Silly commuting racing

WesternWay

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

But surely you have an advantage when descending......

My commute is uphill and against the wind in both directions.

W1

WesternWay wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

But surely you have an advantage when descending......

My commute is uphill and against the wind in both directions.

You too?

Bassjunkieuk

WesternWay wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

But surely you have an advantage when descending......

My commute is uphill and against the wind in both directions.

Hang on - How on earth do you end up having to cycle uphill in both directions, unless you do each leg a different route?

As for wind it's a well know fact that a tailwind is as rare as rocking horse manure....

WesternWay

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Hang on - How on earth do you end up having to cycle uphill in both directions.

I guess I must have angered a deity in a previous life.

kelsen

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Hang on - How on earth do you end up having to cycle uphill in both directions, unless you do each leg a different route?

He works here obviously...

Bassjunkieuk

kelsen wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Hang on - How on earth do you end up having to cycle uphill in both directions, unless you do each leg a different route?

He works here obviously...

Paul E

I had a headwind going one way across blackheath yesterday and then a headwind again on the way back a few hours later, I blame the circus that's there at the moment, plus the stink of animal muck too...

tgotb

I conducted a thought experiment to investigate the infamous Millbank Wall Of Wind, which is well known to impede cyclists travelling in both directions.

The important things to know about a thought experiment are: 1. You don't actually have to do the experiment; 2. The results are just as valid as if you had done the experiment. Schrodinger's Cat is a famous thought experiment, used to explore quantum superposition. Anyway, I digress...

In my thought experiment, I attached a simple wind indicator to the handlebars of my bicycle, and rode along Millbank from East to West, observing that the wind indicator pointed towards the back of the bike (indicating a headwind). I then repeated the exercise travelling from West to East, again observing a headwind on my wind indicator.

The clever thing about doing this as a thought experiment is that I was able to repeat the experiment many times (100, in fact) very quickly; this repetition of the experiment ensures that any experimental error, inaccuracies, measuring errors etc are negated. So the findings of this experiment are statistically far more significant than if I'd done it 'for real' just once.

Anyway, the results of this experiment prove that you will always be riding into a headwind along Millbank, no matter what your direction of travel, even if someone travelling the other way is also experiencing a headwind.

I suspect that this analysis can be extended to other roads too...

rjsterry

I distinctly remember a tailwind a couple of weeks back when we had those northeasterlies. Distinctly, because I remember pulling over 30mph without really trying - that doesn't happen very often. Either that or I had a passing moment of awesomeness.

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

I distinctly remember a tailwind a couple of weeks back when we had those northeasterlies. Distinctly, because I remember pulling over 30mph without really trying - that doesn't happen very often. Either that or I had a passing moment of awesomeness.

itboffin

My non hi-viz ruck sack is positively bulging with fresh scalps, hard work though I wouldn't want to go further than 3 miles without padded shorts and clipless shoes.

amnezia

double tailwind today, awesome

redvee

I did see a MTBer riding with a doggy bag today, as in a jack russel in his rucksack with the dog's head poking out of the top. We passed him too quick in the van to get a piccy though

tgotb

Was having a quiet pootle through RP this morning, feeling sorry for myself on account of a mild dose of man flu, when someone matching KD's description came flying past.

Had to MTFU, obviously; by the time we diverged at Blackfriars my man flu had disappeared completely!

KD, if that was you, thanks very much :-)

Bassjunkieuk

I was on-course for a screaming ride in this morning but it was mared by idiotic pedestrians crossing on the red light and holding buses up who should have been able to move!!!

I was stuck 2 buses back in the queue and missed the first brief light change :-( Was on a 17.4 avg upto that point but it dropped to 16.3 by the time I got to the bike shed about 3/4 mile down the road.........hate traffic!!!!

Also it must be spring now as I spotted 3 cyclist clad in the customary FWC alarmingly clean Altura Nightvision jackets on shiny bikes :-) Got recognized by one who also worked for the council as we waiited behind the buses.

One last special mention goes to the goon in the Chrysler Grand Voyager this morning who gave me about an inch of space when passing despite having a lane free next to him, you sir are an utter tw4t!

cjcp

I rocked this morning. 8)

I managed to ride the 0.4 miles back from the deli without spilling a drop of my cappuccino or squashing the pastries in my backpack

UndercoverElephant

Pure awesome last night (read as had a tailwind). Rode from the Portobello roundabout (which is no longer a roundabout) through to Musselburgh racecourse with an Antipodean chap on a Pinarello Opera. Lovely bike that was. Was more in a mood to chat (travelling at about 25 mph) than to unleash the dogs of war. I knew I had plenty left in the tank if he'd tried anything.

