Commuting - I am NOT trying to race you, again!

I'm coming home tonight, moron on old 80's road bike, suicide levers and all, sandals, no shirt, I passed him, he passes me again. We danced. And every freaking time I get to a light, he pulls some bone head move to get ahead of me and run the light, cutting off pedestrians, cars, etc. So we're going up this hill and he decides to really start cranking it, he looks back at me behind him, he's literally getting red, I can see his shoulders rolling, his arms straining to hold onto the bars, we're going uphill at 14mph, I can hit 25 going up that hill. I'm behind him all the way doing about 60rpm when he gives the lance armstrong look like he's about to drop me. I just stayed behind him and drafted him till he turned off onto a side street.

You're too nice.... ;)

Well it was either that or race him, I think my way was more relaxing.

I don't posses your level of self restraint ;)

--- If you were older and had a heavier bike, he would have just passed you and that would conclude the issue.

By the way Slvoid, how's that arm healing?

I'm coming home tonight, moron on old 80's road bike, suicide levers and all, sandals, no shirt, I passed him, he passes me again. We danced. And every freaking time I get to a light, he pulls some bone head move to get ahead of me and run the light, cutting off pedestrians, cars, etc. So we're going up this hill and he decides to really start cranking it, he looks back at me behind him, he's literally getting red, I can see his shoulders rolling, his arms straining to hold onto the bars, we're going uphill at 14mph, I can hit 25 going up that hill. I'm behind him all the way doing about 60rpm when he gives the lance armstrong look like he's about to drop me. I just stayed behind him and drafted him till he turned off onto a side street.I would have just smoked him and been done with it rather than let him delay me like that. It doesn't even sound like you'd really break a sweat doing it

No chit chat at the lights? I see it now... two old rivals racing each other to the lights... stern silence at each signal... until one finally pulls away and shoots back the Lance look. You guys should get it over with and race for pink slips... the winner gets the other's bike, no more games. J/K

Well, over time perhaps you'll make him a stronger rider (rival) ;)

I had this smarta$$ guy pass me one time and cut me off. So, I caught him and passed him easily. In actuality I'm not that fast of a rider. The way my bike is geared along with the 26" wheels I use, I can ride an incline in a heavy gear and stay with or pass most people. Because I commute the same route everyday I seen a couple of other times. He never talks and is always trying to race. I leave him alone and just mind my own business. I wish I never tried to pass him before because he looks for me now.

I just ride to push myself, this is why I don't do club rides or anything, it's my alone time, not social hour, and definitely not a criterium. Last weekend I did my first "Century," and, wouldn't you know it, for the last 30 miles of it, every single Mike Magnussen-lookin' tool in Chattanooga wanted to draft me, then pass and give the Armstrong "look" back. I hope when I'm fifty years old I'm dignified and riding a Rivendell, not trying to act like I'm twenty on a Madone. Silly. Plus these guys will never wave or acknowledge you in any human manner. I thought it was funny they were all "Boo ya, in yo' face" and I'm like "I'm on mile 87, bro." :)

The general rules I follow are: 1) once someone passes me, I don't pass them back; 2) I don't pass someone unless I'm confident I can stay in front (no one has to pass me twice). That said, sometimes when I'm passed I realize how slow I was going, so I speed up. But I stay a respectfult distance behind the person who passed me.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. On late-winter ride, I was trudging along with my Nokkians and fully-loaded panniers when some roadie whizzed by me without so much as an on-your-left. I gunned it and kept up with him, until we hit an icy patch. He had to stop, dismount, and walk around it. I just kept on going, and I never saw him again.

Occaisionally using other riders to challenge yourself is OK, forgetting that your not in the TdF is not.

editted to correct the typo-o slvoid caught.

On late-winter ride, I was trudging along with my Nokkians and fully-loaded panniers when some roadie whizzed by me without so much as an on-your-left. I gunned it and kept up with him, until we hit an icy patch. I had to stop, dismount, and walk around it. I just kept on going, and I never saw him again.


