Silly commuting racing

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  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    I was only *thinking* of catching the train. Could bear the thought of it this morning.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?

    I'm still in bed... taking advantage of the hive mind...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?

    I'm still in bed... taking advantage of the hive mind...

    Central London is fine, just like a wet day! For me the main roads where fairly clear and just slushy ice/wet near the house but once I hit the A23 it was all good. News reports this morning seem to indicate that the suburbs took the brunt of the snow, I only ended up walking the bike at the end of the commute as I have a ramp to get up to the bike boxes (:-D) at the back of the office @ Euston, which was still covered in snow and ice....
    Who's the daddy?
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  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    +1

    just said my goodbyes to Wogan breakfast show :cry:

    On the third cuppa coffee and very disappointed at the complete lack of snow :(
    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.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?

    I'm still in bed... taking advantage of the hive mind...

    From Roehampton along Embankment, it was wet and windy, but not icy. It was icy in Richmond Park - nearly an incident when a black labrador walked out onto the path in front of me and skidded a little on the ice, but that was it.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,458
    Well, just got home. That wasn't fun. What's the meteorological term for "the wind is all over the effin' shop"? Swirling?

    I had thought I would be in for some wind assisted fun last night, but as I came through Balham, the "northerly" was occasionally hitting the tops if the buildings on the south side of the road and rolling down to create a southerly cross wind, doesn't sound as bad as out your way though.

    MTFD this morning.

    Excuse 1: two inches of snow and untreated side roads and slick 23C tyres don't mix.
    Excuse 2: with all the salt and slush on the man roads, I might as well go and soak my bike in a mixture of sand and sea water.
    Excuse 3: last day at work before Christmas, so lots of stuff to bring home.

    Minor compensation: a kind of pedestrian SCR walking from London Bridge Station up to Old Street.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Groovy. On yer bike, girl.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    rjsterry wrote:

    Minor compensation: a kind of pedestrian SCR walking from London Bridge Station up to Old Street.

    Glad to see I'm not the only one who does this! Being on foot also gives you a good vantage point (annoyingly!) of the London Bridge Drag Race :lol:
    Who's the daddy?
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  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?

    I'm still in bed... taking advantage of the hive mind...

    As stated by others, Central is fine.
    Slightly damp, though!
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,629
    Aidy wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?

    I'm still in bed... taking advantage of the hive mind...

    As stated by others, Central is fine.
    Slightly damp, though!

    That's you get over excited while cycling again...
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,458
    edited December 2009
    Bassjunkieuk wrote:
    rjsterry wrote:

    Minor compensation: a kind of pedestrian SCR walking from London Bridge Station up to Old Street.

    Glad to see I'm not the only one who does this! Being on foot also gives you a good vantage point (annoyingly!) of the London Bridge Drag Race :lol:

    Did almost get taken out by an RLJing Brompton rider who had the nerve to give me a bit of verbal at the north end of LB. Got passed by a speedy lady in heels at one point :shock:, but put the hammer down (can you do that on foot?) and regained my scalp :)

    I find the pedestrian form of SCR gives a good workout for the tops of your legs - I guess 'cause your not bent forward (unless assuming an aero tuck :lol: ).

    Anyone care to propose an FCN system for pedestrians?
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    MonkeyMonster wrote:
    Aidy wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?

    I'm still in bed... taking advantage of the hive mind...

    As stated by others, Central is fine.
    Slightly damp, though!

    That's you get over excited while cycling again...

    I *did* jump one or two lights by the office because I was really desperate for the toilet, but it didn't get quite that far...
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?
    I got the tube in because I'm picking up a new bike this afternoon :-)

    Doesn't matter how bad conditions were on the road, can't have been half as unpleasant as the District Line this morning. Took 2.5 hours to get in rather than my normal 50 min :-(
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    That guy on the Brompton wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    So who cycled in London? Is it OK?
    I got the tube in because I'm picking up a new bike this afternoon :-)

    Doesn't matter how bad conditions were on the road, can't have been half as unpleasant as the District Line this morning. Took 2.5 hours to get in rather than my normal 50 min :-(

    Wooo new bike! You should totally bring it to the Morpeth and show it off to your fellow bike geeks...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    cjcp wrote:
    Well, just got home. That wasn't fun. What's the meteorological term for "the wind is all over the effin' shop"? Swirling?

