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White Horse · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:36 am

I go from the North over to Dorcan, usually down Ermin Street. I often see someone in the distance and think "Yes!, They are mine!" and when I get closer it's some old dear on a Shopper.

itboffin · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:51 am

Clever Pun · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:11 am

Bassjunkieuk · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:24 am

roger merriman · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:38 am

roger merriman · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:40 am

Wrath Rob · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:20 pm

SCR was cancelled this morning due to the weather Sad

SCR last night was cancelled due to the weather and me almost rear-ending a bus due to no brakes Sad

On the plus side I had an awesome ride home on Wednesday night. A gaggle of SS'ers and roadies managed to come together through P'ment Sq and a few minor skirmishes went on up to VB. A couple of them did the silly semi-RLJ manoeuvre and so had a head start into DSC. Another couple got the drop on me away from the lights but I'm not worried. Fuelled by a crap day at work I wind up through the gears and take all 4 of them.

My elation was very short lived as a FG came past me, I'm sure he had 4 legs instead of two but it was hard to make out in the blur of motion that was taking place under his hips. He quickly pulled out a 10 meter gap, then more slowly edged out another 5 meters. It was at about that time that my patented InvisiBungeeRope, which I had snuck onto his seat post as he passed, held the gap and then gradually pulled me back up to him. 15 became 10, became 5 became a small nod as I went past. Unclipping my InvisiBungeeRope I then gradually powered ahead. Game on.

The down ramp from CB was almost a repeat story with the other roadies, but no FG this time (I think I heard some crying?). At the BB lights there was a large lorry that I didn't fancy going up the inside of so I held back and let the now near suicidal roadies filter past. The last guy who went was really suicidal as the lights had been red for a while and changed just after he got past the 1st set of rear wheels. Duh. Cue frantic spinning on his part

Not that I was complaining as I'd had a nice rest and took them again on the run up to Lotts Road. Lots of scalps, happy days

FCN 4 now that I've got to the dark side

biondino · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:35 pm

Bassjunkieuk · **Posted** Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:38 pm

The Running Man · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:11 am

Morning all - disaster struck on Thursday night : pushing it a bit going up Caen Hill to Devizes and the groin injury that's stopped me running since the summer came back with a vengeance and I almost fell off the bike in pain. It was like someone sticking a knitting needle up the front of my stomach. Had to to ride home as the support crew was out doing the shopping so I had no choice really.

My worry is that I think I've moved my pubic symphysis which could be a bit iffy but I'm getting it checked out tonight at my physio - who I am sure will shout at me.

Walking was a bit of an issue on Friday and so I had a day off but it had started to ease a bit by Sunday so I did a gentle 30 minutes on the rower then went for a quiet spin for an hour. Managed to spin into work this morning but had to take it very very gently.

Any thoughts of 1000 for the month have now gone : in fact I may get a complete ban tonight so just keeping my fingers crossed it's not as grim as I fear.

Not in a good mood Sad

Litespeed Titanium Siena : Specialized Allez
Specialized Tri Cross : Specialized Rockhopper

Bassjunkieuk · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:16 am

Sweet jaysus, this was at the BOTTOM of page 2!

Anyhow now it's returned to it's rightful place he's my report on this mornings little fun ride to work Smile

Weather was looking warm(er) so I ditched the long leggings and just sported the 3/4 lengths over lycra shorts today, reasoning that it's less to dry in the office. I was nice and warm with my L/S top and jacket on and happily flying along down the Balham Drag Strip.
Imagine my surprise when at the lights by Clapham South choob I'm joined by a chap on a Trek roadie in SHORTS AND SLEEVELESS TOP!!!! A few tell-tale signs told me the next mile or so was going to be FUN Smile

Namely his rather large calves, overshoes and trackstanding ability pointed to someone who was a bit of a decent cyclist.......
We couldn't really SCR past the common as it's was fairly heavy traffic and he was a filtering ninja, mixing it with the scooters with impunity! I kept him in my sights without taking any silly risks. Once the road opened up past the last set of lights just before Clapham Common ends the road cleared. I took my chance to give him a test and put the hammer down. I swing past before having to brake for the lights ahead.

