Silly commuting racing

Sewinman

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I think most of us where just amazed to actually bump into another game player! I mean what are the chances :-)
Another late finish today?

No, doing Richmond park 3 lap challeneg tomorrow AM!

greg66_tri_v2.0

Lose Yourself's on iTunes ... volume's up ... getting changed ...

BATTLE TIME IS HERE :twisted:

DonDaddyD

DAMN I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!

6.45pm and I'm still at work on a Friday. No game for me. Pooh bags, big pooh bags.

Still have time to post on Bike Radar though..... :shock:

cjcp

DAGNABBIT!!!

Just out of a meeting and getting changed now. Looks like I've missed the fun.

dav1

first points in a long time for me today

Lycra shaven roadie with racks dropped by hairy plain clothed roadie, especially as it was my fist two wheeld trip on almso 2 weeks

cjcp

Not a sausage last night.

Sewinnman - how did you get on? Weather looks ok this week so might have a go this evening.

dafruk

Got sent a link to a site promoting a less full on take to cycling gear, but it does have one gem on it:

Copenhagen Cycle Chic

Badges 3/4 way down the page which are apparenly from actual cycle gear, I put the recent post on to ask where from, it would fit well with the earlier slogans for the SCR identification chat!

cjcp

Ahem! No slippage to page 2, please.

biondino

Morning everyone. No scalps today but twice while pootling I was overtaken (by an Allez and then, unusually, by another Focus) and both times I managed to drop them pretty swiftly, on Goldhawk Road and the drag up to Marble Arch respectively. Made me feel like a man. Managed to ride 68 miles on Saturday, which is my second most ever in a day (and the longest, the stage into Paris on my charity ride in July, doesn't count as so much of it was at snail's pace). AND I cleaned my steed! Result all round.

cjcp

Road the race bike in today because I couldn't be bothered to change tyres etc after taking it out in the Park on Saturday.

Only action was a hybrid moving very swiftly along Embankment and a roadie with tri bars who was drafting him (the shame). They were clearly racing, and wanting to avoid such entanglements - they would both have given their left nuts to jump on my wheel and get ahead of the other - I hung back and out about 10 yards while the traffic cleared. Once it did, I went and kept the pace high. And that was that. A quiet morning really.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Strange experience this morning. I felt like I couldn't breathe - as if I was being held underwater, or had plastic at the back of my throat.

Then looked down to check the power figures and saw I was riding out of my skin. Ah. That will be it then. :roll:

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

Strange experience this morning. I felt like I couldn't breathe - as if I was being held underwater, or had plastic at the back of my throat.

Then looked down to check the power figures and saw I was riding out of my skin. Ah. That will be it then. :roll:

Ditto. I don't know if it was the first "chill" post-summer, but I didn't take my inhaler and my recovery was a lot longer.

Coriander

I'm sulking - damned RLJers. At a junction today where even most hardened RLJers wait I was in a group of six. I was the second away and sitting on the wheel of a skinny boy on a road bike. And keeping up with him. (Which was quite happy making as in evolutionary terms he was about 1.5 million years away from me.) We dropped the others. The next lights were red and I was the only one who stopped while all five of them went sailing on. And, because if you stop at this particular set of lights you'll invariably be caught at the next as well, that was the last I saw of them.

'Snot fair.

But the carrot cake I was carrying in on my rack arrived at work in one piece! Cake all round at 12.30 at the top of the Duke of York steps to celebrate its robustness and solidity. What do you mean, no thanks???

Sewinman

Re Richmond Park. I was succesful in terms of setting a time that can be improved upon...ahem! My mate managed to fall off his bike on a straight bit approaching the Sheen gate turn-off - he is ok but has cuts and bruises all over. Bit of a downer really. He managed to lock his front wheel somehow whilst going a good speed.

Out of interest - why does everyone go anti-clockwise?

I did another fixie today. His cadence was again quite high but he was not going very fast.....like my 4th gear speed. I am starting to realise that there are some very girly fixie riders out there who must have a gear ratio for a childs bike. He kept over taking me at lights and i just punished him over and over. It felt a hollow victory and i probably would not hang said scalp on my belt. Can these types really be classed as fixies!?

Also had the first numb head/can't speak feeling of the year. Getting cold

greg66_tri_v2.0

Sewinman wrote:

Re Richmond Park. I was succesful in terms of setting a time that can be improved upon...ahem! My mate managed to fall off his bike on a straight bit approaching the Sheen gate turn-off - he is ok but has cuts and bruises all over. Bit of a downer really. He managed to lock his front wheel somehow whilst going a good speed.

