Why is the commute NEVER just a commute
Discussion
Now, don't know if its just me, and I'm a little odd, or its something that a lot of people in here do too...
Basically ride into work 4 days a week, commuting from Bromley (ish) into the west end.. Yesterday was going to be the typical ride home - fairly busy day, so actually said to myself that I'd have a gentle ride home, taking things steady...
Now, taking things steady lasted for all of 3km, when 3 guys came past me just before the Old Kent road overpass thing at a fair rate of knots...
Now I'm sure you can guess exactly what was next... - Sitting with them all of the way to New cross station - was absolutley breathing out of my backside by the time I got to the top of the little hill on the one way system..
So.. Am I the only one who does this - think I need to see someone about this disease I seem to have!
Basically ride into work 4 days a week, commuting from Bromley (ish) into the west end.. Yesterday was going to be the typical ride home - fairly busy day, so actually said to myself that I'd have a gentle ride home, taking things steady...
Now, taking things steady lasted for all of 3km, when 3 guys came past me just before the Old Kent road overpass thing at a fair rate of knots...
Now I'm sure you can guess exactly what was next... - Sitting with them all of the way to New cross station - was absolutley breathing out of my backside by the time I got to the top of the little hill on the one way system..
So.. Am I the only one who does this - think I need to see someone about this disease I seem to have!
Yep I do this as well, though for me once I see them in front I have to catch & over take. Sometimes it nearly kills me but its good fun.
Have a look here for more stories:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=125...
Have a look here for more stories:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=125...
I don't commute, but came across this that fits me prefectly.
H.G. Wells in The Wheels of Chance said:
I came out for exercise, gentle exercise, and to notice the scenery and to botanise. And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs; I never look to right or left, never notice a flower, never see a view – get hot, juicy, red – like a grilled chop. Get me on that machine and I have to go. I go scorching along the road, and cursing aloud at myself for doing it.
Don't worry I think it's almost universal 
When commuting I used to come into the West End from Raynes Park. This was normally fine until I got to Vauxhall and then with enough cyclists there would always be a speed increase. Often I was hanging on but occasionally I'd be the one putting the screws on.
Even now out training in the park you still get little groups that form as folks latch on to a faster rider
When commuting I used to come into the West End from Raynes Park. This was normally fine until I got to Vauxhall and then with enough cyclists there would always be a speed increase. Often I was hanging on but occasionally I'd be the one putting the screws on. Even now out training in the park you still get little groups that form as folks latch on to a faster rider
I love putting the hammer down and dropping other riders. Most recent conquests include a guy on a road bike, replica yellow jersey all the gear etc (I train in a helmet and t shirt/shorts at the end of a steady hill. Got up behind him then 200metres from the end bombed past him like he was stationary. Last nights training ride. Passed a guy on a commuter at speed. Saw his shadow coming back at me. Could see he was stamping on the pedals. Waited till he was near, then dropped him again. Then 300metres later. Accelerated again. When I looked round 1/2 a mile later he was miles back.
Childish? No mate, "intervals"
I AM Alberto!
HOWEVER.
The pair of you go faster for less effort if you draft each other. Even if it's the same person leading. It's something to do with how the air moves around the pair of you. Long thin objects, such as a missile or a train of cyclists create less drag.
Childish? No mate, "intervals"
I AM Alberto!
HOWEVER.
The pair of you go faster for less effort if you draft each other. Even if it's the same person leading. It's something to do with how the air moves around the pair of you. Long thin objects, such as a missile or a train of cyclists create less drag.
Edited by Rich_W on Wednesday 18th August 21:34
I have this problem.
I was on my way home down old st tonight and saw a chap on a road bike, going at a fair old lick. Thought, I'd have him, so off I went.
Couple of minutes later he was on my back wheel, but he didnt manage to get past. We got to the old st roundabout and were at a red light and he turned to me and said "I've never, ever, seen a Brompton go that fast".
I said: "well you have now", and with perfect timing, the lights changed, and I was off again.
