http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Commuting/Racing en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:00:13 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153706 Fri, 16 May 2014 07:37:15 +0000 CycleCommute.CC 153706@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Big thanks to whoever gave me a draft on the A8 this morning. Good pace and made my journey all the more enjoyable. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153612 Thu, 15 May 2014 10:03:39 +0000 kaputnik 153612@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Was following an MTB along Melville Drive this morning and got a good lesson in why not to draft (I wasn't. really. it's just there's no room to pass!)</p> <p>Anyway, cyclist went wrong way on gears and dropped into the tiny front ring, which resulted in much high speed leg-flailing and the bike quite quickly dropping to about walking pace as the drag from big, soft, knobbly tyres overcame the rolling momentum of the bike.</p> <p>If I'd been close and/or not paying attention, only outcomes would have been to either ram him or wobble into a car moving alongside. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153608 Thu, 15 May 2014 09:43:28 +0000 PS 153608@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclingmollie None of that video makes me want to get involved in road racing!</p> <p>My commute doesn't involve much drafting, seeing as I walk, but it's always fun to show off my bike-gained hill climbing fitness as I overtake most folk heading up Dublin Street.</p> <p>When I am on the bike I don't mind people drafting (I quite enjoy being on the front of a line), but it does tend to make me try to drop them on any upwards incline, just for sport. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153606 Thu, 15 May 2014 09:28:58 +0000 Cyclingmollie 153606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Greenroofer, Bike Snob linked to a video of the other end of bike racing:</p> <p><a href="http://youtu.be/vCw80Y18Vr8" rel="nofollow">http://youtu.be/vCw80Y18Vr8</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153600 Thu, 15 May 2014 09:14:43 +0000 Darkerside 153600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As a slightly alternate view, I get moderately hacked off when folk sit on my back wheel. To get any benefit you've got to be inches away, which puts you firmly within that imaginary box of air I regard as 'space I use to keep myself safe'.</p> <p>If I have to stop suddenly, I don't want someone piling into the back of me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153594 Thu, 15 May 2014 08:48:59 +0000 Roibeard 153594@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And yet no one has posted the Silly Commuter Racing rules...</p> <p><a href="http://www.itsnotarace.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.itsnotarace.org/</a></p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153556 Wed, 14 May 2014 20:26:46 +0000 Baldcyclist 153556@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Maybe the second, seemed appropriate. :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153555 Wed, 14 May 2014 20:21:02 +0000 wingpig 153555@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Isn't that the third time you've posted that? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153554 Wed, 14 May 2014 20:19:22 +0000 Baldcyclist 153554@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Le Col du Morrison:</p> <p>There I was, on my bike minding my own business, watching the morning commuters pass me by, waiting for the green light.</p> <p>He appears out the corner of my right eye, small at first, but getting bigger by the second. He stops next to me on the line, a man, a man wearing denims, a man sporting a grey pony tail... an old man, on an equally old stead. We exchange morning grunts, and nod towards each other, the sport has already commenced...</p> <p>The lights go green and he goes, he goes quickly, but I wait... I know the sequence of the lights, and the next set are already at red... he now waits, waiting at the red light, he has already taken my place on the left of the road, he believes the victory is already his. I hover behind him, no need to un-cleat, I have waited, I know the sequence of the lights...</p> <p>The lights go green, and again he goes, quickly at first, but then that gear change, that noisy gear change, that grinding gear change, all is not well with this old man on his equally old stead. I pedal smoothly behind, I can sense the moment approaching with excitement, but still I wait...</p> <p>We approach the corner at Torphicen St, a ninety degree right hand corner which marks the beginning of the Col. It steepens, gradually at first, but more so as we climb. I have chosen my gear and I am ready, the steepest part approaches just before the left hand bend, but still I wait...</p> <p>We near the bend on the steepest part of the Col, and I'm still seated. I have chosen my gear, and my cadence is high. The old man is now out of the saddle on his old stead. He has not chosen his gear wisely, he needs to change down, the moment is close, but still I wait...</p> <p>He changes gear, there it is, that noisy gear change, that grinding gear change, this is my moment, out of the saddle I rise, I move to the right and my cadence increases again. I draw level with the old man, he looks down and I wait no longer, I am gone.</p> <p>The bend is cleared and back in the saddle I push, I push harder than at any time on this commute and I don't look back, I have beaten an old man and I feel good. At the top of the Col I reflect, this has been a good commute...</p> <p>How was your commute to work this morning? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153553 Wed, 14 May 2014 20:11:01 +0000 Greenroofer 153553@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With all this drafting and stuff, I can see the towpath quickly becoming like this...<br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aH1bn6yUI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aH1bn6yUI</a></p> <p>...which makes my palms sweaty and heart rate increase just watching it (but before you get the wrong idea, it's completely suitable for work!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153546 Wed, 14 May 2014 19:28:41 +0000 gembo 153546@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Indeed when there were four of us in the chain tonight on the canal, as long as I stayed close to the last guy I could freewheel </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153544 Wed, 14 May 2014 19:24:39 +0000 Kenny 153544@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> If someone comes flying past you (as I did) why would you bother accelerating to keep up with them from then on</em></p> <p>To get a tow. It's the entire point of getting a tow; to go faster with no more effort due to drafting. One could argue they were doing it right. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153532 Wed, 14 May 2014 18:08:13 +0000 gembo 153532@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This was from Lochrin basin to craiglockhart on canal. The last tow was a small woman she was fast and also not much of a windbreak. I do not like to get too close in case people freak. But then you do not get the draft. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153527 Wed, 14 May 2014 17:59:50 +0000 Broony84 153527@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Haha. I was at the front of a 3 man train tonight. Prefer being at the front so I can see potholes but probably held the other boys up. