Silly commuting racing

rjsterry

Sounds about right, although I think he may have been taking it easy. I was slightly disappointed that he didn't put up more of a fight.

london_scottish

legs totally jiggered this morning but still only taken once by a silver single-speed up by buck palace (got him back within 100 yards though)

One thing of note, could only manage a constant speed of 20mph up OKR from New Cross to Eric Cantona at Elephant & Castle and got green lights the whole way which has never happened before, may try it again on Monday instead of going hell for leather as usual.

cjcp

Lovely pootle this morning. Had a chap on a Tri and Run draft me from the railway bridge lights to VB. Didn't think the headwind was *that* bad.

Bassjunkieuk

Felt tired this morning and the first hill was a proper struggle (possibly due to my stubborn refusal to switch down to a "sensible" gear and instead grind up......) but I had a rather nice car-free run down from Crystal Palace Parade which meant I could open it up properly down there :-)

Very little proper competition out this morning and only really had some fun with an enthusiastic BROMPTON rider of all things who was giving it some serious beans away from the lights on north side of Waterloo Bridge. Our fun was stifled somewhat by a bus pulling out so I followed his lead and swung round to the left and he went up Kingsway so the chase (as such, I know his FCN is much lower so I'm trying to save my scalp) was back on. I overtook him before we passed Subway and got a "thank you" off him as I waited between some vehicles for him to filter through.

ketsbaia

london_scottish wrote:

One thing of note, could only manage a constant speed of 20mph up OKR from New Cross to Eric Cantona at Elephant & Castle and got green lights the whole way which has never happened before, may try it again on Monday instead of going hell for leather as usual.

OKR was ridiculous this morning. I didn't even bother looking at my average speed when I arrived at work as I was buffeted by the obscene headwind and massively stymied by red lights. Caught almost every single one between Asylum Road and East Street. Although against the run of play, the lights at Bricklayers Arms roundabout turned green as I was approaching.

DonDaddyD

To the man on the Canondale Hybrid, you were beaten did you have to RLJ through the lights leading up to Tooting Broadway?

To the guy on the Peugeot roadie with mavic open rims, chapeau you kept up with the peloton. You lost every time we had a sprint though.

To the guy on the single speed with Trek District like wheels (orange hubs). Learn to climb I went all Schleck on your a$$ and you had no reply.

To the guy on the mountain bike at Clapham Common, when you attack make it stick! You see a true scalp is you standing at the lights, which you were, while I, who has clearly beaten the lights, pummels the open air ahead.

To the dude who tried to draft me along Kennington road. Do your share of the carrying or continued to be dropped like you did!

To every single cyclist who encountered the DDD, behold 'The Power Awesome' and humble in its majestic might!

It is good to be back!

Bassjunkieuk

@DDD - Back already? Assuming it's only for today......

Pufftmw

ketsbaia wrote:

london_scottish wrote:

One thing of note, could only manage a constant speed of 20mph up OKR from New Cross to Eric Cantona at Elephant & Castle and got green lights the whole way which has never happened before, may try it again on Monday instead of going hell for leather as usual.

OKR was ridiculous this morning. I didn't even bother looking at my average speed when I arrived at work as I was buffeted by the obscene headwind and massively stymied by red lights. Caught almost every single one between Asylum Road and East Street. Although against the run of play, the lights at Bricklayers Arms roundabout turned green as I was approaching.

Just to be different, apart from the headwind, I caught virtually ever light green from New Cross to Aldgate! OKR was hard work as you want a little bit of a breather but the lights did not allow me one. Saying that, any "competition", of which there was NONE, were more stuffed by the wind than I was. I ended up cruising and draughting where possible - like a 7.5 tonner over Tower Bridge was nice

Was at Lidl 09.01 but you won't see me next week as on holiday with my daughter

25 mins run (17.25mph av)

ketsbaia

Pufftmw wrote:

ketsbaia wrote:

london_scottish wrote:

One thing of note, could only manage a constant speed of 20mph up OKR from New Cross to Eric Cantona at Elephant & Castle and got green lights the whole way which has never happened before, may try it again on Monday instead of going hell for leather as usual.

