Cycling confessional.

mezzinator said:

Do you?....

Whilst riding on your own or with a friend do you try and chase down a rider you can see in the distance? Then, when you've caught up and pass you stop huffing and puffing, pretend it's a breeze, nod or say 'G'day, nice day for it' as they struggle. THEN once past huff and puff and nearly cough up a lung trying to stay ahead and increase the distance.

There's gotta be some other riders out there with some cycling confessions about wankerish or amusing things you do.

It's time to confess....

Here's another one I do. When doing a group ride I pretend to be more tired than I really am so I don't do my turn on the front. THEN, when it's time for a sprint I surge ahead and then say 'I don't know where that came from'.

hehe...very funny

i actually like drafting people when possible

i have been overtaken on many occasions and suspected they were just wanting to show off... i'd rather stick close and just make 'em work really hard

it is funnier to watch them struggle

mezzinator said:

Do you?....
Here's another one I do. When doing a group ride I pretend to be more tired than I really am so I don't do my turn on the front. THEN, when it's time for a sprint I surge ahead and then say 'I don't know where that came from'.

Well, you're not going to make lotsa friends in your group...

mezzinator said:

Do you?....

Whilst riding on your own or with a friend do you try and chase down a rider you can see in the distance? Then, when you've caught up and pass you stop huffing and puffing, pretend it's a breeze, nod or say 'G'day, nice day for it' as they struggle. THEN once past huff and puff and nearly cough up a lung trying to stay ahead and increase the distance.

There's gotta be some other riders out there with some cycling confessions about wankerish or amusing things you do.

It's time to confess....

Here's another one I do. When doing a group ride I pretend to be more tired than I really am so I don't do my turn on the front. THEN, when it's time for a sprint I surge ahead and then say 'I don't know where that came from'.

I would never do that. I can't catch anyone else.

this is my Beach Rd 'sucker punch':

on days when you want someone to pull you along, try this: pass the person, then sit on about 35kmh (depending on the wind direction), but pretend you're ABSOLUTELY DYING. The person thinks "right, this guy's struggling, I'm gunna torch him", so he passes you and cranks it up to 40+, then you just hook in behind him for a cruisey draft. 😄

works every time.

Ronanmk said:

Well, you're not going to make lotsa friends in your group...

Well group rides and races are like chess. You make you plays, make your moves. Sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don't. (Usually they do 🙂 )

I'm sure an entire book could be written on the tactics used for one particular local hill during group rides. There's as many ways to do it as there are riders who take part. Not just a case of 'fast as you can to the top'. There's drafting, all out sprinting at the front (rarely works), waiting to pounce, going so fast up the hill they give up, staying in the seat, getting out, swerving, lead outs plus combination of these and many many more.

mezzinator said:

...snip
I'm sure an entire book could be written on the tactics used for one particular local hill during group rides. .snip....

my fun thing on Beach Road is "tortoise and the hare" --be in a cruisy creeping recovery ride and when some hammer head zips past, just move up behind and draft a bit till the next hill and then as they start to blow on the hill ) cos they will if they know they are towing a few ( what they think are)slower riders and they won't want to get passed)...build up speed and roar past with one foot unclipped and say "what's the matter , what's keeping you, you only need one pedal to get up this hill" ......🙂

( not recommended if you cant ride with one unclipped)....but its a hoot, they usually give up, deflatedand won't dare pass you again....

He, he, you guys are killers.

When I was a lot younger I used to hurtle along the shop fronts on Maroondah Hwy/Springy Road etc and check my position out on the bike in the shop window reflections, hoping I'd look like a TDF rider (slim, tanned and well-defined) and remember thinking to myself how crappy I actually looked - oh well. Almost collected a few car doors in the process.:p

Speaking of Beach Rd, what is the route of the Hellride? I used to frequent that ages ago when it was called the "Frankston Derby" (anyone here remember that?). Also how fast (Km/h) do they go up the climb, I don't intend to go anywhere near that ride until I get a bit of fittness back again. To think I used to do a lap over Mt Dandy almost every afternoon, and that was when the Mt Hwy felt was as rough as the cobbles of Flanders all the way up the hill...:eek:

mezzinator said:

I'm sure an entire book could be written on the tactics used for one particular local hill during group rides.

Speaking of tactics and local hill...

I did the group ride last night. I did the 'wait and pounce' and then what I call the 'hill sprint demoralisation'. Basically waited for other riders to start the sprint and then slowly accelerated until I was right up behind them, swerved round, and took the line by at least 20 metres. The key with this hill is to zip past so fast they just give up. Noice. 😎

While we're on this subject... Anyone got any other tactics they've given names to? ie 'Hill sprint demoralisation'

When im on a solo ride and a drafter sticks to close or is annoying, i use the bushmans hanky or a lethal farrrrt, oops didn't know you were there 😎 , they either pass or backoff.

