Silly commuting racing

lost_in_thought

Woooooo another Maxima commute!

That was fun. I really must get a new garmin bracket so I can see how fast I'm going! Had some fun with a guy on a black and yellow thing on Kensington Gore, had him easy on clear stretches, but I'm a lot more of a cautious filterer and kind overtaker than he is!

Often outfiltered, rarely outpaced.

I think I should get that on a t-shirt.

Bassjunkieuk

Nice work lotuseater! The London roads do require a certain type of roadcraft to navigate successfully, in all honesty I get rather bored when not commuting towards town when I'm on the bike as I find the quiet roads a bit boring :-)

My ride in this morning started out rather sh!te and gradually got better. Left the house in a bit of a mood after Mrs. BJUK was having a moan. Not a huge problem as I can just work it off with the bike so I'm riding down the high street and get towards the end where I need to be in RH lane for my corner. It splits into 2 lanes and there are cars parked pretty much upto a side road just before this junction so I stay in the middle of the lanes....except I spot a car alongside me who just edges ahead of me then pulls across! No indicators or anything so I throw up my hands and get to the lights next to her and can see she's rather annoyed. I wasn't to happy and this point and quite frankly didn't really make myself look any better in the following exchange of words who would have probably made a sailor blush :shock:

She moaned that I was "swerving all over the road" to which I'm guessing she was referring to me doing a quick flick round a pothole further back. We both pulled off once the lights changed still yelling at each other and I even got some verbal from the baldy guy in the van who was behind her :-)

/rant over

After that I was steaming along and still feeling a little agitated. Worked it off by the time I was hitting CS7 near Balham and was quite glad I wasn't following that route the whole way as the traffic looked right stuffed up. Heading down QTR I picked off a chap on a old Pearson with panniers then nearly saw him get run down by a coach after a mis-judged filter! Cut a wonderful line round the r/b by Battersea Park then over CB to hit Embankment. No proper action in town today except for a chap on a yellow SS who was giving it some beans away from VB lights after RLJing. He was off a good 30-45 seconds before me but we somehow re-joined around Parly Sq? Odd as I don't remember seeing him down Millbank and got caught at the ped lights before Millbank tower....He was certainly trying and I thought my glance over the shoulder at him as I blasted off down Whitehall would have been like a red rag to a bull :evil:

notsoblue

While on my hybrid I had a bit of a tête-à-tête this morning with a chap on a black PX SL Carbon between Shepherds Bush and Marble Arch. I was wearing my PX LS so had to represent... We were among the few cyclists that stopped at every red light so I got to show off my sprinting prowess at each set. There were a few long sections that allowed me to hit 30 twice (with the help of a big red doubledecker windbreak).
So to the chap on the black PX, thanks for forcing my heartrate up on an otherwise uneventful ride in and forcing me to man up!

Pufftmw

Pufftmw wrote:

Karate finished, banana finished, Lucozade Sport finished, time to go home and see if I can have some fun on the way

Nope They had virtually all gone/got home by the time I left except for some really steady people who had probably left at 17:00 anyway :roll:

There was one keen young chap on a hybrid but no speed to him really and an RLJ'r

Bah humbug...

rjsterry

DDD, was that you at the lights in Balham? Red/black Giant SCR, red, white and black jersey, red Spesh lid? I was on the white steel frame, in a red, white and black L/S jersey. Sorry to not be more sociable - thought we might meet up again further in, but I didn't see you again before the turn off on Clapham Common.

All quiet on the Embankment, but got rear-ended AGAIN outside Westminster Abbey by some dopey roadie on an old yellow steel thing. Got a muttered 'Sorry'. Hadn't even touched my brakes, just eased off to avoid going up the inside of a WVM. MF drafting fairies :evil:

Greg T

So then.....

Coming to the end of the Chelsea Enbankment last night going west....

van on the left, front wheels hard right, right hand indicator goes on - I'm moving too fast to do anything but swing out and hope he didn't come out too fast....

he didn't - good lad.....

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale behind me took a tighter line around the van then moved up onto the Inside of me as I swung back in...... before forcing a route through on the inside as Iooked at him asking him what he thought he was doing....

Where did you think I was going to go then?