OKR was ridiculous this morning. I didn't even bother looking at my average speed when I arrived at work as I was buffeted by the obscene headwind and massively stymied by red lights. Caught almost every single one between Asylum Road and East Street. Although against the run of play, the lights at Bricklayers Arms roundabout turned green as I was approaching.

Just to be different, apart from the headwind, I caught virtually ever light green from New Cross to Aldgate! OKR was hard work as you want a little bit of a breather but the lights did not allow me one. Saying that, any "competition", of which there was NONE, were more stuffed by the wind than I was. I ended up cruising and draughting where possible - like a 7.5 tonner over Tower Bridge was nice

Was at Lidl 09.01 but you won't see me next week as on holiday with my daughter

25 mins run (17.25mph av)

I must have gone through about five minutes after you.

One day... one day.

I'm off for two weeks the week after next, so it'll be mid-September at the earliest. Have a nice break.

rjsterry

cjcp wrote:

Lovely pootle this morning. Had a chap on a Tri and Run draft me from the railway bridge lights to VB. Didn't think the headwind was *that* bad.

See this was what I was planning to do. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) coming over CB, a roadie on a dark red and silver BMC (red Met lid) starts pulling away, so of course I HAVE to reel him in, which I do by the time we pass the lights by the petrol station. I then hear the whirring of a drafting fairy's chain, so need to keep the hammer down up to VB. He pulls up beside me in the ASL, on a black Spesh Allez (I think), black shorts and l/s jersey, white Spesh helmet. I get a good start of the VB lights, and lead up to the ped crossing, where we both have to drop anchors, and as we wait for the change we exchange a few pleasantries. Then it's off again up to PS; leaving him behind as we left the square.

A fast, but interupted run along Vic Emb with TLs and traffic stopping any decisive moves, then took another roadie in the Blackfriars tunnel

I may have stolen from this evening's allocation of awesomeness, so I may not put up much of a fight on the way home. Ho hum.

Arrived at work, with clients waiting outside the locked office door, and me in sweaty lycra :eek:. Fortunately, one of them used to race, so I just get small talk about my commute rather than looks of disgust.

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

I may have stolen from this evening's allocation of awesomeness, so I may not put up much of a fight on the way home. Ho hum.

Having felt like utter cack last during last Friday evening's journey home, this was one of the reasons behind my pootling.

Citizen Smith

Came across a bit of anomaly this morning - roadie, no lid, blue Trek team jersey, 1/2 length denim shorts, flats (trainers) - riding an old skool orange racer - branded "Falcon" with downtube shifters + 'guards and blue bar tape.

This guy had good speed and I paced him all the way from Balham to VB junction w/ Embankment.

Chapeau anomaly guy!

DonDaddyD

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

@DDD - Back already? Assuming it's only for today......

In my heart I was never really gone.

rjsterry

As you sat on the train/tube, with your legs involuntarily air-pedalling, you dreamt of returning to the fray, unleashing....


I'll leave the rest to you DDD.

gtvlusso

Nice week of blatting about.....few SCR's but nothing spectacular.....

USing Super awesome power I did a roadie off the lights and fended him off until I reached my house......not bad on the old fixie, considering I had just ridden 15 miles across Brizzle...

Anyway, weather is iffy and the wind is a blowin'

Gentle slumber home and a carry out with my beautiful wife after bathing my beautiful daughter.....and sorting out picking up my other 2!

DonDaddyD

rjsterry wrote:

As you sat on the train/tube, with your legs involuntarily air-pedalling, you dreamt of returning to the fray, unleashing....

rjsterry

Yeah somut like that.

CJCP, when can I expect to see those carbon hoops?

ETA: Snorkel and flippers?

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

Yeah somut like that.

CJCP, when can I expect to see those carbon hoops?

ETA: Snorkel and flippers?

Not chancing them in this weather! I'll be leaving shortly though. I'll be padding a red outrigger.

gbsahne001

looks like a wet ride home (again), at least there's a bottle of plonk waiting for me.

