Do cyclists race each other??

helimachoptor

So today I was cycling in for the first time from citywest to the city centre.

Passed a mid 30's guy around the square. We were both doing a normal pace.
Then a couple of mins later he flies by me pedalling like a bat out of hell. I catch up a few mins later and then he does the same thing.

I think he may become my nemesis!

Do you guys race random strangers??

High&Low

All the time!!!- last few weeks it has been the same guy and its taking about 5 minutes off my commute...

Chips Lovell

Nope, but random strangers do sometimes seem to racing me.

I've a friend though who regularly chases random punters on climbs. It's like he takes offence when someone passes him.

PeadarofAodh

Always! Although I've only ever once come across a guy who gave me a real race - funniest thing is he was fully kitted out in shorts/jersey etc and there was me just about holding him off in my work clothes - shirt/trousers. Most annoying thing is when cyclists who are far slower than you try to race you, get left behind, then place themselves in front of you again at red lights and sit in the middle of the bike lane.

I've beaten you already godammit!:mad:

seamus

Seems to happen to me all the time. You burn by someone, and they appear again 2 minutes letter pedalling like a looney and overtake you. Then another 2 minutes later, they run out of steam and I burn by them again.

Yeah, people sitting in front of me at lights wrecks my head too. If there's a guy who I know is quicker than me (usually roadies), I make a point of staying behind them at the lights.

Bicyclegadabout

Haha, yeah…..yeah. I do.

He doesn’t know it yet, but there’s a Cyclone courier who I’m always looking out for; he’s the only guy who’s resoundly beaten me more than once….. in an imaginary race.

This morning I raced a JCB, can’t believe I lost.


Anyway, racing, it keeps things interesting. Stay safe of course, don’t get carried away with it.

PeadarofAodh

Bicyclegadabout wrote: »

Haha, yeah…..yeah. I do.

He doesn’t know it yet, but there’s a Cyclone courier who I’m always looking out for; he’s the only guy who’s resoundly beaten me more than once….. in an imaginary race.

This morning I raced a JCB, can’t believe I lost.


Anyway, racing, it keeps things interesting. Stay safe of course, don’t get carried away with it.

So I can't kick the old man off his bike when he decides he wants a re-match at every red light??

Planet X

Always on the way home when it doesn't matter if I work up a sweat, but not on the way in. I want to smell of roses for the girls!

peterk19

we sure do ive a few cyclists i race very often when im out never really spoken more than 2 words to any of them just a friendly nod when one of us is turning off, ive had a few great races with a guy from sutton to malahide, and when i was commuting into town there was a few couriers i looked forward to seeing in the morning they got me into work about 5 minutes early,

Dirk Gently

I sometimes do it, but only when oap's take me over
I end up having to catch them and sprint ahead. It's just not right getting pwned by old people. I gave up racing to red lights a long time ago. Much easier to roll up to them and time the green light instead of racing to stop and wait with everyone else. I do sometimes still end up in unofficial races with a girl on the way home but she does it to me and I suppose she helps get me how quicker than I normally would. (she pwns me too)

Chips Lovell

Of course in urban areas you often find yourself in the situation where you pass someone, stop at the next lights, they blow the lights and you find yourself passing them again until the next set of lights.

unionman

All the time, I can't help it. If I'm overtaken by anything other than a serious looking roadie I have to chase them. 9 times out of 10 I'll beat them, and yeah, then you get the red light jokers sitting in front. I like to give them a head start, then go for it once they've glanced over the shoulder to see where I am. As I pass, I'm wearing a sh*t-eating grin.

But every once in a while you meet someone who can take you with ease, and they don't always look the type. It's a worthwhile exercise in humility.

