Silly commuting racing
Comments
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johnny2legs wrote:Hey guys I'd like to propose another type of bike to add to the bottom of the list
Scooters
Single speed fixed hub
Single Speed
Roadies
Roadies with hairy legs
"Fast Hybrids"
MTBs on Skinnies
MTBs on Nobbies
Bromptons / collapsing bikes
MTB full sus on Nobbies
Shoppers
Shoppers wicker baskets
Electric bikes
London Cycle Hire bikes
As soon as You see those little red lights flashing in the distance you know it's going to be some office suited buffoon, jumping red lights, not looking where they're going and weaving around so much that it's painfully clear they haven't got a clue how to ride on busy roads.
Which is why it's so much fun scalping the odd hybrid on them
Don't think fixed gears top the charts? I spin out around 25mph, no chance I'm scalping a proper Lycra clad roadie on my Langster.0 -
On a Boris? Perhaps your version of 'The Look' scared them offitboffin wrote:@G66 what time were these shenanigans?
I found myself at the front this evening, pretty much laying flat across the bars in the futile hope of canceling out some of the wind resistance, when I looked back the peloton has disappeared.
RLJ bunch of townie pussies :twisted:
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johnny2legs wrote:Hey guys I'd like to propose another type of bike to add to the bottom of the list
Scooters
Single speed fixed hub
Single Speed
Roadies
Roadies with hairy legs
"Fast Hybrids"
MTBs on Skinnies
MTBs on Nobbies
Bromptons / collapsing bikes
MTB full sus on Nobbies
Shoppers
Shoppers wicker baskets
Electric bikes
London Cycle Hire bikes
As soon as You see those little red lights flashing in the distance you know it's going to be some office suited buffoon, jumping red lights, not looking where they're going and weaving around so much that it's painfully clear they haven't got a clue how to ride on busy roads.
Beware there are a few of us SCRers who regularly ride BB - I have two new fleshy scalp rugs in my living room thanks to them :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Imagine the shame :roll:Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Oh btw, what if you have baggies over bibs? Since FCN is all about how fast you look then it's still baggies?0
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dhope wrote:Don't think fixed gears top the charts? I spin out around 25mph, no chance I'm scalping a proper Lycra clad roadie on my Langster.
They do, and I don't understand why. Singlespeeds are easy prey most of the time, even if the rider looks fast. I do double check they're not pushing a big gear before unholstering the cutthroat though.0 -
Note to self: days like these aren't made any easier with low tyre pressure.
My track pump has finally given up the ghost. Nads.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
notsoblue wrote:dhope wrote:Don't think fixed gears top the charts? I spin out around 25mph, no chance I'm scalping a proper Lycra clad roadie on my Langster.
They do, and I don't understand why. Singlespeeds are easy prey most of the time, even if the rider looks fast. I do double check they're not pushing a big gear before unholstering the cutthroat though.
Indeed. If you went past me at 30+ on your PlanetX I think I'd consider that the natural order of things.
http://www.itsnotarace.org/fcn-calculator/
# 2. Roadies with shaved legs – like girls
# 3. Proper rapid Single speed (real men, messengers, tarty shiny fixies)
# 4. Roadies with hairy legs – like men
# 5. Faux Single Speeds (fakengers, dirty/functional bikes, silly egg beater gear)
Mine's fixed but I judge it as Faux SS. Mudguards and flat handlebars rather than chrome and drops0 -
notsoblue wrote:dhope wrote:Don't think fixed gears top the charts? I spin out around 25mph, no chance I'm scalping a proper Lycra clad roadie on my Langster.
They do, and I don't understand why. Singlespeeds are easy prey most of the time, even if the rider looks fast. I do double check they're not pushing a big gear before unholstering the cutthroat though.
FGSS tend to be lighter due to not having mech and shifters etc. but also and importantly the riders generally have their cadence and gearing just right for the route/commute.
My fastest time ever on my 20 mile country commute was 56 mins that 21.5mph avg, on the SS in normal commute attire ie with loaded rucksack, water bottle etc. having ridden the same route for months twice a day I know just where to increase cadence or back off, with gears I'm lazy and use fully.
That said ridding FGSS in Wiltshire will shorten the life of your knees :?Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
cjcp wrote:Note to self: days like these aren't made any easier with low tyre pressure.
My track pump has finally given up the ghost. Nads.
