Silly commuting racing

Bassjunkieuk

Sewinman wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good luck to all you HOTA nutters.

+1 You lot are mental! I might however head out for a short ride this Sunday......

Stop saying that, it is freaking me out! Particularly given you two are v good! :shock:

HOTA is far to early in the year for me, my winter cycling gear is OK for commuting in or a Sunday ride but I suspect it's far less then ideal for a full on 60 mile trek! Maybe once I persuade the other half to let me get more gear I might have a crack next year (or do the route during the summer) as Biggin Hill isn't exactly a million miles from me!

jonginge

Sewinman wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good luck to all you HOTA nutters.

+1 You lot are mental! I might however head out for a short ride this Sunday......

Stop saying that, it is freaking me out! Particularly given you two are v good! :shock:

You'll be fine. You've been getting the miles in lately. Just don't set off too quickly and leave nothing in the tank for the end.

tgotb

Awesome commute this morning. Took it easy through RP (in deference to the wind) with the intention of pootling all the way, and arrived relatively fresh at Putney Bridge. I've made the mistake of arriving fresh in Putney before, but never learn...
Couple of roadies giving me gip on NKR, and before I know it I'm doing a fairly unsustainable 23+mph. Maintain this all the way to Cheyne Walk, dispatching the roadies, but arriving on a breezy Embankment with not much left in the tank. There's another roadie lurking just behind, so slowing at this point is not really an option.
Passing Albert Bridge I find myself behind a white Transit Van. Tuck in a car length or so behind, hoping to get towed up to speed before he gets away. But there's just enough traffic to keep WVM in check, and I'm hanging on to him fairly comfortably. Glance down at the speedo, and we're averaging a cool 30...
WVM then tows me all the way to VBR, maintaining the same speed, leaving plenty in the tank for a sprint to Blackfriars. Happy days :-)

il_principe

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

Passing Albert Bridge I find myself behind a white Transit Van. Tuck in a car length or so behind, hoping to get towed up to speed before he gets away. But there's just enough traffic to keep WVM in check, and I'm hanging on to him fairly comfortably. Glance down at the speedo, and we're averaging a cool 30...
WVM then tows me all the way to VBR, maintaining the same speed, leaving plenty in the tank for a sprint to Blackfriars. Happy days :-)

YES! Embankment perfection! Nothing like a good tow.

CXXC

hi all

newbie here, just registered today but i've been hiding in the "unregistered peleton" for a while chuckling away at your exploits and summoning the courage to do my turn at the front and sign-up to Silly Commuter Racing

I used to live in Barnes and so can fully appreciate the CDP, NKR, HOP route into work at Canary Wharf (I actually miss it, but not the traffic), now have moved to Rotherhithe which has knocked a lot of mileage off the ride and also means I alternate riding with running in :oops:

I was on the red Stumpy this morning and by god it was polar, my legs only started loosening up after I'd crossed Tower Bridge, and I'm not sure if its one of you on here who tried to scalp me on the Thames Path (black cannondale mtb), but I wasn't having any of it and powered back past on the Cat 1 bridge climb by the Narrow Restaurant, going 3 abreast as we simultaneously overtook a guy on a tourer with panniers who wasn't sure what was going on.

Anyways, looking forward to crossing paths with some of you in the not too distant future

Ross

rjsterry

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

Awesome commute this morning. ... Happy days :-)

You jammy, jammy b@stard! Everyone else grinds in getting frostbite, and you get a tow most of the way.:roll: Maybe I should pay a WVM who commutes a similar route to me to be a wind break If he left his back doors open, it would be even better! Not really on the SCR spirit though.

berylburton

Ok guys - what is the racing score for my fabulous bike:

Lady cyclist wearing shorts and tights
Ridgeback Comet
Paniers
Flat pedals
Mudguard


I boast to myself it is the fastest Ridgeback Comet on the Hackney to South Kensington commute-route.

Buit, that's probably not saying much.

King Donut

@ CXXC - Welcome!

But...

CXXC wrote:

I used to live in Barnes ... now have moved to Rotherhithe

Why?! As Morrison said, the west is the best.

lost_in_thought

Argh my god it's freezing. Looks sunny, isn't.