How'd he manage to fly by the icy patch on his skinny high pressure tires when you had to stop and walk around the icy patch on your nokkians?

By the way Slvoid, how's that arm healing?

DONE! :)

I just ride to push myself, this is why I don't do club rides or anything, it's my alone time, not social hour, and definitely not a criterium. Last weekend I did my first "Century," and, wouldn't you know it, for the last 30 miles of it, every single Mike Magnussen-lookin' tool in Chattanooga wanted to draft me, then pass and give the Armstrong "look" back. I hope when I'm fifty years old I'm dignified and riding a Rivendell, not trying to act like I'm twenty on a Madone. Silly. Plus these guys will never wave or acknowledge you in any human manner. I thought it was funny they were all "Boo ya, in yo' face" and I'm like "I'm on mile 87, bro." :)

Hehe, someone pulled that on us during a ride, they were like, we're on mile 70 and I said, "we're on mile 130".

I was commuting home the other day- 20 miles- on my fixed gear with only a 16t cog, while wearing a heavy backpack, on my Snidely Whiplash bike with moustache bars. I saw a roadie sneaking up behind me in my mirror. We encountered a very tangled intersection with pedestrians, bad pavement, and broken glass- which he barrels through to pass me, though he cannot pull away. He was huffing and puffing as I rode jst far enough behind him so he won't post here complaining about an unwelcome drafter. He kept glancing over his shoulder.

Then he did the bonehead move- maybe less than a quarter mile from where he caught me at the light-- he suddenly turned off in a very strange place (no road bike would actually turn there). I'm sure he waited for me to pass, then resumed his ride... he beat me alright. I think I had my heart rate all the way up to 110 ! ;)

You should've followed him, watch him hit a dead end and turn back. The look would be priceless.

I kinda like racing on my commute. Gives it a little extra excitement when I see someone up ahead. A challenge.

If I catch up, and the rider's going about my pace, I won't usually pass. Not sure what the polite following distance is, so I hope I'm not being a pest. I usually position myself about 10 feet behind and a foot or two towards the center of the road from the person I am following both for maneuverability, and so approaching cars can see both of us. I will pass if I'm confident I will really pull away from the guy.

Now, when I pass, I don't usually shout "on your left" or wave or look back. I just pass. Personally, I hate the "on your left" thing, because on multiuse paths, pedestrians hear it and jump left. I have had any number of near misses before ceasing the practice. And w/ regard to cyclists on a road, I give plenty of room when passing so there's no hazard. As for waving, I've never seen anyone wave at me on passing, so I don't think I know the proper gesture. Right hand? Left hand? What kind of wave? I used to glance over and nod and smile just at passing, sort of saying hi, you know, but I never got anything in response, so I pretty much don't anymore. Unless it's an attractive woman.

If I am being unconscionably rude, I'll happily take any tips for improving my cycling social skills.

I would just draft and let him do the work up the hill!!!

Yesterday I had the wrong way cyclist racing up the sidewalks and on the wrong side of the road yell to me that he was racing me. I was horrified as he plowed across busy crosswalks and driveways, looking over at me instead of where he was going. I quickly slowed and let him know that he had won to get him to slow down, but he kept yelling for me to speed up. This is the umpteenth time this has happened and I wouldn't mind racing them if they would just ride on the right side of the road. I would feel so guilty if one of these poor saps got clocked, it would be there own fault, but so helpless to stop it.

What I wouldn't give to have the opportunity to race somebody on my commute/utility rides. Usually all I see are cars, cars, cars. Occassionally some kid riding on the sidewalk. Alas, I can only draft the minivans who start off slow from red lights.

w/ a heavy mountain bike, heavy backpack and heavy body (230lbs, 5'7"), i still get a few people wanting to show their speed superiority to me. they do this by giving me a look or grunt of disdain. when this happens to me, i just think to myself, "at least i'm hung like a horse."

