Commuter Racing - my comeuppance

[Kestevan]

My ride home features a long steady hill, probably 2 miles at 4-5% with traffic lights at the bottom, and a downhill at the end.

I usually make a point of trying to catch and pass anyone I can see when I pass the lights before they reach the brow of the hill

Last night, I saw a mountain bike thingy 1/3 way up, and duly set off in pursuit. My legs were burning, I was breathing through my ears and could hardly see through the sweat on my glasses, but slowly I reeled him in.

As I closed, I thought, "Jeese, this guys moving, and that looks a heavy bike.... and he doesn't look like he's trying". Bugger was riding an electric bike

I slowed 10yds off his back wheel to get my breath back, then passed him with a cheery "Evening" as though nothing was amiss.
Whizzed down the downhill section as fast as possible, turned off into my road home and frantically tried not to pass out or throw up.

Morall of the story is either: wind in the Macho bull-toffee and stop commuter racing.... or Wa-hey I caught him anyway, bring on the next victim.

Can't decide which one

 

[adds21]

Scalping an electirc bike, uphill has got to worth triple points.

 

[4F]

Morall of the story is either: wind in the Macho bull-toffee and stop commuter racing

Impossible, I am old enough to know better but despite my best intentions of taking it easy the moment I spot someone ahead then it is game on

 

[GrasB]

I'd go for the latter my self. But that's only cause I took an incline faster than a guy on an electric bike & he seemed to be struggling somewhat.

 

[Gains]

lol nice one - particularly breathing out of your ears, i think iv started that too on occasion!

iv not got the fitness yet to seriously commute race (the lack of people on my side of the road is also a major factor) - just getting to the top of the hills is a win in my books thus far!

 

[Twenty Inch]

That's happened to me when I was a superfit triathlete - as I painfully inched closer to the overweight German Hausfrau I started to seriously doubt my eyes, until I realised it was an electric bike. Oh the relief.

It's definitely the second moral.

 

[BrumJim]

Second.

Before you posted that, I thought you were a vacuous waste of bytes, an inconsequential blip on an otherwise mission critical forum. The dummy switch on a Nuclear arming control panel. The Gordon Brown on a Lib/Lab coalition. Now reading this, you are my new hero. I will build a shrine to you when I get home, and follow your ever move with wonder and amazement.

Can I have your twitter address, signed photo and life story, please? I may even write a sycophantic biography of you.

 

[Wobblers]

Second.

Before you posted that, I thought you were a vacuous waste of bytes, an inconsequential blip on an otherwise mission critical forum. The dummy switch on a Nuclear arming control panel. The Gordon Brown on a Lib/Lab coalition. Now reading this, you are my new hero. I will build a shrine to you when I get home, and follow your ever move with wonder and amazement.

Can I have your twitter address, signed photo and life story, please? I may even write a sycophantic biography of you.

Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there, BrumJim???

As for giving up commuter racing - don't be silly! Scalping an electric bike is definitely a "wahey moment"!

 

[BrumJim]

Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there, BrumJim???

As for giving up commuter racing - don't be silly! Scalping an electric bike is definitely a "wahey moment"!

More like hyperbole. You KNOW what I am like in "The Race". We scalped them kids on the BMXs good and proper the other evening, heh?

(Don't mention the man on the TT bike.....)

 

[perplexed]

I cycled into the city centre the other day, and caught up with a rather attractive young lady.

I couldn't seem to raise the desire to pass her. But I spent a happy half a mile behind her before she turned off!

 

[Vincealot]

I scalped a Leccy bike uphill once and told the rider he needed a bigger engine

I set off for work at 4:30am now and unfortunatly dont see any other cyclists in the morning apart from 1 ninja going the opposite way.

 

[palinurus]

I scalped an electric bike once. I was putting a fair bit of effort in, he was pedalling gently. And wearing wellies.

 

[al78]

I cycled into the city centre the other day, and caught up with a rather attractive young lady.

I couldn't seem to raise the desire to pass her. But I spent a happy half a mile behind her before she turned off!

Did you raise anything else .

 

[perplexed]

Did you raise anything else .

I had to think about Margaret Thatcher for a bit, that did the trick!