Silly commuting racing

mr_ribble

Yea.. .no pictures please. As if the actual event wasn’t haunting enough.

So relay cross channel swimming - there were six in the team, an hour in the water each time, hand on to the next swimmer until you get to the other side .. simples.

We started about 1am, so its pitch black and ten minutes into my first swim, I felt what I thought was a jellyfish sting. Very sharp pain, but soon subsided so just kept on going. At the end of the hour I get pulled out and climb onto the boat to find the sting was actually a lamprey that was still attached.

So I freak out [naturally], and after a few attempts a team mate manages to get it off and throw it overboard.

Luckily for us, one of the other teams was raising money for the Marine Conservation Society and they had a reprehensive with them. When we land in Calais he identified it, and said the chances of them attacking humans is one in a million.

Anyway, I still had a 50km TT to do at this point, so didn’t have much time to take in what had happened. No lasting damage - which is clearly shown by the fact that I left everyone for dead on this morning commute in. I ripped up the tarmac at the VB lights and left a gaggle of about 20 in my wake.

I think my sea swimming days are over ... put me back on the bike.

dhope

Felt fast this morning until I hit every set of lights from Jamaica Road to work. Before that I seemed to be dropping allcomers... Runkeeper claims I hit 35mph. I'm dubious, I'm not certain I was that awesome but I did seem to be passing with more ease than normal.
Got asked about bike and complemented on pace to confirm my suspicions

Did I see (not pass) a fellow SCR-er at London Bridge, Pearson with dhb shorts and a Crane jersey?

Sewinman

Mr_Ribble wrote:

Yea.. .no pictures please. As if the actual event wasn’t haunting enough.

So relay cross channel swimming - there were six in the team, an hour in the water each time, hand on to the next swimmer until you get to the other side .. simples.

We started about 1am, so its pitch black and ten minutes into my first swim, I felt what I thought was a jellyfish sting. Very sharp pain, but soon subsided so just kept on going. At the end of the hour I get pulled out and climb onto the boat to find the sting was actually a lamprey that was still attached.

So I freak out [naturally], and after a few attempts a team mate manages to get it off and throw it overboard.

Luckily for us, one of the other teams was raising money for the Marine Conservation Society and they had a reprehensive with them. When we land in Calais he identified it, and said the chances of them attacking humans is one in a million.

Anyway, I still had a 50km TT to do at this point, so didn’t have much time to take in what had happened. No lasting damage - which is clearly shown by the fact that I left everyone for dead on this morning commute in. I ripped up the tarmac at the VB lights and left a gaggle of about 20 in my wake.

I think my sea swimming days are over ... put me back on the bike.

Wow, that is the nasty. I have seen a lot of lamprey when fishing (they come up rivers) and have also seen what they can do to a salmon. Nasty. I have heard of them attaching themselves to fisherman's waders and trying to rasp through the material, but not actual skin.


Henry the 1st died of a surfeit of them.

notsoblue

Mr_Ribble wrote:

So I freak out [naturally], and after a few attempts a team mate manages to get it off and throw it overboard.

F********************************************CK!!!!

Good god man, thats horrific!

Encountered two fellow gameplayers this morning, chap on a burgundy Langster on Bayswater road who made me set a high pace between Holland Park Avenue and Lancaster Gate, and roadie on a Trek at Oxford Circus who did some impressive trackstanding. The latter was in a small pack who we left way behind at the lights going down Oxford Street. While stuck at red the pack caught up and went straight through, he looked over and remarked that they were clearly cheating. Definitely a fellow player of the game... From then on it was a sprint at each set of lights around the east bound Tottenham Court Road station diversion. Lost him when he used a cheeky sideroad to bypass a junction though. A manoeuvre that saved him his scalp...

