Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Last week I was cycling across the Harbour Bridge, uphill side, doing about 27kmh. This is a solid pace. A set of bright lights came up from behind very quickly. I pulled further to the left waiting for the ‘Ivan Basso’ to blast through.
To my surprise, a forty plus, accountantesque, lady on a comfort bike flew past me at about 32. Which is fast uphill. She was in a business suit, comfortable looking shoes (casting no aspersions but they were those kind of Hush Puppy shoes) with no toe-clips and the spray not captured by her full mud-guards was misting across her horn-rimmed bifocals. I was amazed.
So I sped up, a lot, as she was now doing 35kmh on the downhill side, to have a closer look. There was nothing much unusual about her gearing and certainly no motor-mower engine. Perhaps she was superwoman?

I've had that experience before

Just need to know your place within the pecking order! Or try a better PED.

I dont know... but i do know that this sort of thing is really very disturbing! - It can lead to a mild state of depression, a dent to ones self-esteem and in extreme cases even alcohol abuse, and a lack of enthusiasm for riding.

Shame you couldn't positively absolutely ? confirm that she wasn't E assisted ? . Maybe you can pretend she was? I'd be tempted..

I want to know why you didn't tuck in an suck her wheel!

stevepedlin wrote:Shame you couldn't positively absolutely ? confirm that she wasn't E assisted ? . Maybe you can pretend she was? I'd be tempted..

Well done Steve. Indeed there was a large silver thing strapped to her down tube. She was the energizer girl.

I tell you, I had no idea they were that fast. You need some serious skill to go that fast, esp in the wet.

ft_critical wrote: To my surprise, a forty plus, accountantesque, lady on a comfort bike flew past me at about 32.

I met someone who fits that description on a Bike North ride once. She was on a Trek hybrid, no power assist.

OMGosh, she is one fast climber, despite her weight. I deliberately started the climb on Parriwi Rd in last position, just to see how many riders I could overtake, and I ended up overtaking everyone except her.

When I got up on top, she was waiting for everyone else to catch up. I said to her "You are an amazing climber!" She said "It's the bike." Turned out she was on a Kmart beforehand.

I then observed her cycling, and she is a fast spinner - and have very powerful thighs.

its not that fast uphill *stretch*

Last Tuesday night I was heading out to join the FPR lads and I stopped briefly to check a phone message. Just as I got set to go again a tall, thin fair haired lady about my age (40's) rode by and I caught her on the downhill, when she noticed me she managed to drop me up the next hill with what looked like no effort. She was one very fit looking lady.

ft_critical wrote:Well done Steve. Indeed there was a large silver thing strapped to her down tube. She was the energizer girl.

OK well if that wasnt the case I was going to guess Aunty Jack

The sub-text of this post for me was that armed with an electric bike:

Sydney (Brisbane etc) hills are no problems,
Longer distances should be easier.

Thus, E-Bikes could really open up cycling to a much wider set of people and therefore increase cycling as a valid alternative to cars and public transport. (Ignoring all the issues of infrastructure, danger etc.)

This was the biggest revelation to me. I had not really considered E-bikes that seriously. I had thought they were primarily for lazy people to pop down to the shops.

Just this afternoon I was travelling east on Newbridge Rd Chipping Norton and a guy on a "petrol power assisted" (using the word assisted loosely) was doing a genuine 65kph in 70kph zone. I had no idea they went that fast, no wonder they're illegal.

Old and Rusty wrote:Just this afternoon I was travelling east on Newbridge Rd Chipping Norton and a guy on a "petrol power assisted" (using the word assisted loosely) was doing a genuine 65kph in 70kph zone. I had no idea they went that fast, no wonder they're illegal.

Nahh, that was just ft_critical's standard cruising speed with no power assist (haven't you been reading the Road Biking forum? )

More than likely the "fumes" you smelt were simply the remains of last night's curry.

A girl I know races tris and crits and adventure races but chooses to E-bike to work to avoid getting sweaty. In about 3 yrs from savings in fuel and parking she has paid for the e-bike and is about $1000 ahead

Christine Tham wrote:

Old and Rusty wrote:Just this afternoon I was travelling east on Newbridge Rd Chipping Norton and a guy on a "petrol power assisted" (using the word assisted loosely) was doing a genuine 65kph in 70kph zone. I had no idea they went that fast, no wonder they're illegal.

Nahh, that was just ft_critical's standard cruising speed with no power assist (haven't you been reading the Road Biking forum? )

More than likely the "fumes" you smelt were simply the remains of last night's curry.

Christine, I hear they have just opened a new Electric Bike shop on the North side, it is right at the Warringah Rd/Forest Way intersection. Maybe you could pop in if you are ever near there?

No need to climb with hands in the drops on a E-bike you know

These lightweight bicycles are turning you all soft. Get a heavy bicycle and train on it. Then, when you bring the lightweight thingy out, you'll fly.

I shot past two blokes who were on their racing bicycles on the bike path along Orphan School Creek. They didn't catch me for at least 2 or 3km. Perhaps they were nursing egos. Two racing bicycles, and they get dropped by a fat asian bloke on a small-wheeler with a huge St John Ambulance Operations Class A kit on his back (think of the biggest messenger bag you know, and make it bigger and heavier, full of medical stuff). I wouldn't have let him pass, except my highest gear is only 80 gear inches, and his would have been about 112 (80 gear inches and 80rpm cadence gives you 30kph, and I ain't no spinner).

Old and Rusty wrote:Just this afternoon I was travelling east on Newbridge Rd Chipping Norton and a guy on a "petrol power assisted" (using the word assisted loosely) was doing a genuine 65kph in 70kph zone. I had no idea they went that fast, no wonder they're illegal.

I thought they were illegal (I see you are in NSW). And then I read the actual laws.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/ ... tml?rlid=6

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

I mentioned my surprise in the electric bicycles forum:
http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... 31#p405696

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

hartleymartin wrote:These lightweight bicycles are turning you all soft. Get a heavy bicycle and train on it. Then, when you bring the lightweight thingy out, you'll fly.

I shot past two blokes who were on their racing bicycles on the bike path along Orphan School Creek. They didn't catch me for at least 2 or 3km. Perhaps they were nursing egos. Two racing bicycles, and they get dropped by a fat asian bloke on a small-wheeler with a huge St John Ambulance Operations Class A kit on his back (think of the biggest messenger bag you know, and make it bigger and heavier, full of medical stuff). I wouldn't have let him pass, except my highest gear is only 80 gear inches, and his would have been about 112 (80 gear inches and 80rpm cadence gives you 30kph, and I ain't no spinner).

sounds like you are building some serious cyclists legs down there!! Assuming of coarse they hadnt pulled over because they thought you were on the way to an emergency.

ft_critical wrote:Christine, I hear they have just opened a new Electric Bike shop on the North side, it is right at the Warringah Rd/Forest Way intersection. Maybe you could pop in if you are ever near there?

Roseville Bicycle shop (my first LBS!!!) sells electric bicycles.