Silly commuting racing

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

anton1r wrote:

Is it just me has the BBC live text for todays tour stage been attacked with tales of SCR?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8834082.stm

see 1250, 1248 and 1208

Awesome!

I was about to paste that very link! Someone text in: "Yes. Your scalp's ready for collection."

13.41: who has ever seen the collie? Not me!

ETA: Damn! It's been taken down. Someone claimed that there's a bloke who commutes sedately along Vauxhall Embankment with a large collie in his front basket. The collie (it was said) gives a disdainful look to anyone that they pass...

rjsterry

Greg66 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

anton1r wrote:

Is it just me has the BBC live text for todays tour stage been attacked with tales of SCR?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8834082.stm

see 1250, 1248 and 1208

Awesome!

I was about to paste that very link! Someone text in: "Yes. Your scalp's ready for collection."

13.41: who has ever seen the collie? Not me!

Nor me, but we should probably watch our backs, just in case.

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

anton1r wrote:

Is it just me has the BBC live text for todays tour stage been attacked with tales of SCR?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8834082.stm

see 1250, 1248 and 1208

Awesome!

I was about to paste that very link! Someone text in: "Yes. Your scalp's ready for collection."

13.41: who has ever seen the collie? Not me!

ETA: Damn! It's been taken down. Someone claimed that there's a bloke who commutes sedately along Vauxhall Embankment with a large collie in his front basket. The collie (it was said) gives a disdainful look to anyone that they pass...

Saw the post

rjsterry

Loved the reference to Banlieue-Jardain de Hampstead (or should that be d'Ampstead?).

Geddit?

cjcp

Oh my. Came across a very swift roadie tonight.

Pulling off from VB lights with a mini peleton, moved along the outside and, when I got to the front, appaoching the entry to DSC, there was a chap on a SS Condor ahead of me and a roadie - dressed in black - pulling away from him in a manner which suggested he was very late for tea.

Caught the Condor and set my sights on the roadie, who was about 60 yards ahead. Quickly became apparent that I was not gaining on him. I wasn't on the hoods or drops but was still digging deep and still not catching him.

Pulled up at CB lights behind him and noticed that he had far superior (and shaved) calf muscles to me. He was astride a Canyon, too. I was breathing hard and quickly deduced that I was about to get my @rse handed to me on a plate on the stretch to AB.

And that's exactly what happened.

I had to resort to the hoods in a bit to maintain 25-27mph along the stretch simply to keep him within 20 yards. I was blowing heavily by the time we reached AB. Good job the lights were green. Not.

Minor respite at BB lights before we were off again. He jumped the red on to NKR. Shame*.

Put in an extra lap of RP on the way home. Lovely evening for a ride.

*This might be a lie.

Wrath Rob

On Friday I reminded myself that cycling + beer + headwind + being late = unpleasant ride home. It was only 1 pint but my heart was still in the pub and my body certainly wasn't into the cycling.

Took the SS out of a spin today, the morning ride was awesome, partly explained by the nasty little head wind on the way home. What was a 24-25 mph spin this morning was a 19-21mph grind this evening. How the gods mock me!

At least my legs are getting stronger :?

gbsahne001

not going to be a pleasant spin this morning; head and lungs full with cold. Couldn't really breathe on the ride home last night and now that this has erupted, I see the reason why.

cjcp

Could have been a coffee morning today, not a commute. Just missing the pastries and, er, coffee. Chatted with two club mates and a Dynamo I know for most of the journey. Lovely ride.

gbsahne001

wasn't pleasant, and I didn't help matters by going after a couple of scalps both of whom were on fast hybrids, whereas I was on the hack.

Pushed it up to 28 and stayed there briefly, before my lungs started exploding, then eased off and stayed in front..... all the way to the lights, where they RLJ. Caught them again and overtook again but then came to a major junction; I stopped, they didn't and they then had a 3min lead on me.

Managed to catch up with one, but the other on the nice Spesh or Giant, long gone.

