I always think if I approach someone I need to slow down to work out whether I can actually make a reasonable job of overtaking them. Another benefit being that you have spare reserves to overtake them sensibly.
Anyway, last night got overtaken by a roady who wasn't convincingly faster, and farted about on roundabouts in front of me - as this was irritating and unsafe - I overtook him, but he decided to re-overtake some time later.
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 14:14:55 +0000 (UTC), W K <[email hidden]> wrote:
[...]
Quoted message said:
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
I often overtake students on my Brommie. This seems to have an odd effect. The sight of this 40+ year-old on a weird looking bike causes them to stand in the saddle of their full-sus MTB and put even more effort in to get past me. They generally don't pass me again. I'm not particularly fast on a bike but I do tend to use the right gear and lube my transmission more than once a year.
Anyway, last night got overtaken by a roady who wasn't convincingly faster, and farted about on roundabouts in front of me - as this was irritating and unsafe - I overtook him, but he decided to re-overtake some time later.
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
Had something not entirely dissimilar on the Brom earlier this year, with a lassie in full lycra, SPuDs etc. on a rather nice looking racer pulling out from the kerb in front of me as I was going along with "I'm faster than you" body language. I didn't want to overtake because she went straight to the right hand side of our half of the road, and I don't like undertaking in such a situation, too risky. Moving onto a minor road with very long sightlines overtaking got safer, but I decided not to in the end, partly as I'd be turning left shortly after passing and partly I thought it might rather hurt her pride to have some wee-wheeled bike with a shopping basket on it ridden by someone in everyday clothes cruise by. But I could have offered useful advice on the lines of "if you don't stop pedalling for every other 5 seconds you'll be able to go a lot quicker!".
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 14:14:55 +0000 (UTC), W K <[email hidden]> wrote:
[...]
Quoted message said:
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
I often overtake students on my Brommie. This seems to have an odd effect. The sight of this 40+ year-old on a weird looking bike causes them to stand in the saddle of their full-sus MTB and put even more effort in to get past me. They generally don't pass me again. I'm not particularly fast on a bike but I do tend to use the right gear and lube my transmission more than once a year.
Anyway, last night got overtaken by a roady who wasn't convincingly faster, and farted about on roundabouts in front of me - as this was irritating and unsafe - I overtook him, but he decided to re-overtake some time later.
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
Had something not entirely dissimilar on the Brom earlier this year, with a lassie in full lycra, SPuDs etc. on a rather nice looking racer pulling out from the kerb in front of me as I was going along with "I'm faster than you" body language. I didn't want to overtake because she went straight to the right hand side of our half of the road, and I don't like undertaking in such a situation, too risky. Moving onto a minor road with very long sightlines overtaking got safer, but I decided not to in the end, partly as I'd be turning left shortly after passing and partly I thought it might rather hurt her pride to have some wee-wheeled bike with a shopping basket on it ridden by someone in everyday clothes cruise by. But I could have offered useful advice on the lines of "if you don't stop pedalling for every other 5 seconds you'll be able to go a lot quicker!".
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 14:14:55 +0000 (UTC), W K <[email hidden]> wrote:
[...]
Quoted message said:
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
I often overtake students on my Brommie. This seems to have an odd effect. The sight of this 40+ year-old on a weird looking bike causes them to stand in the saddle of their full-sus MTB and put even more effort in to get past me. They generally don't pass me again. I'm not particularly fast on a bike but I do tend to use the right gear and lube my transmission more than once a year.
Anyway, last night got overtaken by a roady who wasn't convincingly faster, and farted about on roundabouts in front of me - as this was irritating and unsafe - I overtook him, but he decided to re-overtake some time later.
Perhaps that I was on a mountain bike with full mudguards+rack, wearing jeans and a big coat didn't help. But at least I kept up with him for 3 miles.
Had something not entirely dissimilar on the Brom earlier this year, with a lassie in full lycra, SPuDs etc. on a rather nice looking racer pulling out from the kerb in front of me as I was going along with "I'm faster than you" body language. I didn't want to overtake because she went straight to the right hand side of our half of the road, and I don't like undertaking in such a situation, too risky. Moving onto a minor road with very long sightlines overtaking got safer, but I decided not to in the end, partly as I'd be turning left shortly after passing and partly I thought it might rather hurt her pride to have some wee-wheeled bike with a shopping basket on it ridden by someone in everyday clothes cruise by. But I could have offered useful advice on the lines of "if you don't stop pedalling for every other 5 seconds you'll be able to go a lot quicker!".