But as I type, I'm still cooling down from a short sprint versus what may have been a courier on a nice looking fixie. He beat me fair and square. He trailed me up Dame St as far as the lights on northside of O'Connell bridge. He took off just as they changed and we drew level halfway up O'Connell St. I got ahead and got up to the junction at Parnell St. As I was about to turn East on Parnell he passed me, and I was confident of catching up to him. He turned up Nth Gt Georges St, same way I was going, but the hill beat me, I trailed behind, seriously out of breath. I defer to his supremacy. If you read this thread, fair play to ye.;)

I've just been browsing the newly merged sticky 'Images of Beauty / Picture my ride' and I think I know who beat me this morning

kmick

On my commute the racing is intense. I used to participate but had some close shaves with cars so gave it up. It usually goes like this

1st :- Courier with gearless, light, fast bike
2nd :- Large dude on fast hybrid mountain bike with racing wheels
Somewhere at the rear of 1 and 2 :- Skinny nerd with rusty chain and 10 year old bike chasing after those two.
4th Dreads Girl on high nelly who passes out 1 2 and 3 at the lights and goes straight through ignoring the beeping and screeching of tyres.

Every morning is like a soap opera.

studiorat

Terrible trouble trying to pass some spanner on an electric bike out through Ranelagh yesterday, dude took up the whole cycle lane. Nearly had to lean on him:D

I do however enjoy getting in behind some guys on their spanky racers for the tow in to town. When they hear my squeaky wheel and clunky gears behind them they always look around. "Thanks for the tow!, you'd want to get that wheel seen to mate!"

kenmc

heh this will become so much more interesting when we all get our jerseys Only problem is we'll need to get a few each so we don't have days where we're wearing different jerseys.
I don't get much chance to race on my commute - dundrum to leopardstown. have to resort to racing JCBs, busses most of the time. This morning there was a young lad on a fat tire MTB between Beacon Court and leopardstown, fair play to him he even stopped beside me at pedestrian lights in the industrial estate, but my track standing is better than his If he was on a skinny wheeler he would be wicked fast, he paced me the whole way down through sandyford industrial estate until he went the wrong way down by woodies while I went on down by the luas.

Planet X

Tricky sometimes when you have to "Do a curb" on a cycle lane for a few yards with a Dublin Bus waiting for you to slip off and under the wheels!
:D

studiorat

Maybe it's time for this...NYC couriers givin' it socks We've all seen it I'm sure, I think the music's great on this version.

Chips Lovell

studiorat wrote: »

Maybe it's time for this...NYC couriers givin' it socks We've all seen it I'm sure, I think the music's great on this version.

Ah, the famous Lucas Brunelle video. The rest of his videos are here.

studiorat

el tonto wrote: »

Ah, the famous Lucas Brunelle video. The rest of his videos are here.

nice 1.
My fave's the one with the guy riding on top of crash barrier across the bridge.
Giving cyclists a Bad name!

off to limber up for the spin in to work. kinda looking forward to it now:cool:

Gavin

unionman wrote: »

But as I type, I'm still cooling down from a short sprint versus what may have been a courier on a nice looking fixie. He beat me fair and square. He trailed me up Dame St as far as the lights on northside of O'Connell bridge. He took off just as they changed and we drew level halfway up O'Connell St. I got ahead and got up to the junction at Parnell St. As I was about to turn East on Parnell he passed me, and I was confident of catching up to him. He turned up Nth Gt Georges St, same way I was going, but the hill beat me, I trailed behind, seriously out of breath. I defer to his supremacy. If you read this thread, fair play to ye.;)

haha, nice langster unionman. I was keeping an eye out for you on the rest of the route.

That fixie seems to cause trouble when squeezing up between a bus and kerb!

Gav

Hungrycol

I wish I met more roadies on my commute, or maybe I'm commuting at the at the wrong time fo day. Nothing but sit-up-and-beg bikes on the road or builders in high vis jackets on their rusty MTB's. Oh well, I race my Average speed on my speedo which keeps me well outta puff. I'm up to an average of 31.7kph over 20kms, bloody traffic lights and silly junctions.

unionman

Haha! I thought it was you Verb. Well, I thought I recognised your bike (very nice) from the new sticky.

Yeah, pain in the 4rse getting round that bend at college green, that truck left no space, and the SPD's / fixie combo make it all a bit tricky. To be honest, I'm struggling on the hills these days, you found my weakspot!

