Silly commuting racing

redvee

Wet too in Brizzle. Couldn't see properly cause of the rain on my glasses and nearly rear ended a NX coach cause the brakes didn't want to work and I didn't want to yank them on hard cause of the wet road/road markings I was riding over. One benefot of being so close to a NX coach at the lights was the warm air from the exhaust on my wet legs. Went back out 10 mins after getting home on foot and no rain but people were still usng their brollies, perhaps as parasols?

Mapman

FCN 4 .... Chased FCN 3? along allington lane in Southampton yesterday . I was closing at 24mph ..... Then he saw me ,and it was "bye bye" time ,never got close. All good fun through

itboffin

wow that was wet tonight, the short 1/2 mile downhill from the station was akin to taking a shower with the bike, it's not the first time but its still weird to see a deep river running across the road on a 14% gradient

Also caliper brakes are pants in torrential downpours heading downhill fast into oncoming traffic, i'm really not doing very today

cjcp

greasygrinder wrote:

Hi, I just started commuting this week after bottling out for a year and doing club runs, Time Trials etc around the leafy North Downs... anything but come into London.

Wow I feel like a yokel coming into the Big City for the first time. Had an excellent tussle on Upper Richmond Road with a beardy chap who I could take on the straights but outfoxed me at every traffic light. I kept on getting boxed in, he whizzed through spaces so tight I can only think he could turn 2 dimensional. Finally lost him down the New King's Road.

...and to my shame I was fiddling round with my rucksack as the lights changed at Putney and got temporarily p0wned by a lady pulling one of those kiddy bubbles behind her Pashley Princess. :oops:

Still, it can only improve. If you pass a guy on a Trek 5000 looking a bit lost, say hi as you whoosh past.

Welcome . What's your route? I go through Richmond Park, the Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge, NKR, Embankment,

jonginge

Bleurgh. That is all.

Roastie

All I can say is that it was very rewarding looking down to see the steady stream of water coming off the bottom of my recently fitted 'guards!

No-one to play with tonight - prob just as well as given how wet it was!

Clever Pun

Missed the rain and had an excellent ride with an american silver haired chap we both took each other once and I mainly hung on in there for dear life, got home in pretty quick time especially considering the wind. got home with spray all over my face...


calling GregT

MonkeyMonster

Clever Pun wrote:

Missed the rain and had an excellent ride with an american silver haired chap we both took each other once and I mainly hung on in there for dear life, got home in pretty quick time especially considering the wind. got home with spray all over my face...


calling GregT

waits expectantly...

itboffin

Clever Pun wrote:

Missed the rain and had an excellent ride with an american silver haired chap we both took each other once and I mainly hung on in there for dear life, got home in pretty quick time especially considering the wind. got home with spray all over my face...


calling GregT

ah the old ones are the best!

Bassjunkieuk

Yes it was rather "damp" this evening wasn't it! I can report that my new jacket (thanks Mrs BJUK) appears to keep me dry-ish, although I couldn't tell the difference between rain and sweat on my top underneath.

Rain certainly halted play this evening although I did get a few chances to open the taps after a very slow start over LB, what the hell was that about!!! GRID LOCK practically the whole way over :-(

Brakes got worse and worse as it got wetter, which is odd with the KS Salmons, I suspect my bike is in need of a clean!! Had fun on my last hill.......I'd promised myself that racing would be mental in the wet and coasting was [literally] the way forward but that all went out the window when a chap on a MTB pulled up alongside me at the lights!

As I turn the corner the road drops away nicely and I find my left hand sweeping the brake lever over to put me into the BIG RING, FFS MARK WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! comes a little voice from the sensible side of my brain. He was duly ignored but then came back yelling once we realized we had pesky temporary lights ahead, at the end of the main downhill section and with fe(ked brakes..........as expected they turned amber to red and I was left clutching the brake levers hoping to come to a stop!!! Thankfully I stopped without needing to do a duck and roll but MTB chap just slowed and nipped round the cones on pavement side!! When the lights went green I again ignored the sensible voice in my head and went off after MTB chaps rear light, down on the drops, to ensure that HE didn't beat me down the road. Got passed just after one of the gentle bends and world order was restored :-D

flamite

well it is Friday the 13th....

saw a bike in the middle of road on embankment just by embankment tube at about 8am, feared worst, but then to see an argument between a cyclist and a ped, ped obviously stepped out and cyclist got knocked off, cyclist looked ok, hope bike was ok too.

quite an amusing spectacle from back of my cab...

doc said 4 more weeks till on bike... grrrr

Retch

It's, uh, damp today then

greasygrinder

cjcp wrote:

greasygrinder wrote:

Hi, I just started commuting this week after bottling out for a year and doing club runs, Time Trials etc around the leafy North Downs... anything but come into London.

