Silly commuting racing

lost_in_thought

The Running Man wrote:

Has anybody lost a pair of legs??

Only asking as I think I found a pair on the way home last night and they definitely don't belong to me.

flamite

really missing commuting by bike, am stranded in NY due to ash...

on the plus side there are plenty of nice bikes to oogle at here, and central park is just like richmond pk, traffic free 6 mile laps, right in the city, pretty awesome! shame the rental bikes are so pants.

itboffin

WFH home today so had to limit my antics to my fav WFH game

How many different items in the kitchen can I use then leave either in the sink or next to the dish washer, mrs itboffin luv's this game

Bassjunkieuk

rjsterry wrote:

BJUK, I'm assuming there's a better route than this without using the death-or-glory A232 flyover. Do you know of one? Or anyone else for that matter?

Hmm, I certainly wouldn't chance it on the flyover! My usual route to the Ikea area is via Sumner Road which you can pick up from the A23. It's the road that was next to the former ABC/Safari cinema that's now been replaced by the lovely new apartments!
I'd normally follow straight over from there and thread through the back streets to get to Purley Way but for your needs you might be beter off turning right onto the main road and follow that to get to the Lombard Roundabout, straight over there to head towards Mitcham Common :-)

andyb78

Fettled and cleaned the old winter hack HT given the nice weather and a couple of days off, so thought I'd give her a run out to see how she was doing. Amazing what a bit of attention can do

At FCN 11 a few hybrid scalps - chapeau to the lady on the Marin in lycra and SPDs on Histon Road, rapid - not sure whether you were SCRing but given your place in the food chain couldn't let it go so had to put the hammer down... Can't get beaten by a Burd now Got a older guy on a very nice Dawes road / tourer bike too.. think he was a bit surprised to see a 14st beardie pass him on a mountain bike (and then make it stick.)

Couple of rants though - Mr Cambridge City Council WVM turning right into oncoming traffic - cyclists are oncoming traffic too. We can also travel quite fast - don't give me that SMIDSY - you did, just misjudged the speed I was going at considerably. Luckily the recent fettling included new brake blocks...

Also, please can people on BSOs PLEASE stop pulling in front of me at lights that I've been waiting at for time (although at least you stop :shock: ), it gets boring passing you for the 5th time.

Awaiting the CycleScheme voucher for my shiny new Giant Bowery 72 '10 so I can then lay waste to all and sundry and collect some more scalps.... Thanks to all of you who advised a few weeks ago - tried the Langster and the Kona, but really liked the Bowery. Have changed the track bars though :oops:

redvee

I paid for the drinks last night and had to chop 2 miles off the commute this morning and had plans to make up for my MTFD this morning by going long on the way home but that was stopped with a phonecall

roger_merriman

Don't normally see bikes on my way home, bar the BSO and shoppers which have even high FCN than "Big Green" at 14, but today heading for NPL gate into Bushy Park I spotted a lass on a new MTB with very short shorts and bucket helmet. the over take was hardly much as she was doing 10ish and I was knocking on 20, but still one of the first bikes I've seen let alone passed this year. and was a whole 2 points below me at 12 FCN.

oddly I the few bikes I pass tend to be going the other way...

kurako

Think I'm getting addicted to SCR! Had my road bike today (Univega Via Strato just like gaz) so was itching to get on the road tonight. Was first away from the VB lights today despite a late attempt to grab the lead by a bloke who cycled up the pavement and stopped at the traffic island halfway over the junction.

I forget the make of the bike but it was black, looked a bit flash and had TT bars. Name a few makes and maybe I can remember. (It wasn't bog standard mass produced and it wasn't any of the more recognisable names like Cervelo, Colnago, etc.). Maybe if he'd stopped where he could see the lights I wouldn't have got a jump on him. LOL.