Kieran_Burns

Can't seem to make its mind up at the moment here, sun is out right now but there are LOADS of clouds.

I have however loaded up on chocolate and banana so I can really enjoy this stonking tailwind

(which is now strengthening again....)

rjsterry

cjcp wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Yeah somut like that.

CJCP, when can I expect to see those carbon hoops?

ETA: Snorkel and flippers?

Not chancing them in this weather! I'll be leaving shortly though. I'll be padding a red outrigger.

Rushing a tender out, so will probably miss you.

itboffin

Just back from a week in Jersey, tan nicely topped up, beer belly hard and round, another week off the bike = check

:?

Citizen Smith

Right leaving now....will be at VB lights heading west just after 18.30!

GAME ON. :evil:

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

cjcp wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Yeah somut like that.

CJCP, when can I expect to see those carbon hoops?

ETA: Snorkel and flippers?

Not chancing them in this weather! I'll be leaving shortly though. I'll be padding a red outrigger.

Rushing a tender out, so will probably miss you.

Went through about 6.10. You didn't miss anything tonight. Too wet, so everyone was riding very steadily.

Bassjunkieuk

Properly pootled home this evening, mainly due to the fact that I finished nice n early before all the proper competition is still working!

Was changing down through gears for Denmark Hill so decided to try the spinny approach on College Road today. Had a chance to push near the top as a bus approached from behind - I could see the bus stop he obviously wanted to stop at before the last kick up so stood up and gave it some beans and miraculously made it straight onto the roundabout!

I'm looking forward to my lie in tomorrow, hopefully the 6 smaller members of the family will leave me alone until oh say 7:30!

rjsterry

cjcp wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

cjcp wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Yeah somut like that.

CJCP, when can I expect to see those carbon hoops?

ETA: Snorkel and flippers?

Not chancing them in this weather! I'll be leaving shortly though. I'll be padding a red outrigger.

Rushing a tender out, so will probably miss you.

Went through about 6.10. You didn't miss anything tonight. Too wet, so everyone was riding very steadily.

Indeed. DSC was like an ice rink, with tightly packed traffic it was all a bit hairy. I just kept in primary, tried to avoid the ironwork and avoid piling into the back of the car in front, which seemed to be being driven by a learner who had forgotteen his L plates.

Also had a bit of 'fun' with a Jabba-in-a-van around PS. Waiting in the ASL at the top of the slope from Vic Emb, he was waiting just behind a large group of cyclists and as the lights changed started beeping away. As we turned into the square he was right behind me revving his engine, but unable to get past due to other traffic. This continued as we left the square and headed towards LBR. As I passed a stopping bus, I got another honk, with more revving - took my time pulling left past the bus. He then barged past, paused briefly at LBR before more honking as we headed down Millbank. Gave him a cheery wave and a smug smile as I breezed past him stuck in the queue for the VB lights, and didn't see him again. What an absolute tool. Judging by his complexion, heart problems are not far away - he should calm down a bit.

A visit from the PF was fortunately only a couple of hundred yards from home. You should have left her in Jersey, ITB.

CXXC

beautiful long ride today in good conditions, 170km Rotherhithe to Goudhurst + Kent country lanes loop and back, legs are dead tired now though so heading to bed fearing my scalp is there for the taking tomorrow morning :evil:

jds_1981

Caught up with someone who who was very good at track-standing this morning. Unfortunately, we repeatedly found out that his acceleration off the lights wasn't quite so hot...

nich

I've got 2 people at my work office to cycle in now, and we all end up on the same route.

Let the office SCR comense! No doubt we shall hold many important meetings to discuss our battles, and to see who shall get first dibs on the showers (obviously that goes to one that wins the race!)

MonkeyMonster

Ahhhh, a semblence of less sweatiness at long last... No big scalps today - came along later than normal. Just a dozing roady that I beetled past at a nonchalant 25 and a stick insect in full lycra on a red (I think) fixed/ss.

Morning all.