Discussion
Got into a 'race' last night on the ride home from Long Valley/Caesar's Camp on the Aldershot Military Training Area. I may have broken my 'opponent'. Should I feel bad about it?
I was cruising happily through the woods from Norris Bridge toward Fleet Pond, just after 2100hrs and nearing the end of my ride, heading for Southwood, when this fella came charging past, a little too close for comfort on a relatively narrow track, without any audible warning - no bell, no shout, nothing.
This bothered me on more than one level...
1. Dude, it's just courtesy to warn someone when you're going to execute a close pass, especially off road at night. I could have given you some space if I'd known you were passing me.
2. He appeared to be 'racing' me. Possibly with a view to boasting about it. Dude, if you want a race, tell me. Then it'll be a fair contest.
3. He was cheating. I ride a MTB with 2.1" knobblies and had 20 hard sandy miles in my legs. He looked fresh and was on a flat bar hybrid running on 25 x 700c's.
4. It was late. I was enjoying the peace and quiet, the serene feeling of being the only person at large in the woods, the company of only the odd owl or deer. The zen-like experience of the world slowed down and calm. Then he spoiled it.
There were other reasons I HAD to respond to the challenge, but I'm not sure they're entirely relevant here
but I recall thinking "I'm not getting beat by a man dressed like THAT!"
Anyhoo. He turns right toward Ively road, so I put the hammer down and followed, fully expecting him to be way beyond my catching him. But, as he reaches the small gravel hill on the track that follows the NGTE site perimeter, he completely bogs down. Not a natural climber? Selected the wrong gear? I've no idea, but I sailed past him, still seated, and stood up for the last section just to rub it in. I think what finally broke his will was hearing me change up the cassette as I approached the top of the (short) climb.
Now he'd passed me, but not 'made it stick', but I was sort of guilty of the same thing, avoiding letting him 'challenge' me on the flat by taking a detour round 'the minefield' (an open field near Fleet Pond). Then I felt guilty so headed back to the track via a lap of half the field. As I popped back out onto the track and cranked it up, expecting him to be half a mile ahead by now, I caught sight of a bike laid on it's side on the track. Then I saw it's rider, stood in the trees beside the track having himself a little stretch and a breather
My guess is that when he initially saw me and decided to come charging past, it took so much out of him that he had nothing left for the short climb, and he'd counted on me not 'giving chase', allowing him to gently get his breath back. I think I spoiled his plan.
He seemed OK when I rode past him the second time, responding with a nod and a raised palm to my "good evening". I hope he made it home OK.
Q? Should I grow up and get a life?
Q? Was he 'out of order' or was I?
Q? Does any of this really matter?
Q? Might I get my arse handed to me if I try a stunt like that again?
Q? Am I overthinking this?
I really thought that at my age I was past silly stuff like this, but it felt like a challenge, and I was glad of the incentive to raise the 'Av Sp' up a little, after doing a lot of climbing around Caesar's Camp/Beacon Hill and getting bogged down cycling through sand across Long Valley. 21.56 miles in 2hr 26min @ Av Sp = 8.8mph according to the Cateye computer. I've no idea how that compares to the average person's MTB pace, but on that sort of terrain I was satisfied with my performance.
Oh, and I was following a complex fuelling plan. Lunch at about 1330hrs at The Waterwitch (Chef and Brewer) at Odiham and I took a 750ml bottle filled with water from the kitchen tap.
I was cruising happily through the woods from Norris Bridge toward Fleet Pond, just after 2100hrs and nearing the end of my ride, heading for Southwood, when this fella came charging past, a little too close for comfort on a relatively narrow track, without any audible warning - no bell, no shout, nothing.
This bothered me on more than one level...
1. Dude, it's just courtesy to warn someone when you're going to execute a close pass, especially off road at night. I could have given you some space if I'd known you were passing me.
2. He appeared to be 'racing' me. Possibly with a view to boasting about it. Dude, if you want a race, tell me. Then it'll be a fair contest.
3. He was cheating. I ride a MTB with 2.1" knobblies and had 20 hard sandy miles in my legs. He looked fresh and was on a flat bar hybrid running on 25 x 700c's.
4. It was late. I was enjoying the peace and quiet, the serene feeling of being the only person at large in the woods, the company of only the odd owl or deer. The zen-like experience of the world slowed down and calm. Then he spoiled it.
