Silly commuting racing

Wrath Rob

Quality ride home last night. After filtering through the Embankment chaos I was joined at P'square by 2 other roadies, 1 on a Boardman Team Comp and another guy on something white with red details. Both overshot the white line to make sure they were ahead of me and the other riders queuing at the lights. A smile spread across my lips as I contemplated their scalps for the taking.

The lights change to green and the slow roll to P'Square starts. We all anticipate the lights and as we round the corner we see that the ped crossing is green. All 3 of us kick on but some kick harder than others and I sail past them both. Scalp 1.

The next set of ped lights are red so they both come back past me. Lights green and I scalp them both again, this time with no reprise until the VB lights. As I sit at the lights I wonder if they've learned or if they are happy to offer up what's left of their scalps through DSC. Sure enough as I sit there they both come rolling past, this time joined by a 3rd roadie on something red with white decals.

Lights to green and the 3 of them jump ahead. History repeats itself and they reach a total of slow mph so I change up a gear, dial the pain generators to 5 and whip past them, dodging the turbo laser fire. Then the next lights are red and a massive lorry with a digger or crane on the back is preventing any filtering. Lights go green and I keep rolling, tucking behind the lorry hoping for a draft. Unfortunately his top speed is about 15 and before I can do much the 3 scalpees are back past me. At this point I've had enough so pain generators to 10, I scalp the lorry then all 3 roadies and keep the power on all the way to CB. Job done and I didn't see them again. Another fun ride home

rjsterry

Last night was a write-off. Horrendous traffic all the way to PS, DSC and again leading up to CB, so barely any chance to wind up some big gears. QTR was stacked as well. On top of this, my indexing had somehow gone awry and my rear 'guard had slipped and kept rubbing on the tyre despite readjusting at every red light.

By the time I got to Clapham Common, I just couldn't be bothered and pootled miserably home. Much better today though.

ketsbaia

Massive wake-up call this morning just coming up to the East Street lights. Guy on a BMC with, get this, an aero helmet came past like a bullet as I was cruising at 23 or so.

Can't let that happen, naturally, so I opened up the awesome to see if I could keep his wheel. Just about managed it before we were both impeded by a bus slowing for the speed camera, but not before I clocked us doing a steady 30.5mph. As a result, we were more or less level by the Bricklayers Arms, but I'm glad he turned right and headed up TBR and left me in peace along GDS.

Who wears an aero helmet to commute?

notsoblue

cjcp wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Walk home in heavy rain to catch PT to work. Riding the hybrid home this evening

I noteyou put the emoticon after the reference to the hybrid as opposed to PT.

lol, indeed. Actually it wasn't too bad. The hybrid feels really comfortable and upright in comparison to the PX (yes yes, I'll post pictures this weekend :P). I was just pootling along, in no hurry, enjoying the ride. How I ever thought I could manage any SCR with it I have no idea.

Left home a bit later this morning on the PX due to a puncture, lovely weather for it! Encountered a tall chap on a Red/White/Black Cervelo (S1?) with black and white Pearl Izumi leggings. Tit for tat all the way from Chelsea Bridge to Blackfriars. Kept the heartrate up, cheers

cjcp

notsoblue wrote:

Left home a bit later this morning on the PX due to a puncture, lovely weather for it! Encountered a tall chap on a Red/White/Black Cervelo (S1?) with black and white Pearl Izumi leggings. Tit for tat all the way from Chelsea Bridge to Blackfriars. Kept the heartrate up, cheers

Duelled with this guy a couple of times recently. He's quick.

Butterd2

Had a bit of SCR last night with a guy on an electric scooter (looks like a Vespa but no smoke/noise - not a disability scooter!), I had already passed him once when he pulled along side and ran with me for a while before giving a big thumbs up and saying something along the lines of "25mph good speed!". Now I know I can only do 22mph on the FG before I run out of cadence but I didn't feel the need to correct him.
Anyway we had a quick chat about how his bike was even quieter than mine and that he really should whistle as he rides along so I could hear him coming.
We then hit more traffic where I out filtered him to claim the scalp on reaching Greenwich.

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Left home a bit later this morning on the PX due to a puncture, lovely weather for it! Encountered a tall chap on a Red/White/Black Cervelo (S1?) with black and white Pearl Izumi leggings. Tit for tat all the way from Chelsea Bridge to Blackfriars. Kept the heartrate up, cheers

Duelled with this guy a couple of times recently. He's quick.