Wow I feel like a yokel coming into the Big City for the first time. Had an excellent tussle on Upper Richmond Road with a beardy chap who I could take on the straights but outfoxed me at every traffic light. I kept on getting boxed in, he whizzed through spaces so tight I can only think he could turn 2 dimensional. Finally lost him down the New King's Road.

...and to my shame I was fiddling round with my rucksack as the lights changed at Putney and got temporarily p0wned by a lady pulling one of those kiddy bubbles behind her Pashley Princess. :oops:

Still, it can only improve. If you pass a guy on a Trek 5000 looking a bit lost, say hi as you whoosh past.

Welcome . What's your route? I go through Richmond Park, the Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge, NKR, Embankment,

Hi, only in town 3 days a week, in different places. So far I'm doing a similar route to yours, New Malden, RP, past Marc Bolan, Putney Bridge NKR and then cut up through Chelsea back roads, and dodge the tractors to Hyde Park. It's more civilised than I imagined.

I guess I'd go down Embankment when I'm heading to City/Shoreditch. Haven't tried that yet.

White Horse

Finally a bit of SCR in Swindon. Pulled up at some lights behind a guy with no lights in dark clothing! When they went green he went left as well. As I pulled out to go past him, he decided he was having none of it and accelerated. I slipped in behind him and took the shelter for a couple of hundred yards. As I pulled out to overtake again, he clearly had nothing and he ate my dust (well, spray as it was a bit wet!). He visibly shrank as I effortlessly cruised past.

May not sound like much, but on my route that is the Champs Elysees of SCR. That's only my second opportunity in 7 months. The first, guy on a hybrid jumped up on the cycle path to get away so it didn't even count.

roger_merriman

White Horse wrote:

Finally a bit of SCR in Swindon. Pulled up at some lights behind a guy with no lights in dark clothing! When they went green he went left as well. As I pulled out to go past him, he decided he was having none of it and accelerated. I slipped in behind him and took the shelter for a couple of hundred yards. As I pulled out to overtake again, he clearly had nothing and he ate my dust (well, spray as it was a bit wet!). He visibly shrank as I effortlessly cruised past.

May not sound like much, but on my route that is the Champs Elysees of SCR. That's only my second opportunity in 7 months. The first, guy on a hybrid jumped up on the cycle path to get away so it didn't even count.

try a commute though Bushy park, the only folks on bikes tend to be on fixies though in the 4-6 age range....

jonginge

White Horse wrote:

Finally a bit of SCR in Swindon. Pulled up at some lights behind a guy with no lights in dark clothing! When they went green he went left as well. As I pulled out to go past him, he decided he was having none of it and accelerated. I slipped in behind him and took the shelter for a couple of hundred yards. As I pulled out to overtake again, he clearly had nothing and he ate my dust (well, spray as it was a bit wet!). He visibly shrank as I effortlessly cruised past.

May not sound like much, but on my route that is the Champs Elysees of SCR. That's only my second opportunity in 7 months. The first, guy on a hybrid jumped up on the cycle path to get away so it didn't even count.

Just out of interest, which route into swindon? Used to (long time ago) commute along Wootton bassett rd and up kingshill or great western way. The mahoosive roundabouts were always fun, as was the magic one

Bassjunkieuk

I'm sitting here at the moment hoping that my clothes dry out enough for this evenings ride home/Morpeth visit!
Due to the rather inclement conditions I decided on a nice take it easy ride in today, no major problems except for a brief bit of SCR action in Streatham from a guy on a Van Nicholas (certainly the day for a bike that won't rust!) We parted ways as I headed for Tooting and he carried on along the A23.

Found a motorbike all over the junction at the end of Clapham Common, seems they came off the worse from a collision with a Merc van, rider looked OK as they where sitting up but still goes to show just how easy accidents happen. Dispatched a chap on a blue/black Specialized a bit futher ahead and found that I was hitting most of the lights on GREEN for a change which meant I could keep a decent pace up!

Seems my riding today also managed to get some water in my supposedly water-tight SMART 1/2 WATT LED read light as I found it switched on and not wanting to turn off when I got to work, that too is now sitting on the desk beside me drying......

Still despite the dampness I was lovely and warm this morning and it sure as hell beats PT!

Roastie

White Horse wrote:

Finally a bit of SCR in Swindon.

