Silly commuting racing

tgotb

notsoblue wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Timing sounds about right, and I don't think there are many RED PX's around Were you wearing a short sleeved hi-vis top?

Yep, that'd be right. Nice bike!

You were pretty quick for a noob :-)

Ta I've been commuting for years though, just the first ride in on the PX. Going quick (between traffic lights) on that bike isn't hard!

The retro-reflective bar end plugs (which you may or may not have noticed!) are very effective; are they PX standard issue?

I hadn't noticed! They're just a shiny metal surface I think, must be standard build because I didn't ask for them...

Pretty sure it was you I saw along Lower Richmond Road from Putney Bridge, dayglow yellow top, red pannier. You turned off down Queen's ride?

Got absolutely soaked on the way home, but loved it. Not many people in Richmond Park, but those who were there had crazy all-weather grins on

Yep, that was me. Was having a super-pootle to recover from hill reps on Tue, but spotted your bike as you came past and thought I should MTFU a bit. It's quite distinctive :-)

I don't normally wear hi-vis, but feels like a decent survival strategy in the Autumn half-light; that said, I still seemed to be nearly invisible...

What's your route to RP? I was also headed there when we split...

notsoblue

TGOTB wrote:

Yep, that was me. Was having a super-pootle to recover from hill reps on Tue, but spotted your bike as you came past and thought I should MTFU a bit. It's quite distinctive :-)

I don't normally wear hi-vis, but feels like a decent survival strategy in the Autumn half-light; that said, I still seemed to be nearly invisible...

What's your route to RP? I was also headed there when we split...

Its a bit of a circuitous route actually, from where we split I go on to the Thames, under Barnes Bridge, along Mortlake Highstreet, then left down Sheen lane across the level crossing, and enter Richmond Park through Sheen gate, quick circuit and then back out through Sheen Gate. I go home via Chiswick Bridge. I guess you must enter the park through the Roehampton entrance?

rjsterry

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Is the worry about the rain keeping you up at night CJ? Posting at 5am about overshoes and such?

My youngest woke me up. She went back to sleep. I didn't. She had a good couple of hours, so she's fine.

Having had nearly eight hours on Monday night, I've had four and three hours the last two nights, despite riding 40 and 47 miles respectively on those days. I'm resorting to wine tonight.

I feel your pain. Can't remember the last time I had 8hrs sleep in a row. I started the week knackered (holiday with a 1yr old is lovely, but not restful) and by last night was pretty much a zombie. Would have been pretty stupid cycling home in that state even without the rain.

tgotb

notsoblue wrote:

Its a bit of a circuitous route actually, from where we split I go on to the Thames, under Barnes Bridge, along Mortlake Highstreet, then left down Sheen lane across the level crossing, and enter Richmond Park through Sheen gate, quick circuit and then back out through Sheen Gate. I go home via Chiswick Bridge. I guess you must enter the park through the Roehampton entrance?

Yep. On a slack night (eg last night) it's in at Roehampton, straight across the middle (past the ballet school) and out through Ham Gate. Otherwise I have a choice of hills without adding too much extra time, or can do as many laps as I have time for :-)

cjcp

rjsterry wrote:

Can't remember the last time I had 8hrs sleep in a row. I started the week knackered (holiday with a 1yr old is lovely, but not restful) and by last night was pretty much a zombie. Would have been pretty stupid cycling home in that state even without the rain.

Yep, much harder when they're one. Can't reason with them.

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

Yep, much harder when they're one. Can't reason with them.

Can't reason with my 10-year-old (though she does sleep rather longer/better than she used to...)

asprilla

cjcp wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Can't remember the last time I had 8hrs sleep in a row. I started the week knackered (holiday with a 1yr old is lovely, but not restful) and by last night was pretty much a zombie. Would have been pretty stupid cycling home in that state even without the rain.

Yep, much harder when they're one. Can't reason with them.

The Mighty Pickle isn't doing too badly at the moment, going from about 7 to 6.30, but she just chats gobbledegook to herself until I go and get her at 7 so although I'm awake I can just snooze in bed.

By all accounts from her contemporaries, we are getting off pretty lightly.

rjsterry

7 to 6.30 eh? Chapeau to The Mighty Pickle.

itboffin

Did my first trip to the new office today in Reading ...

:shock:

Wooh what a scary mixed of radio active city meets lost in time yokel

Sorry but :shock:

cjcp

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news ... d_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Erk. Wondered what was going on there. Not good

notsoblue

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Me too, wondered what that was all about. Grim :S

Fireblade96

itboffin wrote:

Did my first trip to the new office today in Reading ...
:shock:

Reading eh ?
I might have to pop out for a spot of lunchtime SCR...

itboffin wrote:

Wooh what a scary mixed of radio active city meets lost in time yokel
Sorry but :shock:

Does that make you the lost-in-time yokel who has come to the radioactive city ?
Actually, there are many reasons I live in Caversham. Reading itself is most of those

rjsterry

Got PT in this morning as I was in a suit to meet a prospective client, but all my bike kit from yesterday was still in the office

But I had brought my smart leather satchel (manbag if you prefer) as my stinky Crumpler is not really the thing for creating a good first impression. This looked much better for the meeting, but it's not suitable for cycling use, so I stuffed the bare essentials in my jersey pockets, and left the rest in the office.

Can't believe how much more pleasant riding without a bag is. Makes you try a bit harder too, what with the lower FCN. Only trouble is, the only person with any speed was a dopey RLJer, who undertook me at speed at some lights with only a couple of inches to spare - halfwit!

W1

notsoblue wrote:

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Me too, wondered what that was all about. Grim :S

Still sealed off this morning.