    My cadence was erratic at times the wind was so bad. The side winds were no fun, so if it's like this tomorrow morning, I'm sad to say that I'm thinking of catching the train.

    Yeah. Last night was horrific.

    Although the wind seemed to be mainly in my face, with extra bonus snow.
    The odd sneaky sidewind gust to throw me halfway across the road, too.

    One or two of the sudden headwind gusts did just stop me in my tracks, I reckon if I stopped pedalling I'd've started going backwards.
  • the_hundredth_idiot
    the_hundredth_idiot Posts: 813
    I set off on my road bike this morning (as the MTB has been left in the office car park for a while - not helpful this morning) and got a puncture within 100 yards. I thought it would be easier to wheel it home and fix it in the warm than on the street - glad I did as the tyre seemed to be absolutely solid on the wheel (do tyres shrink in the cold?)

    In the end I had to get a teaspoon to lever it off as my tyre levers were about to snap. Popped in a new tube, struggled to get the tyre back on and then must have given the new tube a big snake bite as air was just gushing out. At that point I was near sobbing and there was a risk that the kids would hear some language their mother would disapprove of.

    So I gave up! :cry: Took my laptop out, logged on from home and sent my secretary an email saying I was working from home today. I've already had sarcastic emails from colleagues about sledging and snowball fights. And I have to respond straight away to prove I'm actually at my computer working. :?

    Shame as I quite light cycling in the snow - always feels more peaceful and relaxing ('cos I'm not watching my back for an unexpected scalping).
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • choirboy
    choirboy Posts: 132
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:
    Do tyres shrink in the cold?

    Yes, what doesn't?
  • the_hundredth_idiot
    the_hundredth_idiot Posts: 813
    choirboy wrote:
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:
    Do tyres shrink in the cold?

    Yes, what doesn't?

    Water? :lol:

    Seriously, though, do tyres shrink enough that other people have had a serious difficulty removing them from the wheel in cold weather? I've left my bike in the kitchen with the wheel next to the radiator to warm it up so that I can fix it properly this time.

    Might also buy some new tyres - after no punctures for 18 months that's the second in as many weeks. Seems like a hint that my Gator Skins are on the way out.[/b]
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • choirboy
    choirboy Posts: 132
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:
    choirboy wrote:
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:
    Do tyres shrink in the cold?

    Yes, what doesn't?

    Water? :lol:

    Seriously, though, do tyres shrink enough that other people have had a serious difficulty removing them from the wheel in cold weather? I've left my bike in the kitchen with the wheel next to the radiator to warm it up so that I can fix it properly this time.

    Might also buy some new tyres - after no punctures for 18 months that's the second in as many weeks. Seems like a hint that my Gator Skins are on the way out.[/b]

    Water shrinks so long as it stays in the liquid phase...

    I think the issues with tyres is more to do with the their elasticity in the cold than their size.
  • the_hundredth_idiot
    the_hundredth_idiot Posts: 813
    choirboy wrote:
    I think the issues with tyres is more to do with the their elasticity in the cold than their size.

    That makes more sense - thanks. Certainly the tyre went back on a lot more easily once it had had a couple of hours next to the radiator. :)
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

    Might also buy some new tyres - after no punctures for 18 months that's the second in as many weeks. Seems like a hint that my Gator Skins are on the way out.[/b]

    I dunno, it sounds like youve only had 2 punctures in 18 months. Two in a week is just coincidence, probably.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
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  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:
    Might also buy some new tyres - after no punctures for 18 months that's the second in as many weeks. Seems like a hint that my Gator Skins are on the way out.[/b]

    How many miles have they done? Does the tyre look knackered? I got over 6,000 miles out of my 23mm Gators this year and last (significantly less this year, mind, out of my 25mm). As Biondino says, it could be just coincidence - there's a lot of cr@p on the road atm.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,458
    cjcp wrote:
    there's a lot of cr@p on the road atm.

