Silly commuting racing

lost_in_thought

Bah, humbug.

Woke up this morning, and from my sleepy haze noticed what looked like a visit from the fairy in the night.

'No dramas', I thought to myself, 'I've noticed it during my lying-in-bed-trying-to-wake-up-time, I'll just cut that short and fix it.'

So I grabbed the VAR tyre lever that was sitting on my trunk, and whipped the tyre off, noting as I did that I really needed a new one, and opened my tool-box to find...... no inner tubes.

Oh bums.

So I took the tube. Grrrr. Interestingly, despite the fact that it's only a 5-minute walk at either end, it took 10 minutes longer.

rjsterry

HamishD wrote:

Well so much for heavy rain all morning . . . about 3 bikes in 15 miles this morning - everyone's taken one look at the forecast and thought "sod that".

Mas rapido chap on a SS though from Lambeth to Hyde Park Corner. Was on the Cervelo this morning though, so even though I felt like pootling and letting him do his thing, I couldn't . . .

Was a bit thin today, it's true. Much less traffic as well :?

Wot, no patches LiT? Tut tut.

UndercoverElephant

I'll admit it, I was a sitting-duck last night. Sportive last Saturday, full week's commuting, headwind from hell - I was well and truly knackered. Coming out of Prestonpans, about 8 miles into the twelve-and-a-bit home, I got overtaken by a pair of roadies, one a youngster, about 15, the other a little older than me.

So knackered was I, that I asked if I could grab a tow :oops:, "Sure, join on", they said. They were going a good speed into the wind, 22-23 mph and despite the protestations of my legs, I kept up. After a couple of miles, I was recovered enough to take a turn at the front for a mile or so, so I don't feel too shamefaced.

They were going exactly the same route as me, it turned out, even up the one last hill I have to climb. I got up at about the same pace as the older guy, but the youngster absolutely left us both for dead. Talking to the older guy (who was the kid's Dad, it turned out), the young lad trains with GB Talent.

The future's looking bright, I can tell you.

MonkeyMonster

I'm having to live vicariously through you chaps this week, keep the stories coming so I don't sit here crying any longer

asprilla

After yesterdays mechanical failure on the Ribble I brought 'best bike' to work this morning. My god, what a difference a stiff bottom bracket makes: 47kph down Prirory Lane according to GPS.

Pulled up at Hammersmith Roulette Wheel and a guy on a Tricross and wearing facemask is just staring at me. Admittedly I'd just power pootled past his sorry ass in a very upright position. Right I think, time to had out a free lesson even though it's not really fair. Unfortunately traffic and lights conspire against me and I don't really get away from him until Wood Lane, and his RLJing is winding me up a little.

Finally I make a break leaving him for dead. I get to the security gates at work which have 'airlock' double gates; you can't open the second until the first is locked. I'm in the air lock and I see Tricross boy approaching; just before he touches his security pass I do mine opening the secod door and leaving him outside. I push the door open as far as I can and cycle off so he has to wait for it to slowly close. God I feel smug.

Later I feel less smug when I realise Tricross boy is actually fairly senior in the company and working on my project. I only find this out when he gives me a smug grin as he beats me to the last free shower.

Damn.

jonginge

Really enjoyed that despite the drizzle.

Traffic, again, was mental for most of the ride but I managed to get some free space on Chelsea embankment. I following a high-gear masher through Cheyne walk waiting for a gap in the traffic. I start my overtake, do my wave and nod thing and what does he do? Speeds up trying to maintain station. This is despite the fact that the highway code forbids this. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, at such flagrant disregard for the rules. So I spun up to 30mph and binned him. See-ya.

Bumped into CJ at vauxhall bridge and a pootle-fest began

MonkeyMonster

JonGinge wrote:

Bumped into CJ at vauxhall bridge and a pootle-fest began

You two doing a pootle-fest. I imagine most people weeping at the thought of how their legs would feel...

davis

JonGinge wrote:

I following a high-gear masher through Cheyne walk waiting for a gap in the traffic. I start my overtake, do my wave and nod thing and what does he do? Speeds up trying to maintain station. This is despite the fact that the highway code forbids this. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, at such flagrant disregard for the rules. So I spun up to 30mph and binned him. See-ya.

