The Big Race

If you commute on a bike you will have (knowingly or not) entered into the big race.

Firstly, the big race is the un-mentioned competition that goes on among commuters. As if negotiating traffic and getting from A to B isn’t bad enough, there are some people that insist on proving that they are the fastest over 8 miles including stop lights.

Stop lights: These are just suggested traffic calming measures. If you are in buckled-up race mode you won’t even consider stopping at one. Unless, you’ve made a huge effort to get by someone and then use the lights to get your breath without losing face because you are merely obeying the law. Even better, they sail through the lights and you don’t have to race them anymore.

Passing someone: You may have passed someone at a pretty good clip only to look over your shoulder and see them right behind you all of a sudden. Obviously, there was something you did when you went by to piss them off. You are probably on a bike that is less expensive, wearing or not wearing a helmet/cycling shoes/lycra and they have deemed you un-worthy of passing them.

There is a way around this. You can either say “morning” as you go by (this makes you non threatening) or what like to do is slow W  A  Y down so they go by and then sit at a reasonable distance behind them. You can bet they will be looking over their shoulder every few seconds to see if they are gaining distance on you. Keep the distance the same. It is far easier to follow a rider then to hammer it and drop one. They will wear themselves out trying to drop you. Wait for a good headwind or a little hill and power by them. They won’t be able to respond. (Remember to keep your mouth closed as you go by so it looks like you aren’t breathing hard. Whistling is a little too much.)

Hammer it and drop them: If you go around someone and suddenly find a Klingon. Teach them a lesson. Ride at 90 percent of your power into the wind for a mile or so and then give it all you got up a hill. Have a look over your shoulder to see if you can see them still struggling up the hill. Ride no-handed for a while until they think they are catching you and then crank it up again.

Repeat if necessary.

They will change their hours at work to avoid you on the commute.

By far the best way to handle the big race is DON’T RACE. If you’re a cyclist that has done 200 miles in a week you don’t need your commute to be another work out. It’s ok for the odd sprint to get a light but not full pelt. That’s boring and dangerous. You can glide in and back in the quiet comfort of knowing you are the fastest rider out there. You would beat all these people if you really wanted to!