Pufftmw

It was dark when I finished karate and headed home down the OKR and so late that no-one about except some poor chap on a roadie at the bottom of Amersham Road who I decimated going up that hill He was nowhere to be seen but I hit 3 sets of lights in Loampit Vale and in Lewisham Hi St he RLJ to get back in front. I soon caught him up and he waved me past then proceeded to try and draught me the cheeky lad! So I slow right down and he's still behind but with 100m to go to my turn, I hit the power again and left him. Chancer!

25 min run in this morning with a lot of traffic and lots of red lights, so I was quite chuffed. Quite a lot of bikes but no-one wanted to play

Bassjunkieuk

Not much around this morning to play with. Chap on a Pearson Touche that I lead up QTR before he and a gaggle of other riders RLJ just before Battersea Park. Most of them head towards Sloane Square on the north side....

Picked off a proper fakenger on DSC then hitched a nice tow from a dump truck of some sort (judging from the smell.....) from VB lights along Millbank. Got to LBR and I went to get up the left side (I know......) but he drifted a tiny bit left so slammed on the anchors. The driver had spotted me tho as I could see him waving me through from his array of mirrors and moved to the right a bit. Gave him a thumbs up once I cleared the front :-)

Wallace1492

Had a super battle up Maryhill Road last night, being passed at lights by a guy on a road bike, he came up to lights as they changed, and I was just pulling away, so got the jump on me. I was not sure whether he was fast or not, and had no real desire to race as I was going straight out to Circuits class and didn't want to be arriving at it dripping....

Anyway, the gap did not increase much and I just couldn't help myself... Did notice he was slightly slower on the hills, and timed my attack for where Maryhill Road opens to a dual carriageway. I turned on the gas and swept by, keeping the foot down right passed where the guy had his Boaby hacked off the other day. Managed to get through lights as they were changing and noticed he had jumped them behind me.... obviously didn't want to let me go!!

The next section requires me to move to right hand lane to take filter turn at lights, and was caught behind a car in the left lane, as I slowed down the guy pulls out, and filters by me to the lights. So overtaken twice by him, but only by traffic, not by old fasioned speed!

Next section was quite busy, and rode just behind him and at a decent pace, but knew I had the taking of him.... maybe.... Parted as we entered Milngavie.

Needless to say, arrived at circuits in a soaking wet mess, but enjoyed a rare battle on Maryhill Road. If you are reading this, cheers and hope to do battle again!!

Swept all before me this morning for a new home-work record, ave 18.6mph.

rjsterry

Another fully lycra'd shaved roadie scalp (maybe even team shorts) for the Dahon on Vic. Emb. this morning. Spun faster than I thought possible as I was sucked through Blackfriars tunnel behind a lorry

Go clown bikes!

lost_in_thought

Mmm, tailwind-tastic!

Found a much quicker route to brentford than the one I usually take, and am now extremely early for kayaking!

A fair few roadies will be enjoying the sun on their naked skulls this evening...

notsoblue

Fast ride back tonight! Lots of people about but passed them all between PS and Putney Bridge. Saw King Donut (I think, Grey Castelli kit?) at NKR and tried to catch up with him all the way until we got to Lower Richmond Road, at which point I took advantage of him getting stuck behind a bus, passed him and then quickly turned off right towards Barnes

soundninjauk

Personal best tonight. All but 2 of the lights were on my side, and I got from door to door in under 24 minutes (including some time mincing around putting on gloves and helmet).

Bassjunkieuk

Good fun on the way home this evening, chap on a black alu (I think) Condor with shaved like a laydee legs just had a bit more gas then me from the lights just after the Battersea Park r/b, down QTR and then upto and around Clapham Common. Asides from a single RLJ at a set of ped lights he rode very well. I managed to hold on without being a drafting fairy and we both tooled along in the mid twenties but I could tell if I'd kicked to (at least try a) pass he'd have eaten me alive. Some signs of heavier breathing as we waited in front of a silver Merc by Clapham Common but I still think he had plenty to give! Thanks for making me pull my finger out!

cjcp

Oh good God. Felt like I was pedalling squares from the off tonight - I actually checked my brakes to see if they were rubbing the rims :oops: . Not eaten a great deal today and it showed. By the LRR, I could feeling the tanks running low and wanted to be teleported home. The bit of fun on Embankment from PS to AB with a Boardman and a Felt with tri-bars realy didn't help matters.

itboffin

I now know why the shaved like a laydee roadies are so fast, it's because there legs are stinging and they can't sit down :?

jonginge

itboffin wrote:

I now know why the shaved like a laydee roadies are so fast, it's because there legs are stinging and they can't sit down :?