MonkeyMonster

Oooh, lots of fun this morning

Worst riding I saw was from 2 different motor cyclists - one who dived up the cycle lane at millbank and then realised there were too many bikes in the asl and blocked it for everyone else - twunt. The other was the one going too slowly (for me) next to a lane of traffic that was stopping me from beetling past a train of hybrids and roadies. Quite liking embankment eastward at this section - lots to chase and chastise. Not seen anyone I recognise yet though...

lost_in_thought

Blargh

I felt rough as guts this morning, real struggle to get out of bed, heavy legs etc.

But then I cycled to work and had a shower and now I feel much better!

I took s few scalps, and muttered under my breath a lot about people trying to undertake me as we pull away from reds. The reason I stopped to the outside is that I know I'm faster, and that you're likely to pull up right next to me to the left then give it all you've got to try and pass me. Stop. It. It. Will. Not. Work.

Hey, at least they stopped, unlike the vast majority of this morning's cyclists. I wonder, if I called the local polizei, whether they'd come enforce the reds on Uxbridge road for a little while... :twisted:

EDIT: Oooooh and I saw the tiniest little lady I've ever seen on a SS. Legs like matchsticks. Had some decent-ish speed, though.

El Capitano

Had another 'race' with the flat bar roadie guy last night. Chased him down for about half a mile, before sailing past and him sitting on my wheel (again) until 50yards before he turned off.

Nothing around this morning except a nice tailwind and no rain! :shock:

rjsterry

Got done by G66 this morning. coming past the Shell garage IIRC. closed the gap up a bit by VB lights and was holding on alright as we swung round the bend on Millbank, but then he sneaked through a cheeky amber, and being a bit further back I thought it best to stop. Would have probably been safer to go through as I had to really drop the anchors (muttermutterAshimpadsmuttermutter). Only a short change of lights, but G66 had still disappeared over the horizon®.

Thought there might be a chance of catching up at P. Sq. so applied some beans and sure enough there he was waiting at the lights. Followed him round the square then had another stretch of hanging on by my finger nails until he turned off at Temple, where a guy in sky blue shorts and a white top took over. Morning G66; I'll say hi if I can catch you.

greg66_tri_v2.0

rjsterry wrote:

Got done by G66 this morning. coming past the Shell garage IIRC. closed the gap up a bit by VB lights and was holding on alright as we swung round the bend on Millbank, but then he sneaked through a cheeky amber, and being a bit further back I thought it best to stop. Would have probably been safer to go through as I had to really drop the anchors (muttermutterAshimpadsmuttermutter). Only a short change of lights, but G66 had still disappeared over the horizon®.

Thought there might be a chance of catching up at P. Sq. so applied some beans and sure enough there he was waiting at the lights. Followed him round the square then had another stretch of hanging on by my finger nails until he turned off at Temple, where a guy in sky blue shorts and a white top took over. Morning G66; I'll say hi if I can catch you.

Ah! Was that you in the red Gore top, and white frame? Bingo. Now I know to say hi to. I thought we got a nice run through the VB lights in amongst the cars. Made we feel we were finishing safely in the bunch, as Phil Liggett would say.

That amber was one of the more terrifying experiences of the morning, I have to admit. I was drafting the Lexus SUV as we ran towards the crossing. The lights go to amber and the Lexus is way to close to stop (so I thought), but he/she taps the brakes - Woah!! That's a wake up call I didn't want.

But it's only a tap, and we're still heading towards the lights, when the driver gives them another tap when we're very close to the lights. If he/she had chosen to stop then, I'd have been squished all over the back of the car. Salutary lesson, and compressed into about a second and a half. Mercifully, they & I pressed on.

Sky Blue Shorts is the guy on the silver & red Lemond with the quads that spasm and twitch at the lights and who doesn't hang around. I had the better of him as we joined Viccy Embankment, but we were pinged at the first set of lights. He pulls up ahead of me (as they do); we go; I have the lead; he comes back; I dig then see the bloody great stud at the beginning of the motorcycle bay is right on my line; take evasive and I'm on his wheel all of a sudden.