I should have looked at the thermometer before I made my bike choice, the shoes I have for my maxima are both summery ventilated shoes, and it's a big fat zero degrees over here. My feet, my feet are frozen. And due to the fact that I've had awful chilblains, I have to keep them warm.

Any overshoe suggestions?

Oh and I scalped a car down a hill. Bwahahahahahaaaa. And a JCB.

Shame it was so darn cold, could have stayed out longer.

Kieran_Burns

berylburton wrote:

Ok guys - what is the racing score for my fabulous bike:

Lady cyclist wearing shorts and tights
Ridgeback Comet
Paniers
Flat pedals
Mudguard


I boast to myself it is the fastest Ridgeback Comet on the Hackney to South Kensington commute-route.

Buit, that's probably not saying much.

Well you see: shorts and tights... what is it about shorts and tights? :shock: You'd be coming in at about an FCN of 8-9 ish but I'd not pass.... :oops:



(all the above said firmly tongue in cheek!)

jonginge

lost_in_thought wrote:

Argh my god it's freezing. Looks sunny, isn't.

I should have looked at the thermometer before I made my bike choice, the shoes I have for my maxima are both summery ventilated shoes, and it's a big fat zero degrees over here. My feet, my feet are frozen. And due to the fact that I've had awful chilblains, I have to keep them warm.

Any overshoe suggestions?

Oh and I scalped a car down a hill. Bwahahahahahaaaa. And a JCB.

Shame it was so darn cold, could have stayed out longer.

On days like today I normally go for windstoppers rather than waterproof ones. The Pro Tarmac (NPU or H2O) get consistently good reviews. My stupid white ones are Tarmacs and I've been toasty in them. For the commute, though, I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

King Donut

berylburton wrote:

Ok guys - what is the racing score for my fabulous bike:

Lady cyclist wearing shorts and tights
Ridgeback Comet
Paniers
Flat pedals
Mudguard


I boast to myself it is the fastest Ridgeback Comet on the Hackney to South Kensington commute-route.

Buit, that's probably not saying much.

Welcome to you too!
Assuming you don't have a beard, it would put you around FCN 10. Dangerous. But check out the FCN calculator on page 1 of the thread (or in various peoples sig's) to be sure

Bassjunkieuk

JonGinge wrote:

I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

I've been wishing I'd gone for the Endura's now, the dhb overshoes I got have already split around the bottom from the few times I used them and needed to walk somewhere in them. They are now only being brought out on cold/wet days and I'm evening considering taking them off once I get off the bike to get into work.......I was wishing I'd used them this morning as my feet where like ice blocks when I got in!!!

jonginge

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

I've been wishing I'd gone for the Endura's now, the dhb overshoes I got have already split around the bottom from the few times I used them and needed to walk somewhere in them. They are now only being brought out on cold/wet days and I'm evening considering taking them off once I get off the bike to get into work.......I was wishing I'd used them this morning as my feet where like ice blocks when I got in!!!

To be fair I normally treat overshoes as consumable items. The enduras have lasted a couple of years (although the right isn't overly waterproof any more), which is better than most. They're looking a bit ragged now, though

cjcp

King Donut wrote:

@ CXXC - Welcome!

But...

CXXC wrote:

I used to live in Barnes ... now have moved to Rotherhithe

Why?! As Morrison said, the west is the best.

+1 to all the above Welcome to The Game.

cjcp

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

Awesome commute this morning. Took it easy through RP (in deference to the wind)

It was brutal. I was doing 17mph from the top of Dark Hill to the dip thinking, "WTH? The speedo must be wrong?" :oops:

King Donut

cjcp wrote:

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

Awesome commute this morning. Took it easy through RP (in deference to the wind)

It was brutal. I was doing 17mph from the top of Dark Hill to the dip thinking, "WTH? The speedo must be wrong?" :oops:

That stretch was particulaly bad. I was glad to have left early this a.m. thus avoiding any serious challengers through the park.

