Must commuters race each other?

[soulful dog]

Must commuters race each other?

I know there are exceptions to every rule, but isn't this generally a male thing - men tend to be more competitive even (or especially ) if they are racing against other cyclists who aren't even bothered?!

 

[Glow worm]

Blimey. I'm beginning to wonder if I've joined the wrong forum. Luckily, I don't seem to have the competetiveness that seems to afflict many and frankly I couldn't give a flying **** if I get over taken or not. The only time I get riled when overtaken is when the faster bike then slows down and I either have to over take them again to maintain my constant sluggish 10-12mph, and look like a childish muppet, or pootle even slower at someone elses pace. Other than that, I'm normally too busy enjoying the ride. I have noticed this happens a lot in Cambridge - dunno why. So sorry to piss on people's parade here, but if they're anything like me, the folks you over take either don't even notice you or frankly couldn't give a toss

 

[hackbike 666]

That's the way I like to think.This morning though I was racing to get to Waterloo on time but made it five minutes late so i still compete with myself.

 

[Jake]

Thought i had a race on my hands last night. Just got to brixton and out the corner of the eye i clocked another specialised elite. I though, no i wont let him know i've seen him, (he was just behind me on my right shoulder), I will play it cool but as soon as those lights go, I'm playing it like Lance Armstrong. Bloody bugger turned left! lol. Shame but hey.

(happy today as got the 30mph mark on a piece of road I've not done it on before, even with suspect swine flu, just missing the temperature.)

 

[beanzontoast]

Blimey. I'm beginning to wonder if I've joined the wrong forum. Luckily, I don't seem to have the competetiveness that seems to afflict many and frankly I couldn't give a flying **** if I get over taken or not. The only time I get riled when overtaken is when the faster bike then slows down and I either have to over take them again to maintain my constant sluggish 10-12mph, and look like a childish muppet, or pootle even slower at someone elses pace. Other than that, I'm normally too busy enjoying the ride. I have noticed this happens a lot in Cambridge - dunno why. So sorry to piss on people's parade here, but if they're anything like me, the folks you over take either don't even notice you or frankly couldn't give a toss

This forum doesn't work that way. Highly unlikely anyone will take offence as everyone's entitled to see things their own way.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

So sorry to piss on people's parade here, but if they're anything like me, the folks you over take either don't even notice you or frankly couldn't give a toss

That's what all people who are too slow to be any competition say.

 

[Glow worm]

[Quoting a beanzontoast contribution ''This forum doesn't work that way. Highly unlikely anyone will take offence as everyone's entitled to see things their own way. [/quote]''


Nice one, that's great to hear/read- thanks Mr beanz

Regards,
Giles.

 

[snapper_37]

I was scalped gently this morning

After a 5 week break I managed to pluck up the insentive to get my arse back in the saddle and commute. I was like a fart.

A bloke who I always overtake, overtook me and gave me a quick couple of headturns so I waved.

At that, he slowed down and asked me if I was ok (bless!). I said I was ok but having a hard time getting back into it. We rode another 4 miles together having a chat, before going separate ways.

Shame I will be back on form by end of week.

Normally I must confess to liking a decent race but only if I think I stand a good chance.

 

[John the Monkey]

So someone who's waiting for a safe moment to overtake you has to deal with you speeding up because you "don't know them"

Sounds kinda childish to me, well, that and the whole racing thing.

People waiting for a safe moment to overtake shouldn't be inches away from my back wheel - I don't know their level of skill or ability to read the road ahead & anticipate my slowing down or stopping. So yeah, in such a case I try to get rid of them - I've had enough of sliding along the tarmac on my elbows this year.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

People waiting for a safe moment to overtake shouldn't be inches away from my back wheel - I don't know their level of skill or ability to read the road ahead & anticipate my slowing down or stopping. So yeah, in such a case I try to get rid of them - I've had enough of sliding along the tarmac on my elbows this year.

Tsk tsk, using one's elbows is so last year, Dahling. This year ar$e cheeks are the new elbows.

 

[Trevrev]

I just go at my own pace......If someone passes me "So What!"
If someone is slower than me i pass them. The thing that bugs me the most is when you pass someone, who is clearly slower, and they decide to put every ounce of effort in to get back past....Then i just sit on their tail until they flag.........Know your own pace! You'll just end up looking foolish, and more to the point, dying from a heart attack !!!

 

[fossyant]

Tsk tsk, using one's elbows is so last year, Dahling. This year ar$e cheeks are the new elbows.

I removed a massive patch from my ass some years back - it's still on the Cat and Fiddle.......don't think it will take another shave............

 

[B-B-BikeyStrike!]

I'm awful. I'm not competitive by nature. Well not much. But I *have* to overtake as many people as I can. But I have a points system:

High end road bikes - 10 points
mid-range road bikes - 8 points
Single-speeders - 7 points
low-end and hybrids - 5 points
MTB's (HT with slicks) - 5 points
MTBs (with knobblies) - 3 points (but deduct 4 if they overtake me back)
BSO's - 1 point (but I deduct 5 points of they overtake me)

Its childish, but I'm never aggressive over it, so its all good fun. I ride up from the bottom of Old Kent Road every morning on my Cannondale Bad Boy, you know its me.

Is this a good points system?

 

[threefingerjoe]

Well, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only "non-competitive" person out there! I'm not into racing, and view the bicycle as "transportation". If someone wants to pass, fine...especially if they are nice enough to announce, I'll gladly let them by.

I drive a car or truck the same way. I drive the speed limit, and allow a lot of following distance. Often, people will fly past me, only to join the "wolf pack" up ahead, and hit the brakes. I rarely have to use the brakes on the highway...I just release the throttle, and by the time I get near the slowing wolf pack, they're going, again.

I've often wondered why someone doesn't do a thesis on this phenomenon. Why is it that when a car starts to pass another car, the car being passed will speed up? Now, 2 cars are speeding, and when they pass a third car, he, in turn, speeds up, etc. etc. Now we have these wolf packs of amateur racers, all jockeying for position, changing lanes, doing a flamenco dance on the pedals, heads spinning around, and arriving at their destination with fazzled nerves, hot brakes, and empty gas tanks. And THAT is if they're lucky! If unlucky, one person will make a mistake, and the highway will be blocked for hours until the wreckage is cleared.

Maybe, as some have suggested, it's human nature. Does it go back to the days when we had to compete for food, and the person who got there first got the food?

 

[asterix]

I drive a car or truck the same way. I drive the speed limit, and allow a lot of following distance. Often, people will fly past me, only to join the "wolf pack" up ahead, and hit the brakes. I rarely have to use the brakes on the highway...I just release the throttle, and by the time I get near the slowing wolf pack, they're going, again.

Yes, me too. And yet when I cycle commuted I always tried to catch up the guy in front even if they were miles ahead. My excuse was that it was good training and like B-B-BikeyStrike! it wasn't an aggression thing.