I turned off at Gardiner Place, my office is around there. Think I might just let you pass me the next time...suddenly feeling very old;-)

Gavin

unionman wrote: »

Haha! I thought it was you Verb. Well, I thought I recognised your bike (very nice) from the new sticky.

Yeah, pain in the 4rse getting round that bend at college green, that truck left no space, and the SPD's / fixie combo make it all a bit tricky.

To be honest, I'm struggling on the hills these days, you found my weakspot!

Aye, you flew ahead on O'Connell St, I had to pant away to keep up, then got stuck at a light as you made it through on the orange.

I'll know to say hello when we meet again anyway !

Gav

unionman

Verb wrote: »

Aye, you flew ahead on O'Connell St, I had to pant away to keep up, then got stuck at a light as you made it through on the orange.

I'll know to say hello when we meet again anyway !

Gav

Will do, fair play.

PeadarofAodh

Less fraternising and more competitiveness!

Bicyclegadabout

unionman wrote: »

Yeah, pain in the 4rse getting round that bend at college green,

Go into the middle of the two lanes, there’s always space there.

franglan

Without a doubt cyclists race each other, people love to try and race you if your on a road bike,

Example: yesterday i was just finishing my leisurely spin on the outskirts of galway, just warming down, when i passed these two lads on what looked like moutain bikes, Now i was going by gingerly, Wasn't trying to look flash now or anything, Anyway about a mile later i look around my shoulder and the two lads are breakin their b**ls trying to catch me around 100 yards away...

Morale of the story its not a race, if both parties don't know there in a "race".

c0rk3r

All the time. Once people see the road bike something triggers in them and they have to race me. Maybe an inferiority complex. A "ill show him". Its usually good fun and brightens the morning up. Also if i see someone furhter up the road ill chase after them, stick behind them for a while and wait for someone else to chase.

I got a real kick out of this yesterday. Headed to glasnevin from phibsborough to get some stuff in tescos, 1 km probably.Lesiurely on my way back i get caught behind a middle aged lady on an old bike, high vis vest etc. So im stuck behind her for a little bit. Behind me a guys storms up. We both jump up on the path and pass out the old lady. This guy is glued to my rear wheel, he wants a race. Righto im going to wear this fecker out. Ive only got 700m to my house anyway but this guy doesnt know that. I accelerate to 40kmph(theres no way i could keep this up for long) He keeps up with me for about 200meters. I turn into my estate look back, heh hes huffing and puffing swinging his shoulders left to right. Hes exhausted and im home. Poor guy probably had another few km's until he was home.

Its how i get my kicks

Hungrycol

c0rk3r wrote: »

heh hes huffing and puffing swinging his shoulders left to right.

... and he's using less effort cos he's the one drafting you!

franglan

c0rk3r wrote: »

All the time. Once people see the road bike something triggers in them and they have to race me. Maybe an inferiority complex. A "ill show him". Its usually good fun and brightens the morning up. Also if i see someone furhter up the road ill chase after them, stick behind them for a while and wait for someone else to chase.

I got a real kick out of this yesterday. Headed to glasnevin from phibsborough to get some stuff in tescos, 1 km probably.Lesiurely on my way back i get caught behind a middle aged lady on an old bike, high vis vest etc. So im stuck behind her for a little bit. Behind me a guys storms up. We both jump up on the path and pass out the old lady. This guy is glued to my rear wheel, he wants a race. Righto im going to wear this fecker out. Ive only got 700m to my house anyway but this guy doesnt know that. I accelerate to 40kmph(theres no way i could keep this up for long) He keeps up with me for about 200meters. I turn into my estate look back, heh hes huffing and puffing swinging his shoulders left to right. Hes exhausted and im home. Poor guy probably had another few km's until he was home.

Its how i get my kicks

NICE WORK ....

helimachoptor

Forgive me as I'm new.. But I'm on a MTB I presume thats a mountain bike?
I wear football sorts a hoodie and a high vis vest and my trust helmet.

But some of the guys who passed me today were really pushing it hard and fair play to them. I'll be doing 32k per day which is enough for the moment!

but I might let my ego get the better of me and race these pro's!

Dowee

Finally decided to stop just lurking on this forum and post something.