If it's the guy I think it is (on a Cervelo Soloist) then, yes, he is rapid. He's also a sensible rider. Seen him on the commute about 3 times in the last couple of weeks and we've chatted about 'the wacky races' on embankment

cjcp

JonGinge wrote:

cjcp wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Left home a bit later this morning on the PX due to a puncture, lovely weather for it! Encountered a tall chap on a Red/White/Black Cervelo (S1?) with black and white Pearl Izumi leggings. Tit for tat all the way from Chelsea Bridge to Blackfriars. Kept the heartrate up, cheers

Duelled with this guy a couple of times recently. He's quick.

If it's the guy I think it is (on a Cervelo Soloist) then, yes, he is rapid. He's also a sensible rider. Seen him on the commute about 3 times in the last couple of weeks and we've chatted about 'the wacky races' on embankment

+1 for the senisble rider bit.

Bassjunkieuk

RIde home last night using Wandsworth Road/QTR was fun. Picked up a RLJ SS guy who I had the chance to scalp a couple of times. He had some decent speed but I could just reel him in!

This mornings ride was fairly uneventful on a SCR standing. A couple of roadies and some rather enthusiastic fast hybrid/MTB types kept having a crack along CS7. No serious problems caused but I was pleasantly surprised to see 18.0 reading as my average for the journey in :-) Guess I must have been lucky with a few sets of lights and didn't really bury myself at any point to get rid of people!

Did spot a Boardman with silver pump near bottle cage outside Stockwell tube, I'm sure someone on here said they had a similar setup but I swear they said they ride along Embankment....would have been around 8:35ish this morning. We had a chap with white shorts on riding a Pearson Touche there as well who was fairly quick!

SamWise72

Getting a bit bored with my very short London-end commutes at present, but you take what you can get. After getting stuffed by Colnago Guy on Weds, I had something to prove on the Brompton. Got to Waterloo Bridge lights amid a pack of riders who both pushed over the line and anticipated the lights, so I thought I was going to have a job to, but in fact, when the lights went I left them all for dead. Buried another 5 on the bridge (arrived after 9, so there weren't too many out), but as I worked my way through the traffic at the other end, a wiry black guy in black and white on a black and white Pinarello dropped in off the kerb, and took off like a scalded cat through the lights. After my humiliation with Colnago Guy, I was NOT going to let Pinarello Guy go, so when he slipped through and I got boxed, I went around the outside, turned on the afterburners and scalped the bus and taxi that were in the way to get back on his wheel as we turned into Kingsway. And there I stayed; given the FCN difference (I've got a beard, a Brompton, a pannier and work clothes and shoes, his only up-modifier was a small backpack) it felt like enough, but I have a lingering sense of shame that I didn't attack. In my defence, my gearing is not ideal; 4th (2nd on the hub, high on the deraiileur) is a bit spinny for speed, but 5th is a LOT higher, specially on a bike where I can't easily stand and crank hard to make it happens. He turned off at New Queen Street, and had I known that, I would definitely have gone, safe in the knowledge that I wouldn't have to sustain it for long. I need to MTFU.

notsoblue

JonGinge wrote:

cjcp wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Left home a bit later this morning on the PX due to a puncture, lovely weather for it! Encountered a tall chap on a Red/White/Black Cervelo (S1?) with black and white Pearl Izumi leggings. Tit for tat all the way from Chelsea Bridge to Blackfriars. Kept the heartrate up, cheers

Duelled with this guy a couple of times recently. He's quick.

If it's the guy I think it is (on a Cervelo Soloist) then, yes, he is rapid. He's also a sensible rider. Seen him on the commute about 3 times in the last couple of weeks and we've chatted about 'the wacky races' on embankment

Seems to be I suppose theres nothing on that short stretch of congested road that some people need to prove :P

greg66_tri_v2.0

notsoblue wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

cjcp wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Left home a bit later this morning on the PX due to a puncture, lovely weather for it! Encountered a tall chap on a Red/White/Black Cervelo (S1?) with black and white Pearl Izumi leggings. Tit for tat all the way from Chelsea Bridge to Blackfriars. Kept the heartrate up, cheers

Duelled with this guy a couple of times recently. He's quick.

If it's the guy I think it is (on a Cervelo Soloist) then, yes, he is rapid. He's also a sensible rider. Seen him on the commute about 3 times in the last couple of weeks and we've chatted about 'the wacky races' on embankment

Seems to be I suppose theres nothing on that short stretch of congested road that some people need to prove :P

Black and white shorts, white on the flanks? It's a Soloist Carbon. I've never managed to get a word out of him, even when waiting next to him on a sister frame to his.

Quick though.

Wrath Rob

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Did spot a Boardman with silver pump near bottle cage outside Stockwell tube, I'm sure someone on here said they had a similar setup but I swear they said they ride along Embankment....would have been around 8:35ish this morning.

