Silly commuting racing

greg66_tri_v2.0

rjsterry wrote:

@Greg66: was that you going under Charring Cross station at about 9.15 this morning? Black & red courier bag, blue lycra, red helmet, black Cervelo. Would have been up for a bit of a race along the Embankment (always willing to embarrass myself), but the traffic was just a bit too dense as we both seemed to be free-wheeling a fair bit.

Yes, that was me. I can't *quite* justify two helmets. Yet. The reflective tabs on my bag are a bit of a giveaway, once you get close enough to read them.

Which one were you? I seem to remember the traffic under the bridge being a bit congested - wasn't there a bus or coach pulled in just past the bridge that everyone was making a mean of getting round, or something?

Say "hi" next time. I won't bite. Promise.

rjsterry

Aha, one more for my I Spy SCR book. Did notice the reflective tags, though my eyesight isn't good enough to read them without piling into the back of you. Me, I was on a white, old steel Giant road bike (pics in the, err, bike pics thread), red jersey w/ black trim, small grey and blue rucksack atm (coz my Crumpler is beginning to smell like something has died in it :shock: ), white Spesh helmet. I was just behind you at the point we went under the bridge, didn't get past the bus as quickly as you, but was catching up when you pulled off. I'll say hi next time.

cjcp

Oh lordy.

First day on the bike for a week and I arrive back in the country from Canada on the red eye with minimal sleep to boot. So, I pootle in just before midday. The last thing I need on the way home is a group of speed merchants forcing the pace into a headwind.

So that's exactly what I get.

One chap on a nice white and red bling looking bike, one on a red and silver Giant, a chap in a hi-viz vest and panniered up and a rapid flat-bar roadied (although he only emerged in RP). Tit-for-tat all the way to RP. One aspect of this involved me accelerating on the drops as part of some desperate, last minute intensity training for the Marmotte, so apologies to the chap with the pannier when I passed him doing this up Queen's Ride to try to keep up with the car. :oops:

Shared some of the work with the chap on the Giant in RP. Flat bar guy was taking a tow, too, but he tried to do some work. I got dropped by both of them at the foot of Broomfield before reeling them back in - first the Giant, then Flat bar after the dip.

Did an extra lap to MTFU. Am knackered. I'm going to sleep.

rjsterry

Time for bed indeed CJCP. All quiet this evening along the Embankment, but livened up as I came up into Clapham to turn onto the Common. A chap on a black and white C'dale in a blue jersey eased past just before the lights at the corner of the common. Aha, I think. I sit a couple of lengths back as we swing round onto the Common, then when he seems to be holding a steady pace, change up and pull past. One all. About 2/3rds of the way across the Common though, he pulls past again, just before the traffic starts closing in and I lose him at the Clapham South lights. Well played, sir.

lost_in_thought

I'm back commuting tomorrow! Hurrah!

Alas, there are no showers at work, and the private members' club I'm joining to use the showers only have a committee meeting once a month, so it's going to be pootle-tastic until the first of July.

I may have to work on lowering my FCN.... :oops:

Cafewanda

Wet wipes and dry shampoo*. You won't resist the urge to speed.

*is there such a thing?

Aidy

lost_in_thought wrote:

the private members' club I'm joining...

oo err

stuaff

Cafewanda wrote:

Wet wipes and dry shampoo*. You won't resist the urge to speed.

*is there such a thing?

Yes, google it...
And LiT, seriously, you & pootling? That's oxymoronic!

markshaw77

Had a really good blast down Constitution Hill and the Mall tonight with a guy on a grey Bianchi (jeans and a messenger bag) - legs were a blur on the SS

Just about stayed in touch - did not have enough GI or leg speed to attempt a pass, but we flew past everything else on the road!!

Cracking!!

rjsterry

Oooh, forgot to mention. My boss turned up in full lycra today, apparently having been on a shopping trip over the weekend. Another convert. The rest of the office are less pleased.

stuaff

Don't often find much SCR action at the weekend (let alone the commute) but yesterday I had a bit of competition, sort of...I say sort of because this guy needed to MTFU. I'm on the Cadenza, heading home along the A259 between Emsworth and Havant. This guy on a Spesh Roubaix (SaxoBank replica livery, not absolutely sure if it was S-Works or not, don't think so) bimbles alongside (he was not, frankly, giving the effort his machine deserved), He overtakes- just. There's a stiff headwind, but even with me on my 12.5 kg folding tank (metaphorically speaking, it rolls along nicely), he doesn't pull away, and I'm still sustaining 18mph or so. I think to myself that a scalp is possible- I get past, but can't pull away, and this chap actually drafts me for a short while (?!!!) before getting past me again when I turn on to a cycle lane. He goes round the roundabout, I take the cycle route round it. He's made a bit of distance on me, but I'm closing him down again before I turn off. Not a scalp I know, but dear me he needed to try harder.....

redvee

As I had the morning to myself I went out for 20 miles along the cyclepath and back and got semi-scalped by a Colnago, he came past and I drafted him for a mile or so but he was on the inner ring and in about 3rd or 4th largest sprocket and still holding 18mph but seemed to have a similar cadence to myself :? I was slowed on the return by two girls in leggings that had slipped down a little, couldn't bear to overtake as the view was worth the single figure speed they were doing.

