Silly commuting racing

itboffin

Well that was an interesting ride home, hacking it from KX to Paddington just in time for my train which then took an additional 45 mins to get home, super stuff! good job I had my mates Stella 1 & 2

Off at the other end clearly more snow has fallen since this morning, it must have been warmer this afternoon because large patches were slushy on top of pack snow & ice, pretty much like that all the way home, made for some very entertaining bike handling even with the tyres.

Thank goodness I always carry spare batteries because those rechargeable give no warning, it's like full power then off.

Bassjunkieuk

I saw 2 other cyclist on my commutes today! First on the way in I found a lovely local youth attempting to pop wheelies down in the town centre. He dropped down off the pavement behind me and I decided to show him what you can do on a bike if you keep both wheels on the floor :-) Ended up playing chicken with a car at a point where technically I should have stopped for a giveway line but knew that a) they'd have to slow down to take that sharp corner and b) that I was carrying enough speed to get away with it!

On the way home it was another hybrid/MTB rider who disappeared up on the pavement in about the same spot, which made a pleasant change as they usually just ride along the pavement and this chap was walking it. Should be back in town next week and god I can't wait!

rjsterry

Seems like it was a good evening for it (although obviously not for the poor buggers getting scalped). Despite leaving the office at about 7.15pm, I still managed to find a nippy roadie on a silver TriandRun with red tyres - all lycra'd up but no mudguards so my FCN was one higher. Scalped him in the end, but he made me work for it. Nonchalance went out the window and every RL was arrived at gasping for breath.



First decent chase since Christmas and I reckon I dislodged a few cobwebs at the bottom of my lungs. After TriandRun, there was a very speedy orange MTB, but just as I was catching him at the corner of C Common, he turned off. Still, fun chasing him down. The roads ahd dried out a lot as well, so all round a great evening.

shoulder_of_orion

World.Of.Pain.

First commute since 13/11/09 due to gardening leave/ assessing lay of the land at new place.

New commute to new job. Found out boss cycles in, asked how from where he said Tonbridge Wells (to Old Street)! 38 miles. Each way... He said he "only" does it twice a week.

Good news is they have a no limit CTW scheme, boss has a carbon Willier. Bad news = no shower or cycle parking!

My new commute is a measly 7 miles, 4 less than before. God did it hurt today. Carrying the xmas lard. Up ~5kg since the silly weight loss shenanigans.

Picked up a fast red and white Lemond on Old Kent. Luckily my turn off spared me humiliation. Other than that grabbed a few scalps.

London Bridge hurt bad. As did the whole of the final 2 miles. Hacking and gobbing my way.

rjsterry

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

New commute to new job. Found out boss cycles in, asked how from where he said Tonbridge Wells (to Old Street)! 38 miles. Each way... He said he "only" does it twice a week.

Good.

Grief.

Roastie

cjcp wrote:

@Roastie - :shock: . What bike was she riding?!

Something red and made of steel. I recognised the logo but for the life of me can't remember the logo/builder.

ps. Sounds like you had fun out there :twisted: - time to put the road tyres back on?

MonkeyMonster

Beer o'clock later so no bike again for me Gym at lunch instead - please keep me entertained with grand tales of filtering, scalping and not being beaten by grannies in your big ring...

Bassjunkieuk

rjsterry wrote:

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

New commute to new job. Found out boss cycles in, asked how from where he said Tonbridge Wells (to Old Street)! 38 miles. Each way... He said he "only" does it twice a week.

Good.

Grief.

That's impressive. I remember having a conversation with someone at what is my furthest out site (13.5 miles) in Thames Ditton and he said he'd ridden in from Bromley! Now I reckon that is ateast 7-10 miles on top of what I was doing so he was doing well but I don't think it quite adds up to that tho!

Just spotted one of those electric speed signs on the final stretch of my local commute whilst walking back to the office, gonna see if I can set it off tomorrow!

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

New commute to new job. Found out boss cycles in, asked how from where he said Tonbridge Wells (to Old Street)! 38 miles. Each way... He said he "only" does it twice a week.

Good.

Grief.

You need to focus on the "only" bit. Ask him - with a straight face, ideally - when he's thinking off building it up to three or four times a week, it being understandable not to commute for five days because a rest day should be incorporated into everyone's training...

cambs

Can anyone give an update on the conditions in Richmond Park? I usually ride the eastern stretch between Sheen and Kingston and was wondering if it would take a slick skinny (tyre, not me).
Just got the bike back from the LBS with a new left hand STI lever and was looking forward to driving the big ring again.

cjcp

cambs wrote:

Can anyone give an update on the conditions in Richmond Park? I usually ride the eastern stretch between Sheen and Kingston and was wondering if it would take a slick skinny (tyre, not me).
Just got the bike back from the LBS with a new left hand STI lever and was looking forward to driving the big ring again.

Think you're ok going Roehampton/Sheen -> Richmond -> Kingston Gate.

cambs

thanks cj . Time to get some proper miles on the stats board.

rjsterry

Another good night with some action between Oval and Clapham. By the time we got to the bottom of Clapham High Street, we even had a mini peloton going. Lost count slightly, but I reckon I bagged at least two roadie scalps.

