Commuting Variables

meanredspider

My commute is pretty quiet but I do pass the same characters most days. The thing that always amazes me and struck me again this morning is how I pass the same people coming the other way at almost exactly the same spot (give or take 50m) every day. I'm not even particularly punctual at leaving and have covered 13 miles before I reach the first of the regulars - at pretty much the same patch of Tarmac. How does that work?

jimmypippa

I have wondered this.

Are they traveling a lot slower than you?

I always pass the same trees in the same place...

meanredspider

jimmypippa wrote:

I always pass the same trees in the same place...

Yup - but I never pass the sheep in the same place

Um - most of them are cyclists and possibly not the fastest cyclists. A couple of peds too - there's obvious more chance of meeting them in the same spot.

Looking at my Garmin data - I tend to leave in the same 5 minute window and my times are usually within a couple of minutes of each other (5 mins max) on a 50-minute commute.

deptfordmarmoset

A colleague once asked me how I always arrived at work exactly on time. The only answer I had was that if I was late, I cycled faster until I was no longer late. That must stabilise things, particularly if the oncoming cyclist subconsciously adopts the same approach.

joelsim

Er, routine

shouldbeinbed

meanredspider wrote:

jimmypippa wrote:

I always pass the same trees in the same place...

Yup - but I never pass the sheep in the same place

Um - most of them are cyclists and possibly not the fastest cyclists. A couple of peds too - there's obvious more chance of meeting them in the same spot.

Looking at my Garmin data - I tend to leave in the same 5 minute window and my times are usually within a couple of minutes of each other (5 mins max) on a 50-minute commute.

we're creatures of habit. they'll be as regular as you are in their routine.

I know from my shifts that I'll almost always see the same different people for my different start and finish times.

meanredspider

Yup - maybe it's that - routine/habit and the variables generally cancelling each other out.

sketchley

If you see me in the same place at the same time twice you're doing well. Routines are not my thing. I'd much rather go when I'm ready and arrive when I get there. My boss doesn't like that attitude, so I've moved myself to clients office instead as they have flexitime.

meanredspider

Sketchley wrote:

If you see me in the same place at the same time twice you're doing well.

Not least because you're 600 miles away

shouldbeinbed

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

If you see me in the same place at the same time twice you're doing well.

Not least because you're 600 miles away

yeah but he's a big lad

meanredspider

shouldbeinbed wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

If you see me in the same place at the same time twice you're doing well.

Not least because you're 600 miles away

yeah but he's a big lad

Ah - That's what I can see from the top of Mount Eagle...!

Gussio

meanredspider wrote:

My commute is pretty quiet but I do pass the same characters most days. The thing that always amazes me and struck me again this morning is how I pass the same people coming the other way at almost exactly the same spot (give or take 50m) every day. I'm not even particularly punctual at leaving and have covered 13 miles before I reach the first of the regulars - at pretty much the same patch of Tarmac. How does that work?

You are the star of the Truman Show and we are all extras.

fenboy369

meanredspider wrote:

My commute is pretty quiet but I do pass the same characters most days. The thing that always amazes me and struck me again this morning is how I pass the same people coming the other way at almost exactly the same spot (give or take 50m) every day. I'm not even particularly punctual at leaving and have covered 13 miles before I reach the first of the regulars - at pretty much the same patch of Tarmac. How does that work?

+1 to all that. I do 15 miles before I get to the civilized outskirts of Cambridge and I always see three other cyclists coming the other way at just about the same point (Darth Vader, Misery Man and Miserable Fixie Lady... Am I the only person who gives 'the regulars' funny names?) and one girly with a very nice bottom going the same way as me.

mudcow007

i went a weird an wonderful way to work today (seeing as its Friday) an seen a women who i normally see on my normal ride....bearing in mind i seen her about 5 miles away from the normal route

its a small world innit!

sketchley

meanredspider wrote:

shouldbeinbed wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

If you see me in the same place at the same time twice you're doing well.

Not least because you're 600 miles away

yeah but he's a big lad

Ah - That's what I can see from the top of Mount Eagle...!

Yes yes, my @rse is so large it bends space time.....(I'm no physicist but this maybe true, just not by very much)

deptfordmarmoset

mudcow007 wrote:

i went a weird an wonderful way to work today (seeing as its Friday) an seen a women who i normally see on my normal ride....bearing in mind i seen her about 5 miles away from the normal route

its a small world innit!

It'll get even smaller when they lock you up for stalking her...

