Silly commuting racing

greg66_tri_v2.0

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...

Chelsea Traffic is relatively light; it's wide, so you have some wobble room, and the bridge supports will stop you "tripping" on the kerb and ending up spread all over the pavement.

As for technique, you've got the basic rule already. Stay seated. Try not to lock up your hands and arms if a gust hits you: try to stay relaxed and steer back onto your line.

Easier said than done, sometimes. I've been a passenger getting blown across a lane of traffic before. Not fun.

Roastie

Lovely ride last night into that crazy headwind. I'd been going reasonably quickly when I got to the VB lights. I took off quickly, but not a sprint, thinking that would be enough to clear the gaggle of riders.

Next thing a scooter accelerates by and then, much to my surprise, "Blue Ribble Dynamo" (BRD) is in a full-on sprint to catch the wheel of the scooter. Not keen to miss out on the fun, I prepare for a chase. But I'm on the middle ring. The Pig does not like full-on front shifts at all (too much mech flex) so I painfully have to tap off to get the ring up before I can wind 'er up. It feels like an age, and now I have a good deal of ground to make up!

So I'm sprinting hard and soon I'm matching their speed, then reeling them in. But painfully slowly - I am full-on, balls-out, flat-out and hurting. I slow, or they accelerate. Either way, I'm not catching anymore but *just* maintaining the gap at that not-quite-in-touch point. I just can't hold on anymore, my lungs are about to explode, so I ease off. Moments later BRD loses touch with the scooter but he has a good deal of momentum. Still, without the slipstream he is slowing so here is my chance. I settle into a fast tuck and chase.

As we roll up to the CB intersection he is *just* out touch, and in the queue I have a few slow riders in front of me. Light goes green, he shoots off (but not quite the scooter chasing sprint) while I'm left fumbling past a few nodders. He as at least 50m on me by the time I clear them, so now the chase is on again. Last chance before I turn off at Albert and I'm gaining quickly. We're nearing the traffic queues (which I regard as neutral), but I'm on course to catch and pass, or so I think.

He must see my puddle of light bobbing around just ahead of him because he starts to look back to see what/who it is, just as I'm about to get in touch with his back wheel before my planned kick to pass him, he peeks over his right shoulder then jumps hard out of the saddle while swinging hard to the right hand side of the lane to make sure I can't catch his wheel.

I kick a little but frankly I'm spent from my chasing - I can't match the acceleration and in a few seconds he's filtering and the opportunity evaporates.

A great bit of SCR - frustrating that I never quite got it over on him (to claim his scalp), but it was still an epic chase.

By comparison, this morning was quick but boring SCR. Bleh.

will3

Mr Sworld wrote:

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! !

+1

london pussy wrote:

oo a little bit of exposed road, how am I gonna cope?

try 20 miles of unremitting headwind with no shelter.


Nice ride this morning, though cross/intowind yet again. At least the sun was shining.

Hint for the fixie rider I passed: brakes and freewheels make it much easier to stop in a hurry without falling off

MonkeyMonster

rjsterry wrote:

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.

Tut!

Man it looked nice this morning, v jealous of you chaps on yer bikes.

Roastie

MonkeyMonster wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

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.

Tut!

Man it looked nice this morning, v jealous of you chaps on yer bikes.

Why weren't you on yours?

The Running Man

+1

Mental sidewinds last night going up to 5 Ways out of Bath and ended up getting blown three quarters of the way up the grass bank at the top of Bowden Hill. Spent more or less the entire journey leaning at 45 degrees into the gale.

Tried getting out of the saddle once at the bottom of Bowden. Didn't do that again - the back end started disappearing from under me at an alarming rate of knotts and I just had to sit and grind it out all the way up, only to nearly end up horizontal at the top anyway.

Bit scary once or twice to be honest especially when traffic was belting past me as the wind was moving me around by anything up to 2 or 3 feet.

Quite a lot calmer this morning but a tough headwind nonetheless - phew!!

MonkeyMonster

Roastie wrote:

Why weren't you on yours?

Choir and pub later...

amnezia

It was incredibly windy last night, saw several cyclists almost going backwards as i sat in the warm pub drinking beer.