I had some overweight kid race me with his go-cart (p.s. I hate kids with go-carts). He passed me and pumped his fist in triumph. Of course his only daily exercise probably came from looking for potato chips under the sofa cushion, so I didn't feel bad.

I would just draft and let him do the work up the hill!!!

There's not much benefit to drafting up a hill, especially if you're only doing 14 mph. However, it sounds as if it would be fun to keep behind him until he cracks, then drop him like a bad habit.

I recently got into a situation where I kept passing a guy. I'd get ahead, then he'd pass me by blasting through a red light or stop sign, then I'd catch him again within a block.

Eventually he almost took me out at a stop sign by passing me to my left at high speed and then turning directly in front of me.

I then realized I should avoid these situations and just mind my own business.

I usually position myself about 10 feet behind and a foot or two towards the center of the road from the person I am following both for maneuverability, and so approaching cars can see both of us. I will pass if I'm confident I will really pull away from the guy.

Now, when I pass, I don't usually shout "on your left" or wave or look back. I just pass. Personally, I hate the "on your left" thing, ...., I give plenty of room when passing so there's no hazard.
Sounds a lot like me. I don't race other cyclist, only myself as I time every ride. I'll admit I get frustrated when I come across a slower cyclist as it only causes me to slow down (sometimes for what seems like several minutes until there is a gap in traffic to pass) I too ride further into the road, contanstly checking for that gap to appear then hit it when it does. I find an 'on your left' pointless as I pass the slower cyclist riding at least in center of lane with far more clearance than all the previous passing cars gave. I'll say "hi" or whatever if I can do it without coming across as condecending. In my mind I say "Its so great to see others out actually cycling on the road".

But always, always it seems that cyclist passes me cutting up on my right (sometimes occasionally even going up on sidewalk to do so) at the next light when there is one. Its come to the point where I now position myself not only to be visible to car drivers, but also a bit futher right than I should be just to block these folks that just don't seem to get it. (uhh, I was tailing you for the last 1/2mi and finally passed you, know you want me to repeat this, no more friendly 'Hi' for you.)

Al

A guy clipped into a road bike with a dumb grin on his face was in the left-hand turn lane as I approached. He was circling in and out of the lane so that he didn't have to put his foot down. When the light turned green, the lead car of the turn lane had to wait, so this dumbo pulls alongside the lead car, to the right, and makes the turn in front of the lead car, when it had cleared! I pass him on after the turn, just going my normal speed, but he didn't like that. When we get to the red light, I'm waiting behind a bunch of cars, who are all turning right, and the bozo goes by, turns to look at me with his dumb grin, passes all the cars on their right and cuts in front of them as they are trying to turn. I'm glad my turn was soon after that and that he didn't take it, as I probably wouldn't have kept my mouth shut.

He was circling in and out of the lane so that he didn't have to put his foot down..
Idiot


When the light turned green, the lead car of the turn lane had to wait, so this dumbo pulls alongside the lead car, to the right, and makes the turn in front of the lead car, when it had cleared!
..
Idiot x2


passes all the cars on their right and cuts in front of them as they are trying to turn.
Idiot x3

With all these idiot cyclists on the road no wonder drivers give us no respect.

Al

How'd he manage to fly by the icy patch on his skinny high pressure tires when you had to stop and walk around the icy patch on your nokkians?
Nice catch.

Nice catch.
I just read it as some folks are willing to take risks that the more reasonable, experienced or cautious don't take, even if they have equipment more suited to the situation.

Al

I encounter this sort of behavior several times a week, and I'm very frustrated with it. Many of the guys who "race" me are actually slower than me, but can trap me behind them on the narrow city streets I commute on. I did have the satisfaction today of witnessing a guy on a stunt bike who was weaving on and off the sidewalk and in and out of lanes to get in front of me in unusually heavy traffic smack into a parked truck, so that's something. But this is my number one gripe with my commute, often a much bigger problem than cars as many of these guys will pass on the right or do other things that actually endanger me just to get ahead. I sometimes think part of the problem is that I commute in normal clothes from the waist down, which means I'm often wearing a skirt, and these are guys who can't stand to be slower than a woman. (Oddly, I rarely see another woman commuting, or even biking in general.)

