I seem to recall that there used to be a commuting 'race' held each year between different forms of transport. Can anyone remember who organised it? I suspect it was Spokes as the bike always seemed to win. Have they stopped doing it. I don't remember seeing anything about it recently.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Commuting 'race'
(98 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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You mean the Edinburgh Commuter Challenge?
Edinburgh Commuter Challenge '06 by chdot, on FlickrThat's me looking miserable because unlike all the cyclists who bagged cycling as their method of getting to the finish I volunteered to try getting there by bus. It took nearly an hour and was at least half an hour slower than if I'd ridden even the crappy bike I'd used to get to the start.
Posted 11 years ago # -
And I'm smug there in the middle at the back. Took part three years I think. Bike won every year save one route one year with a motorbike. Buses always always always came last.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Pre-tram Princes Street!
Edinburgh Commuter Challenge '06 by chdot, on FlickrPosted 11 years ago # -
Yes that's the one. Has it been stopped due to the Tramworks?
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Buses always always always came last"
Apart from the year/leg when the train from Newcraighall failed to turn up.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Has it been stopped due to the Tramworks?
Perhaps it's like Alfredo Binda. Bikes paid not to take part now cos they won every year?Posted 11 years ago # -
I think it was just a logistical nightmare, had stopped proving a point, and wasn't getting that much coverage (despite the tireless efforts of those organising).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Maggie Wynn did a lot of organising - without her I don't think it would have happened.
Sure others remember her enthusiasm and ability to make everyone welcome.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not sure about the result from Ingliston? 10 miles in 19 minutes? In rush hour traffic? hmm... someone must have got a lift ;)
Who ever did this should be competing nationally....
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/534510/hutchinson-breaks-10-mile-competition-record.html
Posted 11 years ago # -
It might have been exceptionally windy, the only fair way would be to do both ways and average the time. Bet the bus didn't seem quite so slow during hurricane bawbag :D
Posted 11 years ago # -
LOl. In a conversation with a non-cyclist yesterday, he seemed convinced that I ought to be able to cycle 5 miles through the city centre in 10 minutes because that is the speed he can do on the bikes in the gym. Just couldn't believe that wasn't actually the case. I told him he should be competing among the elite at time trials. He should kick Hutch's ass very easily with no traffic lights to slow him down to a mere 10 mins/5miles.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Not sure about the result from Ingleston? 10 miles in 19 minutes?"
Does look a bit suspicious I think the 10 miles is wrong.
I seem to remember winner was a roadie who was PR for Lothian Buses at the time...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Winner was a roadie on a carbon fibre whippet and full lycra. Flat - downhill run, in a bus lane for the majority, with a tailwind can easily cruis at 25mph and faster (if pushing it) and at the time with no roadworks through Haymarket, for the entire length if you get the lights that could mean 19 minutes for 10 miles.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"... because that is the speed he can do on the bikes in the gym"
:D
Used to work with someone who had a similar theory. She did 40 miles on the static bike in the gym one night, so riding 40 miles was 'easy'.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Flat - downhill run
Definitely needs to be run two ways then, you'd never get the land speed record to stand with a tail wind!
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Maggie Wynn did a lot of organising - without her I don't think it would have happened."
Lot of truth in that.
The Commuter 'race' was part of European Mobility Week which Edinburgh hasn't bothered with since 2009.
Edinburgh used to have more enthusiasm. One year it shut George Street. The next year (always same date) was a Monday, so that didn't happen...
After that, various levels of interest and eventually decided 'not worthwhile' a lot of other places given up too.
Posted 11 years ago # -
10 miles in 20 minutes, would mean an average of 30mph. So this person rode into the centre of Edinburgh at an average speed of more than 30mph in rush hour? nah.
Don't know the actual route, but if it was a straight in through Haymarket route it would be nearer 7 miles which is more realistic, but still an effort (>22mph ave). Either way I suspect the data is skewed...
EDIT: Mind you, route could be close to 10 miles if started at Ingliston roundabout, rather than P&R for instance.
Posted 11 years ago # -
10 is clearly very wrong -
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/19180872/#fastest
Still fast (and first - they all set off at same time).
Would probably beat the tram!
THAT will be the new Strava challenge...
Posted 11 years ago # -
10 miles is way out, which doesn't do a huge amount for the credibility of the whole exercise.
Posted 11 years ago # -
doesn't do a huge amount for the credibility of the whole exercise.
Its a bit of fun which regardless of the relative speeds of the riders proves the point that its still quicker to ride than drive. Wasn't there were car and bus users starting and ending at the same point?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yeah, everyone started from the same point, so the ten miles will have been registered against the car and the bus as well - so even if the distance is wrong, the time is correct, which in this sort of thing is pretty much the most important aspect.
And it was definitely fun (though definitely competitive as well - went all out to beat the other options each time!).
Posted 11 years ago # -
I accept those points. Just think it would make an even stronger case to have the distance correct too.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I remember it was the 19 minute record that caused me to raise a quizzical eye brow at the time. That is pretty much my commute (apart from starting at the airport & finishing earlier) & I have never got anywhere near 19 mins when commuting, although I do use the cyclepath and not the A8. I always thought it was a bit sneaky in advertising this as a realistic commuting time rather than a one off effort by a very fit individual prepared to mix it with the dual carriageway
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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All kinds of people in 2009:
There was even a special category for superlight deviant bikes (who won the ride from the RIE).
Posted 11 years ago # -
"I always thought it was a bit sneaky in advertising this as a realistic commuting time rather than a one off effort by a very fit individual prepared to mix it with the dual carriageway"
Though most routes had more than one cyclist, one taking the direct road, another taking cycle paths, and if there was a third (as there was on occasion) they just mixed it up. All of which gave a good idea of different times for different cyclists.
Still always beat the buses, and generally the cars.
Posted 11 years ago # -
One thing you have to factor in is the 'getting showered and changed at the end, though tbh the getting showered bit could be removed as we get showered at home if not cycling.
Posted 11 years ago # -
If the start times had coincided with the bus and train times the result might have been quite different. I had to wait about 25 minutes for a bus at ERI. If I was catching a bus I would get to the bus stop no more than five minutes before the bus arrived. So my journey-time should really have been twenty minutes less than it was.
Posted 11 years ago # -
A but would you wait for the time you leave the house for the bus to go out on the bike?
Posted 11 years ago #
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