Silly commuting racing

TheBrogueadier

Gah, what a wonderful commute.

The normal bash along the Portway took a turn for the disastrous this morning when someone managed to invert a lorry.

The nice policeman seemed far too cheerful as he diverted me up Bridge Valley Road for an unexpected, and utterly unwanted, climb over the Clifton Downs - Made much worse by the knowledge that I'd have too drop all the way back to the bottom of Sea Mills before climbing back up to Blaize / Kingsweston.

My legs hurt!

On the plus side, half day at work so I get to thrash myself senseless along the Portishead-Ashton river side path on the way home this afternoon!

rjsterry

Found my bike computer hiding at the bottom of my bag last thing last night.

No bike today as I have office Christmas lunch followed by drinks this evening. Just as well as my legs feel like they've been kicked. I'm putting it down to the nearly 40miles of commuting I did yesterday, all with a large rucksack and 17" laptop, interspersed with meetings and sitting on a train for four hours - not exactly the perfect recovery technique.

Watch out for the fog everyone - I got caught by a sudden patch on Mitcham Common last night. Visibility went from clear to 20-30m in a few metres :shock: .

The Running Man

Shot home the short way last night - so just the 21

Felt a bit bad flying past a chap on a hybrid who was really struggling up Box Hill so out of consideration put the hammer down even harder and left him to his own private hell and gave him a cheery wave as I disappeared up to Corsham (tee hee)

Cracking ride though except for a bit of slippery stuff going up Bowden Hill. Started to push a little out of the saddle and quickly sat back down again when the back end began to develop a life of its own.

Coming through the fog between the top of the hill and Sandy Lane was absolutely beautiful and was a real treat. The stars were glorious and it reminded me why I love cycling in the countryside at night.

In the car this morning as I'm hoping to pick up the re-fitted bike this afters. I'm having a new Ultegra groupset, seatpost and saddle and can't wait!!

Roastie

rjsterry wrote:

Found my bike computer hiding at the bottom of my bag last thing last night.

Tricky, those computers!

gtvlusso

Vists from PF last night - don't you just hate it when you get your bike out of the shed and the tyre is flat......then you reralise you are gonna be delayed going home!

Anyway, got wrecked at the company do last night, got home at 2am, up at 6am to walk the dog and cycle in.

Nice ride in apart from the fog - And a very un-chapeau to the 5 roadies cycling along the pavement towards Filton round-a-bout, you are not big and clever and there is plenty of room on the road - particulalrly, you the one who was riding fast and overtaking on the pavement. I am glad I scalped the lot of you, on the fixei, and feel that I have the moral high ground too as I never cycle on the pavement.

Still not done any work, but have had a cooked breakfast and 3 Latte's......

Bassjunkieuk

Uneventful ride this morning, did try the multi-purpose buff/neck scarf thingy that came with C+ tho. Certainly helped on the first foggy section but I did find I was steaming my glasses up from the inside when I pulled it up over my mouth and nose so reverted back to neck warmer mode :-)

Nought on the Drag Strip but did pick up what I thought was a fast bogey on VB but seemingly lost them with some filtering-fu. Legs felt dead to so TBH I was a bit thankful for the easier ride this morning :-)

benno68

Does a tractor count as a scalp? It was quite funny watching all the agitated drivers with their "WTF" faces on when they got stuck behind it

I cheerily carried along the cycle lane feeling quite smug, just caught the lights at the top of Cathays Terrace and stayed behind the tractor at a comfortable 18mph or so for about 1/4 mile. Traffic building up behind and I attacked knowing a nice downward slope would help, overtook and left the tractor and many cars in my wake before heading around Roath Park Lake.

On a less positive note, did 8 miles home last night avoiding the worst hill. With a mile to go I thought I'd give it a blast along the straight of Penarth Road - only managed to get up to 25mph for about 200 metres :oops: - I think I'll have to resign myself to the fact that I'm a plodder and always will be

cjcp

A successful morning. Wondered how much there was in the legs and lungs. Answer was enough to see off a chap on a Trek who's got a long list of previous when it comes to drafting and RLJing, and to see off a powerful-looking chap on a Giant.

