Silly commuting racing

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  • djbaird
    djbaird Posts: 1
    Greetings folks. I discovered this thread a month or so ago and have been slowly reading through the posts. I've just reached the end in the last few days. Man, what a hoot. Laughed till my sides hurt.

    I'm in Sydney and cycle-commuting is only just starting to take off. The CBD has been full of real cycle couriers for a while, but now there's a growing morning and arvo peak hour of sorts with people cycling to and from work. The Harbour Bridge bike lane gets a bit jammed up at times. I'm not a regular commuter yet, I'm spoiled with car parking at work, a $3 bridge toll and a 25-35min drive if drive a half hour on either side of the worst traffic. But driving makes me fat and slow, so i'm working on changing that.

    I don't see a lot of SCR on the commute, too many different routes for people to take. But for the section over The Bridge, its on. It's dead straight, gentle uphill to the top, then down to the pylons. There's even a nice dog-leg at the end which is a good test of who-has-the-most-faith-in-their-brakes. i drop people there, on my hardtail mtb with mudguards and paniers etc. i put 185mm Avid Elixir CRs on the front. its like dropping an anchor.

    However the real action is at Centennial Park, which has a nice 3.8km loop dedicated to bikes. Its a very popular training spot. the hard core pack riders are there early, then the average FCN gradually drops as the day progresses. By early afternoon its 13-15 or more. There's even a bike hire place that rents out those four-wheel, four people monstrosities. their FCN must be 20 or more. So, the racing here, its great fun. i've been away from cycling for a long time, so my fitness doesnt match my gear... so the SCR, or whatever you'd call it in this case. its rife. its awesome.

    today's events. 42 kms around the 3.8km circuit. 11 laps or something like that.

    - dropped by a very fit looking dude on a Cannondale Slice with Zipp 808s. but it was on the downhill and i never saw him again. he was hammering, 60kmph at least. i was on the drops at 40kmph myself.

    - dropped by another hairy roady, same FCN as me. never saw this guy again either. he had sprinter's legs. "mahooosive" came to mind when he pulled past. was a slow overtake so i got a good look at him. mix-n-match team kit (i cant talk, i was in all Cervelo Team Team) but i noticed his gloves, red-pink polka dot. ahh!

    - dropped by a dude on a Cervelo S1, but then i see him pull off and exit the park about a 1/2km ahead. ha!

    lost count of the MTBs and upright basket bikes i passed. they don't register. a good dozen folks on roadies got dropped. 2 of them needed effort. got surprised by one dude that tucked in behind me without me realizing. whoa, so that lights a fire under me and i dig a bit deeper for the rest of the flat and then round the uphill part of the circuit. goooooone.

    This whole SCR thing is a brilliant training aid. i always put in more effort when there's other folks around.

    regards,
    Daniel
    1) no-suspension MTB with 29" slicks, mudguards, upgraded disc brakes, rear rack, panniers, bar ends. ~14kg
    2) Cervelo S2 <7kg
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,629
    Holy Moly! I should leave at that time more often...come onto HSK and I see a whole chuffin peleton of mixed bikes ahead - woo hoo!

    Really shitty traffic and feck loads of red lights later and my mood is dampened somewhat but still fun. Then I hit the horseys an have to slow up,
    Picked it back up again from hyde corner to the velvet strip and then a reasonable run on the racetrack part from a naughty roadie who took exception to me catching up so then cycled really badly and dangerously as he sprinted away wobbling like a bastard and got in the way of other cars and cut up another cyclist too. Twat - grow up.

    Morning all!
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • notsoblue
    notsoblue Posts: 5,756
    edited June 2010
    Swift ride in this morning, though no scalps to speak of. Saw a colleague riding in at Tottenham Court Road, and put my game face on in anticipation of a satisfying scalp... But he went through every single red light from where I first saw him to just outside work at Farringdon. I have no problem with this, but as I stopped at all of them I never managed to actually catch up with him until just outside the office. By which point I was showing significantly more signs of effort than I was comfortable with...
    FCN 4 PX SL Pro SRAM Red
    FCN 8 Scott Sportster '05
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    grumble grumble inner tubes grumble grumble too busy grumble grumble wiggle delivery soon.

