Silly commuting racing

rjsterry

Fooff! SCR started early this morning and kept going full tilt until I got over Blackfriars: I'd barely got out of Carshalton when a chap in Astana shorts and no bag eased past on the drop down to the Wandle, but it didn't take long to regain the lead. Don't usually see other bikes that close to home, let alone worthy scalps. Anyway, He and I traded places most of the way in - he was better at filtering, so kept getting ahead when the traffic was heavy, but I kept reeling him in.

Coming through Clapham (still racing Mr Astana shorts), I also passed a chap in full Pearson kit on a custom painted KoM polka dot bike (didn't catch the make). Being a full shaved roadie in team kit, I think he should have put in a bot more effort, but maybe he was having a rest day.

The pace kept pretty high into Kennington Lane with three or four of us trying to get past a dawdling car, trading places a bit, and then all getting properly done by a shaved roadie on yet another blue Ribble. It was a full on out-of-the-saddle sprint though, so that rather blows the not trying thing out of the water. Was glad when the pace eased off going round The Cut.

asprilla

I've found someone to chase; hurrah!

Bloke on a purple Cevelo P2 that I'm sure I've seen a couple of times but on other bikes. He goes clockwise round the park from Roehampton to Kingston whilst I go anti-clockwise so I tend to seet him at kingston gate. We take slightly different routes though Kingston (his is shorter, pah) but it's game on from the park to Molesey.

He first came to my attention when he almost left hooked me as he turned off Kings Road onto Acre Road (I go straight on).

Last night he junped the cycle crossing lights and was away. So far away in fact that I thought he'd turned off. I was help up by a couple of nodders on the cyclepath by Hampton Court (traffic is gridlocked there so it's cyclepath or traffic jam) but to my surprise I caught him again on the bridge. I even know where he lives now, so I might wait outside in a morning......

Greg T

rjsterry wrote:

but maybe he was having a rest day.

Maybe he was on saving himself for his modern dance class?

rjsterry

Greg T wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

but maybe he was having a rest day.

Maybe he was on saving himself for his modern dance class?

greg66_tri_v2.0

I collected a bee this morning. Go me.

I stopped at some lights on Viccy Embankment, and a bee buzzed around me and then went over my left shoulder. A few mins later, I feel a slight pricking sensation on my left shoulder. Look round and there's something bee-like sitting there.

I try to dislodge it by moving my bag and I'll I hear is "bzzzzz!". Hmm. Perhaps not then.

Get to work and get someone to remove it (it's on my bag by now). Seems the little fella's ok, but there's definitely a pricking sensation on my shoulder. Have a look, and there's a slight midge-bite sized patch with a red dot in the middle. I suspect he might just have given me a peck with the end of the barb, rather than go for the full move.

It's like a jungle out there, I tell you.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Greg T wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

but maybe he was having a rest day.

Maybe he was on saving himself for his modern dance class?

Does he sound familiar then?

rjsterry

Greg66 wrote:

I collected a bee this morning. Go me.

I stopped at some lights on Viccy Embankment, and a bee buzzed around me and then went over my left shoulder. A few mins later, I feel a slight pricking sensation on my left shoulder. Look round and there's something bee-like sitting there.

I try to dislodge it by moving my bag and I'll I hear is "bzzzzz!". Hmm. Perhaps not then.

Get to work and get someone to remove it (it's on my bag by now). Seems the little fella's ok, but there's definitely a pricking sensation on my shoulder. Have a look, and there's a slight midge-bite sized patch with a red dot in the middle. I suspect he might just have given me a peck with the end of the barb, rather than go for the full move.

It's like a jungle out there, I tell you.

Look at it from the bee's point of view: you're happily buzzing along, looking for the next nectar laden flower, when WOOOOMPH! Some great big biped clad in lycra takes you out. The only thing you can do is hang on for dear life and hop he slows down enough for you to get airborne again. Maybe poking him will work...

Greg T

Greg66 wrote:

Does he sound familiar then?

You rising for a session Shelia?

You sure you want this?

Greg T

Take your time.....

Greg T

Take your time....

gbsahne001

saw what looked like a roadie in front this morning (unusual for my route) gave chase, only to discover a mountain bike on slicks (still as I was on the BSO this morning still a scalp).

Only he then overtook me by RLJ on some very busy lights and then showed no regard for his safety by undertaking traffic and then weaving in and out when traffic was trying to get past. His bike was also poorly set up (saddle too low) with his knees angled outwards rather than in line with his leg as he was pedalling.

Breezed past him later on again though, and then almost took a car which was dawdling; had to indicate to the driver to accelerate, as I was almost at his bumper.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Greg T wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Does he sound familiar then?

You rising for a session Shelia?

You sure you want this?

Hey, I think it's admirable that you enjoy participating in "modern dance".

Whether I'd have the courage to broadcast that fact in public, were I in your (dancing) shoes is another matter entirely. But good for you that you're able to. If more people who practise "modern dance" were prepared, like you, to come out into the open and admit "yes, I do "modern dance! And I'm proud of it!"", perhaps you'll generate more tolerance and acceptance for what you do.

Perhaps.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Greg T wrote:

Take your time....

Is there an echo in here?

cjcp

flamite wrote:

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....

I'll say hello next time!

rjsterry

I'll be heading home earlier today (Mrs RJS has a GNO, so have to be home in time to put Little M to bed), so will be hitting the Embankment some time around 5.15-5.30. Is the traffic about the same then as it is around 7pm? I'm guessing from the times you Embankment regulars post that I'm more likely to meet some competition at that time than the usual crop of hybrids I get later on.

