Competitive commuters

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I don't tend to get competitive, due to my commute being a pretty cyclist-free zone,especially at this time of year. Also, when I'm on my way home after a night shift I'm just glad to be able to stay awake and pedal

 

[GrasB]

Hell no. For commuting it's mostly 44/16, (72GI), sometimes 44/15 (77GI) and for longer rides it's 44/17 (68GI).

I'd never run your gear in London, GrasB as it compromises acceleration too much.

Oddly enough I find that the 650c fixie in that gear is only a little slower away from the mark than the Marin in a gear around 10" shorter. But also you're correct, I spend about 1.5 miles in the outskirts of Cambridge, besides that it's open & flowing roads. That is one of the reasons I maintain such a high ave speed, I don't actually need to slow down that often on my commutes.

A lot of people seem interested in their maximum cadence downhill - a better test of ability is trying to maintain a high cadence (115rpm say) on a medium gear over a significant distance (10 or 25 miles). I could never do a sub 25min 10 on 72", but could manage it "fine" on 90" +

While my average, or rather mean, cadence is 75-80ish on my commutes if you look at my modal average cadence it's typically in the 85-95 range. I know that I can sustain around 135ppm for long periods but really I don't want to sustain more than about 120ppm for extended periods if I'm wanting to do something other than rest for a few hours at the other end.

 

[MacB]

Did you mean 11/60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well we've been ignored Keith and the weirdest willy measuring contest I've ever encountered continues

 

[trustysteed]

well we've been ignored Keith and the weirdest willy measuring contest I've ever encountered continues

girth v length?

 

[Origamist]

well we've been ignored Keith and the weirdest willy measuring contest I've ever encountered continues

MacB - just for you, here's my 60Ter. Girth or length is not problem due to the size of my oval ring...

 

[MacB]

MacB - just for you, here's my 60Ter. Girth or length is not problem due to the size of my oval ring...

Mate, that's awesome, fugly, but awesome

 

[BentMikey]

Ah, that's as much of a cheating 60t as this:

 

[Tynan]

Cruise speed is 21-23 on 74" - going about 110 RPM at 23mph is where the power/leg speed get's me without wind assistance or gravity - i.e struggle to maintain any more speed at that RPM. Can't drop a gear and put in more power so that's where geared road bikes pull away.

Wind assisted 25mph is OK. - downhill I can do about 32 at 160 rph, then my leg bearings start falling out.....

you're quicker than most foss clearly but makes my point none the less, there is a top end without making the slow end silly

 

[GrasB]

From what 'fashion' fixies I've seen most are gears in the mid to high 60" range. At 70" 100ppm = about 20mph but the riders of those bikes can't really handle holding more than kinda cadence for long periods so are limited to 19-20mph cruise.

Personally I've geared my bike to the road conditions, there's very few times I need to drop to below 10mph around here, gradients don't get above 5% for very long, so I can climb & descend with out the really silly cadences.

 

[Origamist]

I get another mention on the SCR thread over at BikeRadar (not a "man mountain" description this time, just "tall" - it must be the fitted gilet that shaves a stone off me) as I too pulled up behind the guy in the American football helmet at Balham and must have passed Citizen Smith and his roadies on the way up to Clapham South.

I find it strangely addictive to read about all the people who race along my commute. I'm almost tempted to dig up my old C+ password and join the thread...

Citizen Smith
What's the FCN modifiier for an American Football Helmet?! Chap rolled up beside me at Balham crossroads with it on - had to double-take, safety conscious or what?!

Always remember in SCR there is always a bigger fish that you. Coming down Balham Hill towards the petrol station (heading north), was stuck behind two roadies - decided to give some beans before the rise up to Clapham South...I take both their scalps only for a tall SSer to take me in a triple pass manoeveur. He then proceeded to power up the hill and showed good pace all the way to Stockwell where we parted to company. I had to dig deep just to keep him in my sights. Chapeau to you sir.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12575770&start=17060

 

[MacB]

Ah, come on O, you just wanted to slot in your triple pass scalp somehow

 

[Origamist]

Ah, come on O, you just wanted to slot in your triple pass scalp somehow

I must be a sort of La Longue Carabine of Tooting Bec...

Scalped any slugs or snails in the wet weather, MacB

 

[iLB]

are you sure you are not the author of the citizen smith post matt?

 

[Origamist]

are you sure you are not the author of the citizen smith post matt?

Damn - found out! I knew I should not have put Tooting South London in the location field with a Trotskyist alias...