What have you got old bean? Joe blow do replacement parts.Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Nice speed down Embankment. I'd heard reports of the westerly, but amongst the traffic it doesn't seem to bad. I gear up and permit myself a fast spin. Carefully past Parliament, judging the light phasing perfectly, coasting towards Lambeth Bridge Roundabout. I know despite the easy ride so far that Millbank Tower will be focusing the elements of the east to crush me, I know it will be foolish to try and fight it and that I should just try and make it through to the other side and save my strength for DSC. This is all going through my mind when I catch up with her at Lambeth Bridge RB. If I were a lesser man I'd have used the term "Saddle Candy". But I'm better than that, its too pejorative, and it doesn't do justice to the vision of long haired athletic beauty astride a tastefully understated burgundy Langster waiting to cross the roundabout. So I sidle up to the RB, waiting my turn to cross (navel in, chest out), and all my thoughts of energy conservation for DSC are out of the window. Instead my mind is filled with MUST IMPRESS PERFECTLY SCULPTED LANGSTER GIRL BY RIDING AWAY VERY VERY QUICKLY. I spot a gap in the traffic, sprint across the roundabout, over the (thankfully) clear ped crossing and start the shallow right turn coming up to the tower. I rescalp some RLJs from before and for a moment I think all is fine, legs feeling good, approaching top gear at a comfortable cadence, as aero as I can be on the drops.... I swear the pressure wave from the headwind was visible for the split second before it hit me. A massive wobble and it feels like I've almost come to a standstil. I get out of the saddle and struggle on through, unwilling to show defeat by downshifting, but as I round the corner the VB lights are red and I concede. I drop a few gears and spin forlornly to the lights to join the bunch. As the lights change I hang back, letting the natural order of things establish itself before accelerating past the mass of wobbly striclists.
The stretch outside the Physic garden between the Chelsea and Albert Bridges was like Omaha beach. Going down the ramp from CB I saw a tight bunch of cyclists ahead that was trying quite valiantly to work together and forge ahead through the headwind. Each time as one took a turn at the front they'd last just a few moments before falling by the wayside. It wasn't looking good, and they were losing speed. As I approached from the rear I still had some beans so I blew my whistle and went over the top. Two of them latched on and I dragged us forward into the tempest, cursing the green light a couple of hundred meters before the safe haven of Chelsea Bridge.
From then on traffic slowed proceedings and the wind wasn't so bad. Chapeau to the chap on what looked like a steel colnago. Nice bike, and nice speed through NKR towards Putney.0 -
itboffin wrote:notsoblue wrote:dhope wrote:Don't think fixed gears top the charts? I spin out around 25mph, no chance I'm scalping a proper Lycra clad roadie on my Langster.
They do, and I don't understand why. Singlespeeds are easy prey most of the time, even if the rider looks fast. I do double check they're not pushing a big gear before unholstering the cutthroat though.
FGSS tend to be lighter due to not having mech and shifters etc. but also and importantly the riders generally have their cadence and gearing just right for the route/commute.
My fastest time ever on my 20 mile country commute was 56 mins that 21.5mph avg, on the SS in normal commute attire ie with loaded rucksack, water bottle etc. having ridden the same route for months twice a day I know just where to increase cadence or back off, with gears I'm lazy and use fully.
That said ridding FGSS in Wiltshire will shorten the life of your knees :?
Well this is why a quick viddy of the front chainring is necessary
But most of the FGSS steeds I encounter aren't geared for speed. Though there are a few notable exceptions like White and Baby Blue See-Through Onesy Guy (WABBSTOG) for example who can really shift. 0 -
itboffin wrote:cjcp wrote:Note to self: days like these aren't made any easier with low tyre pressure.
My track pump has finally given up the ghost. Nads.
What have you got old bean? Joe blow do replacement parts.
A Giyo Air Supply. It's 6.5 years' old, though, so I'm just going to order a new one - got a CRC voucher to spend . FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Looking forward to my commute through the tube strike traffic. No PB for me today I think.0
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notsoblue wrote:dhope wrote:Don't think fixed gears top the charts? I spin out around 25mph, no chance I'm scalping a proper Lycra clad roadie on my Langster.
They do, and I don't understand why. Singlespeeds are easy prey most of the time, even if the rider looks fast. I do double check they're not pushing a big gear before unholstering the cutthroat though.
They get penalised for tarty-ness.0 -
Wonderfully descriptive, the Bard himself couldn't have painted a clearer picture.Greg66 wrote:Hmm. Just hmm.
It all began at the xing by the HoP. A guy on a red 'dale (I think) with an unfeasibly bright red light on his Hump was up ahead. I settled in to aim to time the catch bang on the give way at LBR. Some plan that turned out to be.
Before I was past the end of the steel barrier WHOOSH! I was caught napping by a guy on a Roberts, with a red light in his hump, throbbing like a second brain. He didn't jump go by, he gave me a full on fly by the tower at 500 knots. Suitably humbled, I upped my game, and fast.
The three of use hit LBR together, and got some ok traffic. Roberts was in the lead, but he was smart. When we hit the invisible WoW, he sat up, then as good as stood up. Dale almost clattered into him, and had to pass on the inside. I held back; on a less windy night without the earlier fly by I would have poured on the hot sauce. But this was time to be a bit canny.
