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.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Commuting/Racing
(46 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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I had a three short tows tonight and thanked all three as they peeled off.
My chest consultant very pro cycling
Posted 10 years ago # -
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
If someone comes flying past you (as I did) why would you bother accelerating to keep up with them from then on
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
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
Posted 10 years ago # -
With all this drafting and stuff, I can see the towpath quickly becoming like this...
http://www.naden.de/blog/bbvideo-bbpress-video-plugin -->[+] Embed the video | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aH1bn6yUI" target="_blank">Video Download Get the Video Plugin ...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!)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Le Col du Morrison:
There I was, on my bike minding my own business, watching the morning commuters pass me by, waiting for the green light.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
How was your commute to work this morning?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Isn't that the third time you've posted that?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Maybe the second, seemed appropriate. :)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Posted 10 years ago #
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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'.
If I have to stop suddenly, I don't want someone piling into the back of me.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Greenroofer, Bike Snob linked to a video of the other end of bike racing:
Posted 10 years ago # -
@Cyclingmollie None of that video makes me want to get involved in road racing!
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.
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
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!)
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.
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Big thanks to whoever gave me a draft on the A8 this morning. Good pace and made my journey all the more enjoyable.
Posted 10 years ago #
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