Roastie

cjcp wrote:

A successful morning. Wondered how much there was in the legs and lungs. Answer was enough to see off a chap on a Trek who's got a long list of previous when it comes to drafting and RLJing, and to see off a powerful-looking chap on a Giant.

You're all better then?

cjcp

Roastie wrote:

cjcp wrote:

A successful morning. Wondered how much there was in the legs and lungs. Answer was enough to see off a chap on a Trek who's got a long list of previous when it comes to drafting and RLJing, and to see off a powerful-looking chap on a Giant.

You're all better then?

Still below par. Stamina is suffering, so am having to scalp people using controlled bursts.

itboffin

Whiteout Wiltshire this morning only just on the train now and I'm still bleeding freezing cold, my SS has a flat rear so I had to take the CX this afternoon and there's no way that's staying locked up all day at the station, so it's afternoon Euston road SCR action for me

Fairweather cyclist

I witnessed appalling behaviour from a truck driver this morning at 8.30 at Parliament Sq.
He cornered a cyclist (A) who went into the roundabout on the outside and stopped the traffic to start verbally abusing him.
Another cyclist (B) intervened and then the truck driver decided to take his anger out on him as the original cyclist (A) RLJ'd and disappeared.

The trucker would not let go and he pretty much followed B along the Embankment just to have another go at him.

I got the name of the freight company and the last 3 letters of the number plate.

I am thinking of writing a letter of complaint - it really scares me to see such aggression from someone in the safety of a metal box.

Or, is it going to fall on deaf ears and a waste of my time.....

Bassjunkieuk

FC - I'd say report it. With any luck cyclist B might also make a complaint. Admittedly you might just get their standard "we will have a word with the driver concerned" letter with you name and address cut-n-pasted in but then they might also value the feedback or have had complaints about that driver before.

cjcp

Definitely report it.

Aidy

I had some muppet in a yellow "learn to drive a truck" truck pass me with about an inch of space yesterday morning.

When I pulled up by the lights by him about 2 seconds later shaking my head, I got a bunch of abuse and "you should be in the cycle lane". Loser.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Aidy wrote:

"you should be in the cycle lane".

I never really get how some drivers end up thinking that. I doubt they go all fistwaving at buses, claiming they should be in the bus lane when they're not.

benno68

I had a nice impromtu ride over to the other side of town to deliver a package (any excuse'll do), just popped my cycling shoes on and went out in my jeans and jacket - lovely.

Nearly took out a bunch of lemmings (I mean peds) at a light controlled crossing, I was doing 25mph (my limit) lights in my favour and a couple ran across, then another bunch looked straight through me and did the same - FFS - jammed the anchors on, did a bit of a skid and missed them by inches, still made it that little bit more interesting - I think they did sh1t themselves a bit seeing a 14 stone lump of lard on collision course

Passed a few cyclists but none of note.

Aidy

Greg66 wrote:

Aidy wrote:

"you should be in the cycle lane".

I never really get how some drivers end up thinking that. I doubt they go all fistwaving at buses, claiming they should be in the bus lane when they're not.

I think I'm going to insist that from now on, all cars should be on the M25.

cjcp

Aidy wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Aidy wrote:

"you should be in the cycle lane".

I never really get how some drivers end up thinking that. I doubt they go all fistwaving at buses, claiming they should be in the bus lane when they're not.

I think I'm going to insist that from now on, all cars should be on the M25.

Judging by the amount of cars on it, I thought they already were!

You get that sort of thing down Priory Lane, by Richmond Park.

Fairweather cyclist

Thanks guys - I have just sent the email. Will see how they respond.
Have seen a few nasty abuse from drivers along my commute but today's was out of line..... I would have wet myself from fear if I was either A or B.

Bassjunkieuk

Benno68 wrote:

I had a nice impromtu ride over to the other side of town to deliver a package (any excuse'll do), just popped my cycling shoes on and went out in my jeans and jacket - lovely.

Nearly took out a bunch of lemmings (I mean peds) at a light controlled crossing, I was doing 25mph (my limit) lights in my favour and a couple ran across, then another bunch looked straight through me and did the same - FFS - jammed the anchors on, did a bit of a skid and missed them by inches, still made it that little bit more interesting - I think they did sh1t themselves a bit seeing a 14 stone lump of lard on collision course

Passed a few cyclists but none of note.

