewhat. going up broomfield was fine but down wasn't terribly good.

their problem is they are going for short term fix, tarmac doesn't last long any way and spraying gravel and tar over doesn't do much. if they wanted to reduce the maintence use concrete which lasts for decades. or anything other than tarmac which doesn't last.

cjcp

roger merriman wrote:

cjcp wrote:

It's not as bad as it was, but it's unpleasant and, at times, a bit unnerving. I'm fed up of having gravel kicked up at me by car tyres. I'm waiting until I see a police car at Ham Gate and I'm going to ask them when the surface is going to be cleared. I confess that I'm looking for an argument over it, but I can't help feeling that they've done it for no reason other than to slow cyclists down. :?

I don't think it's deliberate. but it's certinaly not nice, even on the middle your rolling on the gravel somewhat. going up broomfield was fine but down wasn't terribly good.

their problem is they are going for short term fix, tarmac doesn't last long any way and spraying gravel and tar over doesn't do much. if they wanted to reduce the maintence use concrete which lasts for decades. or anything other than tarmac which doesn't last.

Hmmm. I'm not convinced it's not deliberate. Still, at best, it's thick.

Arica - I sent an email to Susan Kramer last night as she's not "connected" with RP. I might double check what she says with the RP office.

MonkeyMonster

Oooh, lots of bleeding heads this morning - twas a fine morning to stretch ones self and see if there's some more power waiting in the ol legs.

Couple of late roadies too - was drafting from half way on the race track and realised he was going too slow so I took him (bout 25ish) and then then his buddy just in front too who at least looked up in fear as he realised his comb-over would never be the same.

Mwahahahahaha. Love it.

Bassjunkieuk

@DDD - Well done! If you want a bit of a hand tho I reckon the best bet for speeding on your current route would be the brief downhill past the petrol (Shell?) station on your homeward bound journey after passing Clapham :-)

As I'm in the car this week I'm properly off SCRing but I'm instead indulging in my other favourite pass-time, finding ways to punish myself when out on the bike and this evening I found a cracker :-) In previous efforts I hunted out Titsey Hill and have since returned to try that on my bike but this gem is slightly closer, which could turn out to be a good thing:



Yes that sign does say 25% :shock: I drove up it last night and didn't think it was to bad until I rounded one corner on the ascent and was confronted by the properly steep section!!!! I had been told about this road by someone at one of the sites I was working at recently and he said some people struggle to WALK up it and I'd have serious concerns about popping wheelies!!!

The hill in question is Succombs Hill, just off a roundabout on the A22 right by the Ann Summers headoffice, so if/when I get around to orgainizing a SCR ride I *might* include it just to see if it can be done! It's rather short, but I doubt that will help when I'm on my bike, my legs and lungs are burning and I'm barely doing 5mph :-(

gtvlusso

Hmm - when I am a bit later starting out I see more cyclists!

not really much racing fun as they were all a bit slow.....Must admmit that I am regretting taking the fixie at the moment as I am not back into it after 3 weeks of beach sunloungers!

My parts for the New carbon build have arrived - now to build a photograph it!

cjcp

Chapeau to the two chaps with tri bars this morning, one on an old-style, orange Condor, the other on a black Spesh. Kept me on my toes this morning all the way along Embankment.

BJUK - bad luck for being off SCR. How long is the 25% section?

MonkeyMonster

For some reason I saw loads of condors this morning in different configs... Quite a few at hyde park corner.

Bassjunkieuk

cjcp wrote:

BJUK - bad luck for being off SCR. How long is the 25% section?

I think the correct answer would be too long ;-) Being in the car it was a bit difficult to estimate but I'd say less then 50 metres, that picture is from the bottom and I thought the first section you can just see ahead looked like a nice challenge but the steepest bit is just after a turn! Also having the sat-nav in the car meant that once I'd gone up it I then got shown the route home which included some nice descents, albeit on main roads but it wouldn't be too difficult to ride in primary and keep pace with or overtake traffic I reckon :-D

Also I did spot a couple of rather rapid chaps on bikes on what would have been my usual route home for the last few weeks yesterday evening. Admittedly it was about 30 minutes later then I'd be on the road but it does make me feel better to see some other 20-25mph roadies in the area :-)

Clever Pun

good ride in this morning once I stopped thinking about work and saw another roadie... I gained and caught up nicely, knock it up a notch and cruise past I could see in the shadows he was trying to grab my wheel so I just pushed that little bit harder I'm at 27 now and if I don't drop him fairly soon I'm going to get found out... luckily the distance opens up as I hear the ping of the last sinews of his scalp.

A little later on I'm held up by traffic and a bus and I notice him again... bugger, we head through deptford passing a roadie riding a fixed with horrid redish camo bar tape.. At some lights I've got a rolling start and pass about 10 cyclists and I notice I've got a fairy on my tail, I start to push it a little harder and he's there in fits and starts, he's struggling...good. he nips past me in traffic and then we're on to the Jamaica road sprint section where I drop him like a stone... played for and got... nice.

Actually a bit out of breath when I got in, cool

TheBrogueadier

Some days you have the legs, some days you don't.. This morning I had them and they were good.

Out of the house and into the back streets of Bemmie, the quiet roads were perfect for pushing, it a weekend of fettling meant the Trek oiled it's way near silently through the streets and over the first rise, snaking past a few bleary eyed ealry morning pedestrians who drag themselves across my tarmac.

Coronation bridge comes and goes, a little early morning frost gives it a beautiful, but treacherous, sparkle.

Down to the Portway we go, a tussle with a scooter rider provides smiles to us both, when we go different ways he gives a thumbs up. Even the sprinkling of broken glass around the entrance to the cycle lane looks more like diamonds today.

The Portway proper - While the road itself still defeats me, the roar of laden quarry trucks and the early morning inatention of those I've met so far reminds me why, on the cycle track, today, I am king. All those before me fall.

Up onto the climb, this bike isn't made for that but today it eats the hill, it makes me sprint - The cold stabs of air in my chest burn, my legs pump, the hill looses. Breath: 3 strokes in, 4 strokes out, fight the need to gulp air, don't give in to ragged breathing; Push, focus, power.

Into the winding lanes we go, inwardly cursing the inability to mount aerobars without obscuring my lights - Spin up to speed, then into a higher gear, a comfortable cadence for the flatish last stretch, then into work for a cool down in the car park, a feeling of disapointment at having to stop eats at me.

No real scalps bar my own - Another new PB, and a higher average speed by 3mph. I just wish I had legs like that whenever I did anything competative!