Bassjunkieuk

JonGinge wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

I've been wishing I'd gone for the Endura's now, the dhb overshoes I got have already split around the bottom from the few times I used them and needed to walk somewhere in them. They are now only being brought out on cold/wet days and I'm evening considering taking them off once I get off the bike to get into work.......I was wishing I'd used them this morning as my feet where like ice blocks when I got in!!!

To be fair I normally treat overshoes as consumable items. The enduras have lasted a couple of years (although the right isn't overly waterproof any more), which is better than most. They're looking a bit ragged now, though

In an ideal world I would! Still it did make things a lot easier at Xmas being able to get one wishlist together. Just a shame Wiggle didn't have the Endura's!
Still in a few short months we'll be past this cold snap and I won't need them for another 6 months (wishful thinking!!!)

berylburton

Kieran_Burns wrote:

berylburton wrote:

Ok guys - what is the racing score for my fabulous bike:

Lady cyclist wearing shorts and tights
Ridgeback Comet
Paniers
Flat pedals
Mudguard


I boast to myself it is the fastest Ridgeback Comet on the Hackney to South Kensington commute-route.

Buit, that's probably not saying much.

Well you see: shorts and tights... what is it about shorts and tights? :shock: You'd be coming in at about an FCN of 8-9 ish but I'd not pass.... :oops:



(all the above said firmly tongue in cheek!)

Thanks for the tip. The FCN calculator tells me my score is an awesome 12. if I grow a moustache, I can add an extra point.

lost_in_thought

JonGinge wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Argh my god it's freezing. Looks sunny, isn't.

I should have looked at the thermometer before I made my bike choice, the shoes I have for my maxima are both summery ventilated shoes, and it's a big fat zero degrees over here. My feet, my feet are frozen. And due to the fact that I've had awful chilblains, I have to keep them warm.

Any overshoe suggestions?

Oh and I scalped a car down a hill. Bwahahahahahaaaa. And a JCB.

Shame it was so darn cold, could have stayed out longer.

On days like today I normally go for windstoppers rather than waterproof ones. The Pro Tarmac (NPU or H2O) get consistently good reviews. My stupid white ones are Tarmacs and I've been toasty in them. For the commute, though, I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

Sold. Wiggle had run out but good old cyclestore.co.uk had them in stock!

biondino

berylburton wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

berylburton wrote:

Ok guys - what is the racing score for my fabulous bike:

Lady cyclist wearing shorts and tights
Ridgeback Comet
Paniers
Flat pedals
Mudguard


I boast to myself it is the fastest Ridgeback Comet on the Hackney to South Kensington commute-route.

Buit, that's probably not saying much.

Well you see: shorts and tights... what is it about shorts and tights? :shock: You'd be coming in at about an FCN of 8-9 ish but I'd not pass.... :oops:



(all the above said firmly tongue in cheek!)

Thanks for the tip. The FCN calculator tells me my score is an awesome 12. if I grow a moustache, I can add an extra point.

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Since you have taken as your username the moniker of a legendary cycling demi-goddess, that's a modifer of at least -3, akin to wearing a yellow team jersey with world champion stripes. Sorry about that.

il_principe

biondino wrote:

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Since you have taken as your username the moniker of a legendary cycling demi-goddess, that's a modifer of at least -3, akin to wearing a yellow team jersey with world champion stripes. Sorry about that.

Good shout - it's akin to one of us changing our username to something like IAmFabian Cancellara. Mind you old Burton would have wiped the floor with Spartacus.

lost_in_thought

biondino wrote:

berylburton wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

berylburton wrote:

Ok guys - what is the racing score for my fabulous bike:

Lady cyclist wearing shorts and tights
Ridgeback Comet
Paniers
Flat pedals
Mudguard


I boast to myself it is the fastest Ridgeback Comet on the Hackney to South Kensington commute-route.

Buit, that's probably not saying much.

Well you see: shorts and tights... what is it about shorts and tights? :shock: You'd be coming in at about an FCN of 8-9 ish but I'd not pass.... :oops:



(all the above said firmly tongue in cheek!)

Thanks for the tip. The FCN calculator tells me my score is an awesome 12. if I grow a moustache, I can add an extra point.