Pah. SCR rules trump the highway code any day of the week.

jonginge

davis wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

I following a high-gear masher through Cheyne walk waiting for a gap in the traffic. I start my overtake, do my wave and nod thing and what does he do? Speeds up trying to maintain station. This is despite the fact that the highway code forbids this. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, at such flagrant disregard for the rules. So I spun up to 30mph and binned him. See-ya.

Pah. SCR rules trump the highway code any day of the week.

True, but he also broke the cardinal SCR rule which is don't ride like a c0ck

cjcp

JonGinge wrote:

davis wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

I following a high-gear masher through Cheyne walk waiting for a gap in the traffic. I start my overtake, do my wave and nod thing and what does he do? Speeds up trying to maintain station. This is despite the fact that the highway code forbids this. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, at such flagrant disregard for the rules. So I spun up to 30mph and binned him. See-ya.

Pah. SCR rules trump the highway code any day of the week.

True, but he also broke the cardinal SCR rule which is don't ride like a c0ck

I witnessed this riding on Millbank (after JG passed me). The chap cut in front of the bloke who was with me at the lights. Not cool.

@MM - genuine pootle. There wasn't even an upping of the pace through the tunnel.

lost_in_thought

rjsterry wrote:

HamishD wrote:

Well so much for heavy rain all morning . . . about 3 bikes in 15 miles this morning - everyone's taken one look at the forecast and thought "sod that".

Mas rapido chap on a SS though from Lambeth to Hyde Park Corner. Was on the Cervelo this morning though, so even though I felt like pootling and letting him do his thing, I couldn't . . .

Was a bit thin today, it's true. Much less traffic as well :?

Wot, no patches LiT? Tut tut.

I don't DO patches, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaahling.

rjsterry

Ooooo, get 'er! <holds imaginary handbag to chin>

Too posh to patch

wbcummock

following a series of unfortunate events i'm riding with squiffy forks. in a straight line my front wheel is around 2-3 cm to the right of the rear.

does this have any bearing on points?

p.s do you lose points when you crash and it isn't your fault?

Kieran_Burns

wbcummock wrote:

following a series of unfortunate events i'm riding with squiffy forks. in a straight line my front wheel is around 2-3 cm to the right of the rear.

does this have any bearing on points?

p.s do you lose points when you crash and it isn't your fault?

No adjustment for Lemony Snicket bikes

lost_in_thought

rjsterry wrote:

Ooooo, get 'er! <holds imaginary handbag to chin>

Too incompetent and impatient to patch

FTFY

londonbairn

I saw a guy on a lovely Colnago frame with Zipp 808s this morning. With jeans and a t-shirt on (!!!)

Also a few TT bikes out and about on commutes, most the guys on them don't seem to be able to ride them well..

jonginge

londonbairn wrote:

I saw a guy on a lovely Colnago frame with Zipp 808s this morning. With jeans and a t-shirt on (!!!)

Also a few TT bikes out and about on commutes, most the guys on them don't seem to be able to ride them well..

Ride it like you stole it :shock:

il_principe

londonbairn wrote:

Also a few TT bikes out and about on commutes, most the guys on them don't seem to be able to ride them well..

Feckin' Triathletes - "Saw you coming sir."

asprilla

Il Principe wrote:

londonbairn wrote:

Also a few TT bikes out and about on commutes, most the guys on them don't seem to be able to ride them well..

Feckin' Triathletes - "Saw you coming sir."

/Whistles and tries to look inconspicuous.

lost_in_thought

Asprilla wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

londonbairn wrote:

Also a few TT bikes out and about on commutes, most the guys on them don't seem to be able to ride them well..

Feckin' Triathletes - "Saw you coming sir."

/Whistles and tries to look inconspicuous.

Big windows on that shop...

Greg T

Tri bars....

Nothing in this world tastes sweeter than dropping a guy on his Tri bars whilst you whistle by on your hoods.

Unless he's got his "men at work" sleeveless vest on

Or towing his Girlfriend

If all three of these conditions are met you can pretty much book your date with that hot blonde in the office - you reek of manliness and are hot. (if you are a burd - sadly you still reek of man)

lost_in_thought

Reminds me, I saw a guy t'other day on a slicked hardtail MTB with clip-on tri-bars. I overtook, and then he pulled up next to the lights.