On my daily cycle home from Dublin city centre there is one guy who wears all expensive cycling gear and cycles an MTB (not managed to catch the brand) but the bike looks very out of sync with the clothes. Anyway I'll often see him from a distance off and will catch him up going at my regular pace and pass him out (I'm not racing him btw). As soon as I pass him he is on my ass for the rest of my cycle, until we part ways a couple of miles from home. Sometimes he is just drafting me and when this is the case I often slow my pace way down just to annoy him as I don't mind being drafted if the person reciprocates occasionally but this guy never does (does anyone else do this). When its not windy and he ain't drafting me I'll often blast ahead of him but he always bursts his lungs to catch me at the next lights and gets in front of me and takes off like a bat out of hell only for me to have to pass him again as his normal pace is just slower than mine. Have to admit it does brighten the cycle though.

DavyD_83

Ah yeh, helps keep the pace up. And sometimes its just so satisfying.
That said i'll race anything if i'm bored enough, generally cars and buses into town, they're totally dependant on how heavy the traffic is. Anb its so much better when they know exactly what your upto.:p

Dowee; that sounds suspiciously like a mate of mine, are you going from town out towards north wall by any chance?

Dowee

DavyD_83 wrote: »

Dowee; that sounds suspiciously like a mate of mine, are you going from town out towards north wall by any chance?

No, must be someone different I go southside, from town.

srdb20

Im always racing others on the way into and out of town (Bikes, Cars, Buses, Trolleys, anything with wheels), i think its brilliant, and i know secretly everyone does it, even the ones who say they don't.

The only thing is you just cant get enough to satisfy yourself (well me anyway).

Just keep chasing after the next bike etc.... its great for the fitness though.

Diarmuid

c0rk3r wrote: »

A Ive only got 700m to my house anyway but this guy doesnt know that. I accelerate to 40kmph(theres no way i could keep this up for long) He keeps up with me for about 200meters. I turn into my estate look back, heh hes huffing and puffing swinging his shoulders left to right. Hes exhausted and im home. Poor guy probably had another few km's until he was home.

haha. classic.

memorex

heh - there is nothing like a bit of a race to pass what can be a bit of a monotonous cycle up the N11 (on a grey tuesday evening). For me the only rule of engagement is that if you break a red light you're automatically disqualified from the race :-) It helps in particular when I've just been dropped by someone far superior who then goes onto sail through a red. I just think to myself, ah sure I won that one. Very sad I know :-)

Personally like it when there's a few people involved. Never having actually done any real racing it is the closest I get to a peloton!

cheers,
-mem

Andy-Pandy

When i was a courior i used to race cars. I once beat a ferrari fro the city centre to foxrock. It was stuck in traffic though, but still, i was faster than a ferrari. These days im not so fast.

flickerx

Andy-Pandy wrote: »

When i was a courior i used to race cars. I once beat a ferrari fro the city centre to foxrock. It was stuck in traffic though, but still, i was faster than a ferrari. These days im not so fast.

If some motorist gives me the horn or lip, then after I've given him the usual one or two fingered salute, I do my best to race and overtake him at least once when he's stuck at lights, and give him a nice big smile and a wave.

I raced another cyclist home yesterday. Overtook them cos they were going a good deal slower than I was, but once I overtook, they stepped up the pace and were constantly at my back! Got home quicker than usual - with a nice layer of sweat around my armpits and back.

rp

I dunno why anyone needs to even question this - racing other cyclists is just a part of commuting, it isn't intended as an insult, just a chance to quicken the pace. If I see a bike ahead of me, I do by best to pass it, with a friendly wave.
I suspect the people who don't like it are/were car drivers, where it seems to pass someone out is like giving them the finger: after all the speed and/or cost of your car is the only measure of your worth

AFC_1903

I enjoy it also, it can be a great way to cheer up your day. Personal favourite was a few years ago, 2 days running at the same set of light (top of South Mall, Cork, 7:50am), side by side with a guarda motorbike. 1st day I was half way down the mall by the time he caught and passed me, 2nd day he burnt rubber so as not to get embarrassed(again)! Also, on another occasio beating a Porche 911 [Carrera 4?] off the lights!