He then proceeded to duel with a guy on a blue Pearson through NKR swerving all over the shop and generally being a twat.

There - feel better now.

cjcp

Greg T wrote:

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale

An older model? Bike that is. With a courier bag?

MonkeyMonster

cjcp wrote:

Greg T wrote:

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale

An older model? Bike that is. With a courier bag?

caad 5?

Pufftmw

Loads of traffic today from Lewisham all the way to the new A2 turn in New Cross - what was all that about? Anyway, that proceeded to slow me down somewhat but prior to that in Loampit Vale I had my first pedestrian encounter - solid traffic in 2 lanes with me going down the center when Mr Pedestrian walks straight out from behind a lorry :shock: I saw him, shouted, swerved, he saw me and tried to stop but I ended up shoulder barging him on the chest... "Sorry mate!" he cries out as I bounced off him. Not worth stopping for, so carried on.

Rest of the trip uneventful if slow, one day...

chunkytfg

lotuseater wrote:

Tube strike= my first London commute for about 5 years.

Usually I do a countryside commute 3 days a weeks, not bothering to in Town the other 2 days.

Drove Norfolk to my base in Harrow with my trusty 1994 Marin San Rafael hybrid, recently refurbed with new BB and Mavic Askiums, in back of the X5.

Then biked Harrow to Harley st for morning clinic.

Pace fine...scalping was easy on the clear bits of road, but Oh dear....my London Roadcraft was seriously rusty and on the cut and thrust of Kilburn high rd all sorts of pashleyed women and obese men had me banged to rights threading through the strike bolstered traffic and lights and so forth. BLew them all into the weeds once it clears as you head down towards sT johns Wood...phew.


Return leg back to harrow at lunchtime for ward round and clinic there - much less eventful scalp wise, but much more in the way crap selfish driving and hostility from drivers, funnily enough.

OMG you are Me!!

I live in norfolk and used to commute to harrow aswell although in ruislip manor now due to the flat in harrow being a dump!!!

Greg T

MonkeyMonster wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Greg T wrote:

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale

An older model? Bike that is. With a courier bag?

caad 5?

Oh Oh.......


Yes and older model 'Dale, can't remember if courier bag - red top.....

Go on then.....

Bassjunkieuk

Pufftmw wrote:

Loads of traffic today from Lewisham all the way to the new A2 turn in New Cross - what was all that about? Anyway, that proceeded to slow me down somewhat but prior to that in Loampit Vale I had my first pedestrian encounter - solid traffic in 2 lanes with me going down the center when Mr Pedestrian walks straight out from behind a lorry :shock: I saw him, shouted, swerved, he saw me and tried to stop but I ended up shoulder barging him on the chest... "Sorry mate!" he cries out as I bounced off him. Not worth stopping for, so carried on.

Rest of the trip uneventful if slow, one day...

It's amazing how bouncy peds are sometimes! I had a bit of a twitchy bum moment last night on my blast down from Clapham Common. Was on the drops giving it some beans when this women starts crossing from the LHS. I'd seen her and anticipated going right round her but she froze! I grabbed the brakes and had a squirmy back wheel moment before missing her....

MonkeyMonster

Greg T wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Greg T wrote:

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale

An older model? Bike that is. With a courier bag?

caad 5?

Oh Oh.......


Yes and older model 'Dale, can't remember if courier bag - red top.....

Go on then.....

Hmm, I noticed him down the racetrack on monday night. Not that shabby speed wise and provided entertainment for me at least. Haven't spoken to him. The bike has seen better days.

lotuseater

Crikey....I'm not the only nutter masochist in Norfok then, which is good to know!

cheers,

"Lotuseater"

chunkytfg wrote:

lotuseater wrote:

Tube strike= my first London commute for about 5 years.

Usually I do a countryside commute 3 days a weeks, not bothering to in Town the other 2 days.

Drove Norfolk to my base in Harrow with my trusty 1994 Marin San Rafael hybrid, recently refurbed with new BB and Mavic Askiums, in back of the X5.

Then biked Harrow to Harley st for morning clinic.

