competitive commuting

[kedab]

i really didn't mean to - if it was any one of you, i apologise

going over elizabeth way bridge yesterday, i notice a cyclist behind me:

'i'll push a little up the slope, he won't have to pass me then, safer all round' is my first thought and i do just that...

'hmm, i've not dropped him at all, i'll maintain this effort after we crest the slope and onwards to the RAB'

'well this is embarrasing, he's right behind me and showing no sign of effort at all' - by this time i've already realised what i'm doing and that this lad is clearly a more capable rider than me yet as we come off the RAB heading in the same direction, i'm still determined to stay in front by pushing a bit harder than i would during any other commute'

'why am i being so competitive, he's quicker than you, he's not even trying you fool' - undeterred i keep my cadence as best i can...reach a pedestrian crossing puffing a little and look over my shoulder - he's right there, no sign of effort and completely disinterested in my efforts.

i have no doubt he was thinking, 'my dear boy, should i take it upon myself to do so, i could give you a darn good thrashing and be home for kippers in a flash'

we parted ways at the next junction and i was already feeling slightly silly. i have no idea why my competitive nature sprang so readily to the fore - i'm well aware i'm still a beginner in the cycling/commuting world - perhaps this was a lesson i needed eh?!

 

[gaz]

It's called silly commuter racing.

 

[ChrisRicho]

I have to admit that i have done the same

The worst case is when i got over taken on the start of my work journey. I then proceeded for 4 miles to get close to him for him to speed off as soon as i was close!

 

[gb155]

Welcome to the club !

 

[SportMonkey]

Both Wednesday and Thursday I left the office determined I would take it easy. Wednesday I kept seeing other cyclists and scalped all of them, Thursday there was only one cyclist, but I shot past him at 32mph on the flat

Talking of that, we should get some CycleChat shorts, so when other cyclists see our arse they see this site.

 

[Moodyman]

I only compete when I can be assured of a victory

. No point trying to outdo a full on racer whilst riding a heavy commuter full panniers.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Riding home on my MTB I could see what looked like a shiny new road bike with a colour co-ordinatde rider up ahead. I was only pootling, but I could see I was catching him comfortably, which made the lil devil horns pop out. I girded my loins, picked up the pace and cruised past him and kept the harder pace up before turning off about a mile up the road. Feeling smug, I looked back to see how long it'd be before he past the point at which I'd turned off, only to see him sat on my back wheel.

Pride being pride, I had to keep the pace up for the next few miles before I turned off. I was nearly sick.

Talk about hoist by my own petard.

 

[Friz]

Riding home on my MTB I could see what looked like a shiny new road bike with a colour co-ordinatde rider up ahead. I was only pootling, but I could see I was catching him comfortably, which made the lil devil horns pop out. I girded my loins, picked up the pace and cruised past him and kept the harder pace up before turning off about a mile up the road. Feeling smug, I looked back to see how long it'd be before he past the point at which I'd turned off, only to see him sat on my back wheel.

Pride being pride, I had to keep the pace up for the next few miles before I turned off. I was nearly sick.

Talk about hoist by my own petard.

Try as I might I can't help it. I'll try and overtake anything else out there. Last week I raced a tractor for about 10 miles up and down hills. Got home and I was shattered.

But the dumbest I ever felt doing it is when I saw someone off in the distance and thought, "Right. I'm having you." I started laying on the speed and the distance closed. They hit a descent and the gap widened. I knew I'd take them on the next climb. Legs screaming, I pushed harder and harder. I got to about 30 feet behind them and the picture just looked wrong. When I passed her it was some old dear on a hybrid, on her mobile phone.

I felt like a complete jackass but had to keep pushing just so she wouldn't pass me out....

 

[Jezston]

There was a chap in front of me on the way home last night on a 26" wheeled tourer (randonneur?) with panniers and a handlebar bag and I couldn't catch him. I've no idea how many points I lost there but it must have been a few!

 

[pshore]

'why am i being so competitive, he's quicker than you, he's not even trying you
i have no doubt he was thinking, 'my dear boy, should i take it upon myself to do so, i could give you a darn good thrashing and be home for kippers in a flash'

So he did not pass you ? You win.

It is much easier sitting on someone's back wheel. So, either they didn't want to race or didn't have enough juice to overtake and maintain it. You'll never know and this is why you are only racing that devil in your head. Evil isn't it.

 

[GrasB]

Most of the time I laugh at people who I pass then almost immediately pass me back, absolutely flat out pedalling, their problem being most of the time I'm just doing my own thing at m,y own pace & I'm looking to hold the effort level for another 10 miles or so. I can identify 4 riders who ride locally that can pass & hold me off, even then just 1 of them can actually drop me.

Try as I might I can't help it. I'll try and overtake anything else out there. Last week I raced a tractor for about 10 miles up and down hills. Got home and I was shattered.

But the dumbest I ever felt doing it is when I saw someone off in the distance and thought, "Right. I'm having you." I started laying on the speed and the distance closed. They hit a descent and the gap widened. I knew I'd take them on the next climb. Legs screaming, I pushed harder and harder. I got to about 30 feet behind them and the picture just looked wrong. When I passed her it was some old dear on a hybrid, on her mobile phone.

I felt like a complete jackass but had to keep pushing just so she wouldn't pass me out....

I kind I did something similar to this... I was struggling to catch what turned out to be an old chap on what looked like a heavy town bike up hill. When I got home I looked at the trip data & I was blisteringly quick up hill, at this point I'm scratching my head until I look through video & it definitely was a heavy city bike... with a rather nice electric motor mounted in the back wheel!

 

[pshore]

No point trying to outdo a full on racer whilst riding a heavy commuter full panniers.

It's always worth a go ! At the very least you get them worried and it pushes you getting you fitter.

I tried to catch up with a roadie in jeans the other week but gave up when it dawned on me that it might be GrasB - I've seen his average speeds on here.

 

[GrasB]

I tried to catch up with a roadie in jeans the other week but gave up when it dawned on me that it might be GrasB - I've seen his average speeds on here.

Not me I'm afraid as I never cycle in jeans, mainly because I don't own a pair. But recently I've been riding on a Bacchetta Giro ATT 26.

 

[zigzag]

this kind of silly racing can be good for your legs, if done safely in the traffic. this was my main "preparation" for london-edinburgh-london audax two years ago. when i became a fast commuter i was (stupidly) confident enough to sign up for a return trip to scotland. needless to say i suffered big time on that ride.. but survived!

 

[Red Light]

I would catch up and pass or outpace others if I wasn't on a recovery ride every time I go out