H(TF) did he manage that?

Sewinman wrote:

Out of interest - why does everyone go anti-clockwise?

Same reason water spins that way down the plug hole. It's a well know fact* that there's a Richmond Park in NZ where they all ride clockwise.

The approach to the hill clockwise has a deceptive gradient leading to it for quite some way, which can sap your legs without you realising it. And the roundabouts are easier to negotiate if you're going anti-

Sewinman wrote:

who must have a gear ratio for a childs bike.

:shock: light blue touch paper and retire ...

*that may not be the right word

Clever Pun

Sewinman wrote:

Re Richmond Park. I was succesful in terms of setting a time that can be improved upon...ahem! My mate managed to fall off his bike on a straight bit approaching the Sheen gate turn-off - he is ok but has cuts and bruises all over. Bit of a downer really. He managed to lock his front wheel somehow whilst going a good speed.

Out of interest - why does everyone go anti-clockwise?

I did another fixie today. His cadence was again quite high but he was not going very fast.....like my 4th gear speed. I am starting to realise that there are some very girly fixie riders out there who must have a gear ratio for a childs bike. He kept over taking me at lights and i just punished him over and over. It felt a hollow victory and i probably would not hang said scalp on my belt. Can these types really be classed as fixies!?

Also had the first numb head/can't speak feeling of the year. Getting cold

sounds like a faker... but in fairness if you have gears and proper legs you should be able to take a SS/fixie on the flat...

pst88

Well I got done by a Giant FCR this morning. Technically it's a fast hybrid.. but come on, it's a full on road bike with flat bars stuck on. Not fair I say! Plus his tyres were tiny, looked like 21s at most. What a cheat. He drafted me for a while uphill then breezed past with a cheery "morning". I kept up with him as we went down hill but he was a bit ahead and a lorry got between us and he lost me at a roundabout, guess he went another way.

Only saw one other bike and that was my courier mate, but he wasn't playing.

Sewinman

Greg66 wrote:

H(TF) did he manage that?

He is not sure, he was standing on his pedals looking at the signs and he thinks he pressed his front brake too hard and it just locked. He has cuts on every extremity and a huge road rash on his back and thigh.

Re R. park - yeah that hill is a bugger. I will try anti next time.

Re Fixies - have i said something controversial?

Total Eclipse

Bah. Only just managed to log on for the first time in weeks and that required a new username etc. Bikeradar kept insisting I couldn't log on...perhaps it didn't want me to be a Totalnewbie any more...

Still in short sleeves, me.

biondino

Autumn is a tricky time. This week it's basically fine - cool when you set off but no worries after 5 minutes. It's when the temperature falls to below about 10 degrees when it starts getting uncomfortable (again, only at first) and knowing what to wear becomes an art form.

Clever Pun

Total Eclipse wrote:

Bah. Only just managed to log on for the first time in weeks and that required a new username etc. Bikeradar kept insisting I couldn't log on...perhaps it didn't want me to be a Totalnewbie any more...

Still in short sleeves, me.

I had that, the admin said I should clear out my cookies, that seemed to do the trick... bit late now though

roger_merriman

Sewinman wrote:

Re Richmond Park. I was succesful in terms of setting a time that can be improved upon...ahem! My mate managed to fall off his bike on a straight bit approaching the Sheen gate turn-off - he is ok but has cuts and bruises all over. Bit of a downer really. He managed to lock his front wheel somehow whilst going a good speed.

Out of interest - why does everyone go anti-clockwise?

I did another fixie today. His cadence was again quite high but he was not going very fast.....like my 4th gear speed. I am starting to realise that there are some very girly fixie riders out there who must have a gear ratio for a childs bike. He kept over taking me at lights and i just punished him over and over. It felt a hollow victory and i probably would not hang said scalp on my belt. Can these types really be classed as fixies!?

Also had the first numb head/can't speak feeling of the year. Getting cold

like all bikes there can be fair difference in speed, i see some really quick ones and one's I pass even with paniers and basket full, on my travel's.

if i do go to richmound park for ride rather than a cut though, i go clockwise, as i like the fastish decent to kingston gate at the end.

cjcp

biondino wrote:

Autumn is a tricky time. This week it's basically fine - cool when you set off but no worries after 5 minutes. It's when the temperature falls to below about 10 degrees when it starts getting uncomfortable (again, only at first) and knowing what to wear becomes an art form.