WesternWay

Woke up this morning, absolutely shattered, utterly determined to just pootle in. As I got to the end of the road, I saw someone coming down the A1000, black tights, blue waterproof, bicycle unknown, but nice looking. I spent the journey to the North circular slowly reeling him in and had him just before East Finchley.

He was clearly pootling and would clearly have destroyed me if he had wanted to, but had more self-disipline than me and continued to pootle... I got stopped at a few lights and and we parted company at Archway roundabout.

I therefore felt disappointed on two counts
1) He was pootling, I don't feel I can have his scalp
2) I have no self-control and am unable to pootle.

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

One chap on a nice white and red bling looking bike, one on a red and silver Giant, a chap in a hi-viz vest and panniered up and a rapid flat-bar roadied (although he only emerged in RP). Tit-for-tat all the way to RP. One aspect of this involved me accelerating on the drops as part of some desperate, last minute intensity training for the Marmotte, so apologies to the chap with the pannier when I passed him doing this up Queen's Ride to try to keep up with the car. :oops:

'Twas I in the high-viz, and have to admit that your out-of-the-saddle stint up Queen's Ride did get me wondering...

Thought you'd got away from me on Putney Bridge, I got stuck behind a girl on a Cervelo TT who was trying to ride through the traffic whilst having a conversation on her mobile phone :roll:

cjcp

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

One chap on a nice white and red bling looking bike, one on a red and silver Giant, a chap in a hi-viz vest and panniered up and a rapid flat-bar roadied (although he only emerged in RP). Tit-for-tat all the way to RP. One aspect of this involved me accelerating on the drops as part of some desperate, last minute intensity training for the Marmotte, so apologies to the chap with the pannier when I passed him doing this up Queen's Ride to try to keep up with the car. :oops:

'Twas I in the high-viz, and have to admit that your out-of-the-saddle stint up Queen's Ride did get me wondering...

Ah, hello, sir. Should have guessed from previous encounter (earlier this year?).

Yep, things are pretty desperate on the training front. I'm having some hamstring and glute issues at the moment, and out-of-the-saddle efforts, whilst making me look like a right tool, seem to ease the problem a little.

Thought you'd got away from me on Putney Bridge, I got stuck behind a girl on a Cervelo TT who was trying to ride through the traffic whilst having a conversation on her mobile phone :roll:

[/quote]

:roll: Got past her just off the lights. There was a fair bit of bike and car traffic, too.

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

Ah, hello, sir. Should have guessed from previous encounter (earlier this year?).

I'd have said "Hi" but didn't realise it was you, every time we cross paths you're on a different bike...

You looked a bit like the Pied Piper going along LRR, must have had about 10 bikes in tow

jonginge

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Ah, hello, sir. Should have guessed from previous encounter (earlier this year?).

I'd have said "Hi" but didn't realise it was you, every time we cross paths you're on a different bike...

You looked a bit like the Pied Piper going along LRR, must have had about 10 bikes in tow

HeeHee. I had a similar thing last night between VB and chelsea harbour. Another chap (retro Renault elf top), who I've seen a couple of times now, and I took turns to tow an entire peloton for the length of the embankment. Chapeau, sir. Sorry I wasn't more chatty but traffic was a bit manic. To the rest of the peloton: do a turn, eh

Paul E

I am having to learn to be paitent with my fitness, only been back to regular riding/commuting 3 weeks so letting people go by and not chasing is frustrating, I know I could catch them but not sustain it as long as they can Mmnnnngggghhhh

Bassjunkieuk

I was stuck in some rather dire traffic in the car this morning so was watching out for SCR action on the opposite side of the road as I sat patiently in Colliers Wood.

I did however find myself wanting to yell at a chap on a white Bianchi road bike who got done all ends up away from a set of lights by a guy on a BSO!! FFS man GROW SOME BALL$!!!

cjcp

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Ah, hello, sir. Should have guessed from previous encounter (earlier this year?).

I'd have said "Hi" but didn't realise it was you, every time we cross paths you're on a different bike...

Shush - don't tell the wife!

You looked a bit like the Pied Piper going along LRR, must have had about 10 bikes in tow

It seemed a bit busy as I came off the bridge, and couldn't quite get a glimpse of the number of bikes around us. However, I've just remembered that, as we were all waiting at the lights where Queen's Ride meets the URR, I heard one guy say (and it was just about audible amongst the heavy breathing going on), "And they're off" when the lights went green

EDIT: Sooooooo, same again tonight?

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

It seemed a bit busy as I came off the bridge, and couldn't quite get a glimpse of the number of bikes around us. However, I've just remembered that, as we were all waiting at the lights where Queen's Ride meets the URR, I heard one guy say (and it was just about audible amongst the heavy breathing going on), "And they're off" when the lights went green

rotfl - I didn't hear that!

EDIT: Sooooooo, same again tonight?