Also went past a moped crash on Lotts Road last night - police were already there but not good. That's four mopeds I've seen off in 12 months.....

nich

Got done by 2 roadies this morning, my SS gearing is just too low to keep up!

On a brighter note, the puncture fairy vistied Mr WVM this morning, and left me alone

I was a little smug at that :twisted:

Pufftmw

W1 wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Me too, wondered what that was all about. Grim :S

Still sealed off this morning.

Also went past a moped crash on Lotts Road last night - police were already there but not good. That's four mopeds I've seen off in 12 months.....

There was another down top of Lewisham Way 2 mornings back - Vespa rider, open face helmet, lying motionless on his back...

nich

Pufftmw wrote:

W1 wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Me too, wondered what that was all about. Grim :S

Still sealed off this morning.

Also went past a moped crash on Lotts Road last night - police were already there but not good. That's four mopeds I've seen off in 12 months.....

There was another down top of Lewisham Way 2 mornings back - Vespa rider, open face helmet, lying motionless on his back...

I saw a moped on its side on Evelyn St, Depford the other day. Looked a bit messy as it has gone into a traffic island. Not sure how they had managed that as always slow moving traffic around that part, it was wet mind.

Always on edge with mopeds after one turned into me the other week..grrr

cjcp

W1 wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Me too, wondered what that was all about. Grim :S

Still sealed off this morning.

Also went past a moped crash on Lotts Road last night - police were already there but not good. That's four mopeds I've seen off in 12 months.....

Yep. Saw the blue lights on Lotts Road.

You must have joined Embankment at Lambeth BR, pass me just before DSC, then afetr the slope off CB, then later after your Lotts Rd detour.

itboffin

Could have done with gills and a fin on this mornings commute, even the most waterproof overshoes can't stop the spray working it's way into the soles via those handy vents on spesh BG, likewise rain running down the legs and into the tops.

Yuk!

Harveytile

Could have done with gills and a fin on this mornings commute, even the most waterproof overshoes can't stop the spray working it's way into the soles via those handy vents on spesh BG, likewise rain running down the legs and into the tops.

Yuk!

I get to look forward to this going home tonight. What a way to celebrate 200 miles commuting this week :shock: . If I have to swim will that count as extra miles or none at all?

Nice and incident free ride in this morning - all the air stayed INSIDE my tyres, just how I like it.

nich

It's wet' n wild out there, and I'm itching to go 'n get amongst it. Come on work, finish up, finish up! :twisted:

W1

cjcp wrote:

W1 wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

cjcp wrote:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8425354.BREAKING_NEWS__Bodies_of_two_women_found_in_flat/

Rode past this scene on the way home tonight. Didn't look good.

Me too, wondered what that was all about. Grim :S

Still sealed off this morning.

Also went past a moped crash on Lotts Road last night - police were already there but not good. That's four mopeds I've seen off in 12 months.....

Yep. Saw the blue lights on Lotts Road.

You must have joined Embankment at Lambeth BR, pass me just before DSC, then afetr the slope off CB, then later after your Lotts Rd detour.

Sorry CJ, not me - I joined at Vauxhall bridge after running an errand in Victoria.

itboffin

Stripped down to shorts and pre soaked jacket for the pootle to Waterloo, not bad actually

redvee

Glad I was up till 12:30 this morning fitting a RR MK2 to the front of the bike this morning, although it wasn't heavy rain it was still raining and needed to break out the Night Vision jacket for the first time this autumn.
Quick commuting question: How much effort is needed to overtake a car or 100? Bristol was nose to tail for the first mile and a half of the ride home and none of the cars seemed to be moving, makes me glad to be on two wheels.

nich

Heavy rain, heavy wind, deep deep puddles, more heavy rain.

Then I extended my commute for another 20 mins by taking a swooping canal path.

Love it!

asprilla

Wet out but it wasn't cold and the wind was settling down as I got out of London.

I enjoyed that. It wasn't quick but there is something about cycling in the rain that just makes me grin like a loon.

Also the combination of windstopped and baselayer has kept me dry enough and plenty warm so immnot sure I need an actual waterproof. Might cancel my order for a Showers Pass Elite and get that Castelli jacket instead.

Bassjunkieuk

Asprilla wrote:

I enjoyed that. It wasn't quick but there is something about cycling in the rain that just makes me grin like a loon.

I was just like that on the way home! Was rather pleased it actually started raining properly as I'd actually thought the Beeb got the weather right so suffered with the waterproof coat for this mornings rather dry commute! Reaping the rewards on the way home was great!

Was taking it a bit easier due to the bad weather but did rise to a couple of challenges. I was trying to chase down one RLJer in Camberwell on a Focus but picked the same time as the driving wind and heaviest rain kicked in, was like riding into a field of small needles :-)

The final leg was good fun as I picked up a guy on a SS/FG coming down past Dulwich train station as the traffic was dire. He followed me up College Road and took the lead just before the railway station. I didn't let him get away and matched him pedal stroke for pedal stroke (with a few out of the saddle efforts from him, as he only had one gear......) although as our cadences where about the same I'd say our GI's where similar!

He kept up a good pace and turned off to follow College Road then promptly RLJed at the top so forfeited the scalp :-(

Norky

EKE_38BPM wrote:

No brakes and no visibility (rain on my glasses) do not a quick commute make.

Tell me about it. I have crap eyesight, so I wear cycling sunglasses (Rudy Project Rydons) with prescription inserts. Two sets of lenses, one behind the other, in this weather? A fog-fest. Despite the crap vision sometimes I can see more without any glasses at all. : /

asprilla

I wiped my glasses with Rain-x anti-fog wipes today. They seem to have worked treat but more testing is required.