Carbons out of hibernation

[KingstonBiker]

With the transition to Spring and improvement in the weather the number of cyclists on my commute has increased exponentially each day this week.

Through the winter months I would rarely be overtaken by another cyclist. However this week it's all changed and I've been overtaken a couple of times each commute. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with being overtaken. One thing I've noticed is they're nearly all on carbon bikes.

Are these the same cyclists I've been overtaking during the winter months and they've now switched bikes, or have they been in hibernation?

 

[ianrauk]

can't see the point in 'Carbon Bike Hibernation'. Seems such a waste of a nice ride.

 

[david1701]

is it to not get the nice bike muddy/use more suitable tyres in the bad or is there a thing about carbon in bad weather?

 

[ianrauk]

Carbon does not degrade in bad weather. It's just snobbery, simples.
My Carbonjobbie goes out in all weathers. It's near 2 years old and people on here who know me and know my bike will tell you it look's just as nice and clean now as they day I bought it.

 

[david1701]

lush my soon to be only bike has carbon forks and I got very very worried for a bit there

 

[gaz]

I find them quite annoying. I come across them and they are going their pace, which is fine. But if i'm going faster then i want to overtake. They seem to think this an invitation to race and then just start cycling like prats.

 

[gb155]

Carbon does not degrade in bad weather. It's just snobbery, simples.
My Carbonjobbie goes out in all weathers. It's near 2 years old and people on here who know me and know my bike will tell you it look's just as nice and clean now as they day I bought it.

Really ?

Not sure why, but I though it did

 

[Moodyman]

With the transition to Spring and improvement in the weather the number of cyclists on my commute has increased exponentially each day this week.

Through the winter months I would rarely be overtaken by another cyclist. However this week it's all changed and I've been overtaken a couple of times each commute. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with being overtaken. One thing I've noticed is they're nearly all on carbon bikes.

Are these the same cyclists I've been overtaking during the winter months and they've now switched bikes, or have they been in hibernation?

Doubt it. They're likely to be fair weather cyclists. I've seen a surge in expensive road bikes and numbers of riders at the same time. The (proper)

cyclists I saw regularly in December / January are still riding the same bikes now as they were then.

I've noticed the same as Gaz. Aside one guy who is clearly a racer, I overtake most of them. They, then take this as an invitation to a race.

 

[ianrauk]

I find them quite annoying. I come across them and they are going their pace, which is fine. But if i'm going faster then i want to overtake. They seem to think this an invitation to race and then just start cycling like prats.

Indeed, and I think they do find it a tad annoying themselves when they are overtaken and left for dust by a guy with a pannier..

Had one the other day, nice new clean blingy Trek and all the gear, overtook me, I took him back and kept him behind me. He tried his hardest to keep up with me up the A21. I wasn't having any of it. ................He soon gave up.

 

[BlackPanther]

Indeed, and I think they do find it a tad annoying themselves when they are overtaken and left for dust by a guy with a pannier.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. One day last year I overtook a roadbiker on my dual panniered Dawes townbike, only for the guy to stand on his pedals (I have a mirror too, which I think added to the insult) and come back past me. Unfortunately for him, further down the road, he'd stopped at a red light and I was lucky with the change to green and got back past him......for a while at least. Then followed a 3 mile leap frog chase right through Doncaster, which I lost on a slight uphill solely because of the weight of the Dawes. He turned off the main road after the uphill. I tell myself that he didn't live down that road, he bottled it 'cos he new he'd lose.

The difference now though, is that I have my new Specialized Allez so I pray that we'll meet again. I loved a nice work out on the way home!

 

[buddha]

Out of town, winter roads can be a bit mucky (i mean stuff like small stones etc. and gritty run-off from fields). So I just put some clear tape under the BB, downtube, chainstays etc for protection.

 

[wesa]

I have noticed a big increase in the number of bikes, although not many carbon. My commute home starts right by the start point of one of the local cycle club training routes. The club is not using it at commute time but, in the nicer weather, I often see riders doing the route. I have yet to have one pass me and make it stick; they know the hill is there, I know the hill is there - they ride it once in a while I ride it every day. A good reward is when one of my colleagues is approaching in a car as I pass the guy, I have had a few questions about panniers making you go faster.

I don't race on the way in to work but on the way home I'll have a go. That said I will quite happily sit behind someone who is going at my pace. I hate the prospect of playing leapfrog.

I have changed my route to avoid a race and I have changed my route to win a race.

Motivation to avoid a game of leapfrog saw me doing nearly 30 (by gps log) down a cycle track with my 2yr old in the child seat (shouting "weeeeeee"). I had passed a guy and the little one had blown him a raspberry, I was mortified.

 

[david1701]

Out of town, winter roads can be a bit mucky (i mean stuff like small stones etc. and gritty run-off from fields). So I just put some clear tape under the BB, downtube, chainstays etc for protection.

is it worth worrying about for forks? (guards fitted)

 

[ianrauk]

is it worth worrying about for forks? (guards fitted)

No need to worry. Just keep your bike clean and they will be fine.
Water, mud, crud, crap will not harm Carbon.

 

[david1701]

excellent