Silly commuting racing

cjcp

@TRM - unlucky fella. Hope the news from the physio is hopeful.

Unscheduled deflation again this morning on Cheyne Walk. JG slowed to ask if all was ok just as I was finishing up. Bad traffic on Millbank due to the road up to HoP being closed meant I caught up with him, but not before I had reduced myself to gasping mess trying to catch G66 after Chelsea Bridge all the way until Lambeth Bridge Roundabout. I spotted the distinictive flick of the courier back and thought, "I know him". He had engaged a rapid chap on a Spesh and despatched him just after the Tate. Traffic up to LBR allowed me to catch up.

JG joined us on the approach to the HoP. I then got dropped by G66 like a hot coal down to Horseguards, and again after Embankment tube. Then got blitzed by JG - as usual - in Blackfriars Tunnel. He had turned off at the lights, stopped, looked back for me well before I reached the lights.

I may leave a little earlier tomorrow.

Clever Pun

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!

lets not forget reversing out onto a major road is very naughty indeed

will3

Clever Pun wrote:

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!

lets not forget reversing out onto a major road is very naughty indeed

Indeed. Remember that 'reversing round a corner' thing in the driving test? The idea is that you reverse into the minor road/driveway and then go out forwards.

Wrath Rob

Not much SCR this morning given the poo traffic on Embankment and P Square being closed. However, got a question for the SCR massive.

At VB lights a buy on a white Solan SS with white tyres nudged across the lights in front of me. I was wondering what the point of the bike was as it looks like a TT bike but with a track dropout when the lights changed. He pulled away from me down Millbank but I reeled him in and went past at Tate Britain. By the time I got the traffic at Lambeth bridge and did a safety check he was a way back. He didn't re-pass me after that but I think we took different routes to divert around HoP.

Scalp or no?

Bassjunkieuk

Wrath Rob wrote:

Not much SCR this morning given the poo traffic on Embankment and P Square being closed. However, got a question for the SCR massive.

At VB lights a buy on a white Solan SS with white tyres nudged across the lights in front of me. I was wondering what the point of the bike was as it looks like a TT bike but with a track dropout when the lights changed. He pulled away from me down Millbank but I reeled him in and went past at Tate Britain. By the time I got the traffic at Lambeth bridge and did a safety check he was a way back. He didn't re-pass me after that but I think we took different routes to divert around HoP.

Scalp or no?

SCALP and a mighty fine one by the sound of things......the mere fact that he's on a SS already pegs him above you on the FC :-D

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

@TRM - unlucky fella. Hope the news from the physio is hopeful.

+1 Fear and resolution of some hernia symptoms kept me off the bike for several months a couple of years ago. Not good.

cjcp wrote:

Unscheduled deflation again this morning on Cheyne Walk. JG slowed to ask if all was ok just as I was finishing up. Bad traffic on Millbank due to the road up to HoP being closed meant I caught up with him, but not before I had reduced myself to gasping mess trying to catch G66 after Chelsea Bridge all the way until Lambeth Bridge Roundabout. I spotted the distinictive flick of the courier back and thought, "I know him". He had engaged a rapid chap on a Spesh and despatched him just after the Tate. Traffic up to LBR allowed me to catch up.

JG joined us on the approach to the HoP. I then got dropped by G66 like a hot coal down to Horseguards, and again after Embankment tube. Then got blitzed by JG - as usual - in Blackfriars Tunnel. He had turned off at the lights, stopped, looked back for me well before I reached the lights.

When I saw someone changing a tube on Cheyne walk I shouted 'you ok?'. As I drew level I recognized the bike, then the KW shorts. Gave a wave and caused myself a drift moment... :roll:

Opened the taps along chelsea embankment to rid myself of a drafting fairy. Had to do it again along the DSC. Then came Millbank and a complete lack of desire to filter. Was in traffic for a couple of minutes when I spy Greg then Chris filter on the outside. This jolts me out of my reverie and I catch them up. The road past HoP was closed so Greg took us the scenic route. It's fair to say Mr 66 has some speed.

cjcp wrote:

I may leave a little earlier tomorrow.

Haha, me too. Was ridiculously late this morning.

greg66_tri_v2.0

First half of the ride in I was coughing, well, productively, I think is the medical term. It was like a second breakfast. Once I'd cleared the pipes, I ran into some fun with the guy on the Spesh before cj & JG arrived to help gang up on him. Poor guy!

Uber-snarl up around the HoP meant that by the time we got to Viccy Embankment we finally had some clear road again, I was quite keen to open the taps a bit.

All good fun until someone loses an eye, as my mother would say...

DonDaddyD

Woke up early, next to my beautiful girlfriend. I left for work late....

I had nothing for company accept a guy on a Ridgeback/Trek looking hybrid with a strong shade of orange jacket on. I dropped him. Lights. I dropped him. RLJ. I dropped him. Lights. And so it went on until my drag strip where I hit 30.6mph*. It's a new top speed and would have been faster if I didn't run out of road/was scared that the brakes won't stop me in time and afraid that the bike would collapse.

