JoeyBike

I had to go straight home after work today, no time for detours around the Lakefront, no hope for any geek hunting. Plus, I rode in on my Pugsley - not the likeliest geek slayer in my collection although...it has been done before off camera.

My main direct route to/from work just got a fresh layer of tarmac recently which is attracting some skinny tires. Today, it's a Cervelo. With aerobars. And the rider is wearing sneakers and using toe clips. I don't discriminate. A geek is a geek. And some of you asked for it, so you got it - totally by accident.

(2:38 minutes)

Turn up the volume to hear my tires humming. No music this time.

https://vimeo.com/71865623

acidfast7

lol ... at both you guys running the red ... i feel that your time is coming.

JoeyBike

No one in New Orleans stops for red lights on a bike when they don't have to. It seems we have an uncanny ability unheard of in the rest of the civilized world to look both ways before crossing the street, then proceeding when the coast is clear. Just like crossing an intersection with no traffic light. Exactly the same.

acidfast7

most the "civilised" world has dedicated bike lanes with separate induction loops for cars and bikes in addition to three sets of lights: one for cars, one for bikes and one for peds

Yalc

damn those tires are loud

Surrealdeal

Wow, you sure showed him.

ill.clyde

What's an amature?

joshuatrio

Not impressed with this one. The other Surly vid was better, and definitely more of a race/challenge.

This was just a dude getting passed at a light. Sure he could have been winded, but meh - not your best.

Loved those tires though. Flight of the bumblebees right there.

AusTexMurf

lmao
Ditto, here.

CptjohnC

By the rules I use, no pass, so you couldn't count him as 'slayed'. I don't count passes made at lights or other crossings, or passes that are inherently unsafe. I make an exception for 'inevitability' though.

I liked the creative video work, though. The targeting reticule was a nice touch.

Ride safe.

RidingMatthew

i am not sure i would say slayed as well but I enjoyed the tire sound and the targeting reticule. You really stayed close considering the difference in bikes.

He did not speak to you when you stopped at the first light?

JoeyBike

He tried to stay with me for he next 1.5 miles. I eventually merged in behind a passing SUV catching a slipstream and created a "demoralizing gap" which ended the chase. Without a backward camera none of that can be documented and is, of course, fantasy by forum rules.

No words exchanged either way. I kept my eyes on crossing traffic which kept me looking away from him until a gap came along. The camera direction is deceiving - I was looking hard right but trying to be sneaky and catch him on camera at the same time. Didn't quite work out as planned. When he proceeded from under the bridge is when I noticed the deck shoes and figured I had a pretty good chance to pass a Cervelo. Glad I kept trying!

JamesR650

I love the sound of those tires on the road.

I remember way back when I started riding roadies and I heard an MTB rider coming up behind me. Whir-whir-whir-whir as he went by. I was fatter and way out of shape and had no hope of jumping on. A mile later, I went by since he'd blown himself up trying to keep the roadie behind him. Slow and steady won that race.

Shimagnolo

12psi?
That must be a soft as a full-suspension bike.

kookaburra1701

LOL, I love your vids, Joey. A friend convinced me to enter a triathlon at the end of this month. My road bike is a 1987 Schwinn Tempo with the original drivetrain, DT shifters, the works. When I'm suffering on the bike leg, your rabbit-chasing tips will be my inspiration! I hope I can scalp at least one TT bike rider.

JoeyBike

Let me know how you do! Shoot me a PM with the story or linkage to a post.

tigerteeuwen

I didn't like your other video to much i feel it comes across the wrong way, but i decided not to judge and i actually think this one is pretty funny, i liked the little targeting sight you had setup.

question for you, do you run lights at all times during the day? or just because it was sort of dusk?

rms13

Also love your vids. I had my first geek slaying opportunity this weekend by I backed off. Riding my Cross Check with rear rack, lights and 38 cm tires and some kitted out guy aggressively passed me. I rode about 10 feet behind him for the next 5 miles but never passed even though I easily could have while he was standing up out of his saddle pedaling and I was seated and cruising. I just feel like I haven't earned geek slaying status yet but next time out I will take out any sitting ducks in your honor sir.

JoeyBike

Thanks. Glad I found a ticklish spot.

Almost no one in New Orleans stops if they don't have to. It's too hot and often just increases the danger of getting jumped. I guess it's a cultural thing in NOLA to a large degree. I think if I saw a cyclist wait for a red light to go green with no cross traffic in sight I would have to assume they were tourists. I estimate less than 1 in thousand locals stop if there is room to go.

JoeyBike

WARNING: Whatever chemical your body feeds you the instant you pass a geek is highly addictive. But we would be happy to have you on the "Dark Side" of The Force anytime!

Sixty Fiver

People are often stunned at how a bicycle with such massive tyres can roll out so well and at such speeds... in my case I am the hunted as my 13 year old daughter discovered that when she is on her road bike she can victimize me.

The drop bars really help with positioning... and it is fun to blow by people with it if only to show them that fat does not equal slow.

monsterpile

I'd love to hear how you do. I love those 80's Schwinns I have a 1987 Le Tour which is my favorite road bike I have ever ridden.

kingsqueak

liked the monster truck tire sound.

kookaburra1701

Thanks to you and Joey for your encouragement! My general physique could be best described as "barrel with legs" so don't expect too much. Pretty much all I'm hoping for is to be decent in the cycling and finish the swim and run without needing CPR.

awfulwaffle 

High moment of inertia explains why those wheels roll surprisingly well, but how hard are they to accelerate on?