Beware 6 ft tall men on small red bikes.
I was on my way home down old st tonight and saw a chap on a road bike, going at a fair old lick. Thought, I'd have him, so off I went.
Couple of minutes later he was on my back wheel, but he didnt manage to get past. We got to the old st roundabout and were at a red light and he turned to me and said "I've never, ever, seen a Brompton go that fast".
I said: "well you have now", and with perfect timing, the lights changed, and I was off again.
Beware 6 ft tall men on small red bikes.
Rich_W said:
I love putting the hammer down and dropping other riders. Most recent conquests include a guy on a road bike, replica yellow jersey all the gear etc (I train in a helmet and t shirt/shorts at the end of a steady hill. Got up behind him then 200metres from the end bombed past him like he was stationary.
Hey that was me!I was just cruising home after a 100 mile training ride.
Where had you been?
Edited by Get Karter on Thursday 19th August 10:59
Get Karter said:
Rich_W said:
I love putting the hammer down and dropping other riders. Most recent conquests include a guy on a road bike, replica yellow jersey all the gear etc (I train in a helmet and t shirt/shorts at the end of a steady hill. Got up behind him then 200metres from the end bombed past him like he was stationary.
Hey that was me!I was just cruising home after a 100 mile training ride.
Where had you been?
Edited by Get Karter on Thursday 19th August 10:59
You need to ride faster then
I actually had this very thought. Not in relation to a rider, but when I started running regularly. Came out of my road and ran parrallel with a fit looking lady some 20ish years my senior. When it transpired she was going the same way I upped my pace far too much till I turned the first corner (about 1km in) Then I wondered if she'd been running for the last 30+ years and wasn't interested in "racing" some divvy t
t trying to protect his ego Rich_W said:
Get Karter said:
Rich_W said:
I love putting the hammer down and dropping other riders. Most recent conquests include a guy on a road bike, replica yellow jersey all the gear etc (I train in a helmet and t shirt/shorts at the end of a steady hill. Got up behind him then 200metres from the end bombed past him like he was stationary.
Hey that was me!I was just cruising home after a 100 mile training ride.
Where had you been?
Edited by Get Karter on Thursday 19th August 10:59
You need to ride faster then
I actually had this very thought. Not in relation to a rider, but when I started running regularly. Came out of my road and ran parrallel with a fit looking lady some 20ish years my senior. When it transpired she was going the same way I upped my pace far too much till I turned the first corner (about 1km in) Then I wondered if she'd been running for the last 30+ years and wasn't interested in "racing" some divvy t
t trying to protect his ego 
It has happened to me a couple of times, coming back from a chain gang training ride, and some lad tries to sprint past to prove a point.
They have no idea you've spent the last 2 hours busting a gut, so fair enough I suppose.
When younger I would usually rise to the bait and 'cruise' back past them (but really hurting!)
Works both ways though.
I was coming Westbound along the seafront cyclepath a few nights back into a 20mph+ headwind; head down, semi crouch, four down from top gear, cussing my decision to live on the coast.
A chap on an ancient roadie breezes past me; panniers, backpack, kiddie seat, wearing a half-inflated parka and jeans.
Automatically drop into his slipstream just to get some respite from the wind - didn't need to be too close as this guy was making a big aerodynamic hole, but after 100yds he cottons on to my presence.
He upped the pace, sat up, turned around, and said 'keep up then' and then nonchanantly buggered off into the distance.
I was coming Westbound along the seafront cyclepath a few nights back into a 20mph+ headwind; head down, semi crouch, four down from top gear, cussing my decision to live on the coast.
A chap on an ancient roadie breezes past me; panniers, backpack, kiddie seat, wearing a half-inflated parka and jeans.
Automatically drop into his slipstream just to get some respite from the wind - didn't need to be too close as this guy was making a big aerodynamic hole, but after 100yds he cottons on to my presence.
He upped the pace, sat up, turned around, and said 'keep up then' and then nonchanantly buggered off into the distance.