Getting faster, stronger and lighter :shock: (even though I don't look it).

*This speed is easily achieveable on Karen.

Wrath Rob

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

SCALP and a mighty fine one by the sound of things......the mere fact that he's on a SS already pegs him above you on the FC :-D

That was what I felt but wanted to check. Not just the SS but I've got baggies and 'guards too

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

Woke up early, next to my beautiful girlfriend. I left for work late....

Excellent use of the 'Turning Japanese' emoticon

cjcp

Picked up a couple of drafting fairies along DSC and the NKR tonight; seen one before. Heh heh. Had to happen with tonight's headwind.

itboffin

I left the office a tad late this evening and immediately picked up two lycra clad warriors at the lights, both of which edged forward just enough to give the red/green a run for the money only to be held at the very next set of lights, which we're clearly visible and obviously going to turn red well before they arrived

Still once those we're clear the sprint through the next junction together reminded me very clearly why i'm not donning lycra at present and also wearing a heavy duty knee strap, still it was fun for 200 yards or so and i'm sure my fellow commuters on the South West train didn't mind the extra heat generated by my very last minute boarding of the 19:50.

I must look such a plum wearing the full civvies uniform racing lycra roadies but I just can't help it :oops:

cjcp

You are your own worst enemy!

MonkeyMonster

cjcp wrote:

Picked up a couple of drafting fairies along DSC and the NKR tonight; seen one before. Heh heh. Had to happen with tonight's headwind.

Out walking in it seemed bad enough, I was not at all unhappy at a work from home day...

Lbaguley

Nods to say Hi to Clever Pun.

That's one seriously bright front light you've got. I couldn't see anything else when I looked back after passing you

I thought that other roadie was going to be quite quick when he freewheeled past me on the run up to the red lights on Jamaica Road, but then he just seemed to not turn it on. Seems you should never judge someone by the volume of their freehub :?

Anyway, it was good to see another forumer on the road again last night - it's been a while...

Clever Pun

Lbaguley wrote:

Nods to say Hi to Clever Pun.

That's one seriously bright front light you've got. I couldn't see anything else when I looked back after passing you

I thought that other roadie was going to be quite quick when he freewheeled past me on the run up to the red lights on Jamaica Road, but then he just seemed to not turn it on. Seems you should never judge someone by the volume of their freehub :?

Anyway, it was good to see another forumer on the road again last night - it's been a while...

yeah it was turned right up as it was mucking me around, I thought I'd light your way after you nicked past me, I did take solace in the fact my light was dicking you off after you'd past me.

he was quick for a bit and we'd gone past each other once and I was looking to drop him permanently as I got the impression he was starting to flag as I was looking to find a suitable place to go past you nipped through, so we left him behind rather easily. As soon as you past me I knew it was you as well double balls I stayed with you but the opportunity to challenge didn't appear, that and you were pretty swift

will3

Passed a slicked up mtb rider today - not usual fodder for me, but I had an almost completely flat front tyre :roll:

Bassjunkieuk

Had a fun ride home last night :-D My original plan was to head down to Embankment from Whitehall after peeling off from TS but is was bleeding closed! Diverted along Viccy Street and headed down pretty much the usual route home and came down VB road.
As I pulled up at light on north side of VB I was joined by some hybrids and had filtered out to about 3rd lane to get to the line........just as the lights change :shock:

I decided the best course of action and most sensible thing to do would be to lay down some serious power to try and beat the various buses and cars and pass the other cyclist floatsam - and so I did :-) I can safely say I've never had so much fun on the run across VB and around Vauxhall Cross at the other end, it was practically nirvana! I think I maintained around 25 going over and then hit about 28 on the off ramp. Lights on opposite side where green and I had clear lanes so I was tucked on the drops as I picked out a line through my lane marked for Brixton. I then swooped round the corner as the lights just changed from green to amber with a huge smile on my face :-D

Had a persistant RLJing twerp on a Specialized roadie to chase from Stockwell, just to prove really that RLJing doesn't make you faster! I was still playing cat and mouse when I turned off by Waitrose!

This mornings ride was a similar affair, no real competition but just a few RLJing pansies to repeatedly pass. One was a right tw4t and jumped a set of ped crossing lights as people where crossing whereas the chap in the blue Altura coat actually stopped (having jumped the last few......).

The Running Man

The physio report : good news and bad news and good news : the first good news is that it's not the symphysis itself - phew!!

The bad news is I'm kind of back to square one as it's a different but related injury - I've torn a muscle in the lower stomach that attaches to the pubic bone and I have to confess it stings like a b*tch. It'll take 2-3 weeks at least to settle during which time I can't even think about getting the running shoes back on.

The 2nd bit of good news though is that I can get on the rower as much as I like and I can get on the bike as much as like which is a huge relief BUT only with the express proviso that I don't get out of the saddle.

But for those who've been paying attention you'll know there are a couple of potentially stinky climbs on the way home for me - Box Hill is a long drag but a comfortable climb in the saddle. Bowden Hill out of Lacock on the other hand is a very different proposition - so that's going to be interesting tonight!!