Wind was a bit strong on the way to CB. Legs were starting to burn a bit but glancing back saw Mr TT drafting AND tucked on the TT bars. Put in a spurt to open a small gap and absolutely could not allow him to catch up. The lights were red just before CB and TT boy went off up the inside of the cars as I waited to catch a (skin) breather

Bassjunkieuk

Got a reprise tomorrow so I'm working up in town for the first time in at least a fortnight!
Considering forgoing the regular A24-Stockwell-VB route for a more challenging blast from WB - VB via the Embankment :-D

Figure it's time to up my game so will certainly be returning that way so watch out for someone on a black bike with red bar tape, I hope to ruffle a few feathers :twisted:

Wrath Rob

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Considering forgoing the regular A24-Stockwell-VB route for a more challenging blast from WB - VB via the Embankment :-D

Come join ussssssssssss :twisted:

Mind you, my legs have now turned into lumps of wood after the Sunday ride and 3 days on the commute. I ended up getting passed by the very rapid guy on a hybrid (matt black with lots of yellow reflective tape) I see pretty regularly and then and then drafting him all the way from VB to CB. I returned the favour though from just past the park to Lotts Road, hence preventing the scalping. Luckily.

Not looking forwards to tomorrow's ride, I've got a bad feeling I'm going to get scalped big time

cjcp

[quote="Kurako" but glancing back saw Mr TT drafting AND tucked on the TT bars. [/quote]

Maybe it's just me, but this is a big no-no.

Last night was fun. Had a chap on a black Spesh catching a tow on the stretch to AB. I had to take evasive action last night as a result of two riders jumping reds. Well done, boys.

kurako

cjcp wrote:

Kurako wrote:

Maybe it's just me, but this is a big no-no.

Last night was fun. Had a chap on a black Spesh catching a tow on the stretch to AB. I had to take evasive action last night as a result of two riders jumping reds. Well done, boys.

Nothing against TT bars per se.Strikes me that if someone has gone to the trouble and expense of a TT bike they should be destroying me with their awesomeness. I'm claiming a scalp!

gb155

Had some great Race Craft with a guy on a Black Trek this morning with other trading places a few times and me "winning" when I got a jump on a set of lights, I was about 50 yards in front when they changed, by the time he got going again it was all over and I had collected my Yellow and Green Jersey


EDIT: Last night I got dropped by a Manchester Wheelers rider on a blue ribble, while I caught up at a set of lights he once again dropped me, If you post on here Sir then I Doff My Cap to you.

amnezia

Kurako wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Kurako wrote:

Maybe it's just me, but this is a big no-no.

Last night was fun. Had a chap on a black Spesh catching a tow on the stretch to AB. I had to take evasive action last night as a result of two riders jumping reds. Well done, boys.

Nothing against TT bars per se.Strikes me that if someone has gone to the trouble and expense of a TT bike they should be destroying me with their awesomeness. I'm claiming a scalp!

[/quote]

Him drafting you on TT bars on open roads is pretty dangerous, thats why its a big no no.

cjcp

+1. I'm not denying you scalped him , just that he's nowhere near the brakes.

Lovely ride in today. Had a nice chat with a Dynamo rider all the way from VB lights to Blackfriars. We'd been riding the same route since the Upper Richmond Road and he claim close to being taken out by some drop-kick in a car wanting to undertake the queuing traffic on Cheyne Walk :roll: .

kurako

amnezia wrote:

Kurako wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Kurako wrote:

Maybe it's just me, but this is a big no-no.

Last night was fun. Had a chap on a black Spesh catching a tow on the stretch to AB. I had to take evasive action last night as a result of two riders jumping reds. Well done, boys.

Nothing against TT bars per se.Strikes me that if someone has gone to the trouble and expense of a TT bike they should be destroying me with their awesomeness. I'm claiming a scalp!

Him drafting you on TT bars on open roads is pretty dangerous, thats why its a big no no.

[/quote][/quote]

Ah! The safety aspect. Yeah that makes sense. I was thinking it was bad more from the try-hard-wannabe aspect. I wasn't even on the drops

rjsterry

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

BJUK, I'm assuming there's a better route than this without using the death-or-glory A232 flyover. Do you know of one? Or anyone else for that matter?

Hmm, I certainly wouldn't chance it on the flyover! My usual route to the Ikea area is via Sumner Road which you can pick up from the A23. It's the road that was next to the former ABC/Safari cinema that's now been replaced by the lovely new apartments!
I'd normally follow straight over from there and thread through the back streets to get to Purley Way but for your needs you might be beter off turning right onto the main road and follow that to get to the Lombard Roundabout, straight over there to head towards Mitcham Common :-)

Yup, that flyover is a bit hairy. I've done it a couple of times when the traffic was quiet and it was still time for a change of underwear afterwards. Proper eyeballs-out, needle-in-the-red stuff. I'll look your suggestion up on Google Maps.

