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OPINION

My Sunday with the ROGUES!!!

So after the MAMIL come the ROGUES (Random Old Guys Using Excess Speed).

My Sunday morning ride had started like so many others trundling along Yaxley Broadway to the lights as a sort of warm up. I love riding the single speed in the winter. The workout feels so much more pure and brutal than on a geared bike and some of the short sharp climbs around our locality suddenly become relevant. They don’t when you have numerous cogs to get you out of trouble.

I then took my life into my hands and headed out down the A15 to get over the A1M at Normans Cross.

It was along this stretch I became aware of the presence of other riders around me.

Two guys came past saying “morning” but I clocked them both notice the lack of a block on my rear wheel.

The pace raised from 17mph to 21mph in an instant. I got out of the saddle and starting turning the pedals that little bit faster. It was comfortable and I was keen to settle in and work with them for a bit.

Until we got to a descent and after another glance over the shoulders to confirm I wasn’t able to click and change, they both went from one end of the big ring spectrum to the other and shot away from me.

My legs were going round like an egg beater and I wanted to trade heavy steel frame and a 70 inch gear for my best bike and the scope to chase them. How could they try and drop me !!!!

It was a pretty humbling experience to be honest… watching them do through and off into the distance and despite closing the gap a little on a 2% false flat I spent the rest of my ride alone.

I remember the days when winter training was about miles and consistency. Not about burning off other Sunday morning cyclists.
 

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15 comments

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SideBurn | 12 years ago
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Nice one 'TheHatter'  16

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TheHatter | 12 years ago
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I think they were worried you wanted to steal their mechs.

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VecchioJo | 12 years ago
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"I remember the days when winter training was about miles and consistency."

they were consistently faster than you, for miles, what's your problem?
 1

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James Warrener replied to VecchioJo | 12 years ago
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VecchioJo wrote:

"I remember the days when winter training was about miles and consistency."

they were consistently faster than you, for miles, what's your problem?
 1

 4  4  4  4 haha, that was it... I bloody hate being overtaken

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Bikeylikey | 12 years ago
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'I remember the days when winter training was about miles and consistency. Not about burning off other Sunday morning cyclists.' That sounds like a a criticism to me!
How do you know they were burning you off? It sounds more like they were just riding by, speeding up down because of the terrain. Why should it have been about you? You didn't go out with them, why is it worth comment that you spent the rest of the ride on your own? You were out for a ride on your own! And what has their age got to do with it (Random OLD guys)?.
So much confusion here!

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James Warrener | 12 years ago
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Hooray, some debate  1

I don't think I actually criticised them for dropping me, merely enquired as to the speed applied to leave me.

I am not a grouch... usually.

The blog is tongue in cheek, so please don't take it too seriously as a critical piece on newbie cyclists.

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Low Speed Wobble | 12 years ago
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What's your point Jimmy?  26

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brylonscamel | 12 years ago
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"Random old Guys" .. "Excess Speed"

The more you read this post, the more it sounds as though 'Jimmy the Cuckoo' is the grouch.

They acknowledge you with a cheery 'hello', maintain a speed you can't match and have perfectly good riding style ("..watching them do a 'through and off into the distance'")

They sound like a perfectly harmonious couple of riders!

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Andywoo | 12 years ago
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@patmac How amazing that a sport that only benefits from having more participants, the economy of scale in buying, more presence on the road, greater awareness from car drivers. Has apparently long experienced members, wishing newbies out. Maybe if you spent a bit of time talking educating and helping, rather than sneering as to how expensive your other bikes are, maybe we'll keep more people in the sport, and avoid a downward spiral that will only end up costing us money.

Btw yes I am a newbie yes I have all the gear, but I read sites like Road CC to get me up to speed

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nivagh | 12 years ago
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Bad form to grab a draft off somebody without asking. Maybe that's why they dropped you.  22

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wormscoffer | 12 years ago
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I remember the days when you went out for a ride and enjoyed yourself. Who's to know they were winter training and need to confirm to your conception of that? I'm with the last poster; what's the problem?

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shaun finnis | 12 years ago
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I'm a bit confused on this one and am sure I've missed the point. They said hello and cycled past, doesn't sound like they were being rude and all they did was overtake.

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PATMAC | 12 years ago
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guys,know how you feel, our Ulster countryside is full to the brim with these newbie cycle owners,lots of them coming from footie, gaelic, etc, with strength and fitness,and no bloody clue about manners, ettiquette,or the usual ''hi'' when you meet any other cyclist on your travels,my chum and I are regularly dissed by these guys and gals, looking down on our winter machines, little do they know that we both have 8 other top line yokes which added together mean we could be using 10k+ machinery only as old hands we're aware what salt and crud does to any bike this time of year.. we relax in the knowledge that the cycle boom may be on a downward spiral and these ATGNI'S will be away to the next craze.. can't help thinking there will be many second handed Giants etc for sale in the coming years..  3

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brylonscamel | 12 years ago
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@Wooliferkins - The phrase "ATGNI" (All The Gear - No Idea)sounds like dismissive elistism, sprinkled with jealousy. If you ride a winter fixed, for training (as I do) .. accept that occasionally you will get dropped or have to work bloody hard to stay with passing riders. Not everybody you encounter is willing to ride echelon at your pace. If your pursuers really are "ATGNI", in winter conditions, hold fast to your "steady-eddy" approach to handle wet, gritty or icy roads. You never know when you may be helping your fellow riders from the verges on the next bend!

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Wooliferkins | 12 years ago
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It still is. The growth of the ATGNI cyclist just makes it seem less so. Post season recovery then building a sound miles base still works. Rest assured that having forked out for the best bling they could afford, come the first single figure temperature on a Sunday the bikes will be stored in the garage until spring.

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