Oh dear. Stephen, I'm not sure being shaved like a laydee is for you

redvee

Is ITB Emily or Florence ?

Wrath Rob

cjcp wrote:

The bit of fun on Embankment from PS to AB with a Boardman and a Felt with tri-bars realy didn't help matters.

Had a bit of fun tonight with a couple of roadies, one very rapid, and a slower guy on a aero'd road bike who wasn't actuall that quick. What time were you there? I must have been through there some time around 6:40? Black Boardman, brown top and a hi-viz rucksack cover.

Came across a guy wearing full team kit this morning and King of the Mountains socks :?: He was rapid and took some effort to distance. Met him again on the way home and either this morning's ride had taken its toll or he was in pootle mode as he turned off onto Lotts Road and I ripped past, not seeing him again.

cjcp

Wrath Rob wrote:

cjcp wrote:

The bit of fun on Embankment from PS to AB with a Boardman and a Felt with tri-bars realy didn't help matters.

Had a bit of fun tonight with a couple of roadies, one very rapid, and a slower guy on a aero'd road bike who wasn't actuall that quick. What time were you there? I must have been through there some time around 6:40? Black Boardman, brown top and a hi-viz rucksack cover.

That's about right. Do you have a rear mudguard, too?

97BlackC5

Cyclying through Greenwich Park at 6:10 this morning I noticed a few bike shop vans parking up & more than a few roadies being ridden into the park. At that time in the morning I'm lucky if I see one or two more cyclists. Just wondered if anyone knew what was going on?

nich

97BlackC5 wrote:

Cyclying through Greenwich Park at 6:10 this morning I noticed a few bike shop vans parking up & more than a few roadies being ridden into the park. At that time in the morning I'm lucky if I see one or two more cyclists. Just wondered if anyone knew what was going on?

Probably this? http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/support ... paris-2010

rjsterry

Another roadie scalp with aero bars, coming along Millbank this morning, but the Looney Tunes-style cadence required for such manoeuvres is starting to take its toll. Also the bolt-upright riding position is creating some saddle/backside issues. Can't wait to get the Giant back up and running.

Wrath Rob

cjcp wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

cjcp wrote:

The bit of fun on Embankment from PS to AB with a Boardman and a Felt with tri-bars realy didn't help matters.

Had a bit of fun tonight with a couple of roadies, one very rapid, and a slower guy on a aero'd road bike who wasn't actuall that quick. What time were you there? I must have been through there some time around 6:40? Black Boardman, brown top and a hi-viz rucksack cover.

That's about right. Do you have a rear mudguard, too?

Yup, Crud Road Racer. If that was you I was drafting up Embankment then I don't call 30mph the entire way from CB to AB pootling! I take it you also saw the complete twunt with the Binachi bar tape who pushed to the front at VB and then spectacularly failed to get into his toe clips 1/2 way across before falling off and almost taking several of us out? What a tool

cjcp

Wrath Rob wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

cjcp wrote:

The bit of fun on Embankment from PS to AB with a Boardman and a Felt with tri-bars realy didn't help matters.

Had a bit of fun tonight with a couple of roadies, one very rapid, and a slower guy on a aero'd road bike who wasn't actuall that quick. What time were you there? I must have been through there some time around 6:40? Black Boardman, brown top and a hi-viz rucksack cover.

That's about right. Do you have a rear mudguard, too?