Glad to have sat that one out. 8)

itboffin

MonkeyMonster wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

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.

Tut!

Man it looked nice this morning, v jealous of you chaps on yer bikes.

I thought the same and seeing as I'm working from home I popped out for a little CX action in the forest

here


and here


very nice it was too

DonDaddyD

rjsterry wrote:

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.

Unfortunate about the MTB?

What bike are you on? Have we duelled before, it sounds like you do a near identical commute to me?

rjsterry

DonDaddyD wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

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.

Unfortunate about the MTB?

What bike are you on? Have we duelled before, it sounds like you do a near identical commute to me?

A bit of a museum piece: a 1997 Giant Peloton 7200 - nice skinny chromoly frame in white. A few upgrades in the last 12 years like new wheels and saddle, but basically like this:

) I don't think our paths have crossed as I used to go up through Streatham and Brixton until recently, and my homeward leg is pretty late - usually 6.30 or later." rel="nofollow">http://archive.giant-bicycles.com/it/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?year=1999&model=9522

I also have an equally dated VistaLite VL 400 light with massive lead acid battery in a top tube bag (surely I can add +1 to my FCN for this )

I don't think our paths have crossed as I used to go up through Streatham and Brixton until recently, and my homeward leg is pretty late - usually 6.30 or later.

biondino

Interesting link, rjsterry. I wonder why I've never seen any of these on the commute?

Roastie

itboffin wrote:

I thought the same and seeing as I'm working from home I popped out for a little CX action in the forest

You suck.

I'm very green indeed.

Citizen Smith

Ditto on the drag strip last night, at times it felt like I was going backwards. Still managed to take one scalp....I think these are highly prized into the headwind.....had to bury myself to shake the roadie off my wheel but that I did...take that Mr Willier.

Headed into work mid morning having had an early doors conf call.... happened upon a proper racing snake in matching Impsport (generic team kit manufacturer) hi-viz jacket and bright red bib tights, wraprarounds & riding a yellow Roberts audax. He did have an unladen pannier on his rack but he was still a potential scalp for moi.

Fat chance!

I think he overtook me just after Tooting Bec as I was hanging back behind a car. He then proceeded to blitz the dragstrip - I had to stoke the burners to about 90% to stay with him - his cruising speed was in the mid 20s (TM ITB). He also performed probably most immaculately executed trackstands I have seen on my commute....rock solid with superb acceleration when the lights went green...so much so that he put a 50-100 yd gap between us from every junction.

I stayed with him all the way to Stockwell (where we went separate ways) and a number of times I was within scalping distance (never drafting of course - either a couple of bike lengths back or at 5 or 7'oclock) and I felt that could possibly have him but my heart or maybe soul knew that it would be a futile attempt.

Chapeau Roberts guy. Note to self: MTFU.

biondino

Citizen Smith wrote:

his cruising speed was in the mid 20s (TM ITB).

Sorry, have to correct you here. ITB's cruising speed is 38mph.

itboffin

biondino wrote:

Citizen Smith wrote:

his cruising speed was in the mid 20s (TM ITB).

Sorry, have to correct you here. ITB's cruising speed is 38mph.

Why mark your too kind :oops:

@CS I thank you for remembering, I think a free pint is in order

@DDD for multiple accounts of blatant trademark infringement you are here by sentence to death, death by REAL ALE :shock:

itboffin

biondino wrote:

Citizen Smith wrote:

his cruising speed was in the mid 20s (TM ITB).

Sorry, have to correct you here. ITB's cruising speed is 38mph.

Actually come to think of it where have you been lately, not working surely?

Citizen Smith

biondino wrote:

Citizen Smith wrote:

his cruising speed was in the mid 20s (TM ITB).

Sorry, have to correct you here. ITB's cruising speed is 38mph.

Ahem. How stupid of me, of course I know ITB's cruising speed is 38mph. What I meant was that ITB coined the term... '20s.

EDIT: @ITB....you asked for it....I'll have wallet-reducing Peroni next time our paths cross at MA.