Through VB lights and Dale has the lead, Roberts isn't trying too hard. We get through DSC and I know that the last place to be is on the front. No one has the legs to ride away, and the wind is there ready to sap anyone daft enough to try.
At CB, Dale pulls off. Now it's me and Roberts. We both had filtered up the middle, and found ourselves pushed into the middle of the road on the far side by a tow truck. Roberts decides to outrun the truck using the last of the slope, and cut across the front of him. Definitely the right call - I follow.
We slip by maybe five riders, and then as if by dreadful accident, I find myself taking the lead. Oh Christ, this was hard - the headwind hadn't abated and I had the SCR equivalent of a hot poker up my back end.
Did I mention I hadn't wanted a hard ride home?
So I dug, and dug, and dug. I could see a shadow, I think, from time to time. By the time we got to BB I was close to the v-zone. Roberts at least had the good grace to look like he was breathing hard.
Deary me.
Frustrating journey this morning. Only competition came from a bloke on Fuji Track who was quick, made quicker by drafting Addison Lee's finest along the Embankment. It was all a little busy for me what with the tube strike and I stuck to the inside lane hoovering up everyone who seems to get their bikes out once a year (and some bloke on a white Planet X Nanolight, very disappointing).
My bike seems to have developed some sort of mechanical ailment overnight, and lack of confidence that something wasn't about to break was preventing me from giving it full beans.
The chain suddenly started to slap and jump when freewheeling. When I get off the bike and look at it I can't see the problem, but if you backpedal you can see the "derailleur tensioner thing" is moving forward, slackening the whole chain. This was obviously happening even when freewheeling (not sure how) and causing all sorts of metal-on-metal sounds.
What the hell's going on?! The derailleur tension spring is intact and appears to be pulling as it should.
Any idea? I realise I should probably post this elsewhere, but initial thoughts would be good.0 -
I think I saw the pearlescent Dolan again thismorning, I was down a side street having popped down to where i'd parked my car as i'd left all crap in it on show. As I approached the T junction to Portsmouth road I saw him flash by. Then a whole ton of traffic and three sets of red lights conspired against me so that I never had a chance of seeing him again on the ride up to Kingston or into central London.0
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BR 1979 wrote:
Wonderfully descriptive, the Bard himself couldn't have painted a clearer picture.Greg66 wrote:Hmm. Just hmm.
It all began at the xing by the HoP. A guy on a red 'dale (I think) with an unfeasibly bright red light on his Hump was up ahead. I settled in to aim to time the catch bang on the give way at LBR. Some plan that turned out to be.
Before I was past the end of the steel barrier WHOOSH! I was caught napping by a guy on a Roberts, with a red light in his hump, throbbing like a second brain. He didn't jump go by, he gave me a full on fly by the tower at 500 knots. Suitably humbled, I upped my game, and fast.
The three of use hit LBR together, and got some ok traffic. Roberts was in the lead, but he was smart. When we hit the invisible WoW, he sat up, then as good as stood up. Dale almost clattered into him, and had to pass on the inside. I held back; on a less windy night without the earlier fly by I would have poured on the hot sauce. But this was time to be a bit canny.
Through VB lights and Dale has the lead, Roberts isn't trying too hard. We get through DSC and I know that the last place to be is on the front. No one has the legs to ride away, and the wind is there ready to sap anyone daft enough to try.
At CB, Dale pulls off. Now it's me and Roberts. We both had filtered up the middle, and found ourselves pushed into the middle of the road on the far side by a tow truck. Roberts decides to outrun the truck using the last of the slope, and cut across the front of him. Definitely the right call - I follow.
We slip by maybe five riders, and then as if by dreadful accident, I find myself taking the lead. Oh Christ, this was hard - the headwind hadn't abated and I had the SCR equivalent of a hot poker up my back end.
Did I mention I hadn't wanted a hard ride home?
So I dug, and dug, and dug. I could see a shadow, I think, from time to time. By the time we got to BB I was close to the v-zone. Roberts at least had the good grace to look like he was breathing hard.
Deary me.
Frustrating journey this morning. Only competition came from a bloke on Fuji Track who was quick, made quicker by drafting Addison Lee's finest along the Embankment. It was all a little busy for me what with the tube strike and I stuck to the inside lane hoovering up everyone who seems to get their bikes out once a year (and some bloke on a white Planet X Nanolight, very disappointing).
My bike seems to have developed some sort of mechanical ailment overnight, and lack of confidence that something wasn't about to break was preventing me from giving it full beans.
