Racing other commuting cyclists

[Banjo]

Pushing yourself to pass or not be passed by other commuting cyclists is a pointless exercise. You have no idea how far they have ridden or if their suffering an illness or anything else.

So why do I get such a smug bit of satisfaction when I do it?

PS probably because I rarely pass anyone so feel the need to celebrate the odd one that I do.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Yesterday morning I turned onto a single lane track where a roadie looking about 20 years younger than me was about 20 metres ahead.
I hoofed it and passed him doing 26 then as usual I realised I had to keep that speed up for the next half mile to save face.
Was worth it though :0)

 

[AncientWyvern]

I know it's not the done thing, but when ever i see another cyclist on the road ahead of me... I am hunting them down with all I have! I guess it's just my competitive nature.

 

[BSRU]

The lower the FCN points the more satisfying it is

 

[Buddfox]

Rule No.71...

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

A scalp is a scalp

 

[derrick]

Only try to do it on the way home, am never in a rush to get to work.

 

[Gary E]

I was overtaken by a very flash looking bike last year and the 10 year old in me came out!
It took me about 2 miles to catch him but I did a good job of hiding the fact that I was dying as I went past him with a cheery 'morning'.
At this point I spied another bike a few hundred yards ahead, again the 10 year old yelled "get 'im!"
Another 2 miles later, bursting lungs and trying not to faint from the effort I managed (just) to gasp "morning".
It was at this point that I noticed a third bike up ahead and this time I noticed something else - a white square with a number on it stuck to his back!!!
I'd only managed to get involved in a road race hadn't I?
Obviously at this point, faced with the choice of taking on the remaining riders or backing down I noticed that I needed to pull up and do some important checks to my bike

 

[gbb]

I was overtaken by a very flash looking bike last year and the 10 year old in me came out!
It took me about 2 miles to catch him but I did a good job of hiding the fact that I was dying as I went past him with a cheery 'morning'.
At this point I spied another bike a few hundred yards ahead, again the 10 year old yelled "get 'im!"
Another 2 miles later, bursting lungs and trying not to faint from the effort I managed (just) to gasp "morning".
It was at this point that I noticed a third bike up ahead and this time I noticed something else - a white square with a number on it stuck to his back!!!
I'd only managed to get involved in a road race hadn't I?
Obviously at this point, faced with the choice of taking on the remaining riders or backing down I noticed that I needed to pull up and do some important checks to my bike

You were fooling no-one, they knew EXACTLY what you were doing

 

[Gary E]

Yeah but these were really important checks or I'd have had em!

 

[redcard]

I'm always getting these very important phone calls when half-way up a big hill. Annoying!

 

[Becs]

My favourite overtakes are when I pass lycra-clad chaps when I am wearing "civies" - especially with my hair down and skirt flapping!

 

[Gary E]

Redcard, you too? I thought that was just me (note to self - remember to take mobile out with me on ride next time)

 

[Bobario]

I once chased a bloke on a sit up and beg shopping style bike (i was on me old commuting MTB) on the way home from work. I couldnt believe how he maintained such a rapid pace with such little effort. I caught up to him as he slowed to take a roundabout and noticed he was riding an electric bike.

Another time i was on me other (faster) MTB and some bird on a racing bike shot past at a rapid rate of knots. incenced at being overtaken by a woman i gave chase and caught up to find it was a long curly haired student type BLOKE about 20 odd years younger than me, so i turned off for home.

I'd have caught em both if i'd wanted to, honest.

 

[MattHB]

Out this evening after I just set off 2 guys came past me. I thought 'pfft, off you go then boys'. Anyway it was odd as they didn't really pull ahead. The guy at the back looked like a muscle man gym type and I wondered how they would cope with the long gentle hill we were coming up to... Sure enough.. Slow slow.

Anyway I thought, I'm going to sit back here a wee bit, take advantage of the slight draft in the headwind. Sat on them for about 4 miles till they totally cocked up a REALLY dangerous roundabout.. I decided to smoke them both mainly to get myself out of the way.

Anyway, when I got on swanage chain ferry 20 lumpy miles later, who should come on board! The dynamic duo! Obviously suffering a bit! They had to race to catch the boat! I'd been waiting at the embarkation point for 15 mins! They'd done the same route as me, so I felt kinda chuffed.