As we got to Musselburgh he told me, "I was planning on taking it easy tonight, but if you're riding like this, then so am I". Good man!

Got home in 33 minutes 43 seconds. 12.5 miles. Beat my old record by nearly a minute.

The Running Man

What a glorious morning :

Just for a change I sat up and enjoyed the scenery today. It was spectacular coming through the avenue of beech trees through Sandy Lane and then the huge expanse of the view as I emerged onto the top of Bowden Hill was awesome.

There were herons in the river as I went past Lacock Abbey, lambs in the fields :

What a morning

rjsterry

First of all an admission: I thought I had been riding over Battersea Bridge all this time, when it was actually Chelsea Bridge. Really not sure why I thought that, but there you go. Better have that Kirk picture back CJ :oops: .

However, I regained said awesomemess on the run home last night: steamed down Millbank and touched 30mph in 42x15 (spin cycle - any idea where I can find a speed/cadence calculator) before having to drop the anchors at the pelican crossing, :evil: then properly scalped a roadie on a red and white bike with beige courier bag. Kept it lit to CHELSEA Bridge without dying once I'd turned the corner as well. Very pleased.:D

Not so pleased with the plank who nearly turned across me into the petrol station in Balham :evil: more anchors and a bit of fishtailing.

Not so awesome this morning for some reason, but I have finally bought a new gear cable, so will have the big ring available again.

rjsterry

The Running Man wrote:

What a glorious morning :

Just for a change I sat up and enjoyed the scenery today. It was spectacular coming through the avenue of beech trees through Sandy Lane and then the huge expanse of the view as I emerged onto the top of Bowden Hill was awesome.

There were herons in the river as I went past Lacock Abbey, lambs in the fields :

What a morning

Ever thought of doing a spot on Countryfile? BR's answer to John Craven

rjsterry

The Running Man wrote:

What a glorious morning :

Just for a change I sat up and enjoyed the scenery today. It was spectacular coming through the avenue of beech trees through Sandy Lane and then the huge expanse of the view as I emerged onto the top of Bowden Hill was awesome.

There were herons in the river as I went past Lacock Abbey, lambs in the fields :

What a morning

Ever thought of doing a spot on Countryfile? BR's answer to John Craven

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

First of all an admission: I thought I had been riding over Battersea Bridge all this time, when it was actually Chelsea Bridge. Really not sure why I thought that, but there you go. Better have that Kirk picture back CJ :oops: .

Heading west: C.A.B.

Is The Running Man in fact John Craven?

The Running Man

If only I could get that close to Julia Bradbury on a regular basis

bigmat

Nice ride in today, wind seems to blowing the right way in the mornings this week. Had a tussle with a guy on a nice Ridley cross bike the last couple of days, good speed and decent road manners to boot - anyone off here?

amnezia

MatHammond wrote:

Nice ride in today, wind seems to blowing the right way in the mornings this week. Had a tussle with a guy on a nice Ridley cross bike the last couple of days, good speed and decent road manners to boot - anyone off here?

What bike are you on? There was a guy with a red/black Ridley in the pack i rode down the embankment with this morning.

rjsterry

Right, just worked it out: at 30mph in 42 x15 I think I was doing 136rpm. No idea if that's particularly spinny or not, but it certainly felt a bit 'washing machine'. Getting a bit of a taste for spinning rather than mashing.

Paul E

I wish I could get my average up, so many lights and junctions though I think I would have to triple my speed to anywhere near you lot on here :-(

rjsterry

Paul E wrote:

I wish I could get my average up, so many lights and junctions though I think I would have to triple my speed to anywhere near you lot on here :-(

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. My door-to-door average - i.e. including waiting at lights, etc. - is a fairly snail-like 13mph. The amount of time you spend stationary at lights is quite frightening. If you allow, say, 30 seconds at every other set (just a guess, but sounds reasonable), then you can easily rack up 10-15minutes of standing still in an hour's ride.

amnezia

Paul E wrote:

I wish I could get my average up, so many lights and junctions though I think I would have to triple my speed to anywhere near you lot on here :-(

A lot of people are talking top speed / cruising speed rather than average speed.

My average speed in London rush hour is usually around 15 mph and i pass most people pretty comfortably.

coopster_the_1st

18.3mph rolling average for my commute in today and I broke the hour for my rolling commute. 8)

Man, these road bikes are fast :shock:

As I only have myself to race, I have just seen my previous best entering the car park minus his scalp, I was that much faster. 8)