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153524 Wed, 14 May 2014 17:56:11 +0000 gembo 153524@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had a three short tows tonight and thanked all three as they peeled off. </p> <p>My chest consultant very pro cycling </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806&page=2#post-153504 Wed, 14 May 2014 15:00:29 +0000 Cyclingmollie 153504@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to commute into Edinburgh by bike about three times a week. I usually diverted around Arthur's Seat to do two or three hard efforts but I was usually in the aerobic zone most of the way and always on the roads. I only stopped getting serious chest infections when I stopped commuting. I'm fairly sure the two were related. I wouldn't now regularly ride at aerobic pace in Edinburgh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153496 Wed, 14 May 2014 13:44:00 +0000 Broony84 153496@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I commute on a homemade single speed now but I used to use my carbon road bike. I have strava'd with both bikes and the times are pretty much the same. The whole changing gear malark must slow me down. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153495 Wed, 14 May 2014 13:43:27 +0000 Baldcyclist 153495@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> serious bikes with serious calves.<br /> "</p> <p>Sometimes I think this 'invites' people to try and race you when I'm on the 'nice' bike. Little do they know my decrepit lungs aren't particularly serious. I just let them revel in their moment of imagined glory. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153493 Wed, 14 May 2014 13:30:35 +0000 I were right about that saddle 153493@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I should also admit to tailing any roadie that I find heading out Gilmerton Road for after-work training as I head home.</p> <p>For those five minutes, if it kills me, if they're riding bikes made of gossamer and aerogel, if only traces of blood remain in the EPO coursing through their veins <em>I will not let them go</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153488 Wed, 14 May 2014 13:07:44 +0000 Uberuce 153488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was amused by how little difference there was between my urban fixie + CBA riding pace and the two seriously black Lycra'd folk going at serious pace on serious bikes with serious calves. </p> <p>They overtook just as I was honking lazily up the Balgreen path by Jenner's, and we parted ways at the South Gyle Access/Broadway roundabout, all of twenty metres ahead.</p> <p>The traffic lights and their decision to stay on the Broomhouse conspired against them, so I caught up at each junction. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153472 Wed, 14 May 2014 11:13:13 +0000 calmac 153472@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>kaputnik, yeah, in town it's too easy, but Broomhouse Road v the number 2 is more worthwhile, especially if it's quiet at the bus stops and you're on the path.</p> <p>I remember as a teenager racing buses from Possil to Eglinton Toll though Glasgow city centre. How I didn't get killed shall remain known only to the drivers around me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153470 Wed, 14 May 2014 11:09:41 +0000 algo 153470@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am no match for anyone except perhaps slow joggers, but occasionally I have tried to get away quickly from lights to create a bit of space for many cyclists who are bunched up at an ASL for example. This has been mistaken for racing before and have people hanging on my wheel - which must be an incredibly boring experience. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153467 Wed, 14 May 2014 10:59:06 +0000 kaputnik 153467@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Calmac, buses are so handicapped in town compared to cyclist it's not really a fair competition against a bike :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153463 Wed, 14 May 2014 10:43:45 +0000 calmac 153463@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does racing the bus count? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153459 Wed, 14 May 2014 10:29:51 +0000 steveo 153459@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The effect of drafting shouldn't be underestimated, often people steam past you then suddenly slow due the fact they've been hiding from the wind thinking their fast then finding you've been pulling them down the road and they can't actually maintain a pace. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153455 Wed, 14 May 2014 10:22:48 +0000 Coxy 153455@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What annoys me is when you're just riding along and someone charges past then runs out of puff and slows right down.</p> <p>I always feels awkward going past them in case they think I've got the hump and I'm trying to race them. Nope - I can just pace myself.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153419 Wed, 14 May 2014 06:38:57 +0000 gembo 153419@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thrill of the chase Greenroofer? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153409 Tue, 13 May 2014 22:04:04 +0000 Greenroofer 153409@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I still have a vivid memory of a chap I passed on the towpath out beyond Wester Hailes early one morning. I caught up with him and passed him without speeding up, so my cruising speed was considerably quicker than his. </p> <p>Having done the overtake, I looked in my mirror to see him still on my wheel.</p> <p>I upped the pace. He was <em>still</em> on my wheel. I upped the pace further, until I was going 25% faster than when I overtook him, but still he hung on my tail.</p> <p>I was gently amused by this, but I can't imagine what was going through his head. If someone comes flying past you (as I did) why would you bother accelerating to keep up with them from then on? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153404 Tue, 13 May 2014 20:50:24 +0000 Instography 153404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I will occasionally chase people who I think are riding inconsiderately on NEPN mainly to enjoy passing them just so that the sight of a fat bloke overtaking can hopefully slightly deflate the sort of ego that feeds on passing dawdlers on mountain bikes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12806#post-153403 Tue, 13 May 2014 20:41:15 +0000 gembo 153403@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I upset someone by taking a tow once. I thought we were comrades on the commute but I was wrong. If someone does pass you it is tempting to chase them. Usually easier to chase someone than stay ahead of someone chasing you? No point in jumping reds etc just to cheat a win.</p> <p>Last night I was tailed by Big Wim frae Balerno from slateford on. I have a faster bike than him so could always get away when safe to do so. But he maintains his pace so when I slow for dogs/Peds he catches up. Anyway at juniper green on the WoL path that was built into the river when the mill/factory went for housing very handy for the bypass, well under it I spied two walkers, so instead of taking the gradual route I went up the old path which has a chicane at the top. wimbers takes the gradual and dings his bell. I know we will meet at top. We then had a very jolly chat two abreast all way to Balerno. At the steps where I come off I encouraged him to take the win which he was happy to oblige. </p>