I've got a great long sleeved base layer I've been wearing for the last four weeks. :shock: Force of habit. <loud cough> Stops me getting a chill.

The gilet will be next. It's in my bag just in case.

Totalnewbie

Clever Pun wrote:

Total Eclipse wrote:

Bah. Only just managed to log on for the first time in weeks and that required a new username etc. Bikeradar kept insisting I couldn't log on...perhaps it didn't want me to be a Totalnewbie any more...

Still in short sleeves, me.

I had that, the admin said I should clear out my cookies, that seemed to do the trick... bit late now though

Ah. So it does. They have not yet replied to me, I did email them...

Looks like I have two accounts now...

cjcp

Sewinman wrote:

Re Richmond Park. I was succesful in terms of setting a time that can be improved upon...ahem! My mate managed to fall off his bike on a straight bit approaching the Sheen gate turn-off - he is ok but has cuts and bruises all over. Bit of a downer really. He managed to lock his front wheel somehow whilst going a good speed.

At least you finished your three laps. Set a PB on the first lap, then, having not eaten all day, started to flag badly on the second and once the deer wandering in the road and some obstructive chopper in a 4WD had had their way, I would have needed a blinding lap for the third to set an overall PB. Decided to bin it at the start of the third lap and scoot off to buy some wine to have with dinner instead.

Sewinman

cjcp wrote:

biondino wrote:

Autumn is a tricky time. This week it's basically fine - cool when you set off but no worries after 5 minutes. It's when the temperature falls to below about 10 degrees when it starts getting uncomfortable (again, only at first) and knowing what to wear becomes an art form.

I've got a great long sleeved base layer I've been wearing for the last four weeks. :shock: Force of habit. <loud cough> Stops me getting a chill.

The gilet will be next. It's in my bag just in case.

Hmm - even in the depths of winter last year i just wore a T-shirt and shorts. It was cold for about 5 mins but i warmed up quickly. Whenever i tried wearing more clothes i found it too hot. Maybe i am just well 'ard though.

biondino

I just hate stepping out of the house cold, especially as, in winter, I'll have been cold in bed, cold in the shower, cold while getting dressed. Hate it. At least if I'm wrapped up warm (and my new bib tights will get a lot of use I'm sure, as will my Rapha arm-warmers!) then that particular bit won't be so unpleasant.

CJCP, what's your 1-lap PB? Mine's 19.56 which I'm sure is pathetic.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Sewinman wrote:

Hmm - even in the depths of winter last year i just wore a T-shirt and shorts. It was cold for about 5 mins but i warmed up quickly. Whenever i tried wearing more clothes i found it too hot. Maybe i am just well 'ard though.

The old wives' tale (to which I subscribe, BTW) is that if you don't keep your knees warm in the cold air you'll end up with crippling tendonitis in them as an old man. It's close to bib knicker weather now.

For me, it's the fingers and toes. I get mild chillblanes in my toes (chill nip?) now very easily from years of riding with ultra thin or no socks and normal cycling shoes throughout the winter, so I have to wear neoprene booties when the cold hits.

Re child's gearing: I made that crack about 150 pages ago, and boy oh boy, did the SSers gets all agitated!

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

[
For me, it's the fingers and toes. I get mild chillblanes in my toes (chill nip?) now very easily from years of riding with ultra thin or no socks and normal cycling shoes throughout the winter, so I have to wear neoprene booties when the cold hits.

I use the neoprene overshoes too, and I'm currently scouting for full length tights.

It won't be long before the snugly fitting fleece hat makes an appearance.

cjcp

biondino wrote:

I just hate stepping out of the house cold, especially as, in winter, I'll have been cold in bed, cold in the shower, cold while getting dressed. Hate it. At least if I'm wrapped up warm (and my new bib tights will get a lot of use I'm sure, as will my Rapha arm-warmers!) then that particular bit won't be so unpleasant.

CJCP, what's your 1-lap PB? Mine's 19.56 which I'm sure is pathetic.

Biondino - do you have heating in your house?

It's 17:53, which is in the context of a 3-lap PB attempt. I've never actually belted it for one lap though. I doubt I'd get below 17:30 though because I'm blowing out of my a*se most of the time anyway and can never sustain any power on the flats. Also, if you're feeling bad, you'll lose a load of time on the hill from Kingston Gate and in the recovery after you've reached the top.

Your time isn't pathetic at all. It's an average speed in excess of 20mph. Between the inclines, false flats and side winds, you don't really get much respite around the Park. You'll probably find that your average speed around the Park would be slower than on most 10m TT courses.