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Competitive commuting (reposted)

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    NOTE (reposted) refers to attempt to deal with the recent "error message" problems - didn't work but 'problem' seems to have gone away (for now?).

    Interesting exchange started on Wildlife highlight of the day - (edit)

    amir "I missed all the wildlife today. I was pottering in with all good intentions near Dalkeith campus, when someone on a very nice race bike shot past. I woke up and my competitive instincts took over."

    chdot "Did you arrive at work hot(ter) and sweat(ier)y? Was the youthful adrenaline rush worth the (lack of) nature input?"

    amir "In all honesty the competitive streak does take hold most times - but there is usually no one on my route until I get to the Innocent. I normally arrive pretty hot and sweaty anyway - thank goodness there's a shower at work."

    Just wondering how many people on here try for a non-sweaty commute, have a sweaty one because there is a shower or wish there was a shower so that they could?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. spytfyre
    Member

    I never try for a non sweaty commute
    The only time I got competitive was when a sleek road bike overtook me on Ferry Rd path when I was doing 19mph then turned onto the tesco path at 5 ways and slowed down and when I ended up having to pass him again he was right on my tyre the rest of the way suggesting he didn't like being over taken by a sweaty out of shape monster on a hybrid with full panniers... hey ho, you get drivers like that

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. miggy_magic
    Member

    I thought this thread was going to be about "Silly Commuter Racing" where you can claim "scalps" for overtaking someone higher up than you on the cycling food chain.

    I used to try to set a PB for my commutes but doing so left me hot and sweaty by the time I got to work. We have showers here but it's a bit of a faff. So now I'm more relaxed, even though I do get a bit annoyed when someone overtakes me. Surely that's natural!?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "I do get a bit annoyed when someone overtakes me. Surely that's natural!?"

    Suspect it's mostly a male thing - though I think there are people on here....

    I'm not exactly young and I have to accept that one or two people will overtake me (for instance) up Bruntsfield Place these days.

    Most of my work journeys are to places for meetings, so showering isn't really an option - so sensible number of layers and not too much exertion are crucial.

    It's undoubtedly the case that 'regular' cyclists are fitter and less likely to 'overheat'.

    Basic basics are making sure that tyres are blown up so that travel is less effort (at whatever speed).

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. steveo
    Member

    My commute represents a fair chunk of my exercise so i tend to do it at full pelt.

    I'm not really competitive with others just my self.

    Of course the reason i don't compete is because I always loose, fast bike with a fat git riding it means that the only people i ever pass are people on bikes lower down the commute chain, "real roadies" pass me with impunity.

    Though i have on several occasion felt the gentle whisper saying you've got a fast bike show them what for after i was shoaled. On the one occasion i relented and really went for it the little old lady on her dutch bike really felt my wrath as i blasted off down on the drops... :D

    Whats your FCN? I'm an 8
    http://www.itsnotarace.org/fcn-calculator/

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "the little old lady on her dutch bike really felt my wrath as i blasted off down on the drops"

    Many years ago I was overtaken on Princes Street by a women about my age on an ordinary 'upright' 3 speed.

    I couldn't catch her on my light racer. I was genuinely amazed (rather than 'humilated').

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. Dave
    Member

    I'm a 9 on the fall-back bike, as there's no option for recumbents in the calculator! (If I put it in as a road bike I get 5)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. amir
    Member

    I'm 8 on the commute bike (but doesn't allow for "slow" hub gear) and 3 on the road bike (but not allowing for "sensible" mudguards).

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. amir
    Member

    The bloke that passed me today was a 4 - (assuming he had hairy legs - I wasn't drafting him subsequently).

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. spytfyre
    Member

    8 with the child seat on 7 without (I have taken to leaving it at the nursery for his mum to pick up)
    very amused my beard holds me back apparently

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. miggy_magic
    Member

    I'm a 4 or a 7 depending on which bike I take. It's misleading because I definitely don't ride like a 4!!!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    "It's misleading because I definitely don't ride like a 4!!!"

    Isn't FCN about perception - and consequential stereotyping issues??