I'm exactly the same, sometimes when I am truly knackered I will let people pass me and leave it, but if its a Boris Bike, hell no
Last night was a good one, 2 people passed me as I was dawdling, this made me improve my pace, I catch up to the rear of them, good speed ready to overtake, I pull out and BANG, I may as well have stopped, I hadn't realised how windy it was and how much of a hole in the air they were creating, I felt a right tt as I strained to get past them..
Last night was a good one, 2 people passed me as I was dawdling, this made me improve my pace, I catch up to the rear of them, good speed ready to overtake, I pull out and BANG, I may as well have stopped, I hadn't realised how windy it was and how much of a hole in the air they were creating, I felt a right t
t as I strained to get past them..I found it was a very London thing this - commuters racing one another. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly got involved and enjoyed many a race with others to and from work.
I particularly remember being on my mountain bike one day, buzzing away on the tarmac behind a fully fledged road rider. I was easily keeping pace with him and in fact I felt he was going a little slow so I overtook him. Being a roadie, he was having none of it and quickly blitzed past me and left me for dust. I expect if I were on my road bike I would have still been able to keep pace with him but never had the speed differential between a road bike and a mountain bike been so obvious until this occasion.
I particularly remember being on my mountain bike one day, buzzing away on the tarmac behind a fully fledged road rider. I was easily keeping pace with him and in fact I felt he was going a little slow so I overtook him. Being a roadie, he was having none of it and quickly blitzed past me and left me for dust. I expect if I were on my road bike I would have still been able to keep pace with him but never had the speed differential between a road bike and a mountain bike been so obvious until this occasion.
CVP said:
....folks latch on to a faster rider.....
All well and good unless they ride *right* on your wheel, leaving you very little room for a sverve, etc, and also refuse to take the lead, even for 100m or so. However, they will shoot past to fly through red lights, or be so fixated on "getting past" that they competely ignore the pedestrians waiting to cross with a buggy on the zebra crossing, and just miss hitting them as they swoop out from your slipstream. What utter bell ends. This has happened to me countless times over the last 2 weeks (down the embankment). The next person who does this is either going to get my back wheel flicked against their front wheel, or a quick slap at the lights (assuming they bother to stop). Not acceptable riding IMHO.
CC07 PEU said:
I found it was a very London thing this - commuters racing one another. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly got involved and enjoyed many a race with others to and from work.
I particularly remember being on my mountain bike one day, buzzing away on the tarmac behind a fully fledged road rider. I was easily keeping pace with him and in fact I felt he was going a little slow so I overtook him. Being a roadie, he was having none of it and quickly blitzed past me and left me for dust. I expect if I were on my road bike I would have still been able to keep pace with him but never had the speed differential between a road bike and a mountain bike been so obvious until this occasion.
Indeed, I tried drafting a roadie on my MTB recently, he was free wheeling down an incline and I had to give it some beans to even stay near him. He noticed this and said 'get a proper bike', then buggered off. I caught up with him eventually in traffic and discussed bikes, then asked if he wanted to take an off road short cut, he laughed and buggered off. I particularly remember being on my mountain bike one day, buzzing away on the tarmac behind a fully fledged road rider. I was easily keeping pace with him and in fact I felt he was going a little slow so I overtook him. Being a roadie, he was having none of it and quickly blitzed past me and left me for dust. I expect if I were on my road bike I would have still been able to keep pace with him but never had the speed differential between a road bike and a mountain bike been so obvious until this occasion.
http://www.itsnotarace.org/
I'm exactly the same, if I see someone ahead, I'll always try and catch them. I have a penchant for steel frames with downtube shifters and have one I build specifically for commuting around York.
I take great pleasure in mugging 'all the gear-no idea' full carbon chaps for a spot of entertainment...but recently got done by a guy on a singlespeed. The shame (but he did have a higher FCN than me).