    Grumble grumble tube grumble grumble.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,629
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    grumble grumble inner tubes grumble grumble too busy grumble grumble wiggle delivery soon.

    Grumble grumble tube grumble grumble.

    you lady have no one else to blame for shocking tube management skills!

    hope you're on soon though - more than a few scalps to share :)

    edit: route suggestions chaps for parliament sq to corner of union and marmarshalsea road? I've never gone on any of those roads... I'm coming back via blackfriars bridge for some racetrack action on the way home.
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,495
    Is anyone else seeing the no inner tubes/have to use the tube irony?

    Is LiT's SCR going down the tube at the moment?

    Would get my coat, but don't have one with me today.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    rjsterry wrote:
    Is anyone else seeing the no inner tubes/have to use the tube irony?

    Is LiT's SCR going down the tube at the moment?

    Would get my coat, but don't have one with me today.

    Do you have some glue?

    For my sides?



    ( :lol: )
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,495
    Fair comment.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,629
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Do you have a tube of glue?

    Fixed that for you :D
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    :lol:

    we're all contributing to bad joke day.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    MonkeyMonster wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Do you have a tube of glue?

    Fixed that for you :D

    don't presta it....
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • blu3cat
    blu3cat Posts: 1,016
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    MonkeyMonster wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Do you have a tube of glue?

    Fixed that for you :D

    don't presta it....

    This could quickly become TYREsome :roll:

    No action to speak this morning, except I saw large bloke on tourer again, with SEE THROUGH SHORTS ON. I mean really, please, I'd only had brekkie about 30 mins before. :(
    "Bed is for sleepy people.
    Let's get a kebab and go to a disco."

    FCN = 3 - 5
    Colnago World Cup 2
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    blu3cat wrote:
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    MonkeyMonster wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Do you have a tube of glue?

    Fixed that for you :D

    don't presta it....

    This could quickly become TYREsome :roll:

    No action to speak this morning, except I saw large bloke on tourer again, with SEE THROUGH SHORTS ON. I mean really, please, I'd only had brekkie about 30 mins before. :(

    I always have an internal debate about whether to tell them. I mean, if I were wearing see-through shorts I'd want someone to tell me. But then would they? :?
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    blu3cat wrote:
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    MonkeyMonster wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Do you have a tube of glue?

    Fixed that for you :D

    don't presta it....

    This could quickly become TYREsome :roll:

    No action to speak this morning, except I saw large bloke on tourer again, with SEE THROUGH SHORTS ON. I mean really, please, I'd only had brekkie about 30 mins before. :(

    I always have an internal debate about whether to tell them. I mean, if I were wearing see-through shorts I'd want someone to tell me. But then would they? :?

    If you hear a doppler shifted "giggity giggity" take it as read you are.... :P
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • Specialized Needs
    Specialized Needs Posts: 802
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    grumble grumble inner tubes grumble grumble too busy grumble grumble wiggle delivery soon.

    Grumble grumble tube grumble grumble.
    No Evans nearby? They, as many other places at the mo, seem to be doing Specialized tubes for £1.99 each or similar.
  • Wrath Rob
    Wrath Rob Posts: 2,918
    Back on the bike after a week in NYC for work. Taken a risk and got on the nice bike in an attempt to compensate for my reduced lung power. Got passed by a hybrid and 2 roadies (one on a old lime green steel bike with mudguards who I've seen before) on Millbank, managed to get back on terms to preserve my scalp but I definitely lacked the power to get back in front until Blackfriars, though it was a moot point by then :(

    Here's hoping that I've recovered a bit by 6pm tonight!
    FCN3: Titanium Qoroz.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Specialized Needs wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    grumble grumble inner tubes grumble grumble too busy grumble grumble wiggle delivery soon.

    Grumble grumble tube grumble grumble.
    No Evans nearby? They, as many other places at the mo, seem to be doing Specialized tubes for £1.99 each or similar.

    No, sadly, Mayfair, while rich in jewellery stores, is very poor in bike shops.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    ....Best bit of SCR for me ever yesterday in Bristol!

