Cruising or attacking?

[iZaP]

Depends, when cycling to work, I usually just eat the traffic. When cycling back home, I usually try to be more careful, as it's dark already and I'm tired usually at this point.

 

[Leaway2]

90% of my commutings done at 90% (if that makes sense)
My commutes only short, but i always attack it (for all the good it does, i plateau'd long ago)...even if i extend it to 10 miles or so, i always ride the same way.

So i'm not really attacking, just riding consistently fast (in my own humble way )

+1

The only difference is its mainly uphill going in to work, which means I get home faster, less tired .

 

[magnatom]

It varies along the commute, but overall I am an attacker. I certainly pass far more than pass me (cyclists). On the rural section of my commute there are a few steep hills and I do tend to honk up those meaning I'll be out of breath by the end of my climbing section.

In traffic, it depends. If the traffic is flowing freely, then I try to move along as quickly as I can. If it is busy then you need to take it easier and react to the traffic.

Overall though I generally find it is a good workout. It has to be as at the moment this is he only exercise I have time for!

 

[Moodyman]

I start the week riding about 75% and gradually work up to 95-100% by the Thu/Fri safe in the knowledge that I've the weekend to recover.

 

[Adasta]

Abit of both, steady eddie in traffic and near pedestrian area's, then few sprints to blow away some cobwebs.
100% steady during my lunchtime ride home and back, do not want to see my lunch again.

It must be great to cycle home and back for a lunch break. I imagine it cuts up the work day very nicely and reduces the amount of time you "feel" like you're at work.

 

[beanzontoast]

A-B in both directions. I aim to arrive at work without being sweaty as we have limited washing facilities, plus I find I enjoy the ride more. Taking it steadily helps given the state of the roads. I'm not bothered about passing other cyclists unless they are travelling naturally slower than me, and if someone wants to pass me they are welcome.

It would be a real push to make it home for lunch - I envy those who can; I'd have about 5 minutes to eat before getting back on the bike! - but I do get out sometimes in the lunchhour during nicer weather for a spin and some fresh air. If I stay in the office I just tend to work through lunch.

 

[SW19cam]

I treat my commute as my daily exercise so I push it hard. I probably do 4 days of fast commuting, and 1 day more relaxed.



We all know the illusion of speed caused by the traffic lights. Often people I overtake will catch up, and push past into the ASLs (I don’t always use them. I often prefer to enjoy the space a car creates when it pulls away directly in front of me…)

 

[Jonathing]

It depends where I'm going for work that day but I usually attack on the way to work as I'm running late and take it easy on the way home because I've been on my feet running around after patients/children all day. Although I do sometimes, if light levels permit, take the long way home for a more enjoyable ride.

 

[400bhp]

It depends upon what mood I am in, the weather etc but generally I'll ride a bit faster on the way home than on the way in.

I don't gun it - I did that early on in my bike commute life but I found I was taking unecessary risks. Saying that, I'm generally the overtaker rather than the overtaken.

 

[goo_mason]

Reasonably fast on the way to work, but having not long climbed out of bed I'm usually still feeling a little tired so the ride in is always a little slower. On the way home? I like to try and keep pace with the traffic when it's safe to do so, so mainly I'll be hammering along. The ride home is always quicker than the ride to work!

 

[martint235]

I keep telling myself I should take it easy but it never works out that way. The aim is to improve my average speed so I tend to push it as hard as I can. The bad days are the days when it feels like I'm pushing it and I look at the speed and it's only 16mph (current not average!!). I'm always aiming for a 20mph average but have never got there yet over a 10 mile route.

 

[perplexed]

Brisk, but I don't hammer it.

Coming home is slower, as it's uphill and I'm usually knackered...

 

[GrasB]

I keep to a steady, controlled pace on my commutes slowly building up the power through the ride. This is the 5 miles splits for a typical work bound commute ('Power' is average power expressed a % of FTP):

Split	Distance	Time		Power
1	5.01 miles	00:16:05	 74%
2	5.03 miles	00:16:01	 76%
3	4.99 miles	00:15:49	 79%
4	5.02 miles	00:15:34	 82%
5	4.97 miles	00:14:59	 86%
6	1.84 miles	00:04:33	 89%
---------------------------------------------
26.86 miles	01:23:02	 80%

I'm more aggressive on the way home, the return as above:

Split	Distance	Time		Power
1	4.99 miles	00:16:43	 89%
2	5.00 miles	00:15:38	 83%
3	5.01 miles	00:15:18	 84%
5	5.02 miles	00:14:53	 89%
4	4.98 miles	00:14:48	 93%
6	1.79 miles	00:04:46	107%
---------------------------------------------
26.79 miles	01:21:06	 89%

It's fast but is that attacking or not? Make up your own mind.

 

[gaz]

I mostly cruise. But my cruise is like 19mph. I attack at sections where 19mph is too slow for the traffic and attack on hills / long straights.

 

[zigzag]

on my way to work i don't want to sweat, so i mainly cruise with couple occasional sprints. on the way back i try to go fast, as it's my main way of training (i know and remember all faster guys on my route and it's fun to see them every now and then).