How much VIM do you invest into commuting?

[dellzeqq]

the elderly gent on the Brompton, the one with the scratchyscrunchy bottom bracket (the bike, not me) and the striped shirt, V-neck jumper, jeans and Paul Smith socks (me, not the bike) who just passed a bunch of racing snakes on CS7 is me...................................

 

[dellzeqq]

You need to add another category..."Hands-free".
I'm doing massively long stretches hands-free at the moment, even doing cornering with deft arse-shifting in the saddle.

you are......

the article does make a decent point about revolutions. A lot of London commuters ride fixies, and I find that shifting down in to a really low gear on the Brommie loosens me up a treat - and makes passing racing snakes even more fun. I do the last little bit up my street in first, which involves slow speeds and crazy revs, but makes my legs laugh.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Every morning is a battle with myself with just over 6 miles to work with 1100 ft total elevation, it's a little hilly round here

Vertical commute!

 

[Maz]

you are......

I could do the 'holding the tray' trick, but balancing a triangle on the other hand at the same time? That's a whole new level of cool...

 

[matty01]

Reading that again is that total elevation or total ascent? up massive hill down other side up massive hill down other side you know what I mean, not straight up!

 

[Hip Priest]

That article has some good advise for those that are competitive cyclists, but I don't think its relevant to those of us, most cyclists? who are non competitive.

Like many articles I read in cycling magazines, it'll do more harm than good to your average cyclist. I got a gift subscription to Cycling Plus, and every month there's at least one article which makes cycling seem so complicated that it's hardly worth doing.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Like many articles I read in cycling magazines, it'll do more harm than good to your average cyclist. I got a gift subscription to Cycling Plus, and every month there's at least one article which makes cycling seem so complicated that it's hardly worth doing.

I preferred it years ago, we enjoyed riding our bikes, we rode because we enjoyed it, we didn't even think about the stuff we worry about these days.

 

[Maz]

There's a downhill stretch on my way home.
Tesco home-delivery van stayed close behind me when he could've overtaken. Gave him a thumbs up when we both stopped at the lights and he winds his window down...
"I couldn't overtake you if I tried" he says "Got a tracker on this van, I can't go over 30...you were doing 30 to 35 miles an hour".
"Really?" I said "I always wondered how fast I ride. Cheers!"

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Every morning is a battle with myself with just over 6 miles to work with 1100 ft total elevation, it's a little hilly round here

Same here, except it's about 17mi with 1150ft climbing to work, and 21mi with 2150ft climbing from work. Adds a new dimension to competing against the other cyclists, because I can almost pretend we're doing the TdF, and climb vs. descent strategies become important .

 

[PK99]

Umm, this thread seems to confirm the observation i have made previously that (eg) Dutch and Belgium commuting cycling is overwhelmingly a utilitarian bimble, in contrast to the competitive race to work I observe very often in London.

 

[dodd82]

I find the competitiveness a little odd to be honest... particularly when I'm over taken by someone who doesn't even say hello when they pass.

I don't encounter many cyclists, but I'd say 3/4's of them, if over taking me, come across as competitive and/or rude.

If it makes them feel good about themselves, then no harm done I suppose!

 

[cd365]

I have an aim to do the 10 mile commute in under 30 mins, it started out at over 40 in April and I'm down to 33 now, it's just a personal aim to keep me motivated

 

[Frood42]

I can't stand gyms, so my commute is my gym session, so I like to push hard and get as sweaty as I can!
It helps that we have a nice shower at work.