Pace fine...scalping was easy on the clear bits of road, but Oh dear....my London Roadcraft was seriously rusty and on the cut and thrust of Kilburn high rd all sorts of pashleyed women and obese men had me banged to rights threading through the strike bolstered traffic and lights and so forth. BLew them all into the weeds once it clears as you head down towards sT johns Wood...phew.


Return leg back to harrow at lunchtime for ward round and clinic there - much less eventful scalp wise, but much more in the way crap selfish driving and hostility from drivers, funnily enough.

OMG you are Me!!

I live in norfolk and used to commute to harrow aswell although in ruislip manor now due to the flat in harrow being a dump!!!

cjcp

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Greg T wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Greg T wrote:

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale

An older model? Bike that is. With a courier bag?

caad 5?

Oh Oh.......


Yes and older model 'Dale, can't remember if courier bag - red top.....

Go on then.....

Hmm, I noticed him down the racetrack on monday night. Not that shabby speed wise and provided entertainment for me at least. Haven't spoken to him. The bike has seen better days.

If it's the same guy, then he drafts like a true fairy as well.

MonkeyMonster

cjcp wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Greg T wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Greg T wrote:

However - the gimp on an ornage Cannondale

An older model? Bike that is. With a courier bag?

caad 5?

Oh Oh.......


Yes and older model 'Dale, can't remember if courier bag - red top.....

Go on then.....

Hmm, I noticed him down the racetrack on monday night. Not that shabby speed wise and provided entertainment for me at least. Haven't spoken to him. The bike has seen better days.

If it's the same guy, then he drafts like a true fairy as well.

Yeah he does.

Greg T

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Yeah he does.

He rides like a chump...

Taking the inside line on the road is stoopid.

asprilla

OK, the rain just announced it's arrival then. I think racing my be off the menu this evening in London.

rjsterry

Yer, DDD, wuzzat you 'smornin at they lights in Balham er not? I need one more for an SCR Bingo full house, see?

asprilla

The rain appears to have partially uncovered my mojo this evening. About time too.

Bassjunkieuk

I hate wet roads. That and the fact that my bike just felt a little "weird" coming down Whitehall and I just couldn't figure out why, suspect it's the slightly under-inflated rear. Also need to look at my pedals and chain..........

Had an un-expected unclip approacing what was then green lights at VB, changed to amber as I fumbled around to get the RIGHT foot back in! Nice duel with someone on a white Cervelo with red bar tape through DSC, he came blasting past just after the railway bridge and headed straight over at CB. I peeled off and head towards QTR where I picked up a chap on a Focus and caught up with a red Specialized roadie who had previously used the pavement to avoid waiting at the lights at CB. There is a rather large gathering of riders at the lights at the cross-road and once they change I now Focus guy isn't going to hang around. I go wide leaving him and the Specialized rider plenty of room to clear the various hybrids and MTB's. We hit the chicane bit with me in the centre of the road and the bike goes all weird again. I have to dab the brakes to take off some speed as I didn't feel confident cornering and think I may have had Focus guy on my six! Bloody drafting fairies.......heard a "whoah".

He came past a bit further up and had a decent turn of speed pushing it easily towards 28ish. Red Specialized was tailing the 2 of us but I ended up losing them at the next set of lights before the rise when I came unclipped again and almost introduced "da boyz" to Mr. Top-Tube.

Got going again for the next light change and watched as the 2 of them rode off.......fairly quiet after that with the only other notable people being a couple of SS riders. One was clearly on a pootle as he was just riding along at a proper easy-going pace everywhere and ignoring traffic signals. I'm fairly sure I first spotted him on QTR in fact and was now in Balham!

bigmat

Had another duel with Condor man, he's proper fast on the flat but his Achilles heel seems to be the hills. I led himup Denmark Hill but couldn't shake him, he then gapped me through Dulwich and had a 20 yard lead as we hit the bottom of College Road hill. I put the power down and reeled him in, making the pass just before the false flat two thirds up, he then took my wheel and it was balls out, out of the saddle charge to the top - he couldn't make it stick so his scalp was mine!

attica

Stopped to take a phonecall after 15 mnutes riding this morning, only to discover that I was steaming. Got going again and had an uneventful ride in. Got a proper scalp of a guy in full Livestrong kit on the way home but he wasn't even trying, felt far too easy, not so much a scalp but a toupe that came off in my hands.