Clever Pun

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Roastie wrote:

Why weren't you on yours?

Choir and pub later...

I'm sorry, this isn't going under the wire

What????

itboffin

Clever Pun wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Roastie wrote:

Why weren't you on yours?

Choir and pub later...

I'm sorry, this isn't going under the wire

What????

What's up with that? I have lots of friends who sing in church some religious some not.

tgotb

Anyone know whether you're allowed to cycle through Limehouse Tunnel? Just rode over to Canary Wharf office, and couldn't see any signs forbidding it.

All the other vehicles seem to create a permanent tailwind; cruised through at just over 30mph, hardly had to pedal...

lost_in_thought

Well, my complaining lungs and I did some serious scalping this evening.

One guy stood out - on the Uxbridge road, I passed him doing a solid but maintainable 23mph, then stop for a red, he goes through it a few seconds later.

I catch him up and overtake again.

We repeat this merry dance until the A406 junction, he's RLJ'd a ped crossing, passing me stopped. He looks behind as he cruises up to the A406 junction, and yes, hiya, there I am again. D!ckhead.

Unfortunately this is where I turn off, thanks for playing, but you lose.

Bassjunkieuk

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

Anyone know whether you're allowed to cycle through Limehouse Tunnel? Just rode over to Canary Wharf office, and couldn't see any signs forbidding it.

All the other vehicles seem to create a permanent tailwind; cruised through at just over 30mph, hardly had to pedal...

Pretty sure the signs at either end state no bicycles, when I'm heading to that area I find it much easier to use Narrow Street although having said that I can't see anything to ban cycles using good ol' Google Street View ;-)

Picked up a nice tailwind on the way home earlier, good fun as I only had a 2 mile ride and it only lasted a few hundred yards before I had to back off as I was fast approaching the car ahead of me :-D Was also quite pleased that I managed to guess my top speed to within 0.1mph, I thought 32 and actually did 31.9mph :oops:

Roastie

A bit of a bummer evening. Met a dude with vicious lights on a black Cannondale going into Parliament Sq. He passed me past the Tate, game on! Reeled him in fairly easily before the VB lights.

Then as we run up to the lights, me ambling happily alongside, the lights turn amber. No way we'll make it through - so I brake to stop - he rolls on into and through the intersection on red. Gr. Pity, because it was shaping up to be interesting.

After that I had a scary moment on Chelsea Bridge with a stupid motorcyclist who passed me at full gas millimetres away from my right arm only to brake hard 30m later. F&^&king idiot. I was so angry.

rjsterry

That was a lot easier tonight. More of a stiff breeze than a howling gale. Bit of a poor start to the homeward journey when I got stuck at the temporary lights at the Kennington Rd/Lambeth Rd junction. I just missed the previous green, so sat there for what seemed like at least 5 minutes. When the lights finally changed in our favour, a folder appeared from nowhere and wobbled in front of me at walking pace. :x

Things looked up from there with a few mud-guarded roadies to chase down between Oval and Clapham High Street (but no response on passing them ). More effort was put in by a chap with a child seat on the back of a tourer (I think - dropped bars anyway). In fact a bit of deft filtering from him almost caused another upset when he gained a good couple of hundred metres on me getting through the lights at the corner of Clapham Common. :shock:

A little MTFU'ing restored my honour, but chapeau to him all the same. In the wind, that thing must be acting like an air brake. Perhaps a shaved roadie in disguise, using it as a resistance training aid.

MonkeyMonster

Apart from being far too early, twas a nice chillier than expected singular race this morning...

cjcp

Way too early to be out!

cjcp

<sigh> Between headwinds, crosswinds and not a great deal of sleep this week, my legs and body are running out of steam. I'm even contemplating a day off the bike tomorrow. Bleurgh, as JG would say.

MonkeyMonster

cjcp wrote:

<sigh> Between headwinds, crosswinds and not a great deal of sleep this week, my legs and body are running out of steam. I'm even contemplating a day off the bike tomorrow. Bleurgh, as JG would say.

How you gonna get to the Morpeth?! I can hear a faint MTFU blowing in on the gale force winds

cjcp

Indeed.