There were other reasons I HAD to respond to the challenge, but I'm not sure they're entirely relevant here
but I recall thinking "I'm not getting beat by a man dressed like THAT!"Anyhoo. He turns right toward Ively road, so I put the hammer down and followed, fully expecting him to be way beyond my catching him. But, as he reaches the small gravel hill on the track that follows the NGTE site perimeter, he completely bogs down. Not a natural climber? Selected the wrong gear? I've no idea, but I sailed past him, still seated, and stood up for the last section just to rub it in. I think what finally broke his will was hearing me change up the cassette as I approached the top of the (short) climb.
Now he'd passed me, but not 'made it stick', but I was sort of guilty of the same thing, avoiding letting him 'challenge' me on the flat by taking a detour round 'the minefield' (an open field near Fleet Pond). Then I felt guilty so headed back to the track via a lap of half the field. As I popped back out onto the track and cranked it up, expecting him to be half a mile ahead by now, I caught sight of a bike laid on it's side on the track. Then I saw it's rider, stood in the trees beside the track having himself a little stretch and a breather
My guess is that when he initially saw me and decided to come charging past, it took so much out of him that he had nothing left for the short climb, and he'd counted on me not 'giving chase', allowing him to gently get his breath back. I think I spoiled his plan.
He seemed OK when I rode past him the second time, responding with a nod and a raised palm to my "good evening". I hope he made it home OK.
Q? Should I grow up and get a life?
Q? Was he 'out of order' or was I?
Q? Does any of this really matter?
Q? Might I get my arse handed to me if I try a stunt like that again?
Q? Am I overthinking this?
I really thought that at my age I was past silly stuff like this, but it felt like a challenge, and I was glad of the incentive to raise the 'Av Sp' up a little, after doing a lot of climbing around Caesar's Camp/Beacon Hill and getting bogged down cycling through sand across Long Valley. 21.56 miles in 2hr 26min @ Av Sp = 8.8mph according to the Cateye computer. I've no idea how that compares to the average person's MTB pace, but on that sort of terrain I was satisfied with my performance.
Oh, and I was following a complex fuelling plan. Lunch at about 1330hrs at The Waterwitch (Chef and Brewer) at Odiham and I took a 750ml bottle filled with water from the kitchen tap.
As he was on a Hybrid course you were in the right, you wouldnt let a person driving a Prius buzz past you and let it lie would you? LOL
No one on here can say they havent chased someone in the distance and hold their breath as they pass with a cheery "afternoon" and there tear off into the distance to catch their breath back, matey did it with you but got caught out....live and learn LOL
P.S. I was there yesterday, but at around 5pm.We had stopped at the king and cushion (IIRC thats the name) highly recommend the Sheppard Neame Jack.
No one on here can say they havent chased someone in the distance and hold their breath as they pass with a cheery "afternoon" and there tear off into the distance to catch their breath back, matey did it with you but got caught out....live and learn LOL
P.S. I was there yesterday, but at around 5pm.We had stopped at the king and cushion (IIRC thats the name) highly recommend the Sheppard Neame Jack.
I live in the area and was intending to explore the tracks around Fleet Pond and Piestock. I regularly destroy people when I ride and some have even given up cycling as a result as they felt there was no point anymore.
I'll attach a pirate flag to the back of my bike so you can recognise me as I blast past you.
I'll attach a pirate flag to the back of my bike so you can recognise me as I blast past you.
Q? Should I grow up and get a life? - No, 'growing up' is just miserable people code for becoming more miserable.
Q? Was he 'out of order' or was I? - Neither, it's all 'in the game' [/Omar] - but seriously one of the great things about cycling off-road as apposed to driving is you can get into competitions and act pretty much as you dam well please as long as you're not going to hurt anyone else.
Q? Does any of this really matter? - Nope, if it did, it wouldn't be fun.
Q? Might I get my arse handed to me if I try a stunt like that again? - quite likely, everyone's got a stronger pair of legs out there with their name on them. Losing a race isn't as nice, but it's all in the game (see above).
Q? Am I overthinking this? - Oh certainly.
Q? Was he 'out of order' or was I? - Neither, it's all 'in the game' [/Omar] - but seriously one of the great things about cycling off-road as apposed to driving is you can get into competitions and act pretty much as you dam well please as long as you're not going to hurt anyone else.