    Reminds me of that urban myth about the council that gritted its cycle paths with some 'biodegradable' crushed glass they had bought from some dodgy supplier in an effort to be more green.

    Just checked and it wasn't an urban myth, it was Greenwich Council last February :roll: .

    You couldn't make it up.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • the_hundredth_idiot
    the_hundredth_idiot Posts: 813
    cjcp wrote:
    The Hundredth Idiot wrote:
    Might also buy some new tyres - after no punctures for 18 months that's the second in as many weeks. Seems like a hint that my Gator Skins are on the way out.

    How many miles have they done? Does the tyre look knackered? I got over 6,000 miles out of my 23mm Gators this year and last (significantly less this year, mind, out of my 25mm). As Biondino says, it could be just coincidence - there's a lot of cr@p on the road atm.

    Probably about 3,000 miles so far on my 25mm - mostly on London's finest tarmac. Looking closely at the tread on the front tyre (where both recent punctures have been), there do seem to be quite a few nicks but maybe you're right - just coincidence as the roads are a little messy. I'll give them another chance.
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • Wallace1492
    Wallace1492 Posts: 3,707
    rjsterry wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    there's a lot of cr@p on the road atm.

    Reminds me of that urban myth about the council that gritted its cycle paths with some 'biodegradable' crushed glass they had bought from some dodgy supplier in an effort to be more green.

    Just checked and it wasn't an urban myth, it was Greenwich Council last February :roll: .

    You couldn't make it up.

    Seems to have been only pavements they ued this on, and you are not allowed to cycle on pavements....... was this a deliberate ploy?
    "Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"
  • Specialized Needs
    Specialized Needs Posts: 802
    Wallace1492 wrote:
    rjsterry wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    there's a lot of cr@p on the road atm.

    Reminds me of that urban myth about the council that gritted its cycle paths with some 'biodegradable' crushed glass they had bought from some dodgy supplier in an effort to be more green.

    Just checked and it wasn't an urban myth, it was Greenwich Council last February :roll: .

    You couldn't make it up.

    Seems to have been only pavements they ued this on, and you are not allowed to cycle on pavements....... was this a deliberate ploy?
    It was also part of a cycle path.

    See Q13 here
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    Despite the conditions on the way in today I managed to claim a few frosty scalps :-)
    First technically wasn't a scalp based purely on FCN but I think he was on a flat-barred roadie and insisted on RLJing. This is normally enough for me to target them for repeated overtakings. Picked him up in Streatham first and scalped him then only for him to come past just before Brixton High Road and cruise on through each of the red lights through there!

    He then found a like minded SS/FG chap and after briefly getting ahead SS/FG guy re-took him and I got past them both shortly after.
    Not sure if it was the earlier then usual start, cold weather or the new leg warmers the wife got me for my birthday but the legs just felt dead today. Requests for extra power or speed where going pretty much un-meet until I was halfway up Kingsway and racing a van and taxi away from a green light :-)
    Who's the daddy?
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  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,458
    Seems to have been only pavements they ued this on, and you are not allowed to cycle on pavements....... was this a deliberate ploy?

    [soapboxrant]Well if councils will persist in the idiotic notion that a sensible place for a cycle lane is on a pavement... Usually a too narrow pavement with loads of tree roots and uneven paving slabs as well. A bit of white and green paint and they have 'provided' for cyclists [/soapboxrant]
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • The Running Man
    The Running Man Posts: 574
    This isn't strictly commuting .. now there's an idea for a new TV programme - anyway ...

    Had to go to Goring this morning for a meeting but got home after lunch, did loads of work then about 4.00 decided to be completely bonkers and go out for a 40 miler. Freezing cold, biting wind, pitch black and it was blowing snow in my face as I was battling up Clyffe Pypard then Hackpen and it was bl00dy marvellous!!

    Isn't cycling great :D:D:D
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  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Xmas must be coming soon, got myself a scooter in the scalps this morning. He came up beside me at a set of lights and got ahead on acceleration and would have gone a different way to me but I changed my route slightly for the scalping opportunity and can say that I got him, not that I was of course, by a deft bit of filtering. This was the day I decided to leave the camera beside the PC and not on the bars.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.

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