Whereabouts in Swindon do you ride? When I do, it is from the station to just before the M4 J16. I've had about two good SCR experiences in two years of solid commuting in Swindon. For a town with so many cyclists, precious few of them seem to commute.

will3

What's worse
sorry mate I didn't see you

or

sorry mate I coulnd't see you because I was reversing out of my drive and there's high hedges blocking my view

?

White Horse

I go from the North over to Dorcan, usually down Ermin Street. I often see someone in the distance and think "Yes!, They are mine!" and when I get closer it's some old dear on a Shopper.

itboffin

roger merriman wrote:

try a commute though Bushy park, the only folks on bikes tend to be on fixies though in the 4-6 age range....

So! what's your point? age means nothing in the "Game" :twisted:

In other news it seems I took more of a bashing than I first assumed yesterday, stiff as a board today pnar-pnar

Clever Pun

will3 wrote:

What's worse
sorry mate I didn't see you

or

sorry mate I coulnd't see you because I was reversing out of my drive and there's high hedges blocking my view

?

the first one.. the second at least implies some sort of excuse, I assume they didn't fling themselves out?

Bassjunkieuk

Clever Pun wrote:

will3 wrote:

What's worse
sorry mate I didn't see you

or

sorry mate I coulnd't see you because I was reversing out of my drive and there's high hedges blocking my view

?

the first one.. the second at least implies some sort of excuse, I assume they didn't fling themselves out?

The thing that annoys me with some examples of the second one is when people CLEARLY have enough room on the drive to do a U-turn and drive out normally but don't. Until recently it really was a gamble coming out of my parents drive due to overgrown hedges in the in a planted area that contains trees etc between main pavement and the road. Another numpty moment was the council putting in a lovely big flowerpot on the corner of a rather busy one way road that completely obscured the view down the road you where trying to join!

roger_merriman

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

will3 wrote:

What's worse
sorry mate I didn't see you

or

sorry mate I coulnd't see you because I was reversing out of my drive and there's high hedges blocking my view

?

the first one.. the second at least implies some sort of excuse, I assume they didn't fling themselves out?

The thing that annoys me with some examples of the second one is when people CLEARLY have enough room on the drive to do a U-turn and drive out normally but don't. Until recently it really was a gamble coming out of my parents drive due to overgrown hedges in the in a planted area that contains trees etc between main pavement and the road. Another numpty moment was the council putting in a lovely big flowerpot on the corner of a rather busy one way road that completely obscured the view down the road you where trying to join!

they have put the bus stop right on the corner of our culdesac nicely blocking the view and making reversing in to the street even more of a dark art...

roger_merriman

itboffin wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

try a commute though Bushy park, the only folks on bikes tend to be on fixies though in the 4-6 age range....

So! what's your point? age means nothing in the "Game" :twisted:

In other news it seems I took more of a bashing than I first assumed yesterday, stiff as a board today pnar-pnar

heh true true.

Wrath Rob

SCR was cancelled this morning due to the weather
SCR last night was cancelled due to the weather and me almost rear-ending a bus due to no brakes

On the plus side I had an awesome ride home on Wednesday night. A gaggle of SS'ers and roadies managed to come together through P'ment Sq and a few minor skirmishes went on up to VB. A couple of them did the silly semi-RLJ manoeuvre and so had a head start into DSC. Another couple got the drop on me away from the lights but I'm not worried. Fuelled by a crap day at work I wind up through the gears and take all 4 of them.

My elation was very short lived as a FG came past me, I'm sure he had 4 legs instead of two but it was hard to make out in the blur of motion that was taking place under his hips. He quickly pulled out a 10 meter gap, then more slowly edged out another 5 meters. It was at about that time that my patented InvisiBungeeRope, which I had snuck onto his seat post as he passed, held the gap and then gradually pulled me back up to him. 15 became 10, became 5 became a small nod as I went past. Unclipping my InvisiBungeeRope I then gradually powered ahead. Game on.

The down ramp from CB was almost a repeat story with the other roadies, but no FG this time (I think I heard some crying?). At the BB lights there was a large lorry that I didn't fancy going up the inside of so I held back and let the now near suicidal roadies filter past. The last guy who went was really suicidal as the lights had been red for a while and changed just after he got past the 1st set of rear wheels. Duh. Cue frantic spinning on his part

Not that I was complaining as I'd had a nice rest and took them again on the run up to Lotts Road. Lots of scalps, happy days

biondino

blu3cat wrote:

Catching a RLJing electric bike that looked far more like a scooter - little 16" or 20" wheels - very fat tires. He's always just out of reach, I pull up alongside, lights go red and he goes through. Worst thng was when traffic stops and there's no way through he mounts the pavement and continues at his full pelt (about 18 mph). Unbelievable. Reminded me of the bit with Mickey Dolenz on the scooter from the Monkeys title sequence.