In other news, my scalp of the morning was a VERY tarty electric blue and white custom Charge Plug with matching pedals, bars and wheels (IP you have competition ). Rider wearing lycra shorts with very new looking black with white trim baggies over the top EDIT: and shaved legs. Passed twice on Clapham Road after Stockwell, and on Kennington Road (even sat up and took one hand off the bars as I went past :oops: ).

The Running Man

What an absolutely bl00dy glorious morning

Neutral wind : warm : not much traffic (through the lanes at least) : clear run down Bowden and hit 41mph : Lacock Abbey was stunning in this morning's sunshine ...

Legs sore as f*ck after a tough week but still managed my quickest commute in so far this year averaging 18.4mph and I had quite a few stops with lights, crossing guards, and a phone call from one of the guys in the office I had to stop and take!!

Happy boy today ...

Bassjunkieuk

Well my first morning crack at the Embankment was good fun!
No so impressed with the horrendous traffic from Edith Grove>Cheyne Walk, certainly mean the "racing" was put on hold but did allow the chap on the baby blue On-One SS to pull out a tiny lead.......I'd picked him up as I joined NKR and suspected with his London Dynamo cycle-fit shorts he might be a bit of competition - didn't see him again after dropping a massive group from one of the bridges (not sure of the name but it was dead quiet car wise after that!)

Then found a young looking chap, with dark hair on a black Bianchi at the lights on the bridge before VB. He was certainly quick away from the lights and it took me practically until DSC to reel him in! We lined up at VB heading towards Morpeth and I was buggered if anyone was getting there before me! Lights go green and we both sprint off, I pull out a small lead and then push it into the BIG RING and push harder. He stayed with me and eventually pulled alongside as we slowed for traffic at LB. It was starting to get a bit hurty at this point but I was turning off up Horseferry Road so could quietly die over my handlebars up there.......I'm certain if I'd carried on along towards PS I'd have been in a bit of trouble!

Great fun and can't wait to try the return leg this evening! DOn't think I spotted any one on here, I joined Cheyne Walk @ 8:30 and turned off LB @ 8:41 so suspect I was maybe a bit early.

rjsterry

Wrath Rob wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Considering forgoing the regular A24-Stockwell-VB route for a more challenging blast from WB - VB via the Embankment :-D

Come join ussssssssssss :twisted:

Mind you, my legs have now turned into lumps of wood after the Sunday ride and 3 days on the commute. I ended up getting passed by the very rapid guy on a hybrid (matt black with lots of yellow reflective tape) I see pretty regularly and then and then drafting him all the way from VB to CB. I returned the favour though from just past the park to Lotts Road, hence preventing the scalping. Luckily.

Not looking forwards to tomorrow's ride, I've got a bad feeling I'm going to get scalped big time

Alternatively, you could turn off the Embankment at CB, along Queenstown Road and up over C Common via The Avenue before dropping down into Balham and the dragstrip for the best of both worlds.

Wrath Rob

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Great fun and can't wait to try the return leg this evening! DOn't think I spotted any one on here, I joined Cheyne Walk @ 8:30 and turned off LB @ 8:41 so suspect I was maybe a bit early.

Bit late for me as I was through there by 8:15 latest. Nice easy ride this morning, avoidded being scalped but didn't take any scalps either. I did storm through Blackfriars underpass, passing a guy in team kit on a SS bike that I'd been trailing for a while. I won't claim it as a scalp though as I turned left at Southwark Bridge, denying him any chance to properly realise he was slower than me

CXXC

gorrrrrrrrrrgeous morning 8) its great to be alive and on the bike

not a breath of wind (the Thames looked like a pond), and the fact I'm heading to RP after work for 3 laps so I was weight-watching resulted in a new PB

no SCR action though due to being in work for 7 for a conf call with Singapore

Kieran_Burns

temperature between -1 and +1 this morning. What the hell are people doing out in just shorts??? :shock:

CXXC

Kieran_Burns wrote:

temperature between -1 and +1 this morning. What the hell are people doing out in just shorts??? :shock:

hair factor 50 helps!