I did cruise in this morning and it felt ok (ish) but I know if I tried to really open up it would all go to hell pretty quickly so I guess I just have to patient - which is not my strong suit .....

Lbaguley

Clever Pun wrote:

I stayed with you but the opportunity to challenge didn't appear, that and you were pretty swift

Awww, gee thanks :oops:

It was a bit cheeky of me to nip past you both like that, but the guy in front of you seemed to be getting slower - I was waiting for you to turn on the afterburners...

It was a great run home last night - bit of fun with Clever Pun and the rubbish roadie and then I ripped up the small hill (Maze Hill) just before home - took some guy on a tourer (it looked like, especially with panniers) who was out of the saddle and sounding like he was in pain; I breezed past comfortably and seated. 8)

Jay dubbleU

Beautiful day today so I took the long route which just about doubles my commute to 10 miles - good run along the old railway line though - almost as good as Mr Burns former commute No competition though - didn't see another bike all the way

cjcp

Look out for the headwind on the way home, folks. Seriously hard work.

Why did I go home early? Well, it has everything to do with Mrs CJ locking herself and the kids out of the house. I received the call just after I'd stepped out of the shower and changed at work. Excellent timing.

itboffin

Ouch! came over all sporty on Waterloo bridge, successfully scalping 15 or so fellow commuters :twisted: wooohahahahahaha!

Ouch! :?

Bassjunkieuk

I began to regret not popping back inside for my water bottle after un-locking the bike earlier......after pretty much slaying everything on 2 wheels without a motor between Vauxhall and Clapham I was quite surprised to find a pair of red lights flashing ahead that didn't seem to be getting noticeably closer despite my best efforts.

I could feel a bit of a wind and from the proximity of the red flashes I could tell I was most likely dealing with a mini-chaingang only as I finally reeled the pair in I found the guy on the rear was on a flat bar roadie! He was certainly shifting some to keep the wheel of the gent up front on the "proper" road bike. I did a quick shoulder check as by the time I'd caught them we where running out of Clapham Common and about to hit the lovely dual lane traffic jam on the southern edge. I got ahead at the first set of lights and got my first look at the roadies machine - a rather nice Focus (I think going by the naked carbon weave) rolling on Mavic Cosmic Carbone wheels :shock: We sprint off from the lights and I pull out a brief lead before we slow for the next traffic jam at the red light ahead. We part ways at Clapham South as I don't think I past him after that......

Fast flat bar guy comes past me a bit further ahead as I get caught coasting on the approach to Waitrose - DOH! Too close to my turn off to bother trying to re-claim anything :-(

Took part in a bit of what I like to call "Touring Bike" racing on the run along to Streatham after I found a fellow rider on an almost identical bike to mine, a SCR 3.0.....which on closer inspection (and a good bit of hearing) was also rolling on Mavic Aksiums :-) I showed him what the bike was capable off pulling away from the temporary lights, which he coincidently jumped.......binned him with a good few MPH to spare :-)

Arrived home absolutely gasping for a drink and found the lovely Mrs BJUK has already put the coffee machine on :-D Rather delighted to have a caffeine fix waiting for me I headed into the kitchen to find a pot of hot water :?: seems she forgot to actually put any coffee in the top

amnezia

so was there a tail wind this morning or am i just awesome?

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

Look out for the headwind on the way home, folks. Seriously hard work.

On a related note, these have just been put up on the front page of the site:


Yeah, it was hard work. Same for the couple of days. Boo.

cjcp

amnezia wrote:

so was there a tail wind this morning or am i just awesome?

Shush about the hurricane-force tailwind. I am revelling in my awesomeness.

I hit 30mph on the path through the middle of RP without any difficulty. A woman coming the other seemed to top out at about 12. The look on her face said it all. The journey home isn't going to be fun. So be on full alert for the drafting fairies!!

And, on that note, why is it that fairies stil draft when they have a spanking tailwind? :?: Picked up one between AB and CB this morning. Waved him through, but he didn't go.

greg66_tri_v2.0

So, this morning's revelation (which I have previously known, and forgotten): Bike 1 + gusting sidewinds = hairy moments aplenty.

Think Bike 2 is coming off the wall for tomorrow.

Bassjunkieuk

I'd have to concur on the tailwind, I picked it up proper on the Balham - Clapham - Stockwell drag and took full advantage! Did a properly suicidal filter between a bus and car before lighting the afterburners to avoid being killed and hitting 30 :-)
Then chased down a rather quick chap on a SS on the approach to Stockwell and not only claimed his scalp but also that of a motorbike and a scooter - comp showed I hit just shy of 34 down there :-D

Almost got blown down past the Morpeth as I came off the N/S of Vauxhall Bridge, thankfully nothing alongside me :shock: This evenings ride should be interesting

will3

JonGinge wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Look out for the headwind on the way home, folks. Seriously hard work.

On a related note, these have just been put up on the front page of the site:


Yeah, it was hard work. Same for the couple of days. Boo.

I find these items of clothing disturbing. This is not the look I'm going for, I think it might give the wrong impression: