Silly commuting racing
Comments
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Yeah, that was fun.cjcp wrote:
JG caught up with me on Putney Bridge this morning. Bit gnarly up to AB, but, after that, oh Lordy. I'd like to say that I could keep up, but he soft-pedalled on Millbank when he saw me a good 20 yards behind. (We arrived at VB lights as they were turning green, having given it - but for a short stop at the railway bridge lights - a fairly balls out effort from AB lights, down Chelsea Embankment and through DSC. I was a bit tired when I got to work...)
The stretch from AB to millbank was perfect. Quite a big tailwind and we were going about 30. The lights on chelsea bridge changed as we approached and I hardly had to lift at all over the crest. Chris had led along CE so I took over just before the bridge and along the DSC. Again, the lights at Vauxhall X were green.
Perfect, just perfect 0 -
Roastie wrote:One ratty old GT MTB - £42
Parts to fix it - £60
Pulling up next to the same sour-faced motorcyclist in the ASL at EVERY traffic light on the way in - Priceless. Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]0 -
Is the guy who took a 4-mile lift from me from Chelsea to Queen's Ride last night on here? Fella, when I slowed down On Lower Richmond Road and suggested you overtook, I was really hoping for a bit of help, and my "I'm feeling a bit knackered, can't think why" was meant to have a bit of sarcastic suggestion attached. Ah well - I guess I got to stretch the old legs and won his scalp by technical knockout.
This morning, just as I was arriving at work, a great big lorry went the wrong way down a one-way street (a policeman was behind me), and although I pulled over to let it past, it immediately turned left and caught my pedal as the gap narrowed and then disappeared!
I was fine - it was slow and I could get out of the way easily enough - but still a wake-up call. The dude only got a talking to from the police, too.0 -
Roared home last night at just over 18mph for the 27 miles and there are a couple of proper lumpy bits in the route too.
Aren't tailwinds lovely : arrived home a happy chap
Came into work via the shorter route this morning at a relatively gentle 16mph and into the teeth of horizontal rain and an evil headwind
The god of weather always gets his own back doesn't he??Specialized Roubaix Pro SL : Litespeed Titanium Siena : Specialized Allez : Specialized Tri Cross :
Specialized Rockhopper0 -
Slow crawl home last night, but still scalped a pack of roadies twice from VB to Lotts Road (they jumped 2 sets of lights to get past me). One of whom was wearing full Dynamo strip on a single speed. I laughed out loud when I went past him as he was drafting a lady on a MTB on Embankment at about 15mph. I should have shouted "MTFU" and then cleared off before he could get on my wheel but I only thought about it afterwards. Doh!FCN3: Titanium Qoroz.0
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totally lost the will for SCR today after seeing a rider down at the base of vauxhall bridge heading north. He was being helped by someone in uniform & a bystander who seemed to know what they were doing so I didn't stop as I didn't see it happen and my first aid is poor. There was a scooter next to him, I really hope he is ok, he wasn't moving his body just holding his arm weakly up to the helper, looked really nasty, can't get the image out of my head.0
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UndercoverElephant wrote:New chain = New PB?
Seems odd I know, but last night was the first night I'd come home with my new chain and brake pads fitted....
34:32 for 12.3 miles, something like 21.3 mph average speed? Sliced about 20 seconds off my best. 8)
I know what you mean. Had a full dismantle and thorough clean at the weekend: wheels and bars off, forks out an' everythin'. All I can hear when I pedal now is the low hum of road buzz through the spokes, plus I reckon a 1-2kph increase in speed for the same effort.
Tried a new variation of the route today, bearing left at Figges Marsh up to Tooting, then in through Balham, Clapham and Stockwell before rejoining my usual run at Kennington Road. Much happier all round: more roadies to compete with ( a couple of scalps just past Stockwell - a blue and silver Trek and a grey and blue C'dale); more space to do so; smoother running bike.
We'll see if this all lasts this evening when riding into the wind...1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
Checked my HRM. I know I was doing 175 down CE, but it hit 183 down either Millbank in pursuit of JG, or through Blackfriars Tunnel.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Made me go check mine...
153 avg, 180 max over 27.26 minutes with a max speed of 29.3mph
Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]0 -
Fucking nora.
That was not a pleasant headwind at all...
and drafting a slick mtb while riding a £800+ road bike with no thanks for 4 sections of the racetrack is not cool.Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:Terrible, terrible journey home. I saw that awesome thighed old guy again, somehow he headed into the wind at 20moh and for all my efforts I couldn't get my bike above 18mph no matter what gear I was in. I was having such a hissy fit my gears slipped in protest and then the bottom bracket clicked (probably sliding over a thread - its doing this in the past, which led to an upgrade crank) in real protest. I flogged myself hard to the point of tears, I got to his tyre, I felt proud.
All of which was pointless when I couldn't keep pace with a girl on a front suspension mountain bike with wide thick wheels spinning the biggest gear she had.
I secretly hate it when girls are faster than me. But this was taking the biscuit!!
Someone give me a hacksaw I'm cutting off my legs!
[ye cannae change the laws of physics] you got on his tyre doing no more than 18mph, when he was doing 20 mph? Phone CERN, I think you discovered a wormhole in the space/time continuum!!! [/ye cannae change the laws of physics]0 -
MonkeyMonster wrote:******* nora.
That was not a pleasant headwind at all...
and drafting a slick mtb while riding a £800+ road bike with no thanks for 4 sections of the racetrack is not cool.
what you didn't thank him after getting a free tow from a MTB? or do you mean he was drafting you...?0 -
Scared a ped this morning. Came to a junction and the route I take goes straight ahead into a residential zone via a dropped kerb, narrow roads and cars parked at 45 degrees to the traffic etc. As I pulled away and crossed the road a ped walked across my path looking at the screen on his phone. There was no chance of me hitting him but I did shout 'Look Out!' as I rode behind him :twisted: which got an apology from him though he hadn't done anything wrong other than not pating attention. I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.0
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Excellent 1st third of ride home, picked up a tail coming out of cambridge. With the wind behind me and on the cycle path, I wasn't giving it the beans as that'd be a bit silly (easy to go fast, not any easier to stop, so take it steady and stay alive). Burnt him off once the way cleared though, then started chasing down a relatively quick fella.
Finally caught him coming out of bottisham and got a "whoa" as I passed. No idea how fast we were going, highish 20s I'd guess, but it was pitch black so couldn't see the speedo.
After that it was cross winds for the rest of the journey, which were less fun.0 -
When the alarm goes off in the morning and I lean across to reset it for another half hour in bed, I need to remind myself that getting in later = traffic worse.
Sod this job dissatisfaction 0 -
Holy moley that was the strongest headwind i've ever encounter, its fricken blowing a gale out there :shock:
Still good to be cycling more than 6 miles a day, I didn't even care about the wind & rain Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
itboffin wrote:Holy moley that was the strongest headwind i've ever encounter, its fricken blowing a gale out there :shock:
Still good to be cycling more than 6 miles a day, I didn't even care about the wind & rain
You're not kidding about that head/side wind. it took all my effort just to stay upright at times :shock:
There's nothing like leaning into the wind, only for the gale to stop and you then veer into the middle of the roadpain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................
Revised FCN - 20 -
Yowzers! What a crosswind at times.
A couple of people tried to draft, but I wasn't 'avin' any of that in these conditions. When invited to pass, they dropped back.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Yes - VB lights provided the hairiest moment.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
cjcp wrote:Yes - VB lights provided the hairiest moment.
You mean the bit just as you clear the junction, heading west? I hate that. There's a short section where the crosswinds get funneled and can't seem to decide whether to put you into the kerb or the traffic.
The Invisible Wall of Wind couldn't be missed. Last night I dodged it drafting a bus. FFS, how I wished for a bus tonight.0 -
Yep, that's the bit. I didn't know which way I was going.
As for Millbank, I think I was knocked down to 14mph!FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
cjcp wrote:Yep, that's the bit. I didn't know which way I was going.
As for Millbank, I think I was knocked down to 14mph!
At your age you want to take it easy, in fact why don't you take the car/bus/train for the rest of the year Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
PBo wrote:DonDaddyD wrote:Terrible, terrible journey home. I saw that awesome thighed old guy again, somehow he headed into the wind at 20moh and for all my efforts I couldn't get my bike above 18mph no matter what gear I was in. I was having such a hissy fit my gears slipped in protest and then the bottom bracket clicked (probably sliding over a thread - its doing this in the past, which led to an upgrade crank) in real protest. I flogged myself hard to the point of tears, I got to his tyre, I felt proud.
All of which was pointless when I couldn't keep pace with a girl on a front suspension mountain bike with wide thick wheels spinning the biggest gear she had.
I secretly hate it when girls are faster than me. But this was taking the biscuit!!
Someone give me a hacksaw I'm cutting off my legs!
[ye cannae change the laws of physics] you got on his tyre doing no more than 18mph, when he was doing 20 mph? Phone CERN, I think you discovered a wormhole in the space/time continuum!!! [/ye cannae change the laws of physics]
Its likely he dropped speed :roll:
Meh.
At least you're reading my posts.
Keep it up.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
On a serious note, what's the safest bridge to take with these crosswinds/headwinds. And, how do you cross a bridge safely but efficiently while negotiating crosswinds.
I'm getting blown into the curb or out into the road. But that's nothing. Going up Waterloo Bridge heading towards Waterloo station I stupidly got my 'dance' on out of the seat and during one moment where the bike was leaning one way the wind blew pushing the bike even further that way and I was nearly off.
After that I sat back on the saddle and ground myself with all my stones...Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:On a serious note, what's the safest bridge to take with these crosswinds/headwinds. And, how do you cross a bridge safely but efficiently while negotiating crosswinds.
I'm getting blown into the curb or out into the road. But that's nothing. Going up Waterloo Bridge heading towards Waterloo station I stupidly got my 'dance' on out of the seat and during one moment where the bike was leaning one way the wind blew pushing the bike even further that way and I was nearly off.
After that I sat back on the saddle and ground myself with all my stones...
i don't think any of the bridges are protected from the wind, by the nature of them tend to be exposed. make sure you've got room, ie take the lane if need be.0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:On a serious note, what's the safest bridge to take with these crosswinds/headwinds. And, how do you cross a bridge safely but efficiently while negotiating crosswinds.
I'm getting blown into the curb or out into the road. But that's nothing. Going up Waterloo Bridge heading towards Waterloo station I stupidly got my 'dance' on out of the seat and during one moment where the bike was leaning one way the wind blew pushing the bike even further that way and I was nearly off.
After that I sat back on the saddle and ground myself with all my stones...
MTFU get out of the saddle and nail that SOB or you could hide behind a gaggle of hi-viz commuters like a girl :twisted:Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
PBo wrote:MonkeyMonster wrote:******* nora.
That was not a pleasant headwind at all...
and drafting a slick mtb while riding a £800+ road bike with no thanks for 4 sections of the racetrack is not cool.
what you didn't thank him after getting a free tow from a MTB? or do you mean he was drafting you...?
He was drafting me crazy fool - clue's in the sig
Nasty nasty crosswinds too. I do feel slightly better that I never dropped beneath 15 CJ - but am guessing the winds must have picked up after I got home
Pub night tomorrow so dodging them by going underground. Be safe people its getting worse says metcheck. Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:On a serious note, what's the safest bridge to take with these crosswinds/headwinds. And, how do you cross a bridge safely but efficiently while negotiating crosswinds.
I'm getting blown into the curb or out into the road. But that's nothing. Going up Waterloo Bridge heading towards Waterloo station I stupidly got my 'dance' on out of the seat and during one moment where the bike was leaning one way the wind blew pushing the bike even further that way and I was nearly off.
After that I sat back on the saddle and ground myself with all my stones...
Blackfriars Bridge was not too bad this evening due to the hoarding running down the east side where they are upgrading Blackfriars Station. I tried out your infamous Balham Dragstrip tonight for the first time. In that wind, it was certainly a drag strip, as in "drag my sorry ar$e down it". To cap it all, I got caught dozing by some bloke in a cardigan on an MTB, who then turned off before I could set things straight.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
Christ! You Londoners want to learn about 'headwinds' when you cycle along the South Coast at the moment!
10mph on the way in, 25mph on the way out! On a MTB. With knobbly tires too!
Pussies! ! 0