Cheers,
Tom
I'm exactly the same, if I see someone ahead, I'll always try and catch them. I have a penchant for steel frames with downtube shifters and have one I build specifically for commuting around York.
I take great pleasure in mugging 'all the gear-no idea' full carbon chaps for a spot of entertainment...but recently got done by a guy on a singlespeed. The shame (but he did have a higher FCN than me).
Cheers,
Tom
princeperch said:
I have this problem.
I was on my way home down old st tonight and saw a chap on a road bike, going at a fair old lick. Thought, I'd have him, so off I went.
Couple of minutes later he was on my back wheel, but he didnt manage to get past. We got to the old st roundabout and were at a red light and he turned to me and said "I've never, ever, seen a Brompton go that fast".
I said: "well you have now", and with perfect timing, the lights changed, and I was off again.
Beware 6 ft tall men on small red bikes.
Are Bromptons and dahons etc all one size? Presumably at 6ft you are above the ideal size for one or doesn't it matter much? I'm quite tall and really fancy a folding bike. I have no use for one whatsoever but for some reason I really want one. I was on my way home down old st tonight and saw a chap on a road bike, going at a fair old lick. Thought, I'd have him, so off I went.
Couple of minutes later he was on my back wheel, but he didnt manage to get past. We got to the old st roundabout and were at a red light and he turned to me and said "I've never, ever, seen a Brompton go that fast".
I said: "well you have now", and with perfect timing, the lights changed, and I was off again.
Beware 6 ft tall men on small red bikes.
http://www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/2010/
Edited by el stovey on Friday 20th August 21:35
el stovey said:
princeperch said:
I have this problem.
I was on my way home down old st tonight and saw a chap on a road bike, going at a fair old lick. Thought, I'd have him, so off I went.
Couple of minutes later he was on my back wheel, but he didnt manage to get past. We got to the old st roundabout and were at a red light and he turned to me and said "I've never, ever, seen a Brompton go that fast".
I said: "well you have now", and with perfect timing, the lights changed, and I was off again.
Beware 6 ft tall men on small red bikes.
Are Bromptons and dahons etc all one size? Presumably at 6ft you are above the ideal size for one or doesn't it matter much? I'm quite tall and really fancy a folding bike. I have no use for one whatsoever but for some reason I really want one. I was on my way home down old st tonight and saw a chap on a road bike, going at a fair old lick. Thought, I'd have him, so off I went.
Couple of minutes later he was on my back wheel, but he didnt manage to get past. We got to the old st roundabout and were at a red light and he turned to me and said "I've never, ever, seen a Brompton go that fast".
I said: "well you have now", and with perfect timing, the lights changed, and I was off again.
Beware 6 ft tall men on small red bikes.
http://www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/2010/
Edited by el stovey on Friday 20th August 21:35
If you want a half decent folding bike but dont want to spend a load of cash (my brommy cost £850.00), I am about to but a brand new folding bike, which is branded 'Compass' but is actually made by Dahon, on ebay. Google them, they have good reviews. If I didnt have a need for speed I would keep it. If you are interested let me know.
Unfortunately I have 7 bikes in our one bed flat and my missus is getting a bit cheesed off over it.
Edited by princeperch on Friday 20th August 22:06
I do this all the time.
A couple of years ago when I was at school, I always raced this chap in a rigid bike with thin road tyres (almost like a cyclocross(sp?)). I could never keep up with him as the commute was uphill and I was riding a fully prepped Norco Atomik! That was until my Dad gave me his 1976 Raleigh Scorpio road bike. I didn't know a flat tyred ancient machine could go so quickly!
It was a good feeling though, beating the smug git!
A couple of years ago when I was at school, I always raced this chap in a rigid bike with thin road tyres (almost like a cyclocross(sp?)). I could never keep up with him as the commute was uphill and I was riding a fully prepped Norco Atomik! That was until my Dad gave me his 1976 Raleigh Scorpio road bike. I didn't know a flat tyred ancient machine could go so quickly!
It was a good feeling though, beating the smug git!
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