But seriously, I need some tips on how to handle these yahoos. I'm losing my ability to be zen about it.

I just read it as some folks are willing to take risks that the more reasonable, experienced or cautious don't take, even if they have equipment more suited to the situation.

Al
I keep the Nokkians on longer specifically so I can go over icy patches (and to minimize the risk of being surprised by an icy patch). I can't push fast over ice, but I can keep moving.

What's wrong with a pass and a simple... "good evening?"

I don't mind a bit of a race as long as the parties involved aren't stupid about it. Sounds like some of the clowns mentioned here got well into the stupid catagory...

I have a personal saying that also goes with my other passion, sailing. "Given any two bikes or sailboats in an area and at least one of them is racing."

It's just a natural thing for us to try to compete.

It's just a natural thing for us to try to compete.
Put two car drivers on the road and unfortunately more often than not one of them is competing. I see it every day as car drivers rush and jostle for first in line position at the next red light.

Al

I'll only pass another rider (as some others have already said) if I'm sure that I'll be staying ahead of them. When I do pass I'll say "good morning" or "hello" just so they know I'm not trying to show them up or race them. I don't care if someone passes me but I hate it when a rider works their ass off to pass me and then can't maintain the pace and then there they sit. I know that if I pass them they'll feel obligated to pass me back but at the same time I don't want to slow down in order to stay behind them (although that's what I usually do). If I'm not feeling like playing (i.e. had a bad day at work) and I'm on my geared bike (as opposed to my SS) and I'm feeling good and I'm confident that I'm the stronger rider, I'll drop into a higher gear and stomp 'em into the ground! :D

Idiot

Idiot x2

Idiot x3

With all these idiot cyclists on the road no wonder drivers give us no respect.

Al

Exactly! It's morons like that who are responsible for a lot of motorists hating cyclists in general. IDIOT!

Put two car drivers on the road and unfortunately more often than not one of them is competing. I see it every day as car drivers rush and jostle for first in line position at the next red light.

Al

The problem there is it is not skill or human effort that will make the difference... it is unmatched horsepower.

But with two bike commuters cranking up the same hill day after day... totally different picture.

How exactly do you indicate (ideally politely) to someone who starts to draft behind you four inches off your back wheel that this isn't something that you signed up for or welcome?

More than once along the Potomac while commuting I have suddenly discovered some usually much younger person taking advantage of my large commuter wind-profile (with panniers) combined with apparently decent speed to get a semi-free ride. I'm simply not confident that something isn't going to go wrong and we both end up hurt and I'm also annoyed because it seems presumptious of these characters.

Is there some protocol for this sort of thing? Thanks ...

You guys are all way too competitive. If someone passes me, that's just fine. If I pass them back, that's fine too. If they race til they are red in the face to overtake me back, more fool them. I'm going where I want to go at the speed I want to ride. The rest of the world can do as it likesh

How exactly do you indicate (ideally politely) to someone who starts to draft behind you four inches off your back wheel that this isn't something that you signed up for or welcome?

More than once along the Potomac while commuting I have suddenly discovered some usually much younger person taking advantage of my large commuter wind-profile (with panniers) combined with apparently decent speed to get a semi-free ride. I'm simply not confident that something isn't going to go wrong and we both end up hurt and I'm also annoyed because it seems presumptious of these characters.

Is there some protocol for this sort of thing? Thanks ...


Hmm, I have to say this doesn't bother me much, in fact I have long dreamed that all cyclists were so competently skilled that neither the drafter or the draftee had to worry and that pacelines would form wherver there were people going the same direction. Alas the combination of physics and human nature prove too powerful and I just try to stay a reasonable distance behind someone or pass them. I can't say I care much if someone is drafting me though.