He reeked of manliness.

Well.

He reeked of something.

WesternWay

lost_in_thought wrote:

He reeked of something.

fear

UndercoverElephant

Ah, what a difference a day makes. Last night I was goosed, tonight I get a new PB for the commute!

32:20 for 12.5 miles. Yes, there was a tailwind.

SamWise1972

Just got an unexpected and satisfying scalp. I was at World Naked Bike Ride, and a friend and her 2 year old had decided to come at the last minute, needing to catch a train from another town. The only bike I have with a child seat is my tandem, so she had to sit behind my bare arse for the whole event. Anyway, this thing is a good 30 years old, steel, steel rims, steel cottered cranks, it must way 70 lbs at least. It's wearing front and rear racks, a child seat, a basket, it;s really not a performance bike, and it's a 3 speed. I drop her at the station after the ride, and need to get from the town centre out to Totton quite sharpish to pick up my older son from karate. This is a noisy old crate with all the stuff strapped to it, specially with two spare helmets in the basket, so as I come across Millbrook roundabout, the guy in the baggies on the fancy MTB on the other side hears me coming, and gets out of his saddle to crank hard as he exits. I take a moment to consider an FCN which must be in the low 200s, and decide "Why not". I spin a bit and get up behind him, then on a nice straight bit, I drop it into 3rd and go past him like he's standing still. He responds, and starts to try to chase me down; shortly after this there is a road crossing, and then the cycle path gets very narrow, with bollards, tricky on a flexy old tandem. Then there are road crossings, and a shared bike/ped path with various hidden entrances from hedges, so I'm taking it carefully, and he's on my wheel.

We approach the bottom of the bridge, and he must be thinking this is his chance, but I "droped the hamer", and left him for dead on the climb. He was dropped, and he knew he was, to the extent that he made no attempt to respond when he got over the top, and let me run away. Not really commuting, and normally not that much of a scalp, but considering my ride, it was one of the most satisfying of recent weeks! It must have hurt the poor bugger to get dropped by a bloke soloing a 70lb tandem with child seat and basket!

Aidy

SamWise1972 wrote:

We approach the bottom of the bridge, and he must be thinking this is his chance, but I "droped the hamer", and left him for dead on the climb. He was dropped, and he knew he was, to the extent that he made no attempt to respond when he got over the top, and let me run away. Not really commuting, and normally not that much of a scalp, but considering my ride, it was one of the most satisfying of recent weeks! It must have hurt the poor bugger to get dropped by a bloke soloing a 70lb tandem with child seat and basket!

I somehow feel that this would have been *much* funnier complete with complete contingent of naked riders

SamWise1972

Aidy wrote:

I somehow feel that this would have been *much* funnier complete with complete contingent of naked riders

For sure! The naked ride is not a great opportunity for competitive riding though

One guy did ride in on his TT bike in a full skin suit, which was an interesting choice!

blu3cat

SamWise1972 wrote:

We approach the bottom of the bridge, and he must be thinking this is his chance, but I "droped the hamer", and left him for dead on the climb.!

After the earleir Naked RIde, suer it was the Hammer?



Plenty of action recently, and of course I reckon I am up overall.

Currently unable to SCR due to nursing back wheel until a rebuild (watch out next week), unless I need to get past something very quickly......

on the way in, a larger fellow on a panniered up tourer had very lightwieght (read see-through) summer tights and nothing else on his lower half. It was like 2, foot wide lychees in a string vest. (eye bleach please).

On the way home, (upper) middle aged bloke in lilac t-shirt, with massive beer belly and rucksauck (think Bill Oddie) on a white s/s with lime green 5 spoke wheels doing about 10 mph on the pavement. You could almost smell the patchoulli.............

AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.

SamWise1972

Nope, wasn't the hammer, it was the hamer. And it was droped, not dropped. This is important.

rjsterry

Two of the funnier posts for a while from Samwise and Blu3cat there. I almost feel sorry for the poor MTBer and the 'lychees in a string vest' is quite an image.

A pretty good evening myself. Scalped the same roadie - unusual green and purple jersey, red and silver Lemond with carbon stays about three times, Millbank, DSC, and Queenstown Road, due to his RLJing.