Oh and he pedalled exactly zero times.

If you have an electric bike and you don't pedal on the flat you should be forced to exchange it for a mobility scooter, or, even better, one of those tiny blue fibreglass cars that seemed massively popular when I was a kid.

BJUK wrote:

Brakes got worse and worse as it got wetter, which is odd with the KS Salmons

I had the same issue with mine last night - they really became rubbish very quickly. This morning, with standing water but no rain, they worked fine. Weird.

Bassjunkieuk

biondino wrote:

BJUK wrote:

Brakes got worse and worse as it got wetter, which is odd with the KS Salmons

I had the same issue with mine last night - they really became rubbish very quickly. This morning, with standing water but no rain, they worked fine. Weird.

I actually think mine is just down to crud build up, need to clean rims and brake pads this evening or over weekend

The Running Man

Morning all - disaster struck on Thursday night : pushing it a bit going up Caen Hill to Devizes and the groin injury that's stopped me running since the summer came back with a vengeance and I almost fell off the bike in pain. It was like someone sticking a knitting needle up the front of my stomach. Had to to ride home as the support crew was out doing the shopping so I had no choice really.

My worry is that I think I've moved my pubic symphysis which could be a bit iffy but I'm getting it checked out tonight at my physio - who I am sure will shout at me.

Walking was a bit of an issue on Friday and so I had a day off but it had started to ease a bit by Sunday so I did a gentle 30 minutes on the rower then went for a quiet spin for an hour. Managed to spin into work this morning but had to take it very very gently.

Any thoughts of 1000 for the month have now gone : in fact I may get a complete ban tonight so just keeping my fingers crossed it's not as grim as I fear.

Not in a good mood

Bassjunkieuk

Sweet jaysus, this was at the BOTTOM of page 2!

Anyhow now it's returned to it's rightful place he's my report on this mornings little fun ride to work :-)

Weather was looking warm(er) so I ditched the long leggings and just sported the 3/4 lengths over lycra shorts today, reasoning that it's less to dry in the office. I was nice and warm with my L/S top and jacket on and happily flying along down the Balham Drag Strip.
Imagine my surprise when at the lights by Clapham South choob I'm joined by a chap on a Trek roadie in SHORTS AND SLEEVELESS TOP!!!! A few tell-tale signs told me the next mile or so was going to be FUN :-) Namely his rather large calves, overshoes and trackstanding ability pointed to someone who was a bit of a decent cyclist.......
We couldn't really SCR past the common as it's was fairly heavy traffic and he was a filtering ninja, mixing it with the scooters with impunity! I kept him in my sights without taking any silly risks. Once the road opened up past the last set of lights just before Clapham Common ends the road cleared. I took my chance to give him a test and put the hammer down. I swing past before having to brake for the lights ahead.

We trade places again on the approach to Clapham North, I haveto fall back a bit to avoid ending up under an Addison Lee Galaxy who decided to change lanes without indicating :evil: He indicates right as we get to the choob station and I think I'm going to lose him but he was just filtering up the RHS to get to front of queue! I'm now stuck 1 car back behind a bunch of scooters.......when the lights change I can't do much besides get myself clipped in and watch as he powers off up the road. A quick shoulder check confirms the car behind isn't off to a stellar start so I swing round the scooters and start trying to close the gap......25-26-27-28-30. My gears again give me jip getting onto the 12 cog but once it falls on I'm powering up the road after him. I pass a gent on a hybrid as if's he's standing still as like a homing missile I lock in on my target........I blow past well wide to ensure he can't jump on my wheel and keep the power on. We're in the bus lane heading towards Stockwell so have plenty of room. Pedestrian lights ahead start to change and I know I can make it through on a "late" amber. After powering through I do a quick shoulder check and can see him out of the saddle doing a good impression of Mark Cavendish :-) He catches up I ease off for the traffic by Stockwell choob and we part ways as he heads along towards Kennington. If you are on here chapeau sir! You certainly gave me a good run this morning!

The action didn't end there tho as once I hit The Mall I fond a chap on a T-Mobile Giant who went half-way across the junction at the first set of lights. Once they change he then sprints away and despite my best efforts I could only match his speed/acceleration which meant with his head start I failed to catch-up. He was certainly shifting tho as I saw just shy of 30mph along there :-)

I do think the SCR action this morning was something to do with me remembering to immortalize the commute on Nokia STB after I remembered I hadn't recorded this route yet :-) If anyones interested the track can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/yztr6ed - missed the first 1.5 miles as it took a while to get a GPS fix and the average is showing a bit lower then the 16.6mph recorded on my bike comp.