Commuter Racing

The first rule of commuter racing is - be cool! Its not a race. So even if you're plodding along Jamaica Road, Bermondsey heading towards London Bridge and someone cruises up alongside you - ignore them. Well done, that's very sensible. Let them go. There's no need for competitive nonsense in December when you're unfit and certainly not while you're commuting.

What about just monitoring his pace from a distance? mmm...its a narrow path your riding on, take care or you'll get sucked in. Put that competitiveness on ice; seriously he ain't worth it. Hopefully he'll be gone and you won't meet this person again. What if at the next set of lights you snake you're way around large delivery trucks, buses and other stationary vehicles to get to the front and there he is waiting in that green patch of ground for cyclists only?

Again be cool, if you inject some urgency into your effort to stay close to him its over. You've lost - that means you're knowingly competing. Thats bad, very bad. Remember its not a race. Now... you could however cruise past him with an air of unassuming non swaggering indifference, and time it so that he gets caught at the next set of lights and hence you'll never have to see him again. If he's all cleated and lycra'd up (and he is) that makes it even better. One mile to go before London Bridge and you're close to his back wheel. What the heck are you doing? Let him go. Who cares if you're a 2nd cat. In the grand scheme of things what does it matter its nearly Christmas for fucks sake relax a bit!

Oh shit he's sensed your presence (which is really not cool) and is doing a Cancellara on ya. Alright cruise past but don't show any signs of heavy breathing...Oops too late he took the left turn at Evans Cycles. You can recover as you turn right across London bridge heading towards Liverpool Street Station. Once you've got your breath back refocus. Pretend it never happened. After all who's gonna know!