Silly commuting racing

biondino

No thanks - it's against my religion I just don't think it's for me. Thanks though - I know it would be a sacrifice!

(p.s. I wasn't suggesting actually drafting the Dynamo for 30 miles - I was just wondering how annoyed they'd get! I am a bad man)

Sewinman

I enjoyed the 3 lap challenge but i think a road bike would make it more fun. I have a pitiful budget of about £300 and wondered about the Decathalon road bikes- B Twins.

Do you think they are ok for a first bike? I was thinking of getting one and if i enjoyed training i could get a pricey one next summer and use the Decathalon for the commute.

Any thoughts? Maybe i should not ask here! :?

biondino

B-Twins look okay to me. This one I guess? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-2-42393914/

However, I'd look for second hand with that kind of budget. ooh - on ebay I've just found a bike identical to my winter Trek, which cost me £700 new. You'd want to be 6' to 6'2 or so for that.

Are you a Sewin' Man? I have images of some gruff lumberjack darning his dainties. Perhaps your nick means something else, though.

So - spill - what was your 3-lap time?

cjcp

Right, enough chit chat about bikes; it's down to business. I missed Friday's fun and games, so I'm getting changed now.

Sewinman

Biondino - yeah i know i could get more with a second hand bike but i know nothing about bikes and thought the warranty on parts with decathalon looked ok. I also would get to try it for size.

If you knew my Richmond lap times you would realise that a big £ bike would be a bit of a waste!

Sewin is welsh for sea trout. My other hobby is fishing.

Littigator

I'd agree with Biondino, for your money your best off buying secondhand.

I just sold my 1 year old Specialized Allez for £250 and there seems to be plenty of them and similar on Ebay.

biondino

£300 for a new bike means you really are getting the absolute bottom of what might be considered "decent". Even an extra £100 would take you to a different level, hence why second hand makes a lot of sense at this price bracket.

m0scs

Littigator wrote:

And for anyone that's interested here's the route

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Richmond-Park-London-Dynamo-4-laps-on-a-Saturday-morning

which also contains an altitude profile if you click on 'Show' on the top left drop down menu. This shows the mahoosive hills us Londoners have to deal with

Stop laughing so hard you Northerners!!!

Cheers for the info guys, I may take a spin round it at the weekend when Im down in London for the Freewheel event.

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Right, enough chit chat about bikes; it's down to business. I missed Friday's fun and games, so I'm getting changed now.

Blimey. Do you go home for lunch then? :twisted:

Bassjunkieuk

No bike for me today as I was starting on a new site and I wanted to make a good impression! At another new place tomorrow so I'll be off again, this time it's even worse as I'll have to use the tube :-(

Fear not I have purchased a copy of Cycle Plus to tide me over, it's got some interesting articles on ss/fixies and a S&M section about trying to climb a mountain 3 times in one day........

On a side note are we making a day of the Freewheel on Sunday? Check out my thread on it to try and make arrangements if so :-) Think it could be a good oppurtunity for a nice day out, until someone edges ahead a fraction and then sets us all off in a huge race.......

UnworthyPapaLazaru

dafruk wrote:

Ohh nice site.

Here's one of the most common training laps in Edinburgh, lacking a computer I've never timed myself round a lap, but it's a nice 5.3km circuit, so considerably shorter than the richmond park one but has the advantage of you can just do it again!

Arthur seat - Edinburgh

I like the profile map, nice feature. A lot of people start with the steep climb first (circa 2.2km in) then it's just a shallow incline at the end to the finish.

My favourite place! Ive actually never timed just the circuit, I start at the docks, up and round AS then off along the last bit of London Road (not surprisingly, its pretty flat ) to Portobello Road. Can do that in 33 minutes normally and I always do the steep climb first. Ive recorded 26 minutes once, but Im sure I must have made an error...

EDIT - I should add that I am really looking forward to doing it on a road bike when I get one! Should knock a few minutes off the time.

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Right, enough chit chat about bikes; it's down to business. I missed Friday's fun and games, so I'm getting changed now.

Blimey. Do you go home for lunch then? :twisted:

:twisted:

Yep, early doors for me tonight. Had some fun too. The roadies I kept dropping kept catching up at the next set of lights. Told one chap drafting me towards the Park, "don't you understand "bugger off?"". I said this not because he was drafting me, but purely because he was a repeating RLJer.

biondino

I'm not sure a huge gaggle of SCRers racing during the Freewheel would be much appreciated!

Had an interesting ride home. A roadie on a Madone who was really giving it some (but had a poor riding style - was bouncing all over the place, seat too high perhaps) overtook me during a pootle period and I managed to stay with him through Parsons Green, lost him shortly afterwards but managed to TT back up to him shortly before Putney Bridge. Where I reeled him in. It felt great and completely counts as a scalp because I owned him so bad on the col.