Yup, Crud Road Racer. If that was you I was drafting up Embankment then I don't call 30mph the entire way from CB to AB pootling! I take it you also saw the complete twunt with the Binachi bar tape who pushed to the front at VB and then spectacularly failed to get into his toe clips 1/2 way across before falling off and almost taking several of us out? What a tool

Yep, that was me. I felt horrendous. I nearly waved you past in case I needed to clear my nose and chest at the same time and didn't want anyone behind me in the line of fire, so to speak. I really could have done without that, but your enthusiasm through DSC with the Felt in tow was a little infectious.

Saw that, too. He'd burned through a red earlier on, near PS, I think :roll: . I had a quick chat with the chap he hit, who seemed remarkably good-humoured about it.

vorsprung

I put rubinos on the roadrat instead of marathon plus

Wow! I am going faster!!

Oh...I forgot to alter the bike computer

mrc1

After a couple of weeks of my chain constantly skipping under power and having "will it/won't it" shifting, the Bike Whisperer has replaced my chain (1% on the wear gauge..), cassette and done some fettling and I have had my faith in campag restored.

Giving me second thoughts about the upcoming switch to DA... :oops:

Pufftmw

TB last night 2 chaps, 1 on a road tyred MTB spinning like crazy and another roadie. Easily caught the MTB, got the roadie just after the crest and then powered off down TBR & left him for dead The rest of the trip down was hard work - there are never any buses to draught when you need them

This morning, heavy traffic through new cross and I'm filtering well - better than a load of bikes anyway. Nothing challenging cyclewise but on the OKR caught up with a chap on a grey roadie and overtook him. Between Commercial Way and Peckham Park Road, the OKR is 2 lanes and I'm trundling along quite smartly (20+ but I don't have a speedo to say exactly) in the inside lane but I'm positioned 2/3 of the way out from the kerb within that lane - due to the uneven nature of the road and because I have the right to be there! A bus overtakes and hoots as he goes past, obviously peeved that he has to move into the outer lane? Its not like there was any other cars on the road either. Anyway, as he passes me, he just aims for the kerb again, forcing me into the kerb, drives another 200m up the road and pulls in at the stop. What an a-hole. That was such a blatant and dangerous manoeuvre that I pulled up beside his window and banged on it "You don't have to be such a ****!" It was obvious he couldn't care less and I'm not going to get into a fight so I rode off giving him an anchor sign as I did. The chap on the grey roadie pulls up and commented on how badly that bus had cut me up. I knew I should have mounted the camera last night, will get it done today...

Still a lack of challenge cyclewise on the OKR & TB...

cjcp

mrc1 wrote:

After a couple of weeks of my chain constantly skipping under power and having "will it/won't it" shifting, the Bike Whisperer has replaced my chain (1% on the wear gauge..), cassette and done some fettling and I have had my faith in campag restored.

Giving me second thoughts about the upcoming switch to DA... :oops:

Hmm. My chain was skipping like a kangaroo on speed this morning. Bumped into G66 at VB lights and, after mentioning that I'd changed my cassette, rear mech and chainset last night, but not my chain (because I'm a dupper), he suggested I fit a new chain.

rjsterry

Need to do this on the Dahon - dropped twice this morning, once in the middle of PS roundabout (middle lane) :eek:

WesternWay

We didn't have someone on a red and white trek up at Whetstone yesterday evening did we?

mrc1

cjcp wrote:

mrc1 wrote:

After a couple of weeks of my chain constantly skipping under power and having "will it/won't it" shifting, the Bike Whisperer has replaced my chain (1% on the wear gauge..), cassette and done some fettling and I have had my faith in campag restored.

Giving me second thoughts about the upcoming switch to DA... :oops:

Hmm. My chain was skipping like a kangaroo on speed this morning. Bumped into G66 at VB lights and, after mentioning that I'd changed my cassette, rear mech and chainset last night, but not my chain (because I'm a dupper), he suggested I fit a new chain.

Definitely put a new chain on as the old one will munch all the lovely new gubbins!

Anything exciting upgrade wise or are they utility parts?