Best compliment ever :)

[BentMikey]

People try to draft me on the recumbent, it's well funny. I'm mean though, I like to ease on the speed a little bit at a time so they keep thinking they can have me. That sometimes keeps them from realising that there's very little draft behind me, and I can get maybe a mile out of them. Better a massive long effort as a little sprint might leave them enough energy to have a comeback.

Then an uphill comes along and I'm the one going backwards, LOL!

 

[HobbesChoice]

Seems like everybody on here is Chris Hoy.

I'm nowhere near these fitness levels so am just keeping quiet!

 

[Jezston]

It's rare that I get the opportunity to do anything remotely resembling a 'race' on my commute - most of the other cyclists I see are going the other way (even if it's a one way street), but caught up with one of my colleagues today on the A52 and scalped him good - felt particularly good as I had just come up a fairly long hill and he'd only just started!

 

[jay clock]

17 miles a day? That's ideal to build up a really high level of fitness. Well done

 

[mark i]

The drafting overtake thing is what I call my gremlin. He appears on my shoulder when there is a cyclist ahead, or behind, must catch / drop cyclist, and repeat.
There is a guy that I sometimes come across, last week I was waiting at a junction and he flashed past. I managed to get out 100 yds behind him. He was on road bike, I was on mountain bike with knobblys (had been snowing earlier in the week). 2 miles later as we go different ways I had just caught him. The next 1 1/2 miles were painful though!

 

[Chamfus Flange]

I've drafted before and always thank the unluck soul with me in tow. I am, however, no where strong enough to have someone draft me. Not yet.

 

[HobbesChoice]

I've drafted before and always thank the unluck soul with me in tow. I am, however, no where strong enough to have someone draft me. Not yet.

Someone actually tried drafting me last week! He did that for about 2 miles before pushing on much further ahead! I wasn't sure whether to be miffed or flattered! Didn't get a thank you for it either!

 

[BentMikey]

Last year some time I was pretty tired, and got to near Bromley South on the A21 on the way home. Saw a chap on a road bike turn out of there, likely having come from the station, also from work (slacker, I rode the whole way!), and latched onto him. He was strong, he pulled me so fast I was hanging on by my fingernails all the way to Oakely Drive where I turned off. It was all fairly flat too, so given that I was on a recumbent he must have had 100W or more on me. I was extremely gratified to see that he slowed down after I turned off.

There was no way I could have led at that pace, and he wouldn't have had much draft from me anyway. I did let him know I was on his tail, and thanked him when I turned off.

 

[Matty]

Isn't it nice when, just occasionally, you catch/get caught and then take it in turns??

 

[Brahan]

Yes, I always offer to have a go up front when I catch someone and it's nice when they pull through and do their turn.

 

[fossyant]

Isn't it nice when, just occasionally, you catch/get caught and then take it in turns??

Yep - did that a couple of years ago (Summer 2008) - Olympics were on

Caught up with another slicked MTB (me on one too) and as he pulled away from the lights, he was just slightly slower than me - I passed, he jumped on and we tore out of Manchester down the A34 at 25 mph plus...some guy on the pavement shouted "Olympics" as we 2 up TT'ed for about 4 miles......

Said a cheery goodby as we split route - we both were probably gasping by then, I know I was.

Also did it last year with a guy on a TT bike (me on fixed by then - no way would I be quick enough on the MTB) - ended up doing about 10 miles home together.

 

[cyberknight]

I'm nowhere near these fitness levels so am just keeping quiet!

Me too... I have considered asking overtakers to take my panniers to slow them down so i can keep up............or a tow rope

 

[jamesxyz]

Isn't it nice when, just occasionally, you catch/get caught and then take it in turns??

yeah but don't you find yourself riding side-by-side and having a chat?

 

[chap]

...

I explained I only commute 17 each day but a year ago I was 17.5 stone !

Well to say it made my day was an understatement ! Its made all the winter cycling through rain, snow and freezing temps worth while. Maybe I can consider myself a roadie ?

Well done!

The health and fitness forum certainly needs somebody like you to explain how you did it.

Perhaps you could also write to Mens Health or similar; anything to raise the profile of cycling (past being a summer months fad) is helpful, and achievements like this ought to be celebrated, especially in this country.

Did you diet too?