MonkeyMonster

I'll be down there far later than normal at 8.45ish alas. Very few scalps when I came in later at 11ish bar a dawdling moped. Some fairly consider driving to some degree however but when power pootling I think some drivers are more willing to give space. Some nutter on a girls upright didn't look when passing a stationary van and the following bus had to brake quite sharply to stop getting to close when she suddenly veered out to clear it...

Wakey wakey peeps.

lost_in_thought

Well this morning's commute was entertaining, I'm pootling on the way in as there are no showers at new work and I'm paranoid about being smelly.

But my pootling seems to be relatively quick, certainly quick enough to reel in most of the competition, had a drag race down shebu HS with an unladen shaved roadie, followed him up to 26mph, then took a few fast, deep breaths and powered past him with my mouth closed. Hyperventilation is great for skin-breathing. :twisted:

Then had an hilarious motocross-gates-style cycling carnage moment at the HPC roundabout, cyclists coming from the park going to the middle and vice versa interfering with cyclists coming from k'bridge and going towards victoria/piccadilly. All very entertaining.

There was, unfortunately, a rider down on south carriage drive, on the hill near HPC. Silver MTB/hybrid, ambulance, police...

rjsterry

lost_in_thought wrote:

Then had an hilarious motocross-gates-style cycling carnage moment at the HPC roundabout, cyclists coming from the park going to the middle and vice versa interfering with cyclists coming from k'bridge and going towards victoria/piccadilly. All very entertaining.

That particular joy used to be part of my commute. Wobbling nodders all over the place, and a couple of WVM right up your seat post. Bleurgh. Good work on the shaved roadie BTW.

jonginge

Anyone else see the fire-juggler on vicky embankment near blackfriars this evening? Caused much rubber-necking

cjcp

What was with the traffic up to Parlt Square?

One thing sure to make you get a wiggle on is to have a police van, siren blazing (fire juggler related?) behind you. The absence of anywhere safe to pull over due to the line of traffic meant that it was head down for the lights at Westminster.

Aaaaaanyway, another lively evening: got a thanks for the tow this evening from VB lights to BB.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Yeah, oddly snarled. But once clear of Pt Sq it was faaaasssstttt

lost_in_thought

To the guy on the red SS with the flat bars who went down Hammersmith and Chiswick high street: you may have all the trackstand-y moves, but you're not fast enough to make them look cool.

rolf_f

I towed a road bike 3 miles in to work today - he only passed me by pointlessly RLJing and having to wait for the green behind him as he couldn't get past the oncoming. He is banned for life. Deep down, he knows this. Didn't say thanks for the tow either but then he was probably feeling humiliated by being unable to pass a 32 pound mountain bike....

rjsterry

Greg66 wrote:

Yeah, oddly snarled. But once clear of Pt Sq it was faaaasssstttt

What time was this? It seemed no more snarled than usual when I went through about 17.40 ish. Certainly was fast though. A handfull of baggy roadies and I steamed down to CB. Won the Millbank stretch, but second to CB. A bit blown after that, and pootled a bit on the climb up to Clapham. Not much after that aside from some fucquit deciding to pull a U-turn from the parking spaces on the Balham dragstrip without checking their mirros and nearly taking me out in the process.

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Yeah, oddly snarled. But once clear of Pt Sq it was faaaasssstttt

What time was this? It seemed no more snarled than usual when I went through about 17.40 ish. Certainly was fast though.

Busy day then? Were you home with your slippers on, glass of wine in hand by 6pm? :P

Went through just before 7pm. It was more gnarled than usual - right up to the exit of Blackfrias Tunnel. PITA up to Westminster.

WesternWay

Nothing much all the way home.

Guy on the red and white Giant from Finchley to Barnet, I know I was yours, but at least I pulled you from your pootle :-)

greg66_tri_v2.0

rjsterry wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Yeah, oddly snarled. But once clear of Pt Sq it was faaaasssstttt

What time was this? It seemed no more snarled than usual when I went through about 17.40 ish. Certainly was fast though. A handfull of baggy roadies and I steamed down to CB. Won the Millbank stretch, but second to CB. A bit blown after that, and pootled a bit on the climb up to Clapham. Not much after that aside from some fucquit deciding to pull a U-turn from the parking spaces on the Balham dragstrip without checking their mirros and nearly taking me out in the process.

5.40! Yer slack bugger! Off home for a spot of lunch?

Think I left c 7.20.

rjsterry

Greg66 wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Yeah, oddly snarled. But once clear of Pt Sq it was faaaasssstttt

What time was this? It seemed no more snarled than usual when I went through about 17.40 ish. Certainly was fast though. A handfull of baggy roadies and I steamed down to CB. Won the Millbank stretch, but second to CB. A bit blown after that, and pootled a bit on the climb up to Clapham. Not much after that aside from some fucquit deciding to pull a U-turn from the parking spaces on the Balham dragstrip without checking their mirros and nearly taking me out in the process.

5.40! Yer slack bugger! Off home for a spot of lunch?

Think I left c 7.20.

Mrs RJS is on a GNO tonight, so had to be home early. Usually I go past P Sq about 7pm (often hear Big Ben).

mtb-idle

rjsterry wrote:

Coming through Clapham (still racing Mr Astana shorts), I also passed a chap in full Pearson kit on a custom painted KoM polka dot bike (didn't catch the make). Being a full shaved roadie in team kit, I think he should have put in a bot more effort, but maybe he was having a rest day.

quite a shall we say 'solid' chap? I see him often. He never bites, just carries on at a specific cadence.

Looks fast though :?

mtb-idle

oh and dragging my mind back to Monday got a good scalp on the way in.

Guy on a full carbon tri bike with tri-bars, shaved legs, roadie lid, casquette beneath with peak flipped upwards at a jaunty angle and white framed aviator style shades.

He caught me on the hop as i pulled away from a set of lights near Stockwell/Kennington but I put down the power and blasted past him. Very satisfactory.