It make you feel good, so why the hell not! :-)

SerialComplaint

c0rk3r wrote: »

Behind me a guys storms up. We both jump up on the path and pass out the old lady. This guy is glued to my rear wheel, he wants a race. Righto im going to wear this fecker out. Ive only got 700m to my house anyway but this guy doesnt know that. I accelerate to 40kmph(theres no way i could keep this up for long) He keeps up with me for about 200meters. I turn into my estate look back, heh hes huffing and puffing swinging his shoulders left to right. Hes exhausted and im home. Poor guy probably had another few km's until he was home.

I did the opposite last week. I had been leapfrogging a guy most the way home up Dundrum Road and through the village. He got ahead of me about 10 meters from the turn off into my house, so as I came up behind him, I coughed noisily and clanked the gears to announce my presence on his tail. He stood up and hared off into the distance as I drifted on home. I wonder how long it took him to realise he was racing a ghost.

Freddy687

Lets face it. There is no more joy when cycling than trying to put other bikers in pain.:)
The crew that I train with usually travel at a good pace, but when they get a smell of a hill all hell breaks loose.

blorg

Andy-Pandy wrote: »

When i was a courior i used to race cars. I once beat a ferrari fro the city centre to foxrock. It was stuck in traffic though, but still, i was faster than a ferrari. These days im not so fast.

My best in this line was (marginally) beating a 31 from Howth to town. No traffic on a Saturday afternoon and he seemed genuinely reluctant to have to stop for people ;-) Traffic laws were observed throughout and I got a wave at the end.

blorg

If someone overtakes me on my commute I think they're fair game in terms of wheel-hugging and I'm not in a hurry to get back in front. After all, they overtook ;-) I'll never hug a wheel if I came up behind (although having overtaken in such a situation I have on occasion have found my continued position in front untenable.)

ba

maybe some of ye would indulge in racing strangers up howth hill? its a real test. sure i blew by a few folk today in an effort to catch a friend of mine, all before the rain came down. twas all good fun tho.

Raam

ba wrote: »

maybe some of ye would indulge in racing strangers up howth hill? its a real test. sure i blew by a few folk today in an effort to catch a friend of mine, all before the rain came down. twas all good fun tho.

I got soaked today in Howth. We probably passed each other at some stage. I did a lap with the GF, she was on her new Banchi, then did a few on my own.

I wish there were faster people using the Sutton/Clontarf path in the mornings/evenings. Sometimes there are fast guys. It makes it much more interesting.

ba

were you on howth hill a half hour before the rain came down? saw what could have been a couple on the hill, maybe that was ye?

Raam

ba wrote: »

were you on howth hill a half hour before the rain came down? saw what could have been a couple on the hill, maybe that was ye?

Yeah, we stopped at the top for a moment also.

bobtjustice

helimachoptor wrote: »

So today I was cycling in for the first time from citywest to the city centre.

Passed a mid 30's guy around the square. We were both doing a normal pace.
Then a couple of mins later he flies by me pedalling like a bat out of hell. I catch up a few mins later and then he does the same thing.

I think he may become my nemesis!

Do you guys race random strangers??

When I lived in town i raced a guy almost daily...in fact he's probably on boards somewhere...hahah. I think its because we were on the same bike, was like a test, I'm nearly sure he was a courier..(tough beating those dudes and gals) we had a monster race down O'Connell street about 2 years ago, just got the run of the lights and let rip... the son bitch pipped me at O'Connell bridge....in retrospect highly highly dangerous.....but fun

michaelm

Freddy687 wrote: »

The crew that I train with usually travel at a good pace, but when they get a smell of a hill all hell breaks loose.

That was one of the first things I noticed when I started cycling with a group - on the flat everything was calm and relaxed, good conversation, nobody out of breath, at the first hill as mentioned all hell did break loose as if there was a finish line at the top. When we all regrouped, red faced and barely able to talk everyone managed to pretend that they weren't trying to be the first to the top, and you know something - it hasn't changed since!