I usually just line up behind the cars. Or blow the light from the middle. Depending on traffic.

Redrun, redrun, REDRUN.....

i'll pass someone if i'm sure that i'm going to be faster than them - otherwise i'll usually politely wait.

How can you be sure though, til you try? Bring on the Tour de Rush Hour.

I consider it terrible etiquette personally and it's one of my pet peeves. Especially since looking back, hardly a one of them has been a particularly fast rider. The people who pull in front of you at lights and force you to pass them repeatedly are especially fun.

Had some doofus on a fixed gear with poorly fitted bullhorns pull that crap on me last night, I wanted to kick him.

Oh that was you? Sorry about that... ;)

Jees where do you cats ride home to? I can honestly say while I've passed my share of riders, I can't remember the last time I was passed and left for dead figuratively whilst commuting.

Haha, I'm saying; if I've seen them in motion prior to stopping, if they almost completely dismount their bikes or if it's an old chinatown lady* with grocery bags hanging from either handlebar - I usually don't feel like a gigantic dick**.

With that said, I normally do wait for people and think it's hilarious when dudes roll up to pass at a stoplight only to be passed by me less than 10 seconds after the light goes green. If they pass me and keep going (read: they are clearly faster) then I guess I don't care enough to let it actually bother me.

Funny little story about dudes who just NEED to race you; in the fall a friend of mine were out on the lakeshore trail near the beaches... moving at a good pace, chatting as we rode and we started to get closer to an older guy on a mountain bike... as he heard us getting closer he started to pick up speed but we were still (unintentionally) gaining on him... once we get really close he looked back at us angrily and then just started givin' 'er.

Being a dude with a moderate competitive streak, I gave chase and quickly caught up to him... this guy was seriously hammering, grunting loudly, pedaling frantically at it and I think I said aloud "are you seriously grunting?" which I thought was hilarious but it only fueled his desire to smoke us... and smoke us he did! He started going super hard, super fast, I'd underestimated my unintentional opponent - I just couldn't keep up... it was both hilarious and humbling at the same time.

Next season, lakeshore silver fox, your ass is grass!

--

*Say what you will about any of us, these are the real hardcore cyclists in the city... Rain, sleet, snow - they don't give a god damn...

**Yes, I'm aware how that sounds. Sexy.

If you're a small, I have a black Bell Metro you can just have.

Damn, i'm a medium. I can probably fit a small but it will be tight, and i'd like to be able to put a skill cap underneath. Thanks for the offer :)

bwahaha :)
Even more annoying are the folks who pass you on the red while you wait, only to be caught soon enough, and then pass you again on the next red light, and so on....

No prob. Does anyone out there want it? It's taking up room on my dresser which I'd like back :)

Yeah I'm pretty much the same as everyone else, I'll pull forward to the line if I have/can see that the others won't be moving off too quickly, or I'll just wait and then giv'er at the green/pre-green. I'm pretty conscious about how the "go to the line" cyclists are seen, so I do my best to haul ass off the line and often pre-empt the green anyway to get ahead of the main traffic. So far it's been working out, I don't think I've pissed anyone off by doing what I've been doing.

Those guys that run the reds but meander along or push to the front only to start off at a roaring snails pace are where the anger is.

I'll always try and give chase, it's lots of fun and brings change/difference to a routine activity - I'll never forget the dude on an MTB with *huge* woolly socks one winter just blowing by me at a hell of a rate on the Bloor viaduct, I think I was on my road bike at the time too and I couldn't keep up in anyway.

I ordered a new set of Eggbeaters, and Ben M. (from the Thursday 100 group) has offered up a replacement drive side pedal, which is hugely kickass so I'll go get that tomorrow. I've put on my old SPD/platform pedals for now (though I rode with the broken pedal on today due to time/problems getting the pedal off with this mornings' attempt), and man do the SPD cleats ever feel different/stiff/rigid compared to the eggbeaters.

My buddy is back from BC, so he got his FG bike sent back and it arrived today. He was putting it together and had a seized BB, so he's waiting replacement work and was bored.

Cue me just witnessing my buddy trackstanding his bike... except right now it's a dandyhorse.

Pretty hard to do without pedals, cranks, a saddle or brakes, but it's neat - video to follow! :p

...gotta love when -3 degrees feels warm :)

-3 .... oooh that's tropical!!!

Tons more cyclists out today!

Yay warm weather! :D

World of difference getting into the campus pedals - it took me forever to clip in initially as I had collected a crapton of snow in there (first not noticing, then thinking it shouldn't be a big deal...) but was nice to have my foot retained again :)

What's everyones favourite response to the "Don't you get cold riding in this weather?" question? - Even after there was clearly steam coming from my hands, back/neck and backpack this morning a guy asked me. I've just started saying "Beats standing around or walking in it!", people still give me odd looks, but I acknowledge at least partial craziness :)

I prefer the "you must be crazy there it like 5cm of fresh snow" or even better "does riding in the snow work?"

I tell them now to talk to me when they get the flu and I don't. Took the streetcar this morning as I had to drop my youngest daughter at school. I'm at King/Spadina at 9:20, going to 1 Yonge, via the Union Station streetcar, arrival 9:55. 35min and the trip itself couldn't have ten minutes at most. Long Live the Bike!!!

"If you’re seeking a little adventure on the cheap in 2009 consider the Khanchendzonga Mountain Bike Challenge March 18-30 in the Indian Himalayas. The race course will cover 267 miles and nearly 46,000 feet of climbing over nine days of racing. The best part (other than getting to spend nearly 2 weeks in India): the race costs just $500 which includes 3 nights in hotel, 9 nights in tents during the race, and breakfast & dinner. It’s all part of an effort by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation to increase travel and tourism in the region. Airfare to India is probably the biggest expense for most riders but once you’re there you’re all set except for the bike!"

way outdated but I just saw this and thought it was pretty funny. Though, I might have had to vote for McCain!

http://i.current.com/images/asset/893/964/07/Mpzfrb.jpg

Didn't someone post up some photos of the tires that they made for the ice race one time? Or was it a video of the race? I can't remember.....regardless, did anyone save or bookmark photos of the ice race of 2008? Thanks.

I guess whether I wait depends on how cute they are!

Hi everybody. i mis use!

i have some photos here: http://flickr.com/photos/exhibit-x/s...7603922334388/

nothing of tires though