Hmmm, I hope not!

rjsterry

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I was stuck in some rather dire traffic in the car this morning so was watching out for SCR action on the opposite side of the road as I sat patiently in Colliers Wood.

I did however find myself wanting to yell at a chap on a white Bianchi road bike who got done all ends up away from a set of lights by a guy on a BSO!! FFS man GROW SOME BALL$!!!

South London traffic was shocking this morning and no mistake.

asprilla

How come I keep missing all this Putney to RP action?

You lot need to get away from work earlier.

itsbruce

To the bloke in white baggies heading south over Battersea bridge this evening (who was so keen that he *nearly* became a RJLer): if I, sitting down on my tail-heavy flat bar bike, race spinnily past you up the bridge while you stand on your pedals, maybe it's time you reconsidered your technique.

cjcp

More fun again tonight.

A good group of roadies exiting Parlt Square. One RLJs (this becomes a theme all the way to WBR) and arrives at VB lights ahead of the others.

He creeps at VB lights and is off. I'm approaching the corner and building up to taking him in DSC when a rapid SSer (blue bike; Dolan, I think, but could be wrong) breezes past.

Now dawns on me that it might have been Flamite. :?:

Anyhoo, he quickly catches RLJer, who duly puts on his pink fairy dress and latches onto the SSer's wheel - all the way to Victoria railway bridge, when he filters ahead in the outside lane. Was sitting about 10 metres back all the way - impressive effort by the SSer into that headwind and didn't really look to be slowing - but didn't see any sign of a "thanks" from RLJ boy. Manners?

Had to say "chapeau" to the SSer on the ramp off Chelsea Bridge.

Managed to catch RLJ Drafting Fairy Boy. He latches onto my wheel , then RLJs at the lights on the stretch up to AB :? . Had a brief chat with the SSer (Flamite?) at the lights about the absolute goon - it wasn't the word I used at the time, mind... - who passes me while I'm stopped and knocks me with his backpack before breezing through the red. Some people should just have their bikes crushed.

cyclingmev

i keep getting overtaken by a muscular guy, bald headed, legs the size of very large tree trunks, and he always says helloo....my pet name for him is 'the beast'....i'll never be able to keep up with him...sigh......

Paul E

I was pootling home turned onto embankment east from northumberland avenue, minding my own business, moticed someone i think in full team kit behind me with a dark rucksack on comes past me eventually (can't have liked my acceleration form lights) says something to me about being knocked off by a f"king cab or something and carries on after passing me, beats me, the only ones near me were overtaking me and I wasn't weaving and I stayed a reasonable distance from the kerb. beats me, nice way to be though.

cjcp

cyclingmev wrote:

i keep getting overtaken by a muscular guy, bald headed, legs the size of very large tree trunks, and he always says helloo....my pet name for him is 'the beast'....i'll never be able to keep up with him...sigh......

HamishD

Paul E wrote:

I was pootling home turned onto embankment east from northumberland avenue, minding my own business, moticed someone i think in full team kit behind me with a dark rucksack on comes past me eventually (can't have liked my acceleration form lights) says something to me about being knocked off by a f"king cab or something and carries on after passing me, beats me, the only ones near me were overtaking me and I wasn't weaving and I stayed a reasonable distance from the kerb. beats me, nice way to be though.

Stream of consciousness POTD!

No action as per bloody usual, save the bloke on the Trek converted SS on constitution hill whose legs were going like the clappers trying to overtake. "But you've got gears!" he complained. I said "yep", changed up three gears and kept at going at the same speed but 30 rpm slower . . . still, we had a good chat, which beats SCRing any day truth be told.

flamite

cjcp wrote:

More fun again tonight.

A good group of roadies exiting Parlt Square. One RLJs (this becomes a theme all the way to WBR) and arrives at VB lights ahead of the others.

He creeps at VB lights and is off. I'm approaching the corner and building up to taking him in DSC when a rapid SSer (blue bike; Dolan, I think, but could be wrong) breezes past.

Now dawns on me that it might have been Flamite. :?:

Anyhoo, he quickly catches RLJer, who duly puts on his pink fairy dress and latches onto the SSer's wheel - all the way to Victoria railway bridge, when he filters ahead in the outside lane. Was sitting about 10 metres back all the way - impressive effort by the SSer into that headwind and didn't really look to be slowing - but didn't see any sign of a "thanks" from RLJ boy. Manners?

Had to say "chapeau" to the SSer on the ramp off Chelsea Bridge.

Managed to catch RLJ Drafting Fairy Boy. He latches onto my wheel , then RLJs at the lights on the stretch up to AB :? . Had a brief chat with the SSer (Flamite?) at the lights about the absolute goon - it wasn't the word I used at the time, mind... - who passes me while I'm stopped and knocks me with his backpack before breezing through the red. Some people should just have their bikes crushed.

Haha yes hello there cjcp! you were in the wheelers shorts?

Can't say i wasn't hurting at the end of that stretch, managed to string a few words together at the lights though! what a numpty, he nearly took you out swerving round you at the red.

I have come across that fairy before he literally power-pootles until you overtake then puts his hammer down to catch your wheel! :evil: never with a word of thanks!

gotta love the headwind....