CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:34:50 +0000 fimm on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101982 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:44:52 +0000 fimm 101982@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ More on speedy cyclists in Copenhagen: <a href="http://beautyandthebike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/copenhagen.html" rel="nofollow">http://beautyandthebike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/copenhagen.html</a> sallyhinch on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101935 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:56:48 +0000 sallyhinch 101935@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ This shows cycling in the 'Dutch Alps' <a href="http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/cycling-in-the-dutch-mountains/" rel="nofollow">http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/cycling-in-the-dutch-mountains/</a> Note that in the video as it's a rural road those dotted lines don't mark 'cycle lanes' in the sense we understand them - they're there to visually narrow the road for cars to a single lane (like a single track road here) so they slow down. It's also a 30km/h road If you scroll down to the comments there's also the video of a dutch postman (fully laden) taking the wheel of the Rabobank team on a training ride in the hills. sallyhinch on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101933 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:47:00 +0000 sallyhinch 101933@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @Fimm - ah I did wonder, particularly how it would handle at that speed! Still a laden front end does wonders for its lively steering steveo on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101931 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:43:45 +0000 steveo 101931@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ A higher rolling average != a higher overall average speed. We see that every day, how often do end up being overtaken by the same car after every junction. Only time this constant changing doesn't happen is when the driver gets stuck in a line of traffic longer than the lights are timed for. stiltskin on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101929 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:37:51 +0000 stiltskin 101929@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Would the Dutch? What do they do with downhills? I think the mistake you are making is: Dutch & Hills kaputnik on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101923 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:15:33 +0000 kaputnik 101923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I've often felt that the interfaces with roads and junctions greatly slow down average cycling speed. Either waiting for a gap in traffic, or waiting for lights (that are timed to advantage of road traffic) to change. All too often you pass someone to find them behind you at the lights all the way to work. A higher rolling average != a higher overall average speed. Smudge on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101922 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:12:33 +0000 Smudge 101922@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I would think that when you're cycling less than a couple of hours the extra speed/reduced effort gained by lightweight, low friction, better aerodynamics etc is not enough to make a significant difference. Especially when affected by the variables of traffic, weather etc. My MTB shows about 4mph slower average speed than my "road" bike, (my tourer about 2mph) but on the six mile run to work it's an insignificant difference, were I to be riding all day, I would expect the difference in effort/distance covered could be more significant. fimm on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101917 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:18:57 +0000 fimm 101917@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I didn't hit 40 on the Brompton; I was very deliberately not trying to go fast (especially as my top gear was playing up...) I guess the swede, nice bread, and assorted meat I was bringing home gave some assistance!! sallyhinch on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101915 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:00:36 +0000 sallyhinch 101915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ There's masses of space on Dutch (and Danish) lanes - remember that scooters use them as well as bikes. I was in Copenhagen last week and on pretty much all the tracks there was a distinct 'fast lane' and a 'slow lane'. Obviously where it's crowded you're not going to hit top speed, but you won't be riding at the pace of the slowest either. Once out of town on the Dutch tracks you do see peletons of lycra-clad racers. Of course these are tracks which are up to 4m wide (which is about the width of a single-track road) and beautifully surfaced - better than the road and likely to stay that way as bikes wear the surface so much more slowly than cars and lorries. If I was going to do 40kmh on my Brompton I'd be far happier doing it well out of the way of any traffic - and well out of the way of any potholes too. chdot on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101903 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:27:31 +0000 chdot 101903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Seems to go fast enough" Same legs on both bikes. I'm not taking the heritage vehicle north of Princes Street until it has more gears. cb on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101900 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:22:48 +0000 cb 101900@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ There is also the <a href="http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=45056">story that the CTC covered</a> a while back about the guy who swapped at random between his steel tourer and carbon road bike for 27 mile round-trip, 843m ascent commute. He found there was no significant time difference, although various people on that thread suggesting that the study was flawed for various reasons. And the bikes didn't sound as 'different' as fimm or chdot's examples. (I have spotted chdot on aforementioned boneshaker, ahem, roadster several times in the last few weeks. Seems to go fast enough) chdot on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101896 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:13:28 +0000 chdot 101896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I went to a school twice last week. More flat than a route to Balerno, and about the same elevation at each end with a small hill in the middle, so about the same time each way. One day was on a heavy 'roadster' with only one effective gear. The next on a much lighter 21 speed. All journeys about 17 minutes... fimm on "On hills, utility cycling, and cycling slowly" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9572#post-101874 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:58:10 +0000 fimm 101874@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ So on Saturday I decided to go to Juniper Green farmers' market on the Brompton. I thought it might be interesting to record my thoughts on this, as I regularly cycle the same road on my road bike. I also have some not totally connected thoughts and questions on the subject of hills. So, <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/41956862">here</a> is my garmin trace for Saturday morning's Brompton ride. I was in full "utility cycling" gear, including a skirt (appropriatly sized skirts are great for cycling as they don't have to be clipped out of the way), the only cycle-specific thing I was wearing was my Garmin (which I hadly ever use on my Bormpton). For comparison, here are traces for Friday's "long commute" <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/41874829">to work</a> and <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/41874821">home</a> again. On the Brompton the outward leg took me 18:46 and the return leg 13:21. On the road bike I estimate it took me 17:30 to get to the same point and 12 minutes to get home. I run my Garmin on autostop when cycling so traffic light time doesn't get counted. The two rides are not totally comparable, of course, as traffic condidions are different. I felt there was more traffic going up the hill, but less going home. I had expected to feel more hassled by traffic on the Brompton, as it looks (and is) slower. Actually, I felt there was very little difference. The more upright sitting position on the B makes it easier to look over my shoulder (I haven't got very good vision in my right eye so need to get my head quite a long way round). The one place I did end up in the "door zone" I think I didn't get far enough out at the right moment. In a way, being on the B felt less pressured; on the road bike I think I feel that I must go fast! And coming down Lanark Road (which requires a strong primary because of parked cars and terrible road surfaces) didn't seem any worse (though this was where I felt that the lack of traffic made a difference). I suppose the other thing is that I don't loose either my "engine" or my obstreperousness in traffic when I change bike! On the subject of hills: My top descent speed on the Brompton is showing at just under 40 km/h, with another stretch at over 30. On the road bike I got over 40km/h (and I'm sure I can go faster than that). So, imagine you were going to put cycle paths in on the Lanark Road. Proper wide cycle paths with plently of space away from parked cars etc. Would you put one in on the downhill? Would the Dutch? What do they do with downhills? Even on the Brompton I'm pushing 20mph. Would one have to sit hard on the brakes all the way down? or would there be enough space to go safely at speed? Or would the speed merchants go in the car lane? (That road is currently 40, but I assume that my fantasy cycle lanes would also include a reduction to 30.)