That matches my steed but as you say I'm on Embankment. You must have met my evil twin :twisted:

Pufftmw

Last night, good run home though I ran out of legs around Loampit Vale and pootled the last bit. That may be 'cos I saw a couple of people on tourers struggling up Amersham Road, so I thought I would have some fun and gave it the awesome button, the result being that I went past them 2/3 of the way up the hill like they were standing still & I was sitting down looking serene and un-ruffled Hey, I know, childish but who cares



This morning's commute was at midday - had a meeting in Blackheath to go to. Whilst the traffic was a good deal lighter, bus lanes are not so good as people can park in them, result being that I was getting closed down a bit by faster moving traffic when I wanted to pull into the outside lane. I also had a lorry lock it's rear wheels in front of me, which gave me a bit of a start!

Lovely day for a ride

lost_in_thought

There was a fairly hefty tailwind last night which was nice, left work early then had a fun potter around in a sea kayak, followed by dinner in a nice pub that let me bring my maxima in! There was a fellow on a SS who was pootling at about my pace, and jumped every single red light, much to the chagrin of a lot of motorists. Idiot.

This morning I was knackered, but really enjoyed the ride in! Found an old gilet that did a great job of keeping me at the right temperature, although I did think 'hmmm, arm-warmer weather' about 5 minutes into my ride.

Had a bit of a tussle with a guy on a black pearson road bike, I blasted past him, then he wheelsucked me almost all the way to shebu, I couldn't quite shift him. Then he took a late amber and was gone. Ah well!

london_scottish

Pufftmw wrote:

Last night, good run home though I ran out of legs around Loampit Vale and pootled the last bit. That may be 'cos I saw a couple of people on tourers struggling up Amersham Road, so I thought I would have some fun and gave it the awesome button, the result being that I went past them 2/3 of the way up the hill like they were standing still & I was sitting down looking serene and un-ruffled Hey, I know, childish but who cares

there's a hill on amersham road? Can't say I've ever noticed it

ketsbaia

london_scottish wrote:

Pufftmw wrote:

Last night, good run home though I ran out of legs around Loampit Vale and pootled the last bit. That may be 'cos I saw a couple of people on tourers struggling up Amersham Road, so I thought I would have some fun and gave it the awesome button, the result being that I went past them 2/3 of the way up the hill like they were standing still & I was sitting down looking serene and un-ruffled Hey, I know, childish but who cares

there's a hill on amersham road? Can't say I've ever noticed it

Me neither. I thought it was just the odd camber.

Gazzaputt

london_scottish wrote:

Pufftmw wrote:

Last night, good run home though I ran out of legs around Loampit Vale and pootled the last bit. That may be 'cos I saw a couple of people on tourers struggling up Amersham Road, so I thought I would have some fun and gave it the awesome button, the result being that I went past them 2/3 of the way up the hill like they were standing still & I was sitting down looking serene and un-ruffled Hey, I know, childish but who cares

there's a hill on amersham road? Can't say I've ever noticed it

Your joking? It isn't steep but defo noticeable.

Pufftmw

london_scottish wrote:

Pufftmw wrote:

Last night, good run home though I ran out of legs around Loampit Vale and pootled the last bit. That may be 'cos I saw a couple of people on tourers struggling up Amersham Road, so I thought I would have some fun and gave it the awesome button, the result being that I went past them 2/3 of the way up the hill like they were standing still & I was sitting down looking serene and un-ruffled Hey, I know, childish but who cares

there's a hill on amersham road? Can't say I've ever noticed it

Haha! Very good

attica

Scalped a BMW 5 series - or possibly 7 series this morning.

Outdragged him away from a set of lights.

Result!

Ok the driver MAY have been feathering the throttle a little

redvee

Finally found a bit of competition on my early morning commute though they didn't put up much of a fight. A hybrid came alongside at a junction as another passed across the junction and when the traffic cleared he was soon dropped too. Met up with a specialised hybrid with discs at a set of lights that showed the differing ways of stopping, me with my foot down in the ASL, the specialised hybrid trying a trackstand and sort of completing it apart from creeping forward and the other cyclist using the ped crossing.

Attica wrote:

Scalped a BMW 5 series - or possibly 7 series this morning.

Outdragged him away from a set of lights.

Result!

Ok the driver MAY have been feathering the throttle a little

No need to rely on the driver feathering the throttle when outdragging a Nissan Serena from the lights. It is well known these are slow off the lights, 0-60 in 27.8 seconds.

cjcp

King Donut wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Mr_Ribble wrote:

Saw a very rapid guy on a airnimal today ...

