http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Are there more roadies commuting? en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:51:26 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113489 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:07:50 +0000 Uberuce 113489@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oink. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113488 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:04:35 +0000 chdot 113488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"so would have preferred to overtake her. I didn't because it'd look so much like I was a sexist pig who couldn't abide being slower"</p> <p>Not sure I'm buying that...</p> <p>I think the rest of your post might have exposed other motives. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113484 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:56:22 +0000 Uberuce 113484@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was behind a young woman on an knobbily shod MTB this lunchtime. She was only a teensy tiny bit slower than my natural pace, except I was in a hurry so would have preferred to overtake her. I didn't because it'd look so much like I was a sexist pig who couldn't abide being slower <u>than a girl</u>, even one in superb athletic shape. She was like totes buff girlfriend bro hoof lawl. </p> <p>Plainly she'd have been a speck in the distance if she'd been on a road bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113475 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:39:38 +0000 bdellar 113475@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've certainly noticed a big increase in cyclists generally this year on my route, including roadies. In years past, I would almost never see another cyclist along London Road. Now I'm routinely sitting in a big bunch of them at lights, and there are lines of us along the road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113439 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:25:39 +0000 amir 113439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>... and, maybe one day, a tram user. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113437 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:24:23 +0000 amir 113437@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>... and a pedestrian ...</p> <p>... and a motorist, bus and train user. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113436 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:23:50 +0000 amir 113436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I dress/ride as a roadie, in part because it enables me to commute longer distances in more comfort. But I am a cyclist .... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113417 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:36:15 +0000 Dave 113417@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I rode bike 4 to work today to ensure my legs had a rest (courtesy the twiddly gears, not the huge knobbly tyres!) and had to put up with everyone and their dog overtaking me.</p> <p>I have gone one step more crazy than the rucksack posse though by bringing a cotton supermarket bag. </p> <p>When semi-full I've discovered you can put one loop over each shoulder as a sort of bag (but on the way in empty, it just folds and goes down the back of my shorts).</p> <p>Compromise? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113410 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:20:20 +0000 wingpig 113410@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"...I'm not sure my ego can take any more of this..."</em></blockquote></p> <p>The simplest solution is to stop telling your ego about it and just get on with going wherever you're going at whatever pace you were getting their at, not adjusting it or judging it relative to the paces of others, instead optionally merely observing when others' paces are adjusted upon observation of your own. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113408 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:12:37 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 113408@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>More (b) than (a), as I said I'm well aware of my pace limitations... ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113407 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:08:00 +0000 SRD 113407@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I could be wrong but I rather think wilmington's cow was (a) assuming they must be roadies if they passed him or (b) hoping we would re-assure him that there are a lot of new commuters out there who are only fast cause they are roadies. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113405 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:05:02 +0000 fimm 113405@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver maybe, but it costs <em><strong><u>£75!!!</u></strong></em></p> <p>Rant aside, another thought I had was that in winter one can be bundled up in all manner of stuff (ronhills over lycra shorts in my case), whereas in summer the shorts and cycling top are on display... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113397 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:15:37 +0000 crowriver 113397@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fimm, maybe one of these SQR bags would work for you? </p> <p><a href="http://www.carradice.co.uk/products/type/sqrslim"><img src="http://www.carradice.co.uk/make_thumb.php?thumb=product_images/20091007095732-large-1-908.jpg&amp;size=320"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113391 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:03:32 +0000 ruggtomcat 113391@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>rucksacs are fine for commuting, its when you have to spend longer than about 1/2 hour in the saddle they become tiresome, but for bombing into town? yeah sure. </p> <p>It is in fact the one niggle of recumbentry that you cant sling extra load on your back. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113376 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:57:53 +0000 Baldcyclist 113376@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm on my fancy carbon bike at the moment. Not sure if I really count as a 'roadie', or a worthwhile 'target' for hybrid/commuter bikes, although, if I somehow make you all feel better for taking my 'scalp', you're more than welcome ;P</p> <p>Mind you on the flip side, I did the short mute from Barnton this morning, and I was almost embarrassed pulling the bike out of the car incase I got caught. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113367 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:41:55 +0000 paul.mag 113367@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I always think of my rucksack as part of my safety equipment. I got car doored a few years ago and somehow flipped (i'm not the most acrobatic person) and landed on my back which my rucksack took most of the impact, plus it kept my head higher off the ground so that my helmet took the blow higher up as well. My pack also acts as my high viz as it's luminous orange with the high viz bands and since i'm on my hybrid it's at windscreen height. Also the number of commuters I see with black packs covering most of their high viz jackets has always puzzled me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376&page=2#post-113358 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:14:25 +0000 steveo 113358@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>So it is perhaps not so surprising that people stick to a rucksack (which can be used in other contexts as well, unlike a saddlebag). </em></p> <p>Right tool for the job though, saddle bag for the saddle, panniers for the pannier rack, rucksack for walking or where there is no other choice. </p> <p>You have to admit that flexibility means they are a compromise on the bike and made doubly uncomfortable on a road bike due to rider position.