Spotted...

I like riding with the cat6 guys - those that chill behind the chaos.

In fact, when I get to the lights, even if I get there first, I tend to stop a few feet behind the line just to let the cat5 knobs pass me. I hate it when they squeeze passed in a rush to get to the next red.

I had someone nearly give themselves a coronary trying to keep up with me. something he only achieved because we hit every 3rd set of lights and I was slowing well in advance of the lights to try and hit them on the change. every time I unclipped and got a foot down he'd catch up a few seconds later, panting for breath and push in front of me into the junction. as soon as the lights change I'd give it a few out of the saddle turns on my new gearing (48x17) to get moving, pass him by the other side of the junction and then i'd hear his gears go click clack and he'd try to jump on my rear wheel. by this time I'm starting to spin up, 100 yards down the road he's nowhere near me again. hit the next set of lights, wait for him to catch up, repeat.

thing is he was getting so annoyed about the whole thing. from colliers wood to oval he was at it, eventually having passed him again just past stockwell he actually muttered "oh for FUCKSAKE! mumble cunt" as he climbed out of the saddle the second I pass him so he can take chase again. he just refused to let me pass without trying to regain the lead. something he only managed when I came to a complete stop.

whatever race was going on in his head it must have been maddening for him.

he "won" in the end by overtaking me as I slowed for the traffic pulling away from oval tube junction by riding at ~18mph between two lines of moving cars subsequently forcing all the cars he passed him to tap their brakes and then he continued to hold up both lanes of traffic as he pootled towards kennington just squeezing through the lights as they went red, his fragile ego intact.

I just get overtaken by everyone all the time. Haven't noticed any difference recently.

I am fat old and slow. It is no great achievement to go faster than me. If, however, you are riding a Boris bike, you will not go faster than me however hard you try even if you try to undertake me at every opportunity and so don't bother.

Thank you. Enjoy your ride.

click clack must not be at the back.

KattieP at E&C roundabout this morning, hello!

Hello! Sorry for lack of skid. I'd been for a splash in the pool and with the wind this morning I was all but going backwards. Have had my wheetbix now so energy is up!

I just get overtaken by everyone all the time. Haven't noticed any difference recently.

This. Slow commutes ftw. Im in no rush.

I never race anyone but myself. if the roads clear I go at the speed I feel comfortable at.

as soon as the traffic slows down, so do I.

The Cat 5 silly commuter racing thing is getting way out of hand on OKR. Saw a gaggle of 7-8 people trying to hammer it away from the lights and proceed to under/overtake and cut each other up in a dangerous fashion all across the bus lane heading to Bricklayers.

All looked like they usuallly bumble at 15mph but all of a sudden they are all killing themselves at >20mph. Hurrah for the Olympic legacy!

I love the cat 5's on the OKR..

me too

I miss them :(

I must have looked like one of them trying to hang on to JAMIE this morning!

I had someone nearly give themselves a coronary trying to keep up with me. something he only achieved because we hit every 3rd set of lights and I was slowing well in advance of the lights to try and hit them on the change. every time I unclipped and got a foot down he'd catch up a few seconds later, panting for breath and push in front of me into the junction. as soon as the lights change I'd give it a few out of the saddle turns on my new gearing (48x17) to get moving, pass him by the other side of the junction and then i'd hear his gears go click clack and he'd try to jump on my rear wheel. by this time I'm starting to spin up, 100 yards down the road he's nowhere near me again. hit the next set of lights, wait for him to catch up, repeat.

thing is he was getting so annoyed about the whole thing. from colliers wood to oval he was at it, eventually having passed him again just past stockwell he actually muttered "oh for FUCKSAKE! mumble cunt" as he climbed out of the saddle the second I pass him so he can take chase again. he just refused to let me pass without trying to regain the lead. something he only managed when I came to a complete stop.

whatever race was going on in his head it must have been maddening for him.

he "won" in the end by overtaking me as I slowed for the traffic pulling away from oval tube junction by riding at ~18mph between two lines of moving cars subsequently forcing all the cars he passed him to tap their brakes and then he continued to hold up both lanes of traffic as he pootled towards kennington just squeezing through the lights as they went red, his fragile ego intact.

I encounter this same scenario all the time. Always amusing.

someone over took me? no big deal.. im not bothered as long as he is not a risk to my health..

I've been back on the bike since Monday, after three weeks of, essentially, communing with my sofa.

I confess I did get involved in some childish Cat5 racing today, down the OKR, round Bricklayers, over London Bridge, through the City and down the Hipster highway.

To lighten the mood the bearings in my bottom bracket were making a noise that could have been mistaken for an old fashioned wooden Football rattle, so hopefully that cheered people up as I Voecklered past them.

Half-wheel the cat 5's.. Much more fun..

I'm generally quite slow as I'm still scared of a commuter stepping out in front of me over a year since it actually happened. Thanks for the post-traumatic stress, cunt.

as I Voecklered passed them.

best verb ever
repped

If only I'd spelt past correctly. Unhappy smiley.

Half the fun of Cat5 racing is having a bike that sounds like it's about to fall apart and still overtaking everybody... In my case it's the D-lock bouncing around - the drivetrain is silky smooth.

didn't even notice I was so taken with the pun

Was that wvm on some Blue Steel in a lay-by somewhere in Kent? Said hello as I rolled on by...

A kind gent who offered me a puncture kit next to battersea park after i had a blow out, only to find out after i got home that my wheel had partially buckled. Thank you kind sir if you are on here.

Pale green fixie with a Continental sticker down the rear of the seat post.
Followed you down De Beauvoir Road around 20:20.

Shouldn't have so close to your rear, nearly made contact when you when you went to DAS.

Blue nagasawa sp? with untaped bars riding past euston station today at around 1645 today, lovely bike!