Q? Does any of this really matter? - Nope, if it did, it wouldn't be fun.
Q? Might I get my arse handed to me if I try a stunt like that again? - quite likely, everyone's got a stronger pair of legs out there with their name on them. Losing a race isn't as nice, but it's all in the game (see above).
Q? Am I overthinking this? - Oh certainly.
Fluffsri said:
As he was on a Hybrid course you were in the right, you wouldnt let a person driving a Prius buzz past you and let it lie would you? LOL
No one on here can say they havent chased someone in the distance and hold their breath as they pass with a cheery "afternoon" and there tear off into the distance to catch their breath back, matey did it with you but got caught out....live and learn LOL
P.S. I was there yesterday, but at around 5pm.We had stopped at the king and cushion (IIRC thats the name) highly recommend the Sheppard Neame Jack.
Cheers, Fluff. Was it perchance the 'Crown and Cushion' on the Minley Road? Cricket pitch next to the pub, barn restaurant/carvery out the back? If so, it's an Island of Loveliness completely surrounded by MOD training area which has some really good riding on it, with off road access via an MOD owned bridge over to the other side of the M3, and from there you just need to cross the A3013 Fleet Road/Cove Road to get into the Fleet Pond area. Once there if you head to the Basingstoke Canal via Pyestock Hill you can get onto the Aldershot training areas and only have to cross a couple of roads. You can be out for literally hours without repeating a section, or seeing another living soul sometimes. There's heaps of great wildlife to spot too, which is just an added bonus, really. I was posted to Gibraltar Barracks for 7 years, just up the Minley Road from the Crown and Cushion, so know the area quite well.No one on here can say they havent chased someone in the distance and hold their breath as they pass with a cheery "afternoon" and there tear off into the distance to catch their breath back, matey did it with you but got caught out....live and learn LOL
P.S. I was there yesterday, but at around 5pm.We had stopped at the king and cushion (IIRC thats the name) highly recommend the Sheppard Neame Jack.
Gizmoish said:
Some FCN points I'd say.
Initially WTF?After a moment on google, I found this... http://www.itsnotarace.org/fcn-calculator/
I work out at a FCN of 10 on the hard tail MTB (and a FCN of 3 on the road bike).
Matey on the hybrid looked like a FCN 7 to me. So I presumed that meant 3 points for me.
Alas, it's only one point, according to the rules, no matter how much higher up the food chain your 'victim' is. 
Seriously, though, I've found a game to play that doesn't need a Garmin or a Strava account.
Cool.SCR = ‘Silly Commuter Racing’.
"Mock if you will, but eventually you will come to realise that we do not play The Game, no The Game plays us."
If you can see some people in the distance ahead of you, who you couldn't see before, you must be gaining on them, right?
So they must be going slower?
So a bit more effort and you will catch and pass them?
Or, after pedalling like a b
d only to see them further away every time they come into sight again, you could eventually realise that the buggers must have fairly recently joined your route at a junction and like Fernando, they're faster than you.
Still, gives a bit of incentive!
So they must be going slower?
So a bit more effort and you will catch and pass them?
Or, after pedalling like a b
d only to see them further away every time they come into sight again, you could eventually realise that the buggers must have fairly recently joined your route at a junction and like Fernando, they're faster than you. Still, gives a bit of incentive!
Gizmoish said:
yellowjack said:
"Mock if you will, but eventually you will come to realise that we do not play The Game, no The Game plays us."
Q: How do you know if someone else is playing the Game?A: Everyone is the game.
It had to be done. Same thing happened to me cycling into Bristol on the cycle path, I'm in jeans on the road bike just pootling along and looking over my shoulder as I overtake people walking along and I clock a guy in full liquigas gear on his roadie coming up behind me at a fair old pace.
I assume hes going to come past but he doesnt, he just sits on my wheel. Now I really dont like wheel sucking so without looking behind me, I gently up the pace to test him, he's still there but is no aware that there is a situation!...
So I up the pace a bit more, and further still, after a minute or so of this balls out sprinting I eventually look behind me - kind of hoping he is still there to be honest! - but he's gone. Its plausible that he has pulled off so I ease up but eventually he comes past steely eyed and staring straight ahead
Cool starry bra etc etc
I assume hes going to come past but he doesnt, he just sits on my wheel. Now I really dont like wheel sucking so without looking behind me, I gently up the pace to test him, he's still there but is no aware that there is a situation!...
