Have I invented a new game?

pottssteve

Hiya!

Because I cycle regularly I'm getting fitter. I'm not that great but can trundle up hills at a reasonable pace.

Last year I bought a second hand runaround bike - a 30 year old Peugeot city bike - steel frame, pannier rack, mudguards, 5 gears with top tube shifter. I was out on it today, dressed in jeans and a shirt, meandering up the Bemmerleberg when a guy on a Trek road bike passed me. I quickly got on his wheel and followed him for about 1km. At one point I thanked him for sheltering me from the wind... He looked very surprised to see me still there!

I call this Stealth Cycling. Does anyone else do this, or is it bad form to keep up with a road rider while on an old city bike?

Steve

One Man And His Bike

Probably not but it's rude to not get out on the front and do your turn! =P

pottssteve

One Man And His Bike wrote:

Probably not but it's rude to not get out on the front and do your turn! =P

True. I did consider that but I thought he might be even more p!ssed off if I passed him to do it. Apart from that I was already in my lowest gear and it would have been difficult to go much faster...

Still, its made up for Tuesday when I was passed on the same bit of road by a fat bald bloke.

(I've not been well....)

One Man And His Bike

As you have seen, looks are not an indication of fitness or ability.

pottssteve

One Man And His Bike wrote:

As you have seen, looks are not an indication of fitness or ability.

Too right!

He had calves like my thighs though!

One Man And His Bike

A troubling sign... :shock:

mattsaw

Depends what you mean by getting on his wheel. A lot of people don't like to be drafted by people thay don't know, it's effectively the same as tailgating someone in your car.

AndyOgy

Mattsaw wrote:

Depends what you mean by getting on his wheel. A lot of people don't like to be drafted by people thay don't know, it's effectively the same as tailgating someone in your car.

+1

And it seems to happen a lot to me. One time, I had to brake and the idiot couldn't stop in time. One bent mech hanger. He rode off, whilst I couldn't change gear.

I take a very dim view on unsolicited drafting.

pottssteve

AndyOgy wrote:

Mattsaw wrote:

Depends what you mean by getting on his wheel. A lot of people don't like to be drafted by people thay don't know, it's effectively the same as tailgating someone in your car.

+1

And it seems to happen a lot to me. One time, I had to brake and the idiot couldn't stop in time. One bent mech hanger. He rode off, whilst I couldn't change gear.

I take a very dim view on unsolicited drafting.

I can understand that, hence my original post. Having said that, he came past me and then sat in front. I didn't have to do much to keep up as he wasn't going much faster so that, combined with the lack of wind resistance, meant I had the same pace.

Also, I made sure I wasn't in his back pocket.... :?

One Man And His Bike

Shame, can often find some nice munchies in there, a mobile phone and sometimes some nice tools or spare tubes.

jellybellywmb

I was once drafted by a nun on an old carlton road bike!!!!

I met her an a junction and she asked me directions, i explained the route to where she wanted to be and set off in the same direction, 2-3 miles later as i was puffing and panting into the wind a little voice chirped up

" I can take a turn on the front if you like but im a little small and probably wont give you much shelter"" WTF I didnt even know she was there!!

Anyway, lovely lady and really made me smile.

PS She wsnt in full habit on the bike i onlt realised she was a nun when i passed the local convent school the next day and she was on crossing patrol.

deptfordmarmoset

jellybellywmb wrote:

I was once drafted by a nun on an old carlton road bike!!!!

I met her an a junction and she asked me directions, i explained the route to where she wanted to be and set off in the same direction, 2-3 miles later as i was puffing and panting into the wind a little voice chirped up

" I can take a turn on the front if you like but im a little small and probably wont give you much shelter"" WTF I didnt even know she was there!!

Anyway, lovely lady and really made me smile.

PS She wsnt in full habit on the bike i onlt realised she was a nun when i passed the local convent school the next day and she was on crossing patrol.

Great! It's mad things like that that keep me sane

MaxwellBygraves

jellybellywmb wrote:

I was once drafted by a nun on an old carlton road bike!!!!

I met her an a junction and she asked me directions, i explained the route to where she wanted to be and set off in the same direction, 2-3 miles later as i was puffing and panting into the wind a little voice chirped up

" I can take a turn on the front if you like but im a little small and probably wont give you much shelter"" WTF I didnt even know she was there!!

Anyway, lovely lady and really made me smile.

PS She wsnt in full habit on the bike i onlt realised she was a nun when i passed the local convent school the next day and she was on crossing patrol.

Brilliant!