On my afternoon home commute last month I was overtaken by a guy on a MTB (I was on my road bike)and although I sat on his wheel at 17 mph for 3 miles, he didn't let up and so instead of churlishly overtaking him on a downhill section, I decide to "give him the stage", you know, a bit like Lance giving Basso the stage ;-)
However, last night on my way home from work at 2230, I was overtaken by a bloke in jeans and a Hull City top on a clapped out MTB at 17 mph. Just to put the tin hat on it he had a takeaway plastic bag hanging from his 'bars. Well, this was too much, so I chased him down until he blew up and slowed to 12 mph, at which point I went past at 22 mph and kept going for a couple of miles.
On my afternoon home commute last month I was overtaken by a guy on a MTB (I was on my road bike)and although I sat on his wheel at 17 mph for 3 miles, he didn't let up and so instead of churlishly overtaking him on a downhill section, I decide to "give him the stage", you know, a bit like Lance giving Basso the stage ;-)
You drafted someone for 3 miles? You should be taken out and shot ;-)
No-one ever drafts me when commuting. Either I smell really bad or I'm too fast. I think it's the latter - I've caught and overtaken lots of cyclists but no-one has ever, *ever* passed me.
Club runs are a different story as I desperately try to maintain contact with the group - obviously racers don't commute.
On my afternoon home commute last month I was overtaken by a guy on a MTB (I was on my road bike)and although I sat on his wheel at 17 mph for 3 miles, he didn't let up and so instead of churlishly overtaking him on a downhill section, I decide to "give him the stage", you know, a bit like Lance giving Basso the stage ;-)
However, last night on my way home from work at 2230, I was overtaken by a bloke in jeans and a Hull City top on a clapped out MTB at 17 mph. Just to put the tin hat on it he had a takeaway plastic bag hanging from his 'bars. Well, this was too much, so I chased him down until he blew up and slowed to 12 mph, at which point I went past at 22 mph and kept going for a couple of miles.
Bet you then quickly turned left and hid up a side alley to get yer breath back until he went past. Come on, admit it. We've all done it ;-)
No-one ever drafts me when commuting. Either I smell really bad or I'm too fast. I think it's the latter - I've caught and overtaken lots of cyclists but no-one has ever, *ever* passed me.
Incidentally, what kind of speed do you need to be doing for the draft to be effective?
On 19/9/04 7:48 pm, in article [email hidden], "Keith
Willoughby said:
Zog The Undeniable said:
No-one ever drafts me when commuting. Either I smell really bad or I'm too fast. I think it's the latter - I've caught and overtaken lots of cyclists but no-one has ever, *ever* passed me.
Incidentally, what kind of speed do you need to be doing for the draft to be effective?
On yesterdays tour, not very fast as she was hanging on to my saddle bag. The first time I thought I'd got a puncture, then realised I had a Klingon..
In reality, it depends on the wind. Anything above 15 miles per hour relative wind speed and you will get some noticeable benefit.
: Club runs are a different story as I desperately try to maintain contact : with the group - obviously racers don't commute.
We do, but at least in my case, slower than before I became fit. I cycle into work at a pace that ensures I don't start sweating while wearing my normal clothes (jeans+shirt today). This means that the odd faster commuter does pass me.
Arthur
-- Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt "Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect" - Paulina Borsook
"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:414dc4df.0@entanet...
Quoted message said:
Simon Mason said:
On my afternoon home commute last month I was overtaken by a guy on a MTB (I was on my road bike)and although I sat on his wheel at 17 mph for 3 miles, he didn't let up and so instead of churlishly overtaking him on a downhill section, I decide to "give him the stage", you know, a bit like Lance giving Basso the stage ;-)
You drafted someone for 3 miles? You should be taken out and shot ;-)
No, I kept a respectable distance, just within gear clicking range, but well out of the slipstream :-)
"JohnB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Simon Mason said:
Bet you then quickly turned left and hid up a side alley to get yer breath back until he went past. Come on, admit it.
I admit I did that 2 years ago when I was racing a roadie on my hybrid, but I'm actually fit enough now not to blow up, unless you put a 14% hill in my way!
Zog The Undeniable <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<414dc4df.0@entanet>...
Quoted message said:
No-one ever drafts me when commuting. Either I smell really bad or I'm too fast. I think it's the latter - I've caught and overtaken lots of cyclists but no-one has ever, *ever* passed me.
Club runs are a different story as I desperately try to maintain contact with the group - obviously racers don't commute.
I sometimes encounter Rob Enslin on my commute. (Second picture down on this page <http://www.londoncyclesport.com/reports2003/hill_tues_22.html>.) Although "encounter" means he catches me up he hasn't actually dropped me yet, mainly because he's a sociable bloke and I immediately engage him in conversation. :-)
"Dave Kahn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I sometimes encounter Rob Enslin on my commute. (Second picture down on this page <http://www.londoncyclesport.com/reports2003/hill_tues_22.html>.) Although "encounter" means he catches me up he hasn't actually dropped me yet, mainly because he's a sociable bloke and I immediately engage him in conversation. :-)