My euphoria was slightly spoiled by a dude on a *Giant* of all things who passed me on Queen's Ride. I'd been giving it near 100% for more than 3 miles at this point so I had little more to give and had indeed started the warm down with only about half a mile to go. In any case I don't count it as a scalp as I actually caught him on the Marc Bolan death bridge before turning off on the crest. Still, overtaken, not happen with that. Wasn't any of you, was it?

ChrisLS

...a confession... :oops:

...I overtook a nurse this morning...she was racing 'cause she saw me and stood on the pedals...I raced...and passed her, but somehow I feel guilty...

...nurses are good, they wear uniforms :P ...and mend you when you fall off your bike

...doesn't feel right racing nurses...

attica

Damn, damn, damn

Got an absolute corker of a scalp this morning, simply sailed past a shaven roadie like they were stood still.

Only one problem, even as I looked sideways to say "mornin", I couldn't tell if it was male or female. Can't count that one, argh

girv73

What's the ruling on scalping someone, only for them to get away from you by RLJing & riding on pavements ?

I spotted a bloke on a slicked hybrid looking thing this morning riding along the pavement. I caught up with and passed him later on as he'd got back on the road, then pulled out a decent lead but he sailed past me again as I stopped at a set of slow changing lights. I caught up again, but he hopped on the pavement to get around some tight traffic and disappeared into the distance.

dafruk

ChrisLS wrote:

...nurses are good, they wear uniforms :P ...and mend you when you fall off your bike

...doesn't feel right racing nurses...

As chopper would say "harden the f*** up" A scalp is a scalp, they played the game and lost, all is fair.

Attica wrote:

Only one problem, even as I looked sideways to say "mornin", I couldn't tell if it was male or female. Can't count that one, argh

What do you mean, are you sexist or something. Again a scalp is a scalp! Or does the shaved like a lady only count on blokes?

GIRV73 wrote:

What's the ruling on scalping someone, only for them to get away from you by RLJing & riding on pavements?

They are unworthy of being allowed on the road and their scalp is not even worthy of cleaning the muck of your wheels. Do not concern yourself with them as they are clearly not a game player with such flagrant rule breaches.

cjcp

girv73 wrote:

What's the ruling on scalping someone, only for them to get away from you by RLJing & riding on pavements ?

I spotted a bloke on a slicked hybrid looking thing this morning riding along the pavement. I caught up with and passed him later on as he'd got back on the road, then pulled out a decent lead but he sailed past me again as I stopped at a set of slow changing lights. I caught up again, but he hopped on the pavement to get around some tight traffic and disappeared into the distance.

You are the victor, while he is an RLJing, pavement hopping loser whose bike should be crushed.

pllb

At last a scalp! After many months of commuting (16 miles each way Chesham-Uxbridge), a route which is not blessed with fellow cyclists (at least not when I am on the road :roll: – leave home for work at 06:15, leave work for home at 16:30ish). Usually I only see a few Halfords full sussers on the way into/out of Uxbridge. I ride an old MTB (front sus, slicks and rack/panniers) – its HEAVY. So lets cut to the chase, last night I left work a bit later than usual, I was giving it some on the way home as I was late, on the twisty country lane from Denham to Chalfont I spied a roadie (shaved with backpack and club kit) up ahead and he looked to be struggling (quite hilly), fantastic I think – I finally join “the game”. So I reel him in and gain some momentum down a slight descent and blow him away on the next rise (with a cheery “Hello” which made him jump and swerve – oops!). I proceed to bury myself for the next mile or so and sneak a cheeky look back, no sign. Anyway there is now a long undulating drag ahead (1-2 miles) which favours his bigger gearing so I really put in some effort, as I turned left at the end of the road I did catch a glimpse of him finally putting in an effort – but no, it was too late for him as he was turning right so race over – I claim a scalp, I am sooo happy! Even if I never see another bike on my commute at least I have now tasted victory! 8)

Clever Pun

My first full fixed commute today.. I was catching on two roadies but they went on pavment for some roadwork traffic lights... tw@ts I lost them as I stopped at a zebra crossing with my first skid

Binned a proper mentalist no brake courier later on, that was pleasing

just need to work the best way of getting my feet in the right position on stopping

Littigator

Three points of note this morning

1. I got my cycle comp fitted to my fixie at last which confirmed a nice cruising speed of 19mph, although above 28mph I get a bit of a saddle bounce going...verr annoying! It makes it that much harder to pass plebs and maintain the 'I'm not trying' air of nonchalance.

2. For the last two days journey in I have been sparring with a guy on a Condor (Pista I think) singlie who carrys his lock round his waist. Is this anyone on here? If so stop trying to beat me by filtering traffic, that's NOT part of the game.