An accident had shut Balham Hill, so had to detour a bit, and the main drag through Balham was quiet after that.

rolf_f

Actually scalped 6 other cyclists today on the way home - most I've seen in a long while. One was even on a proper road bike, with drops an everything! (not that common in Leeds!).

blu3cat

Hurrah & huzzah. Scalptastic.

Managed a double on the way up Fulham Palace Road. Two road bikes up ahead, targets locked and loaded. Thought they must have been laden tourers, but oh now, fair game, Roadies, lycra, bags, FCN same as mine,

Pull up behind them both (about 15 ft away trying not to get a drag) waiting for the traffic to stop going past us and a gap wide enough to make a move to appear. Chap on the back is obviously enjoying a tow from the front rider.

Traffic breaks, check over shoulder, pull out and start to overtake. Then, what's that I spot? Second chap (getting the tow) is on Kinesis Racelight frame, and is sporting a pair of tribars.

Manouvre completed, half expect to turn around after a minute or so and for me to be at the head of a 3 bike train, but to my surprise scalps collected.

2 in one day direction, best action for a while

Sewinman

I MTFU'd Oooooone Time this morning! Walked to the end of my road in Streatham Common and the A23 was ok, slushy, wet and mingin but rideable. It seemed to get worse around Brixton with some compacted ice/snow type matter at the side of the road. Had a little chat with a guy in a De Ver jersey and a bull horn roadie plus a thick Jamaican accent who declared 'me nat garnn on nooo bus' Quite right.

Took it slowly and arrived at work with an arse that looked freshly spanked. Reasonable number of other riders out - pootletastic.

Clever Pun

Sewinman wrote:

I MTFU'd Oooooone Time this morning! Walked to the end of my road in Streatham Common and the A23 was ok, slushy, wet and mingin but rideable. It seemed to get worse around Brixton with some compacted ice/snow type matter at the side of the road. Had a little chat with a guy in a De Ver jersey and a bull horn roadie plus a thick Jamaican accent who declared 'me nat garnn on nooo bus' Quite right.

Took it slowly and arrived at work with an ars* that looked freshly spanked. Reasonable number of other riders out - pootletastic.

yeah it was a slow as hell ride but it was a ride nonetheless

cjcp

cambs wrote:

thanks cj . Time to get some proper miles on the stats board.

You, um, may want to reconsider (this was taken this morning)...

MonkeyMonster

Bah, came off the bottom of my road and soaked my gloves - my brother has my new seal skinz... Boo.

Broke front light too - ars*

Checked HSK and it was really quite shitty - bollox

Went back to house and came in via tube.

Not a good day to be riding slicks. Hope you chaps are safe out there.

cambs

Yep one glance out of the window was enough for me today. No trains either as they are all catching fire, apparently. Can't WFH as left laptop at work.

Now then, where's that old Colnago with the CX gear shifter, i'm sure i could get that going again...

Roastie

I hardly slept last night due to a nasty spasm in my back, hurting like hell. It was bad this morning so I decided to stay home.

Then, an later as Mrs was getting ready to go, she announced it had snowed. Poo. I would have enjoyed the challenge.

Anyhow, back on topic - I'm glad there was no snow last night. Had a nice run with a SSer wearing a red top (IIRC) and riding an old grey steel frame. we met at PS, I passed him down Millbank. VB we took off together and (I assume) he tucked onto my wheel, passed me just after DSC, I took a small tow and then repassed before as he flagged before CB. Saw him again as he caught up at AB where I turn off.

rjsterry

Had planned to have a 'rest day' anyway, so wasn't really mentally prepared for cycling this morning. Last night I managed to ride right up to my house for only the second time this year, as the snow had almost completely gone. back to square one this morning, with an inch on the side roads and ankle deep black slushy cack on the main roads. Really couldn't subject myself or the bike to that so took one of the few trains running. That'll teach me.

shoulder_of_orion

Frozen bottom syndrome, or as our Irish brothers would put it "Slush erse"

Bassjunkieuk

I got passed today by a chap on an older road bike and a folder :oops:
In my pitiful defence I offer up the appalling road conditions of slush and snow, which meant a very cautious approach to riding the roadie today!

Managed to ramp it up a bit as I got into the town centre as the roads cleared a bit (or both other vehicles and crud), but found that riding fast into the falling snow was akin to pricking myself in the face with 1000's of needles.....

This evening should be entertaining!

Sewinman

+1 Bassjunkie - I have now learnt that sleat and eye balls do not mix well, I was almost in tears by the time i got to work.

flamite

hardly a sausage tonight!! just a few nodders....


heard some horrific story off a friend of a friend that a cyclist was killed on battersea bridge this morning, slipped on ice, hoping its not true

Roastie

Has normal speed/butt kicking resumed?

amnezia

Roastie wrote:

Has normal speed/butt kicking resumed?

not really, its too bloody wet. This evening might be better.

cjcp

amnezia wrote:

Roastie wrote:

Has normal speed/butt kicking resumed?

not really, its too bloody wet. This evening might be better.

I was a little surprised to see a chap on a mtb down on his clip-on tri bars drafting a roadie in this weather...

I was on the mtb this morning. Scalped some roadies before and through DSC. Did it again down Millbank.

jonginge

Felt quite good this morning despite the rain. I gave out a few choice oaths, though, when I saw the weather before setting off

My brakes have taken a beating over the last couple of weeks. Need to get some new pads before I head home: stopping for a RL at parliament sq. was a bit hairy...