We trade places again on the approach to Clapham North, I haveto fall back a bit to avoid ending up under an Addison Lee Galaxy who decided to change lanes without indicating Evil or Very Mad

He indicates right as we get to the choob station and I think I'm going to lose him but he was just filtering up the RHS to get to front of queue! I'm now stuck 1 car back behind a bunch of scooters.......when the lights change I can't do much besides get myself clipped in and watch as he powers off up the road. A quick shoulder check confirms the car behind isn't off to a stellar start so I swing round the scooters and start trying to close the gap......25-26-27-28-30. My gears again give me jip getting onto the 12 cog but once it falls on I'm powering up the road after him. I pass a gent on a hybrid as if's he's standing still as like a homing missile I lock in on my target........I blow past well wide to ensure he can't jump on my wheel and keep the power on. We're in the bus lane heading towards Stockwell so have plenty of room. Pedestrian lights ahead start to change and I know I can make it through on a "late" amber. After powering through I do a quick shoulder check and can see him out of the saddle doing a good impression of Mark Cavendish Smile

He catches up I ease off for the traffic by Stockwell choob and we part ways as he heads along towards Kennington. If you are on here chapeau sir! You certainly gave me a good run this morning!

The action didn't end there tho as once I hit The Mall I fond a chap on a T-Mobile Giant who went half-way across the junction at the first set of lights. Once they change he then sprints away and despite my best efforts I could only match his speed/acceleration which meant with his head start I failed to catch-up. He was certainly shifting tho as I saw just shy of 30mph along there Smile

I do think the SCR action this morning was something to do with me remembering to immortalize the commute on Nokia STB after I remembered I hadn't recorded this route yet Smile

If anyones interested the track can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/yztr6ed - missed the first 1.5 miles as it took a while to get a GPS fix and the average is showing a bit lower then the 16.6mph recorded on my bike comp.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese from the trap
http://twitter.com/bassjunkieuk
Player of THE GAME

GIant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5

cjcp · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:31 am

@TRM -

unlucky fella. Hope the news from the physio is hopeful.

Unscheduled deflation again this morning on Cheyne Walk. JG slowed to ask if all was ok just as I was finishing up. Smile

Bad traffic on Millbank due to the road up to HoP being closed meant I caught up with him, but not before I had reduced myself to gasping mess trying to catch G66 after Chelsea Bridge all the way until Lambeth Bridge Roundabout. I spotted the distinictive flick of the courier back and thought, "I know him". He had engaged a rapid chap on a Spesh and despatched him just after the Tate. Traffic up to LBR allowed me to catch up.

JG joined us on the approach to the HoP. I then got dropped by G66 like a hot coal down to Horseguards, and again after Embankment tube. Then got blitzed by JG - as usual - in Blackfriars Tunnel. He had turned off at the lights, stopped, looked back for me well before I reached the lights.

I may leave a little earlier tomorrow.

"I got nothing!"

FCN 2-4.

The Commuter

Clever Pun · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:42 am

will3 · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:45 am

Wrath Rob · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:17 am

Not much SCR this morning given the poo traffic on Embankment and P Square being closed. However, got a question for the SCR massive.

At VB lights a buy on a white Solan SS with white tyres nudged across the lights in front of me. I was wondering what the point of the bike was as it looks like a TT bike but with a track dropout when the lights changed. He pulled away from me down Millbank but I reeled him in and went past at Tate Britain. By the time I got the traffic at Lambeth bridge and did a safety check he was a way back. He didn't re-pass me after that but I think we took different routes to divert around HoP.

Scalp or no?

FCN 4 now that I've got to the dark side

Bassjunkieuk · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:24 am

JonGinge · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:59 pm

Greg66 · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:49 pm

First half of the ride in I was coughing, well, productively, I think is the medical term. It was like a second breakfast. Once I'd cleared the pipes, I ran into some fun with the guy on the Spesh before cj & JG arrived to help gang up on him. Poor guy!

Uber-snarl up around the HoP meant that by the time we got to Viccy Embankment we finally had some clear road again, I was quite keen to open the taps a bit.

All good fun until someone loses an eye, as my mother would say... Laughing

FCN Zero. Like ice. Look for the red and black bag disappearing over the horizon

Bike1 Bike2

DonDaddyD · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:47 pm

Woke up early, next to my beautiful girlfriend. I left for work late.... Mr. Green

I had nothing for company accept a guy on a Ridgeback/Trek looking hybrid with a strong shade of orange jacket on. I dropped him. Lights. I dropped him. RLJ. I dropped him. Lights. And so it went on until my drag strip where I hit 30.6mph*. It's a new top speed and would have been faster if I didn't run out of road/was scared that the brakes won't stop me in time and afraid that the bike would collapse.

Getting faster, stronger and lighter Shocked

(even though I don't look it).

*This speed is easily achieveable on Karen.

Food Chain number = 4

A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights as you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game

Wrath Rob · **Posted** Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:06 pm

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