On an MTB out on some singletrack when I’m closing on a rider ahead I kinda back off alittle to save myself just alittle further out than their wheel & then bang past all at once on one or two cogs higher than them.
Locking up the rear into the next corner just as you squeeze past is real popular with all your dirt riding mates as well….

I was commuting in once on this blokes wheel & he got real shirty about it so I went past.
From what I understand it’s a bad thing to do, but didn’t Armstrong win 7x TDF just off someones wheel?

Riding an MTB on the road (with slicks) always makes hill climbing a good time to chase down a roadie.

Eagle of Toledo said:

Speaking of Beach Rd, what is the route of the Hellride? I used to frequent that ages ago when it was called the "Frankston Derby" (anyone here remember that?). Also how fast (Km/h) do they go up the climb, I don't intend to go anywhere near that ride until I get a bit of fittness back again. To think I used to do a lap over Mt Dandy almost every afternoon, and that was when the Mt Hwy felt was as rough as the cobbles of Flanders all the way up the hill...:eek:

As a Hell Ride veteran and now retired Beach Rd expert, allow me....

0700-depart Black Rock roundabout

Ascend Oliver's at about 30kmh if you're at the pointy end, you'll have to roll the big dog all the way to Mt Eliza. turn right under the ped overpass and head into Mt Eliza at 55kmh.

ed073 said:

As a Hell Ride veteran and now retired Beach Rd expert, allow me....

0700-depart Black Rock roundabout

Ascend Oliver's at about 30kmh if you're at the pointy end, you'll have to roll the big dog all the way to Mt Eliza. turn right under the ped overpass and head into Mt Eliza at 55kmh.

Roger all that, thanks ed073. Back in my time they also did the 2 Bays Road.

PS: Has anyone here climbed Castle Hill in Townsville? Was there last month, only 3 KM but it's a mongrel of a climb.

Quoted post said:

PS: Has anyone here climbed Castle Hill in Townsville? Was there last month, only 3 KM but it's a mongrel of a climb.

Only on a Honda M/cycle, back in the late 60s, we raced up there every night. 😄

Eagle of Toledo said:

PS: Has anyone here climbed Castle Hill in Townsville? Was there last month, only 3 KM but it's a mongrel of a climb.

Yep, do it often thou not lately - recovering from hernia op.
6 weeks ago was regularly doing it 2 days a week and twice each day. Amazingly the second run is always about a minute faster.
Glad to hear that someone else thinks its a mongrel. Thought I was being a wus.
its a good hill for training really because it has a steep bit, then levels a bit for a chance to get breath back and then it bites. From the restaurant to the top, last 150m, can be bad if there is a strong southerly wind as it just blasts you to a near stop on the exposed corner.
Record is held by Jason Patterson at 8 min 30 sec.
I am the slow bum on the flat bar roadie with slicks and disks. (Avanti Blade Elite) 😄
Wheeze in at 12 -13 min.

Cheers
Hugh

Oh it's a certified mongrel allright, some of the sections are nasty, nasy, nasty.

Yep it would be faster once you're all warmed up from the first run. I know I'm hopeless when I first start off, easily dropped. I really only start to feel good after the first 20-30 KM.

Jasons run is 20 Km/h, amazing stuff, I imagine you mean from the Burke St corner. But I'd be more than happy with 12 min myself. I was surprised at how many folks were on that road, cyclist and walkers.

Take it easy and recover well!

Eagle of Toledo said:

Oh it's a certified mongrel allright, some of the sections are nasty, nasy, nasty.

Yep it would be faster once you're all warmed up from the first run. I know I'm hopeless when I first start off, easily dropped. I really only start to feel good after the first 20-30 KM.

Jasons run is 20 Km/h, amazing stuff, I imagine you mean from the Burke St corner. But I'd be more than happy with 12 min myself. I was surprised at how many folks were on that road, cyclist and walkers.

Take it easy and recover well!

Apparently Castle Hill is just 20m short of being classified as a mountain.

The timed Castle Hill course starts at the corner of Gregory St and CH Rd. Thats the one that runs down to the Strand and the Seaview Hotel. Its got a nasty little bite at the top too. Lots of traffic and a give way sign so I avoid there and go up Kennedy St which is just as steep but far fewer cars.

Next time you are here try up beside the old Hospital. Leichardt St, left into Denham then right curve to Hale. That will teach you how to swear. Also Cleverland Terrace over Melton Hil is always a good warmup 😄

For a place thats 99.9% flat there are some amazing hills.

Yet to do Mt Stuart. mmmm

Cheers
Hugh