</p> <p><em>I do have a Carradice but they are expensive (compared to a rucksack) </em></p> <p>Depends on the rucksack, the price overlap between tiso's range or rucksacks and carradice's range of saddle bags is very small. Tiso's cheap rucksacks start about the same level as the larger saddlebags.</p> <p>But to each their own. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113355 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:38:39 +0000 fimm 113355@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can't put a rack on my road bike, and it is the bike I have, I can't just go out and buy another one. I do have a Carradice but they are expensive (compared to a rucksack) and I don't have a lot of space between saddle and back wheel, and I had to buy gizmos to go on my saddle to attach the bag to (and that doesn't work all that well as the bag assumes a wider saddle), and I have to use bungee cords to keep the bag away from the back wheel. Yes I know you can get a thing to go on your seatpost to lift the bag up but that is more money. </p> <p>So it is perhaps not so surprising that people stick to a rucksack (which can be used in other contexts as well, unlike a saddlebag). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113352 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:27:55 +0000 Kenny 113352@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I wonder what the wave-back rate would be. </em></p> <p>I think their wave back might only involve one finger. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113348 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:15:41 +0000 Dave 113348@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I stopped counting at 14 today on the short stretch between the red bridge and the hairpin at the other end of the park. </p> <p>No peds to be seen. Are they all on bikes?</p> <p><em>Cyclists are too grumpy and need to be more friendly is my view. But I take this line with pedestrians too, what's to lose? And dog walkers.</em></p> <p>And drivers too. Have you ever tried waving to all oncoming traffic? I wonder what the wave-back rate would be. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113343 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:55:03 +0000 crowriver 113343@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>its also the good weather bringing out lots of ALL cyclists.</em></p> <p>Maybe, but I haven't noticed huge numbers. I was the only cyclist on my train both ways today. There are usually more (in university term time).</p> <p>I expect there'll be the annual rush of dusting down little used cycles next week during Bike Week. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113339 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:22:09 +0000 steveo 113339@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Every time I speak to a cyclist with no rack fixings I try to sell them a carradice. They're so much better than messing around with rucksacks. I should be on commission. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113336 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:51:48 +0000 Nelly 113336@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I agree with WC re more roadies - but think its also the good weather bringing out lots of ALL cyclists.</p> <p>This is generally a good thing (and surprisingly lots are sans helmet this year) but there are still an awful lot of pavement cyclists, esp (on my commute) around Slateford road / Polwarth. Annoying </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113335 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:45:16 +0000 gembo 113335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Rucksacks make me sweat.</p> <p>I liked kaputnik's tweed musette</p> <p>Ruggtomcat's eyebrows when not singed can go very high </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113334 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:58:27 +0000 Instography 113334@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nah, rucksacks are OK but only if panniers are not an option and I suppose if you're on your bling bike you don't want a rack and panniers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113333 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:44:46 +0000 crowriver 113333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Definately more roadies about. This evening on Waverley bridge a chap on a road bike pulled alongside. Such a contrast!</p> <p>Me: trousers, shirt, jacket, no helmet, bicycle clips, bureau pannier, bar bag, flat pedals, touring tyres, mudguards.<br /> He: white lyvra shorts, racing top, helmet, shades, sports rucksac, seat wedge, clipless, skinny slicks, no guards.</p> <p>All well and good but I've never understood the rucksac thing: does it not make one top heavy and wobble about more when getting up to speed? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113331 Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:38:27 +0000 ruggtomcat 113331@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In nodding terms I at least flick eyebrows with anyone I pass on the paths, on the road there is little room in my brain for such niceties. :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113326 Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:01:22 +0000 LaidBack 113326@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I am on the recumbent with my 30kg trailer of show stuff but nonetheless overtook the lot of them before the clerk street junction (which was green) and once I was over the crest I really put the hammer down,</em></p> <p>Yes... that's what I like to hear :-) </p> <p>Outcomforting and outpacing at the same time - plus towing a ton of stuff! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113323 Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:39:26 +0000 gembo 113323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In French alps at the weekend return nod was 90% virtually all roadies. Many bonjours also, some just little finger waves. Cyclists are too grumpy and need to be more friendly is my view. But I take this line with pedestrians too, what's to lose? And dog walkers.</p> <p>Good weather brings out the fast road bikes for sure. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10376#post-113321 Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:33:11 +0000 ruggtomcat 113321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Had an amazing bit of SCR last night, coming up to the junction at summerhall from the meadows I saw there was ahigh chance of thease lights turning green soon so i qued up 4/5 cars back from the junction, deciding it was better than squeezing down the left, and was prompty passed by some comuter on a mtb+slicks.</p> <p>'oh, maybe I can catch him up on the slope?' I thought. and as the traffic moved off I gave it a bit of beans. Overtook that guy before even getting to the slope but infront of me was a whole pelaton of commuters on a range of machines up to a carbon whippet at the front. I am on the recumbent with my 30kg trailer of show stuff but nonetheless overtook the lot of them before the clerk street junction (which was green) and once I was over the crest I really put the hammer down, they dwindled into the distance, I felt good about my life for a few seconds. </p>