Passing and blowing.

[Neil Fat Man On A Bike]

3. Proper rapid Single speed (real men, messengers, tarty shiny fixies)
5. Faux Single Speeds (fakengers, dirty/functional bikes, silly egg beater gear)

I can't work out which one I'm supposed to be!

I have a dirty functional fixed-gear bike, but I don't understand how that adds up to "Faux single speed". Perhaps as I like to ride quite quickly, I will start off at #3...

That makes my winter FCN 5, my summer FCN 2!

I'd better watch my back this summer

I think what they are talking about is the kind of look where your trying to look like a cycle dispatch carrier, but trying a bit too hard.
I'd be number 7 on the food chain, but my commute is only a half mile so anyone I pass would be nul and void as I'd just turn off.
But it also doesn't count if your showing too much effort, so no heaving chest and shoulders at the lights, no heavy breathing etc, you have to learn to breath through your skin

[pioneer]

I'm a good climber and don't often get passed on hills. (Not bragging,just the way it is).
But if I'm just pootling along,well actually,pootling along on the flat is how I normally ride and somebody passes me,that's fine.
Provided...
they speak,or grunt or give an acknowledgement of some kind.If they just steam on by with not so much as a "by your leave",then god help em!
The race is on!!

[paulah]

folding bike, panniers, non cycle clothing = fcn 13
usually overtake anything from fcn 7 and above

and I'm not even fit or particularly lightweight, I think there's something wrong with the food chain order but I'll not complain too much

[patricktaylor]

The instinct to catch the bloke in front is a strange cycling phenomenon. It doesn't normally seem to apply to pedestrians, horseriders, or motorists (except bus drivers), although I've noticed horseriders enjoy overtaking a cyclist (me) going up a steep hill - horses can go fast uphill. It takes willpower not to allow other cyclists to interfere with one's pace.

One thing is sure: it's not cool to look back after you've overtaken another cyclist.

[stewartpratt]

The instinct to catch the bloke in front is a strange cycling phenomenon. It doesn't normally seem to apply to ... motorists

Oooh, it does, bigtime. Most cars are fitted with front and rear tractor beams, I'm sure. It's just much harder to actually pass :)

One thing is sure: it's not cool to look back after you've overtaken another cyclist.

100% of truth. No overtaking unless you're certain you can take down your prey, and no looking round until you're out of sight - it's the law :)

[Coffee]

The instinct to catch the bloke in front is a strange cycling phenomenon. It doesn't normally seem to apply to ... motorists

Oooh, it does, bigtime. Most cars are fitted with front and rear tractor beams, I'm sure. It's just much harder to actually pass

One thing is sure: it's not cool to look back after you've overtaken another cyclist.

100% of truth. No overtaking unless you're certain you can take down your prey, and no looking round until you're out of sight - it's the law

.....this is the only reason you have a mirror fitted to a bike.

[meic]

The game is only fun if you are a reasonable match or one side is given a good handicap. Like setting yourself the target of getting to the hill top before some one who is already half way up it.

Apologies to anyone who didnt want to play, normally the message is received and the game isnt played.

2 points for a trailer is pathetic. I always chase serious bikers who overtake me when I have the baby on board the trailer, I havent managed to keep up for more than half a mile yet.

I like it when you catch up with someone while cruising at a good speed, they speed up to keep ahead of you then you watch them wear themselves out and finally overtake with ease. They may then take a little ride in your slipstream.

Equally I have been the slower rider on many occasions, beaten by more than one woman aswell as men. I dont have a problem with being beaten, I enjoy the company and the game, win or lose.

[EdinburghFixed]

Equally I have been the slower rider on many occasions, beaten by more than one woman aswell as men. I dont have a problem with being beaten, I enjoy the company and the game, win or lose.

I totally agree - if you were faster than everyone else, what would be the point racing?

There is often a guy with a muddy white 'beater', who mirrors my ride home from the station on the days that I cheat and take the train.

Every time I rag myself climbing the Mound and try (unsuccessfully) to reel him in. I'm sure he knows although he never lets on...

It will be a sweet moment, one day

[robwa10]

The instinct to catch the bloke in front is a strange cycling phenomenon.

Last Saturday as I set off from stopping at a road junction I noticed a fellow cyclist coming up behind me. I felt compelled to pedal as harder than my previous pace in order to make sure he didn't pass me. When I gave up and he did pass I then felt compelled to not let him get away. Eventually he did . I put it down to the fact that I had already cycled farther, had a heavier bike with mudguards and that my feet were cold.

[syklist]

10. Bromptons / collapsing bikes

Riding a Brompton in London, it is great sport to sit on the wheel of a roadie or fixie and, thanks to flat terrain and traffic, it's not too difficult. But it drives them nuts.