So I up the pace a bit more, and further still, after a minute or so of this balls out sprinting I eventually look behind me - kind of hoping he is still there to be honest! - but he's gone. Its plausible that he has pulled off so I ease up but eventually he comes past steely eyed and staring straight ahead
Cool starry bra etc etc
yellowjack said:
Cheers, Fluff. Was it perchance the 'Crown and Cushion' on the Minley Road? Cricket pitch next to the pub, barn restaurant/carvery out the back? If so, it's an Island of Loveliness completely surrounded by MOD training area which has some really good riding on it, with off road access via an MOD owned bridge over to the other side of the M3, and from there you just need to cross the A3013 Fleet Road/Cove Road to get into the Fleet Pond area. Once there if you head to the Basingstoke Canal via Pyestock Hill you can get onto the Aldershot training areas and only have to cross a couple of roads. You can be out for literally hours without repeating a section, or seeing another living soul sometimes. There's heaps of great wildlife to spot too, which is just an added bonus, really. I was posted to Gibraltar Barracks for 7 years, just up the Minley Road from the Crown and Cushion, so know the area quite well.
Is lovely round here 
Take care on night rides round Gib the locals (mostly friendly) can create a shock when mid quiet ride a group of bushes not seen before get up and walk away from you, or complain about bright bike lights affecting their NVG.
G0ldfysh said:
Is lovely round here
Take care on night rides round Gib the locals (mostly friendly) can create a shock when mid quiet ride a group of bushes not seen before get up and walk away from you, or complain about bright bike lights affecting their NVG.
Take care on night rides round Gib the locals (mostly friendly) can create a shock when mid quiet ride a group of bushes not seen before get up and walk away from you, or complain about bright bike lights affecting their NVG.
Just last week I was riding randomly around the woods behind Minley Manor when a voice from nowhere says firmly "stop!"I looked around to see a section to my right, further up the hill, and a tripwire to a pot flare to my left. I'd very nearly ridden straight through their ambush! I found another section at the other end of the ambush as I tried to find an alternate route. That new fangled cammo pattern works better in UK woodland than I expected it to. "Seen any Gurkhas, mate?" asked the second section. Presumably the Gurkhas were the 'enemy' for the day.
yellowjack said:
Cheers, Fluff. Was it perchance the 'Crown and Cushion' on the Minley Road? Cricket pitch next to the pub, barn restaurant/carvery out the back? If so, it's an Island of Loveliness completely surrounded by MOD training area which has some really good riding on it, with off road access via an MOD owned bridge over to the other side of the M3, and from there you just need to cross the A3013 Fleet Road/Cove Road to get into the Fleet Pond area. Once there if you head to the Basingstoke Canal via Pyestock Hill you can get onto the Aldershot training areas and only have to cross a couple of roads. You can be out for literally hours without repeating a section, or seeing another living soul sometimes. There's heaps of great wildlife to spot too, which is just an added bonus, really. I was posted to Gibraltar Barracks for 7 years, just up the Minley Road from the Crown and Cushion, so know the area quite well.
Yeah thats the one. We rode around Ceasers and out to Eelmore,Fleet Pond across to Minley then Yately heath. Yately back to Fleet pond, tweesle and then home. Crown and cuchion was a nice halfway house hehehe.yellowjack said:
Initially WTF?
After a moment on google, I found this... http://www.itsnotarace.org/fcn-calculator/
I work out at a FCN of 10 on the hard tail MTB (and a FCN of 3 on the road bike).
SCR = ‘Silly Commuter Racing’.
"Mock if you will, but eventually you will come to realise that we do not play The Game, no The Game plays us."
This page made me smile a bit as I too had not heard of FCN or SCR. Now I know that I'm a 9 on the way to work. "Hello Mr Cyclist...do you want to play a game"After a moment on google, I found this... http://www.itsnotarace.org/fcn-calculator/
I work out at a FCN of 10 on the hard tail MTB (and a FCN of 3 on the road bike).
SCR = ‘Silly Commuter Racing’.
"Mock if you will, but eventually you will come to realise that we do not play The Game, no The Game plays us."
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