As we came to the railway bridge, the little voice in my head said "Time to end this." (a la The Human Torch vs Silver Surfer - look how well that turned out) I moved to the right lane and poured on some gas. I think I gapped him (again, in the words of Liggett) enough to hold him off until the Temple.

Puffed now.

asprilla

Tuesday is Death By Spin at 8am so I was pootling in this morning for a whole two miles when a chap on a Trek TT cruised past me . I sped off after him, but the was motoring, best I could do was maintain a 20m gap. He got luck with the traffic and was able to turn straight onto HCB whereas I had to wait for the ped lights to stop traffic. Didn't see him again.

Very swift flat bar around as well. I dispatched him whilst chasing the Trek but he too a risk going up the left of a van onto HCB and got a lead of about 30m. Hauled him back in but then I got stopped at the roundabout for Sigma Sport. He cruised through and onto the bridge as I was setting off. Caught him again, but he took the first left after the tunnel. I thought that was one way, will have to check on the way home.

Chased another bloke though the park and I wasn't able to catch him until Sheen Gate roundabout, but after that he was pootling and was left behind. Very disappointing.

Spotted another swift guy on Priory Lane; caught him up but as is usually the case he jumped the lights and I had to wait for oncoming traffic. Set of after him again, next set of lights was green and it was a sprint up Queens Ride and Bolan Death Bridge. He's leading and I'm on his wheel as we go up closing on a girl on a shopper when a nobber in an Audi pulls out of the lane on the right sandwiching me against the kerb. Swift guy makes it in front, but I have to slap the anchors on to avoid going into the back of the shopper. Audi boy is oblivious to the fact he's a retard. Swift guy is away and I'm stuck in traffic. On LRR I leave the Audi and a lot of other traffic behind but I'm not able to close the gap. other scalps are taken, but I don't really notice because they aren't the ones I want.

Spin, at 8 am, has utterly destroyed me.

rjsterry

Greg66 wrote:

Puffed now.

Well, that's some consolation

ketsbaia

Had to drop the 'dale in to On Yer Bike so it can be sent back to the manufacturers for frame repair this morning. What fun.

Caught and passed a persistent SS RLJer three times, with what I see as the holy trinity of nonchalance as I rode by: bag adjustment, whistling and free-wheeling. He finally caught me as I was waiting at the lights on BHS, rounded the central reservation and turned left; doubtless wishing to scuttle away to hide his embarrassment.

No, it wasn't a scalp as my FCN was just about lower I reckon (although it was touch and go as he had on some remarkably yellow shoes). But it was deeply satisfying.

Am now without 'the flyer' for a good few weeks, though.

mrc1

I had a fantastic one this morning. Long story short - I am filtering on the outside of a line of traffic taking it steady as this stretch is a bit of a hot spot for idiots. About to pass a big people carrier thing and a scooter pops out of the gap between the people carrier and the car in front, doesnt check to see if anybody is coming and pulls outto join the filtering procession. I have about 3 or 4 metres to react so slam the anchors and swerve around him (luckily no cars coming the other way).

I have words about him not looking and he comes out with "You should have seen me and known that I would pull out - its not my fault".

I told him that if thats his attitude then he is a clown and wouldnt last long. Would have been a different story if he had pulled out on a big motorbike as that would have ploughed into him!

Pufftmw

Large chap on a hybrid came motoring past me at some lights on the OKR last night, so I caught up and draughted him for a while. He then RLJ'd and got up a 300m lead into New Cross Road, so I thought I would have some fun & I caught him up and convincingly past him coming up to Lewisham Way. I stopped at the lights with Amersham and so did he but having made my point I only half attacked Amersham Road & he came back at me near the top. After that I just tagged him over the next couple of rises 'til he ran a red pedestrian and disappeared again. Caught him on the downhill section, we both slowed for a whiteline burner outside Matalan (clouds of smelly smoke), smiled at each other then I just p'd off into the distance

This morning I was cruising a bit (28 mins) but kept up with the hybrids ok. Still managed to make it first over Tower Bridge though

Pufftmw

Question

Why is more adept use of filtering and advanced reading of the road/traffic conditions not counted as a scalp? In an obstacle race, its not just your speed that matters.