MichaelW

fenboy369 wrote:

... before I get to the civilized outskirts of Cambridge and I always see three other cyclists coming the other way .... and one girly with a very nice bottom going the same way as me.

I see her in Norwich quite often. She must have a hell of a commute.

bails87

I've even started recognising the cars that go past me at the same time. A guy in a Range Rover who always used to be on his phone, but has now stopped (got 'done' for it maybe?). The Brabus Merc that always goes past nice and wide. The yellow suzuki sh1tboxthat doesn't :roll:

The only other cyclists I regularly see are a paperboy and a roadie going down a hill as I'm going up it at the start of my commute.

When I drive, on the way home I see a guy climbing the same hill, I always send 'go on!' vibes to him through the power of cyclist telepathy!

Initialised

Same faces same places, I use them to gauge how late I am.

rebs

I almost pass the 2 same people every morning. A Boris look alike on a hybrid going the opposite direction to me. Always seems to pass him going past a bread factory. The other is a middle aged woman on a wobbly towny bike who I always pass.

I always try to give a nod/smile/morning from them but nothing in return.

Topaxci

MichaelW wrote:

fenboy369 wrote:

... before I get to the civilized outskirts of Cambridge and I always see three other cyclists coming the other way .... and one girly with a very nice bottom going the same way as me.

I see her in Norwich quite often. She must have a hell of a commute.

I only ever see the old man on the boneshaker with old banana boxes strapped to the back on my commute through Norwich (not you is it )

How is that fair??

Extralight

I often pass a woman riding a moped, on the pavement, with bicycle lights on but no moped lights on, and wearing a bicycle helmet. ???? :shock:

meanredspider

The most variable thing I pass is the school bus (minibus actually) and I always get (and give) a cheery wave. The cyclists I pass out of town are always friendly but the ones in town aren't (despite me always giving them a cheery "Morning"). Rarely see anybody on my way home.

I've still NEVER been overtaken on my commute - which in some ways is not surprising (there aren't many bikes about - though I usually pass a few a week) and in others (2 years and 6000 miles) it is.

bails87

meanredspider wrote:

I've still NEVER been overtaken on my commute - which in some ways is not surprising (there aren't many bikes about - though I usually pass a few a week) and in others (2 years and 6000 miles) it is.

Same here. There's one or two cyclists going the same way as me, but not as quick (may have changed now I'm on the Boardman). I scalped a guy in a hand 'pedalled' wheelchair today, that's how desperate I am for scalps!

The one guy I might have had some fun with RLJed so I won by technical knockout

veronese68

I tend to see the same people, also judge how late I am by where I see them. Tend to get a nod and a hello from the ones I see in the park.
Used to see a lovely blond girl near Cobblers Gate. Started with a smile each morning, progressed to a hello, later got to brief exchanges at the gate. Then she disappeared, haven't seen her in 18 months. Probably just as well as the logical next step was a knee trembler in the bushes, she'd have been crushed as I would have had to turn her down.

clarkey cat

on the way in I always see a guy with with tri-bars on Hampton Ct Rd. I wait for him until he comes past. I have photos of him.

rjsterry

clarkey cat wrote:

on the way in I always see a guy with with tri-bars on Hampton Ct Rd. I wait for him until he comes past. I have photos of him.

And a little shrine behind the false panel at the back of the wardrobe?

61Sigs

fenboy369 wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

My commute is pretty quiet but I do pass the same characters most days. The thing that always amazes me and struck me again this morning is how I pass the same people coming the other way at almost exactly the same spot (give or take 50m) every day. I'm not even particularly punctual at leaving and have covered 13 miles before I reach the first of the regulars - at pretty much the same patch of Tarmac. How does that work?

+1 to all that. I do 15 miles before I get to the civilized outskirts of Cambridge and I always see three other cyclists coming the other way at just about the same point (Darth Vader, Misery Man and Miserable Fixie Lady... Am I the only person who gives 'the regulars' funny names?) and one girly with a very nice bottom going the same way as me.

No, I used to see 'Freezin Stephen' every morning. He\she rode a cheap full suss thing and was at minimum wearing a white ski jacket with the hood up and often the chin guard buttoned up and ski gloves. As the weather got cooler more bulk clothing was added until it looked like Michelin Man. Hats of to him/her, rode pretty much all last winter!

veronese68

clarkey cat wrote:

on the way in I always see a guy with with tri-bars on Hampton Ct Rd. I wait for him until he comes past. I have photos of him.

Not the bloke with tri bars on a chromed full susser BSO? I've never had the guts to take his picture.