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
I often overtake students on my Brommie. This seems to have an odd effect. The sight of this 40+ year-old on a weird looking bike causes them to stand in the saddle of their full-sus MTB and put even more effort in to get past me. They generally don't pass me again. I'm not particularly fast on a bike but I do tend to use the right gear and lube my transmission more than once a year.
I like passing their elaborate mountain bikes on my fixed gear while going uphill, sometimes making a comment about my granny being faster[1]. Doing that is even better than passing the more useless variety of fair-weather cyclist while riding a tourer with bulging panniers and a big bunch of leeks or other comedy vegetable tied onto the rack.
Hehe.
Regards,
-david
[1] Especially since a fixed gear is so quiet compared to their rusting ironmongery I can appear right next to them before they notice...
I often overtake students on my Brommie. This seems to have an odd effect. The sight of this 40+ year-old on a weird looking bike causes them to stand in the saddle of their full-sus MTB and put even more effort in to get past me. They generally don't pass me again. I'm not particularly fast on a bike but I do tend to use the right gear and lube my transmission more than once a year.
I like passing their elaborate mountain bikes on my fixed gear while going uphill, sometimes making a comment about my granny being faster[1]. Doing that is even better than passing the more useless variety of fair-weather cyclist while riding a tourer with bulging panniers and a big bunch of leeks or other comedy vegetable tied onto the rack.
Hehe.
Regards,
-david
[1] Especially since a fixed gear is so quiet compared to their rusting ironmongery I can appear right next to them before they notice...
"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... .
Quoted message said:
Had something not entirely dissimilar on the Brom earlier this year, with a lassie in full lycra, SPuDs etc. on a rather nice looking racer pulling out from the kerb in front of me as I was going along with "I'm faster than you" body language. I didn't want to overtake because she went straight to the right hand side of our half of the road, and I don't like undertaking in such a situation, too risky.
[...]
I think I need help with the body language thing.
Now that the winter is here and the "Club Roadies" have put their bikes back in the loft, I tend to be the fastest thing around on my commute. (Please note: This does NOT mean I am fast.)
So I usually have to overtake 1 or 2 other cyclists. What's the body language for "Look, I just happen to be going faster and it's no big deal, it's not an ego thing or anything, honest"
"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... .
Quoted message said:
Had something not entirely dissimilar on the Brom earlier this year, with a lassie in full lycra, SPuDs etc. on a rather nice looking racer pulling out from the kerb in front of me as I was going along with "I'm faster than you" body language. I didn't want to overtake because she went straight to the right hand side of our half of the road, and I don't like undertaking in such a situation, too risky.
[...]
I think I need help with the body language thing.
Now that the winter is here and the "Club Roadies" have put their bikes back in the loft, I tend to be the fastest thing around on my commute. (Please note: This does NOT mean I am fast.)
So I usually have to overtake 1 or 2 other cyclists. What's the body language for "Look, I just happen to be going faster and it's no big deal, it's not an ego thing or anything, honest"
I often overtake students on my Brommie. This seems to have an odd effect. The sight of this 40+ year-old on a weird looking bike causes them to stand in the saddle of their full-sus MTB and put even more effort in to get past me. They generally don't pass me again. I'm not particularly fast on a bike but I do tend to use the right gear and lube my transmission more than once a year.
I like passing their elaborate mountain bikes on my fixed gear while going uphill, sometimes making a comment about my granny being faster[1]. Doing that is even better than passing the more useless variety of fair-weather cyclist while riding a tourer with bulging panniers and a big bunch of leeks or other comedy vegetable tied onto the rack.
Hehe.
Regards,
-david
[1] Especially since a fixed gear is so quiet compared to their rusting ironmongery I can appear right next to them before they notice...
"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... .
Quoted message said:
Had something not entirely dissimilar on the Brom earlier this year, with a lassie in full lycra, SPuDs etc. on a rather nice looking racer pulling out from the kerb in front of me as I was going along with "I'm faster than you" body language. I didn't want to overtake because she went straight to the right hand side of our half of the road, and I don't like undertaking in such a situation, too risky.
[...]
I think I need help with the body language thing.
Now that the winter is here and the "Club Roadies" have put their bikes back in the loft, I tend to be the fastest thing around on my commute. (Please note: This does NOT mean I am fast.)
So I usually have to overtake 1 or 2 other cyclists. What's the body language for "Look, I just happen to be going faster and it's no big deal, it's not an ego thing or anything, honest"
Hmm, I think I can follow the logic in staying behind (pun intended 🙂
one place where recumbents aren't so good, at least on other people! ;-)
She was ok in that regard, but it did get to be rather painful watching her progress. Pedal for five seconds, freewheel a bit, pedal for 5 seconds, freewheel a bit. God knows how she managed to get up hills...
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