Obviously out dragging someone is something but catching someone fairly then filtering through the traffic and disappearing is also a scalp surely?

lost_in_thought

Pufftmw wrote:

Question

Why is more adept use of filtering and advanced reading of the road/traffic conditions not counted as a scalp? In an obstacle race, its not just your speed that matters.

Obviously out dragging someone is something but catching someone fairly then filtering through the traffic and disappearing is also a scalp surely?

No, a scalp is a showing of greater out-and-out speed. Any idiot can filter faster, and indeed one has to be an idiot to filter at speed.

SCR doesn't encourage idiocy.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Pufftmw wrote:

Question

Why is more adept use of filtering and advanced reading of the road/traffic conditions not counted as a scalp? In an obstacle race, its not just your speed that matters.

Obviously out dragging someone is something but catching someone fairly then filtering through the traffic and disappearing is also a scalp surely?

No, don't think so. First, filtering at speed can be borderline dangerous, and SCR'ing is not about dangerous riding or obstacle racing. Secondly, a true scalp is a clean pass on the road without traffic assistance/impediment.

However, my view is that you can use traffic negotiation defensively, to keep your own scalp, and in the circs in your last para, assuming you continue to pull away once you're clear of the traffic, you make a pass, rather than take a scalp.

kelsen

Pufftmw wrote:

Question

Why is more adept use of filtering and advanced reading of the road/traffic conditions not counted as a scalp? In an obstacle race, its not just your speed that matters.

Obviously out dragging someone is something but catching someone fairly then filtering through the traffic and disappearing is also a scalp surely?

Because you end up riding like a nob, endangering yourself and others, and generally give other road users a justifiable reason to hate cyclists.

Kieran_Burns

Ummm..... is anyone else thinking "10 pages to go" ? :oops:

rjsterry

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Ummm..... is anyone else thinking "10 pages to go" ? :oops:

Already thunk it.

Zephr

Oh. My. Deity of choice.
Is there anyone else out there who really cant wait for winter?

The amount of idiots, numpties and, quite frankly suicidal tosspots out on the road today defied belief. every person who I work with and bikes to work came in today with various stories of nutters and idiocy- which doesnt often happen.

Im basically astonished there arent more serious accidents and tragedies on London roads every day. I realise now this probably should be put in the rant thread, but....
man.
fecking commuters. I commute on a bike and they annoy ME. I can only imagine how frustrated everyone else gets...

Its not really about who is and who isnt a "cyclist" as such, more about who does and who doesnt think.

is there something in the air? or what?

choirboy

Zephr wrote:

is there something in the air? or what?

Boris's Big Blue Barclays Boulevards maybe?

ombwiri

What is with all the hybrids with tri bars I've been seeing the last couple of weeks? I saw three this morning coming up from Brixton to Bank (following the Northern Line).

People aren't using them or anything, they just look odd.

I'm coming to hate leaving at 800am, there is too much traffic to make gaps, it's get up to speed and brake all the way to work.

Greg T

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Ummm..... is anyone else thinking "10 pages to go" ? :oops:

The peloton's forming a tight group at the front - I'm not sure anyone will try for a breakaway just yet - they'd only get reeled in - I'm anticipating a mass sprint, however if a team gets organised we could have a middle of the night attack.....

martinc

It's a bit OT, but as many of you are London commuters maybe you can help.
Anyone know the name of the cycly group that ride around on a week night and sort of take over the streets?
They start at Southbank I think. There's also a rollerblading version I believe. Is it 'free the streets' or something? I've googled but can't find so far. Cheers.