Man up and beat me on the open flat although I think you may have a smaller ring than me so struggle with top end speed...in which case MAN UP AND GET A BIGGER RING YOU NANCY!!! :twisted:

3. Waiting at the front of the lights on the North side of Vauxhall Bridge this morning, not 1 but 2 numpties pushed past me to get s head start (GAH!)...and then even woprse, some TW*T cruises up past me on the pavement, up to the front and across to the middle of the junction. gnash fume this preposterous ponce then proceeds to pootle at no particular speed along Millbank...what's the feckin point!

At this point as I passed him with ease I felt the need to bring to his attention the pointlessness of jumping red lights when he then pansies around between them.

anyway, enought from me for now

beseku

Got my new bike on the old Cycle2Work scheme on Sunday, and did the first commute today - Tooting Bec to Exmouth Mkt, (nr Farringdon).

On a Specialized Allez Sport in baggie shorts and carrying a damned heavy leather satchel with a Kryptonite lock in it. And I had no idea where I was going.

So if you scalped me between 8:40 and 9, no way does it count

Was immense fun, haven't enjoyed going to work so much before.

cjcp

Good one in the Park this morning. I see a roadie going up the hill, about 200 yards ahead of me as I enter the Park. Right, the chase is on.

I'm up the hill/rise [delete where applicable depending on whether you are from north or south of the Watford Gap] like a mountain goat. I then reel him in to 10 yards ahead by the top of the steep descent and he spots me. He descends like a falcon to stay ahead of me. He's a big rider and has the weight on his side.

Onto the flat and he's going for it. I keep the pace high and he's constantly looking behind him, over both shoulders. He's nervous, he must sense the end is nigh, but he's still pedalling hard. I up the cadence and start to reel him in. He keeps looking behind him. He's like a wildebeast who knows he's doomed to be hunted down.

And then, all of sudden, he stops pedalling, freewheels, and bows his head, acknowledging defeat. The chase is over, but I keep the pace high and pedal by, saying "Morning" in a controlled voice. Victory is mine.

itboffin

1st day back from the mountains of Connemara and one scalp already :twisted: and what a scalp, just 5 mins after a nasty hilly summit I spot a lone rider in the distance, game on! - steady smooth circles slowly increasing the RPM (flats & SS) until i'm 20 ft or so behind by which point i'm pushing a comfortable 20+ mph as I coast UPHILL pass my prey! I was very very tempted to rest my feet on the bars.

The game owns my soul and I love it wooohahaha!!!!

il_principe

Scalpfest along the Embankment last night, took a mini roadie peloton of 3 whilst sitting up and nonchalantly adjusting my bag, loved it - not sure they did.

Lovely new tarty white tires are in place as well now - still waiting on the damn Halo wheelset though, grrr.

dav1

Came across a real player in norwich this morning, somone bound to score points.

Fast hybrid with guards, and a child seat in plain cloths (FCN 10)
Overtook him on unthank road but at every set of ligths it turned out he wasnt far behind me. (hairy roadie with baggies on flats and yellow tyres FCN 5)

itboffin

jashburnham wrote:

Scalpfest along the Embankment last night, took a mini roadie peloton of 3 whilst sitting up and nonchalantly adjusting my bag, loved it - not sure they did.

Lovely new tarty white tires are in place as well now - still waiting on the damn Halo wheelset though, grrr.

So you've got the white tyres, seat and chain now surely you need white bars http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=K0046

Littigator

itboffin wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

Scalpfest along the Embankment last night, took a mini roadie peloton of 3 whilst sitting up and nonchalantly adjusting my bag, loved it - not sure they did.

Lovely new tarty white tires are in place as well now - still waiting on the damn Halo wheelset though, grrr.

So you've got the white tyres, seat and chain now surely you need white bars http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=K0046

Jash, I know you aspire to my sky high levels of cool 8) but if you dare buy those white halo rims before me I will find out where you live , steal them from your bike and fit pink tassles to your handlebars in biking retribution :P

Littigator

In other news...welcome to the game Beseku, glad you enjoyed your first day. Couple of tips, get some padded shorts (unless you are some kind of sick pervert :shock: )

also, ditch the leather satchel thingy and get a back pack, but do NOT under any circumstances get panniers unless you have an irresistible urge to grow a beard and start drinking ale that requires a tea strainer

cjcp

Beseku - welcome indeed to The Game. As Litts says, get some lycra. That alone adds about 5mph to your speed.

I should also add some balance to my report this morning.

There was a chap on a red carbon Trek on Embankment this morning. I got within 20 yards of, but only after giving it some stick. I've seent his chap before: he's got sprocket tatoos on his right calf. Lights changing prevented me getting any closer, but I strongly suspect that I had I had the nerve to try to overtake, there would have been a loud roar with the mauling of my life swiftly thereafter.