    Scalped two shaven legged roadies on my singlespeed whist riding naked but for some bodypaint with a flagpole attached to the seatpost. Their faced were utterly wonderful! :shock: :shock: :D

    Only problem is that the break took me half a mile ahead of the rest of the nude riders and felt rather exposed for a bit! When you get the whoops and the cheers from the pedestrians and the traffic when you're riding en-mass is one thing - but to get them when you're the only person that they could be aimed at is rather different!

    Great, great day!

    Wonder what FC number I should have applied to myself??? :lol:
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    OMG.....it's in the rules.

    I had an FCN of six as I've got a beard. :lol:
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • UndercoverElephant
    UndercoverElephant Posts: 5,796
    SimonAH wrote:
    Wonder what FC number I should have applied to myself??? :lol:

    Same as normal with the +3, "None" option on the clothing. :lol:
    Sun - Rain - Snow
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    SimonAH wrote:
    OMG.....it's in the rules.

    I had an FCN of six as I've got a beard. :lol:

    Anal or facial?
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    Greg T wrote:
    SimonAH wrote:
    OMG.....it's in the rules.

    I had an FCN of six as I've got a beard. :lol:

    Anal or facial?

    JUST AS AN ADDENDUM.....

    The position of your beard.

    It was not an invitation of any sort...

    Ahem
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,629
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Specialized Needs wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    grumble grumble inner tubes grumble grumble too busy grumble grumble wiggle delivery soon.

    Grumble grumble tube grumble grumble.
    No Evans nearby? They, as many other places at the mo, seem to be doing Specialized tubes for £1.99 each or similar.

    No, sadly, Mayfair, while rich in jewellery stores, is very poor in bike shops.

    Cycle surgery in selfridges...
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Greg T wrote:
    Greg T wrote:
    SimonAH wrote:
    OMG.....it's in the rules.

    I had an FCN of six as I've got a beard. :lol:

    Anal or facial?

    JUST AS AN ADDENDUM.....

    The position of your beard.

    It was not an invitation of any sort...

    Ahem

    Only aware of a facial one MrT, no invitations implied or expressed!

    Flagpole was also strategically placed to avoid the possibility of 'winking' at following riders durning bursts of speed.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • Specialized Needs
    Specialized Needs Posts: 802
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Specialized Needs wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    grumble grumble inner tubes grumble grumble too busy grumble grumble wiggle delivery soon.

    Grumble grumble tube grumble grumble.
    No Evans nearby? They, as many other places at the mo, seem to be doing Specialized tubes for £1.99 each or similar.

    No, sadly, Mayfair, while rich in jewellery stores, is very poor in bike shops.
    Ah, yes. Rathbone Place, Victoria or Westbourne Grove. None of them particularly close or convenient when tubing.

    Hope a Wiggle package is waiting for you when you return home.
    Greg T wrote:
    SimonAH wrote:
    OMG.....it's in the rules.

    I had an FCN of six as I've got a beard.

    Anal or facial?


    JUST AS AN ADDENDUM.....

    The position of your beard.

    It was not an invitation of any sort...

    Ahem
    GregT - I may never get away with reading this forum at work again after my reaction to reading that!
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,629
    Booo - tis raining :( and I didn't put me 'guards on this morning...
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • notsoblue
    notsoblue Posts: 5,756
    MonkeyMonster wrote:
    Booo - tis raining :( and I didn't put me 'guards on this morning...

    Bull$hit, you left them off to deter drafters :P
    FCN 4 PX SL Pro SRAM Red
    FCN 8 Scott Sportster '05
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,495
    Left my overshoes at home

    Bother
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • Wrath Rob
    Wrath Rob Posts: 2,918
    Out for beers and "the best in new, underground urban music" tonight, whatever that is. For once I'm glad that I won't be commuting. I can't let the new Sunday Best bike get wet now, can I!
    FCN3: Titanium Qoroz.
  • BentMikey
    BentMikey Posts: 4,895
    So does this count as a scalp? ;)


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GscAwKrVmcU

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