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Since you have taken as your username the moniker of a legendary cycling demi-goddess, that's a modifer of at least -3, akin to wearing a yellow team jersey with world champion stripes. Sorry about that.

Agreed... furthermore, I get you at 10... possibly 11 if you're in baggies.

berylburton

Il Principe wrote:

biondino wrote:

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Since you have taken as your username the moniker of a legendary cycling demi-goddess, that's a modifer of at least -3, akin to wearing a yellow team jersey with world champion stripes. Sorry about that.

Good shout - it's akin to one of us changing our username to something like IAmFabian Cancellara. Mind you old Burton would have wiped the floor with Spartacus.

Hey - glad Beryl Burton is remembered. My grandad was obsessed with her and read her autobiography every Christmas. Wierdly, my parents retired to her home town of Morley where there is the fabulous concrete corner called Beryl Burton Square.

However, don't want to damage my FCN score, so may change my user name to Halfords.

cjcp

JonGinge wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

I've been wishing I'd gone for the Endura's now, the dhb overshoes I got have already split around the bottom from the few times I used them and needed to walk somewhere in them. They are now only being brought out on cold/wet days and I'm evening considering taking them off once I get off the bike to get into work.......I was wishing I'd used them this morning as my feet where like ice blocks when I got in!!!

To be fair I normally treat overshoes as consumable items. The enduras have lasted a couple of years (although the right isn't overly waterproof any more), which is better than most. They're looking a bit ragged now, though

I've got the Enduras and my feet were freezing today. Have been on the last couple of rides, too. I wonder if my shoes are a bit too tight.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Had my rather twee little Assos toe covers on today. Toasty. If somewhat effete.

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

I've been using some Endura neoprenes as the sole is a bit more robust.

I've been wishing I'd gone for the Endura's now, the dhb overshoes I got have already split around the bottom from the few times I used them and needed to walk somewhere in them. They are now only being brought out on cold/wet days and I'm evening considering taking them off once I get off the bike to get into work.......I was wishing I'd used them this morning as my feet where like ice blocks when I got in!!!

To be fair I normally treat overshoes as consumable items. The enduras have lasted a couple of years (although the right isn't overly waterproof any more), which is better than most. They're looking a bit ragged now, though

I've got the Enduras and my feet were freezing today. Have been on the last couple of rides, too. I wonder if my shoes are a bit too tight.

Possibly, can make a huge difference. Never had cold feet in mine. Used them for HOTA last year as well.

rjsterry

JonGinge wrote:

Possibly, can make a huge difference. Never had cold feet in mine. Used them for HOTA last year as well.

Some of us just have cold appendages (stop smirking at the back there); I, my two brothers, my mum and her mum all suffer(ed) from cold fingers and toes, yet weirdly, in general none of us feel the cold particularly. Something to do with circulation I think, as a couple of my middle toes regularly look purple :shock:.

jonginge

rjsterry wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Possibly, can make a huge difference. Never had cold feet in mine. Used them for HOTA last year as well.

Some of us just have cold appendages (stop smirking at the back there); I, my two brothers, my mum and her mum all suffer(ed) from cold fingers and toes, yet weirdly, in general none of us feel the cold particularly. Something to do with circulation I think, as a couple of my middle toes regularly look purple :shock:.

Oh, me too. I'm in long-finger gloves and overshoes for a large part of the year.

biondino

berylburton wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

biondino wrote:

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Since you have taken as your username the moniker of a legendary cycling demi-goddess, that's a modifer of at least -3, akin to wearing a yellow team jersey with world champion stripes. Sorry about that.

Good shout - it's akin to one of us changing our username to something like IAmFabian Cancellara. Mind you old Burton would have wiped the floor with Spartacus.

Hey - glad Beryl Burton is remembered. My grandad was obsessed with her and read her autobiography every Christmas. Wierdly, my parents retired to her home town of Morley where there is the fabulous concrete corner called Beryl Burton Square.

However, don't want to damage my FCN score, so may change my user name to Halfords.

Sorry to appear a jobsworth, but if you were to change your name to "Halfords" you wouldn't actually be allowed near anything even vaguely resembling a bicycle.