The chain suddenly started to slap and jump when freewheeling. When I get off the bike and look at it I can't see the problem, but if you backpedal you can see the "derailleur tensioner thing" is moving forward, slackening the whole chain. This was obviously happening even when freewheeling (not sure how) and causing all sorts of metal-on-metal sounds.
What the hell's going on?! The derailleur tension spring is intact and appears to be pulling as it should.
Any idea? I realise I should probably post this elsewhere, but initial thoughts would be good.
This Fuji track chappie: white bike, rider with no backpack?
@G66 - was the Roberts green? There's a guy I've seen heading west on one who goes like a steam train.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
BR 1979 wrote:My bike seems to have developed some sort of mechanical ailment overnight, and lack of confidence that something wasn't about to break was preventing me from giving it full beans.
The chain suddenly started to slap and jump when freewheeling. When I get off the bike and look at it I can't see the problem, but if you backpedal you can see the "derailleur tensioner thing" is moving forward, slackening the whole chain. This was obviously happening even when freewheeling (not sure how) and causing all sorts of metal-on-metal sounds.
What the hell's going on?! The derailleur tension spring is intact and appears to be pulling as it should.
Any idea? I realise I should probably post this elsewhere, but initial thoughts would be good.
Has your freehub body gone? Is the rear mech bent?
I've no idea. I'm off to get a coffee. Sorry.
Some right half-wits out today.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Scalped a Canyon CF ultimate with a SRM power meter. Bit heavy duty for the commute to work?
Come to think of it its tube strike day. i.e. Show off your bike day.0 -
Encountered a swift fellow on a dark grey Condor this morning. Bit of back and forth between Albert Bridge and DSC and the score was even. Lost him after an awesome sprint away from VB lights past the Tate. Very satisfying 0
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He's certainly got some legs on him. 0
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Left late due to not being able to find one of the rubber straps to fix my raceblades on, so spent the whole journey filtering past queues of traffic
One short bit of clear road from CB to DSC, but nobody about. some more. 1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
cjcp wrote:@G66 - was the Roberts green? There's a guy I've seen heading west on one who goes like a steam train.
Hard to say - it was dark, the frame was a dark colour, and I had yellow lenses in. Could have been.
The rider was a big guy though; Assos leggings and blue overshoes, IIRC. Yellow & black top.0 -
cjcp wrote:
This Fuji track chappie: white bike, rider with no backpack?
No, sort of battleship grey colour.
what sort of time ?
the bike sounds right, but - despite having form in this area - I don't recall drafting anything this morning.
I did however, spend a lot of time overtaking. maybe that was it
if the bike had super shiny white rims then it was quite likely to be me. and if so, hi!,0 -
Left late.
Managed to smile, wave and say hello to LondonLivvy as we passed in Barnes.
Crawled along the NKR.
Set fire to the DSC, the only bit of road that was free of snarled up traffic. Thank you tailwind
Crawled through Westminster
Stuck behind taxi through blackfriars tunnel
Roadworks on millbank
Loved it, loved it all. Happy to see the sun 0 -
Not sure exactly, must have been about 7.45ish.the other me wrote:what sort of time ?
the bike sounds right, but - despite having form in this area - I don't recall drafting anything this morning.
I did however, spend a lot of time overtaking. maybe that was it
if the bike had super shiny white rims then it was quite likely to be me. and if so, hi!,
Certainly quick. Top pedalling.
I kept left riding alongside the bike lane, dodging the tube-strike-only riders.
Did you see a bloke on a white Planet X? He was there on the same stretch.
I was on a Carrera Vanquish with my freshly reinstalled mudguards. And a confidence-depleting chain climbing all over my cassette and chainset whilst me derailleur arm slapped merrily away. Not much fun. Googling suggests it might be my freehub - Hopefully I can get some oil dripped in whilst in situ and have a proper look at the weekend.0 -
the other me wrote:
what sort of time ?
the bike sounds right, but - despite having form in this area - I don't recall drafting anything this morning.
I did however, spend a lot of time overtaking. maybe that was it
if the bike had super shiny white rims then it was quite likely to be me. and if so, hi!,
Not sure exactly, must have been about 7.45ish.
Certainly quick. Top pedalling.
I kept left riding alongside the bike lane, dodging the tube-strike-only riders.
Did you see a bloke on a white Planet X? He was there on the same stretch.
I was on a Carrera Vanquish with my freshly reinstalled mudguards. And a confidence-depleting chain climbing all over my cassette and chainset whilst me derailleur arm slapped merrily away. Not much fun. Googling suggests it might be my freehub - Hopefully I can get some oil dripped in whilst in situ and have a proper look at the weekend.
7.45 ? that rules me out.
that sort of time sees me yawning on the platform at the station, waiting for the next heavily delayed train to appear....
good luck with getting the freehub sorted.
sounds like you need to go fixed - cut down on all your parts and maintenance issues 0
