SCR: Things you look out for in an opponent
moonio
Posts: 802
I'm not that much of an SCR'er but do try to size up my fellow cyclists at the lights before doing battle
Generally I look at the bike..whether its a racer or mountain bike..if a commuter hybrid I don't look any further.
Then the condition of the bike..if it looks too new I don't really take my opponent seriously
Next the physical fitness, body fat and muscle tone...if they look half my bodyweight and pure muscle I just give up..
Onto clothing...are they dressed for success? Sometimes the guy in a suit on a Brompton can be really fast...however the trendy looking cyclist with completely new clothes is someone I like to play with..especially if they are on a new looking single speed
Then attitude..are they just enjoying bumbling along, or do they really want to get somewhere fast?
Do any of you size people up like this? Am I missing any crucial points?..
Generally I look at the bike..whether its a racer or mountain bike..if a commuter hybrid I don't look any further.
Then the condition of the bike..if it looks too new I don't really take my opponent seriously
Next the physical fitness, body fat and muscle tone...if they look half my bodyweight and pure muscle I just give up..
Onto clothing...are they dressed for success? Sometimes the guy in a suit on a Brompton can be really fast...however the trendy looking cyclist with completely new clothes is someone I like to play with..especially if they are on a new looking single speed
Then attitude..are they just enjoying bumbling along, or do they really want to get somewhere fast?
Do any of you size people up like this? Am I missing any crucial points?..
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I tend to look at their calves / thighs and then their pedalling action. The smoother their pedalling and the more static their upper body the quicker I assume them be.Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
Sun - Cervelo R3
Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX0 -
They are on a bike, therefore target (or a moped). 'Tis far far better to race and lose than never to race at all!FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
Litespeed L3 for Strava bits
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.0 -
Depends if you're on the move or not. If you're moving, you might be able to get a sense of how fast they're going by the rate at which you're catching them (or not).
And what the learned gentlemen above said.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
A combination of kit, bike, rider and upper body movement.
If they are on a tidy bike, have a waist the size of one of my thighs, and little movement in the upper body whilst a steady cadence - I know I'm in for a hard ride.0 -
Dolly carrier and/or streamers from handlebar ends. And the element of surprise.My legs really ache.0
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Legs and bike.
Was informed by a work colleague that my bike looks old from behind, perfect stealth :twisted:0 -
When every time you put in a proper effort you make NO ground, that SOB can hear your shifting and is toying with you cat & mouse style :evil:Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
To be honest, I don't look or assess - I just go as fast as I can.....so far, it's worked out pretty well...0
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itboffin wrote:When every time you put in a proper effort you make NO ground, that SOB can hear your shifting and is toying with you cat & mouse style :evil:
lol! True!0 -
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An air of aloofness and a look of boredom whilst casually spinning along are warning signs that you might be about to tangle with a cat 10
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they're on a bike in front of me they will be overtaken. Well that's the theory, check the bike as I get close to see if it's worthy or not
if I see the shadow in the corner of my right eye a challenge is on.Purveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
It depends. Say they catch me napping, not going fast. Maybe I'm having a bad day. So they go past and I usually hop on their wheel.
if they seem to have put in a massive effort to go past and if they seem slightly overweight then I just wait for the next hill and then counter attack- they usually slow up!
If they are a racing snake and are comfortably keeping a speed that I find a bit taxing then it's a bit more difficult. If they are on a fixie I might wait for a downhill. Otherwise I just sit there and see if they can keep up the pace. TBH if it gets to this point then I am usually doomed
OTOH say I catch them. i take the gtvlusso approach- I am going faster who cares what they look like0 -
Asprilla wrote:I the more static their upper body the quicker I assume them be.
This is it. If they are nodding, their shoulders are moving, or they're showing obvious effort, they are easy prey. Perhaps too easy.
I also look to see how high the saddle is relative to size of bike and rider. The higher the saddle, the quicker the rider usually is.0 -
I look for race numbers, what with living on a TT route. If I see some, I try even harderFCN16 - 1970 BSA Wayfarer
FCN4 - Fixie Inc0 -
All that ^^
Plus tyre pressure - soft tyres = easy win!0 -
Old ladies with basket on front and dog inside it.
F****Ing yeaaaaaahhhhh bring it on.Fat lads take longer to stop.0 -
< I look for race numbers, what with living on a TT route. If I see some, I try even harder >
...and then stop at the pub along the road....!
I'm in the pink-bike-and-streamers corner, that's about my limit.Unwashed (but well-lubricated) fixed thing, jeans, DMs - FCN 7(?)0 -
Group set. If it's Dura Ace or similar you've either got a rich poser or a serious challenge.0
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Im far from fast but..... this morning I was in a hurry grabbed my wife bike with basket chucked the bits and bobs she asked for in the front including little miss itboffin's scooter dangling over the handlebars / basket and whoosh!!!!
I shot off like a rocket, must have looked a proper siteRule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
I have yet to find anyone who is up for a bit of a challenge
I overtake the people who are riding at a slower pace, but on a three day commuting week, I usually only find a couple of other cyclists on the journey in and journey home.
The regular ones have full racks and mudguards.
However I did over take someone on what looked like a shiny Boardman carbon comp thing the other day2010 Giant Defy 2 running SRAM Force and Shimano RS80/C24s with Continental 4 Seasons
1999 Carrera Integer MTB
2014 Planet X SLX0 -
For me it's usually bike + kit first. Sometimes it's the subtle markers like the Castelli or Rapha gear :-) I may also size up leg muscle *if* they are wearing lycra - again this is one of the subtle hints that you can be in for a challenge.
Asides from that I think it's instinct! This evenings ride home had a couple of good examples:
1) Chap on a Seven bike, looked Ti with a carbon fork. Racing snake muscle tone. This guy looks quick :-) Now this is where I want to present a question and may even start a thread...I decided to have a play! To cut a long story short I clearly let him have a headstart from some lights (legally, he used a shared cycle path to bypass them) then proceeded to chase him down and scalp him before he RLJ'd at the end of the road :-D Is that fair?
2) A chap aboard a road bike along CS7 DRIPPING in sweat. Clearly putting in some big effort, suspect he is either a sadist or training. As it turned out he was with a friend (I hope!) on a hybrid/flat barred roadie who he was giving a decent tow too. Took quite a bit of digging and ignoring the complaints from my lungs & legs to get round them both AND hold them off.0 -
I soo rarely see any decent riders on my commute. I'm not fast by any means - I'm on a carrera subway with mudguards and panniers - yet I still seem to overtake just about everyone I meet.
I know there are some good riders in Southampton, just not on my commute.0