People don't realise just how good for draughting small wheel bikes are. The small front wheel lets you get real close and out of the wind. Of course, this has a down side: you can't see past them so well so your reaction times are reduced a little should anything go wrong, so not something I do without the lead rider's concent.

Yep I'd agree with you on that. We've done it many times here with our Bromptons. Works really well. The only problem is when you then get back on your normal tourer and sit behind your partner in the same position and wonder what that rubbing sound is. Oh yes your front tyre on their rear mudguard.

But Bromptons are great for surprising other cyclists. Once coming back from work in Apeldoorn to Utrecht (65km) I was passed by a racing cyclist in full gear. I was still in my office clothes, nice shoes with a Brompton bag on the front of my bike running my hub dynamo lights. He didn't pass me very quickly (I was probably doing something around 30km/h) and when I caught up with him a few kilometres later at a set of lights, a look of considerable surprise passed across his face as he turned around to see who was behind him.
Cheers
Stan

[AlanD]

I sometimes play this game if I think that I can win it, otherwise I am aloof disinterested (can 'drop' you no trouble if I want to but couldn't be bothered today ). Is this a 'man' thing?
What I will generally prefer to do though is pull anongside and start a conversation. If I get I good response then I'll linger, otherwise not.
I seem to be a 7 on the FCN with +1 for panniers (winter only) and -1 for pedals.
What I really cannot understand and, I asked this at my bike shop and never got a satisfactory reply. On the flat I am a regular billy wizz; to give you an idea of how fast, with some effort and pushing into the pain barrier I can, for a few miles, keep up with the time trial crowd that shoot along the A4 during the summer. But when I am going uphill, others leave me behind as I repidly dump speed. No matter how hard I try, I just cannot make a respectable speed uphill. The seat is adjusted right. Leg nearly fully extended with ball of foot on pedal. Using cleats and employing a good pedalling technique. In a comfortable gear, ideally 60 - 90 rpm. Tyre pressures around the 80psi mark. Bike(s) well maintained. I'm not unfit. I have been doing this hill to work almost every day for the past 3 years but I am no faster now than when I first started. So why am I so slow on hills?
Alan

[kwackers]

I sometimes play this game if I think that I can win it, otherwise I am aloof disinterested (can 'drop' you no trouble if I want to but couldn't be bothered today ). Is this a 'man' thing?
What I will generally prefer to do though is pull anongside and start a conversation. If I get I good response then I'll linger, otherwise not.
I seem to be a 7 on the FCN with +1 for panniers (winter only) and -1 for pedals.
What I really cannot understand and, I asked this at my bike shop and never got a satisfactory reply. On the flat I am a regular billy wizz; to give you an idea of how fast, with some effort and pushing into the pain barrier I can, for a few miles, keep up with the time trial crowd that shoot along the A4 during the summer. But when I am going uphill, others leave me behind as I repidly dump speed. No matter how hard I try, I just cannot make a respectable speed uphill. The seat is adjusted right. Leg nearly fully extended with ball of foot on pedal. Using cleats and employing a good pedalling technique. In a comfortable gear, ideally 60 - 90 rpm. Tyre pressures around the 80psi mark. Bike(s) well maintained. I'm not unfit. I have been doing this hill to work almost every day for the past 3 years but I am no faster now than when I first started. So why am I so slow on hills?
Alan

Leg strength.

Any form of bendy knee leg weighty type exercise will help, alternatively load the bike up for all it's worth and do 'sets' on the steepest hill you can find. I.e. cycle up as fast as you can such that you're close to death at the top and rest on the return - repeat until you either puke or your legs can no longer support their own weight.
Do that once a week and in a few months you'll be staggeringly fast - or dead.

[patricktaylor]

... why am I so slow on hills? ...

It's the same with any athletic pursuit. Running, for example. Different distances, different champions. I guess it depends on your build, your type of muscle fibres, and a whole lot of others things. Even if you improve your leg strength, if you're a natural time-trialler you will always be at a disadvantage on climbs.

There was an interesting TV programme last year in which the hurdler Colin Jackson was closely examined for exactly why he was a natural champion. One of the 'findings' was the type of muscle fibres in his legs, and his were very unusual and very specifically perfect for his chosen event.

[meic]

Your hill isnt long enough!

I spend 80% of my time crawling up hills, I get a lot of practice.
I wouldnt be as good on hills If I lived in most other places.

[EdinburghFixed]

+1 I don't think just doing one hill on the way to work is enough.

Like you, I have a hill on my commute and I'm not getting any faster at it either!

I think if you can be bothered to do hill repeats, you'd soon see an improvement.