WesternWay

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I hate wet roads. That and the fact that my bike just felt a little "weird" coming down Whitehall and I just couldn't figure out why, suspect it's the slightly under-inflated rear. Also need to look at my pedals and chain..........

I hate that feeling... I always imagine that the front wheel is about to part company with the forks or a rim burst or something equally catastrophic.

ketsbaia

I'm rubbish in wet weather. No idea how quickly I can take corners, so tend to do it really slowly. This resulted in a dismal average speed of 15.8mph home last night.

Sluggish ride in today but I did manage a tussle with a moped along GDS. Drafted her for a bit but couldn't keep the pace and was dropped just as we passed the Roebuck.

CXXC

yesterday evening about 6:15pm on jamaica road heralded my first "proper" SCR showdown with a chap wearing gerolsteiner shorts, i shall call him mr gerolsteiner.

it started with mr gerolsteiner getting a jump on me at the lights as he'd timed it right and i had to pull away from a standing start, he was going a fair hack so i thought "interesting" laid some power down and caught up with him at the next lights repeating his trick on him, but the traffic was gnarled up and the rain had started to come down so took it easy-ish up to rotherhithe tunnel roundabout where i turn left and head for home, and most people usually turn right towards surrey quays.

BUT as I check my left shoulder I see he's also turning left and is closing on my 6, so i first negotiate the bend which is probably less slippery than it looks, then increase the tempo and push the pace up to 40kph, check my shoulder and now he's perfectly in my slipstream, he's so close he is gulping the spray off my rear wheel and happily savouring every drop.

We pass Rotherhithe tube station and start to climb, maintaining the pace, over the crest check shoulder, he's still right there happy not to pass but it looks easy for him, maybe he's just bidng his time.

Unfortunately a couple hundred metres further down the road I have to turn left for home so check my left shoulder and he's still there looking comfortable. I signal early to give him plenty of time to manouvre past me as the roads felt pretty greasy, mr gerolsteiner doesn't say anything as he passes, not even a friendly "hallo", "danke" or "entschuldigung" but he does take a good look at my bike.

I contemplate not turning left and carrying on straight to continue the dual, but alas i remember that my wife and I have a dinner engagement at 7pm and so I have to leave mr gerolsteiner for another time.

it was short but sweet, and hopefully to be continued....

MonkeyMonster

nice ride in but later than normal and less gaggles of riders. Chapeau to the white cervelo with red/pink bar tape who could keep a good 28-30 all the time. I only stayed anywhere near because of the lights. Fantastic to chase though so I had a good run in. A nod to the older chap on the white boardman who was trying to keep up with him too.

Greg T

CXXC wrote:

BUT as I check my left shoulder

check my shoulder

You see what you did????

You need to hone your echo sounding skills - shoulder checking is only justified if you have to do it to come out anyway - if you are looking behind with eyes wide with fear and your mouth gaping open - sucking in a lungful of air..... You'll just see an impassive set of eyes drinking in your suffering

CXXC

Greg T wrote:

CXXC wrote:

BUT as I check my left shoulder

check my shoulder

You see what you did????

You need to hone your echo sounding skills - shoulder checking is only justified if you have to do it to come out anyway - if you are looking behind with eyes wide with fear and your mouth gaping open - sucking in a lungful of air..... You'll just see an impassive set of eyes drinking in your suffering

I didn't say anything about fear Mr T? It was more about the exhilaration of actual competition Maybe I shoulder checked too often, but I always do before turning or coming out, and the conditions were pretty poor so Itend to err on the cautious side.

I'm not claiming his scalp, and as I was turning off he can't claim mine, I will admit though it would have been fun to see if I could have dropped him if I'd carried on straight or if he would have just blasted past and left me feeling violated :shock:

Clever Pun

Brompton WC training this morning

16 miles and I was fairly knackered getting to the final stretch... Managed to notch me
1 SS'er
1 tourer
2 hybrids
3 mountain bikes

easy money I only got taken by a roadie who left me for dead...

I figure if I can ride 16 miles at a fair pace 13k sprint will be easy... any tips?