Greg T

Wrath Rob wrote:

I won't claim it as a scalp though as I turned left at Southwark Bridge, denying him any chance to properly realise he was slower than me

That's poetry.

Each Spring brings the championship hopefuls out of the woodwork and I think this year has even more promise than last.

The ubiquitous head winds have calmed down and despite it still being chilly the sun's well and truly out - the number of geared up title hopefuls are filling up the ASL starting grid.

I may give my LBS a call, order a 16T cog and drop a tooth at the the back whilst I wait for my summer weapon to arrive.. The game's afoot....

ketsbaia

Slight head breeze this morning along the OKR, but otherwise perfect conditions. Overtook a hybrid, ss-er and roadie in non-team gear in an audacious move at the East Street lights and didn't see them again, despite being held up by a bus-on-bus overtaking manoeuvre on the strip up towards Bricklayer's Arms. Great Dover Street was a wind tunnel, but nothing I couldn't handle with a slight dip of the head and resting forearms on the bars.

However, the real story was last night's homeward bound escapade. Picked up the scent of a Wilier on Marshalsea Street, caught him at the lights and followed him down Long Lane for around 50 yards before deciding he wasn't quick enough to draft. Passed him sitting upright while humming Minnie Riperton's Les Fleurs, yesterday's earworm. He caught up with me eventually at the lights at Tower Bridge Road, by which time I'd stopped breathing too heavily, so the scalp still stands in my eyes. Better was yet to come, though, as I rounded a right turn into Crimscott Street. A triple whammy of roadie, ss-er and fixie rider in full courier garb and, get this, a frameset on his back were all shown my clean pair of heels, the latter as we turned on to Willow Walk.

But it's way too quiet on both routes at the moment. I'm itching for more competition, if the truth be told.

amnezia

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Great fun and can't wait to try the return leg this evening! DOn't think I spotted any one on here, I joined Cheyne Walk @ 8:30 and turned off LB @ 8:41 so suspect I was maybe a bit early.

Or a bit too late, i was at work by 8.00

Wrath Rob

Greg T wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

I won't claim it as a scalp though as I turned left at Southwark Bridge, denying him any chance to properly realise he was slower than me

That's poetry.

Each Spring brings the championship hopefuls out of the woodwork and I think this year has even more promise than last.

The ubiquitous head winds have calmed down and despite it still being chilly the sun's well and truly out - the number of geared up title hopefuls are filling up the ASL starting grid.

I may give my LBS a call, order a 16T cog and drop a tooth at the the back whilst I wait for my summer weapon to arrive.. The game's afoot....

I've been around for long enough to know the game

I've only been left by one SS guy, no idea what GI he had but given that he overtook the scooter that 3 of us were drafting at around 27-30mph without being uber-spinny, I think it was a lot. Mind you, he was toast pulling away from the lights so it became a game of sprinting away from him at the lights and hoping that you hit another red light before he shot past you :shock:

Happy days!

Bassjunkieuk

Mixed bag on the way home via Embankment last night. Was going quite well until the traffic really snarled up.
No proper competition really for the full length and I was having same rather nasty chain slippage which resulted in a few un-expected un-clips!!
Once we got past Cheyne Walk and onto NKR I had a lithe racing snake pass me just before the small bridge whilst in traffic. I tried to respond but had another bunch of chain slippage and lost time. Once back in and rolling I put the hammer down, slicing through a slew of MTB's and being, frankly, probably a bit of an ar$e as I sped after him. Didn't close the gap enough as he carried on along NKR and I turned off for WB.

Picked up a rather un-suspecting fast chap on a SS on Trinity Road. Older guy with trouser clips and some interesting home-made mudguards (2 pieces of a "For Sale" sign, cut to wedge between the seat stays at the rear and zip tied on the downtube at the front!)
I managed to stay ahead until we got towards Streatham where the gentle rise meant any application of power on my part resulted in more chain skipping :-( Consequently he got a bit of a lead and made a couple of sets of lights that I missed........NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!!

HamishD

God it's good to be alive today! I pity those on public transport . . . .

No SCR of note this morning, save a rather slow (or pootling, I suspect the former) gent on a very nice cannondale who repeatedly RLJ'ed - but I digress.

Looking forward to the ride home already !