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. miggy_magic
    Member

    chdot - yes, of course. I was just trying to highlight the discrepancy in my own kit/performance.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. spytfyre
    Member

    @Dave - "Recumbents, Tandems and Segways are worth +2 points as a rare bonus"
    Where do you cycle about? ;)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. Stepdoh
    Member

    I'm a 10 so I'll be coming to get you all (mwah hah hah hah... etc) think what passes for a beard got me an extra point!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. spytfyre
    Member

    I might shave some go faster stripes in my beard...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. Dave
    Member

    @spytfyre - I thought you got points for scalping someone further up the food chain. So adding 2 for recumbency makes me less of a target, surely!

    PS I ride up from Cameron Toll all the way in, then all the way down Leith Walk. I'm probably at Princes St around 8:15 / 17:20.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  18. effemm
    Member

    It seems I'm a quotidian 6, rising to 8 with the kiddie trailer. It's a great laugh overtaking folk with *that* on the back, sipping an imaginary cup of tea. Not that I'm competitive, noooo...

    My good lady wife, on the other hand, is plagued by blokes (FCN unknown) who insist on overtaking her (because she's a girl, she presumes) and then slowing down again, their point about 21st century masculinity well and truly made. At which point she glides past at the same speed she was going all along. She's a 13 by my calculations...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  19. recombodna
    Member

    5

    Posted 14 years ago #

  20. Dave
    Member

    effemm - SWMBO often reports that when she's riding home from work, various chaps will heave themselves past, sweating and panting. She's moderately nippy so I think it amuses her to toy with them sometimes.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  21. spytfyre
    Member

    Dave - no I think it means I gain 2 points.. but our paths do not cross unless you are the recumbent int eh bike shed outside my office?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  22. Kirst
    Member

    I still remember the first time I overtook someone heading uphill on the Innocent on the approach to the Tunnel.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    "I still remember the first time I overtook someone heading uphill on the Innocent on the approach to the Tunnel."

    Such places can be a bit of a dilemma.

    If you're going a lot faster it's not an issue. If you're slightly faster do you speed up so you don't appear to be 'stalking'?

    Then there's the risk you'll tire yourself out and be unable to sustain the pace through the tunnel - or just incite a competition!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  24. Dave
    Member

    Does it have a white dragon on the box on the back, spytfyre? (I seem to remember discovering I work near somebody else on the forum, was it you?)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  25. spytfyre
    Member

    Is it orange Dave?
    Is it parked somewhere in the region of Perth St?
    We maybe did but my memory is like a sieve at the best of times

    Posted 14 years ago #

  26. Dave
    Member

    No, it's white all over. I'm sure someone on here will be able to identify the mystery man though!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  27. Min
    Member

    I always break a sweat on my commute, especially in the morning as it is mostly uphill so I think that is allowed. I don't get competative though I do feel annoyed if I pass someone who is going really slowly then they speed up and sit on my wheel until they can pass me again. Whatever floats your boat etc.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  28. cb
    Member

    I always mean to take it easier than I do, but my current commute is only two miles so it's possible to push it without getting too hot.
    Anyway sometimes it's not until you get off the bike and are no longer being air-cooled that you realise just *how* hot you are.

    I don't think I'm competitive but I do seem to find that I am pretty much always fastest away from the lights so end up in front.

    On last year's Edin -> St Andrews Lepra cycle we were making pretty good progress and generally overtaking folk including a lady wearing a floral dress riding her Brompton at a sedate but steady pace. We kept stopping for food/cakes, etc. and whenever we set off again we'd pass the same lady again. It was like the hare and the tortoise. I think she must have 'won' in the end.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  29. cb
    Member

    Oh yeah, FCN seems to be 10, 12 or 13 depending on bike and attire.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  30. Min
    Member

    I was on a bike ride once, I think it was for Friends of the Earth or something. These two people kept passing me then immediately slowing down so that I had to pass them again. They did it about four or five times in a row. I got fed up and floored it until I got away from the cretins. Don't know what they thought they were trying to achieve.

    Posted 14 years ago #

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