Bugs the hell out of me when people do that, see it quite often as the lights change in our favor by Holborn (?) choob station as I head down Kingsway. Peds seem to think that just because cars/bikes/buses etc have stopped coming at them round the corner and despite the red man it's safe to cross. Not so when you have me and a few motorbikes and scooters chomping at the bit!

benno68

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Benno68 wrote:

I had a nice impromtu ride over to the other side of town to deliver a package (any excuse'll do), just popped my cycling shoes on and went out in my jeans and jacket - lovely.

Nearly took out a bunch of lemmings (I mean peds) at a light controlled crossing, I was doing 25mph (my limit) lights in my favour and a couple ran across, then another bunch looked straight through me and did the same - FFS - jammed the anchors on, did a bit of a skid and missed them by inches, still made it that little bit more interesting - I think they did sh1t themselves a bit seeing a 14 stone lump of lard on collision course

Passed a few cyclists but none of note.

Bugs the hell out of me when people do that, see it quite often as the lights change in our favor by Holborn (?) choob station as I head down Kingsway. Peds seem to think that just because cars/bikes/buses etc have stopped coming at them round the corner and despite the red man it's safe to cross. Not so when you have me and a few motorbikes and scooters chomping at the bit!

These lights were full on green in my favour.

I reckon they saw me and thought, chist look at that fat b@stard on the bike, we've got plenty of time to cro..............aaaarrrgghhh

cjcp

Time to get changed, I think...

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Time to get changed, I think...

Whyzzat?

Going home for lunch? :twisted:

Bassjunkieuk

Benno68 wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Benno68 wrote:

I had a nice impromtu ride over to the other side of town to deliver a package (any excuse'll do), just popped my cycling shoes on and went out in my jeans and jacket - lovely.

Nearly took out a bunch of lemmings (I mean peds) at a light controlled crossing, I was doing 25mph (my limit) lights in my favour and a couple ran across, then another bunch looked straight through me and did the same - FFS - jammed the anchors on, did a bit of a skid and missed them by inches, still made it that little bit more interesting - I think they did sh1t themselves a bit seeing a 14 stone lump of lard on collision course

Passed a few cyclists but none of note.

Bugs the hell out of me when people do that, see it quite often as the lights change in our favor by Holborn (?) choob station as I head down Kingsway. Peds seem to think that just because cars/bikes/buses etc have stopped coming at them round the corner and despite the red man it's safe to cross. Not so when you have me and a few motorbikes and scooters chomping at the bit!

These lights were full on green in my favour.

I reckon they saw me and thought, chist look at that fat b@stard on the bike, we've got plenty of time to cro..............aaaarrrgghhh

Yep the usual cyclist=slow moving mistake. Still I had a guy walk directly at me between queuing cars (at a red light) as I was filtering the other night!! He practically pushed past as if I wasn't there ffs........

benno68

cjcp wrote:

Time to get changed, I think...

Don't rub it in - I'm here 'til 8 :roll:

One good thing is that Mrs Benno is having some friends around tonight and is cooking a turkey roast - hmmm. Then of course I can't hang around talking to her girlie friends about girlie talk so the only option is down the Harriers, I can crawl home from there I think...

benno68

@Bass - someone like that would make me think "I'm going in" and sod the consequences, in reality I'm sure I'd bottle it though. I would probably announce to the world that he was "c0ck of the day".

itboffin

Phew i've been here since 13:00 better get ready to hit the Morpeth

Bassjunkieuk

Benno68 wrote:

@Bass - someone like that would make me think "I'm going in" and sod the consequences, in reality I'm sure I'd bottle it though. I would probably announce to the world that he was "c0ck of the day".

I should have mentioned this happened in Camberwell and not wanting to end up with a knife and/or bullet in my back I just kept quiet....

benno68

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Benno68 wrote:

@Bass - someone like that would make me think "I'm going in" and sod the consequences, in reality I'm sure I'd bottle it though. I would probably announce to the world that he was "c0ck of the day".

I should have mentioned this happened in Camberwell and not wanting to end up with a knife and/or bullet in my back I just kept quiet....

Maybe I'd have just muttered that quietly to myself then