Hot headed cyclists
Discussion
I am currently riding my GF's bike to work as the chain has snapped on my Bianchi. Anyway I have noticed that now I am riding this bike the roadies really cant hack it when I go past them, I ride at a quick pace at the most of times but they will try their hardest to get back in front of me. I nearly got squished between a 911 and a lycra clad roadie this morning only because he had to be first. This is also very German mentality so perhaps that has something to do with it. Does this happen in the UK? Is this the same mentality that the roadies have on the Sunday rides where they ride 4 a breast? Touch of arrogance perhaps?
Yes, it happens in England.
Lycra-clad, hi-viz, helmet-wearing nodders grunting and puffing on their brand new carbon Cervelos seem quite put out as I race past them on my old Harry Quinn fixed wheel looking relaxed and cheery. "how is that fat bloke in jeans and a t-shirt and one gear faster than me? I've bought all this expensive kit!"
Lycra-clad, hi-viz, helmet-wearing nodders grunting and puffing on their brand new carbon Cervelos seem quite put out as I race past them on my old Harry Quinn fixed wheel looking relaxed and cheery. "how is that fat bloke in jeans and a t-shirt and one gear faster than me? I've bought all this expensive kit!"
I am a DH'er and always will, but I dabble in most other disceplines of cycling...
A couple of summers ago I was doing a lot of races so was training hard mid-week on my Dad's road bike. On one particular occasion I overtook a couple who were out riding together; both of which were lycra clad sexuarly confucsed people.
Anyways, soon after I overtook them the bloke had to make a point of catching me up to 'race' me (thus leaving his wife/GF miles behind...). Anyways, being as I was on a pretty ancient rally 'dynatech' with a huge screw-on free-wheel I thought I'd teach to bitty-boy a lesson by pushing him (which I seemed to as I stayed with him despite being a fair few gear ratio's down on him). Fun times.
Yes I was probably as much of a knob for rising to it, but at the end of the day he left his partner behind just so he could race me; a blantant baggy short, p1ss-pot wearing non-roady on an outdated bike. Muppet.
A couple of summers ago I was doing a lot of races so was training hard mid-week on my Dad's road bike. On one particular occasion I overtook a couple who were out riding together; both of which were lycra clad sexuarly confucsed people.
Anyways, soon after I overtook them the bloke had to make a point of catching me up to 'race' me (thus leaving his wife/GF miles behind...). Anyways, being as I was on a pretty ancient rally 'dynatech' with a huge screw-on free-wheel I thought I'd teach to bitty-boy a lesson by pushing him (which I seemed to as I stayed with him despite being a fair few gear ratio's down on him). Fun times.
Yes I was probably as much of a knob for rising to it, but at the end of the day he left his partner behind just so he could race me; a blantant baggy short, p1ss-pot wearing non-roady on an outdated bike. Muppet.
What gets me is when you overtake someone and then at the next lights they ride past and stop in front of you. Happes a lot in London. I 've told a couple of people to get out of the way when there is a sequence of lights and they've done it a couple of times. Although, it's not the worst thing in the world.
On my 6 mile commute on a mtb to my old company, a chap who passed me on a road bike said "you should get a proper bike" Admitedly, I couldn't quite catch him as I was on chunky tyres and only had a 44t ring on that bike, but what he should have said is "If you had skinny slicks an taller gearing, you'd leave me for dead.
i ride in cambridge city centre alot, i only ever ride MTB and sometimes use road tyres but consider myself to be pretty quick but some of these eternal students on there 40 year old peices of crap still fly past me! gotta laugh to myself when i try and keep up to their single speeds!
Parrot of Doom said:
I don't use my road bike any longer, but when I did anyone in my sights was a target to be caught and overtaken, no matter what the cost.Its just a bit of fun, although I'd never have berated anyone.
Quite right, although racing a cyclist who hasn't ridden as far as I have, and/or doesn't have as far to go, has had my heart rate well into the 200's a few times.hehe, I nipped down the local woods the other night, and it was starting to get dark when i left, so I hustled back, along a nice long straight road I caught two roadies (who I presume were taking it very easy - as I'm no fitness buff) easily caught them and overtook them, had a nice bit of banter "come on boys, keep up" replied with "bloody youths" 
all friendly etc, I had one road rider in derby tell me to get a proper bike (ie, road one) at the traffic lights, raced off, then looked on as he went straight into a kerb, whilst I bunny hopped over it and away gleefully 
you always get the one in ten whos an arse!
I had forgotten how generally friendly cyclists are, been out a lot recently, and every smiles and nods, adds to the experience I think
all friendly etc, I had one road rider in derby tell me to get a proper bike (ie, road one) at the traffic lights, raced off, then looked on as he went straight into a kerb, whilst I bunny hopped over it and away gleefully you always get the one in ten whos an arse!I had forgotten how generally friendly cyclists are, been out a lot recently, and every smiles and nods, adds to the experience I think
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