There is another, as Yoda said....

Coincidently I encountered a fairly rapid airnimal on the way home last night.

Along Viccy Embankment I can feel big game on my back and sure enough just before HoP there’s a chap on a rather nice looking folder with bull horns sitting in my clean air. Through Millbank > DSC we’re returning favours and being all very polite about it, enjoying a Monday ride home in the warm glow of the setting September sun.

Fast forward to Barnes common I’m just taking some liquids on board when he flies past, glued to a rather tasty Cervelo who’s joined the party but forgotten to invite the host. They’ve immediately got 10 bike lengths on me and that’s doubled when I have to stop for a bloody cyclist just before I hit the ramp up Bolan Death Bridge. That, and the 2 reds that follow, really disturbs my rhythm and I’m left trudging up Priory Lane on my todd with just the ever-increasing creaking of my headset/seatpost to keep me company. I’m feeling so sorry for myself that I even lose my scalp up Broomfield to a chap in full Garmin kit (although I had been forced to virtually stop halfway up to go round a broken down car and a police car).

Descending in to Kingston my crosshair is twitching and by the lights at the start of the one way system I’m surprised to see I’ve reeled in airnimal man and manage a puffed out conversation that reveals he’s on route to Esher. Chapeau to that man who kept me spinning for 14ish miles on a rather sweaty evening!

Saw Airnimal man tonight. As well as the effortlessly rapid chap I've previously seen on the Canyon.

Traffic slowed things up along DSC and onto CB. Canyon man's already there. Airnimal man then pops up. Lights go green and Airnimal catches the Canyon and tucks in. As usual, I'm away from the lights with the acceleration of a supertanker, and it takes some work to start catching them - I'm up to 32. Airnimal loses Canyon man, who's put in a little out-of-the-saddle dig. I pass Airnimal and sort of start catching Canyon man, but it's taking everything without getting onto the hoods or drops. The lights at Royal Hospital Rd are out. Not good. Then I spot that the lights at AB are out. Disasterous. I could happily vomit.

Get to BB lights and take advantage of the reds by gulping in air. Canyon man looks unperturbed by the effort.

A dropped chain on the NKR foils my pursuit of the Canyon (hurrah!). I then pootle to and in the Park (hugely needed) and Airnimal chap passes me in the Park. Had a brief chat. It's a nice bit of kit he's riding - got a 52 or 53 with a 14 and it's a fixed, too. That's impressive.

rjsterry

On 24" wheels, 53x14 gives 83.2 gear inches - big, but I believe LiT mashes bigger

SimonAH

There's a big bloke on a Colnago that streams past my office window about 5 minutes before I can decently leave three or four times a week.

Gonna have to leave early - pickins are slim in these here woods.

Mostly all I get are nodders on MTBs wearing name badges on nylon uniforms, feel like most of the scalps I take should be handed back in sorrow.

HamishD

A definite case of Friday legs, knackered back wheel (new wheelset tomorrow, lovely!), hit every red light north of the river but still a pretty good average for the 19 miles - 17.4 this morning.

Chapeau to the gent on the sky blue fixie with rather fetching brown mudguards who kept me very honest from the Bromley Road all the way to Westminster Bridge - proper rapid....

maddernj

Ditto Fridays legs.....still finding my feet on the new route in from Bexley but 16.5miles @ 18mph was a pleasant surprise.

Bassjunkieuk

Nice ride in this morning, found Gaz at the lights opposite Balham Waitrose waiting to join CS7. We then both proceeded to lay waste to everything that moved between there and Vauxhall Cross. All I can say is that RLJer's do have a few "uses" and a special thanks goes to the twunt on the motorbike who couldn't wait 10 seconds and instead cut up a bunch of cyclist so he could get to the pavement a bit quicker.......

asprilla

I rocked last night. Legs were turned up to 11 and felt like they could go on for ever. I was flying.

Didn't see another soul on a bike.

This morning I ache and I pootled.

There were loads of folks about.

notsoblue

Was determined to just pootle in this morning, but a pleasant, chatty fellow on a dark Cannondale with CSC shorts put paid to that. Nice to meet you. Forced me to keep the pace up.

london_scottish

maddernj wrote:

Ditto Fridays legs.....still finding my feet on the new route in from Bexley but 16.5miles @ 18mph was a pleasant surprise.

did you overtake a bloke on a blue Giant with a luminous rucksack going through Blackfen this morning? If so cheers for the drag up to the snarl up of traffic where I lost you (foot of eltham hill)

Got my pb today of 53:45 @ 18mph partly thanks to you, the lovely new road through New Cross and drafting a couple of people carriers when my legs were shot going up park lane.