General Cycling Discussion - Forget about it, keep the pace, or beat 'em?

What would you do when someone passed you while you are dozing on your bike? :o Would you just forget about it, try to keep the pace, or try to beat him/her?

I dont doze.I keep my cadence up over 90 so if i am passed,i keep the same pace i was doing.About half the time,or maybe less,i see them again doing my same pace.

If I don't know them, I forget about it. If it's one of my friends or brothers, then we got a little race happening.
:)

I too don't doze. I look ahead to see who I can catch and look behind to see who's coming up. When I do get passed I look it as an opportunity to pick up the pace. I'll hang with them as long as I can and even pull with them if we are all comfortable.

Hmmm...I am usually dozing because I know the trail better. I take the time to doze before or shortly after an excrutiating section. I can usually catch up when they hit the really tough technical section because they exhausted themselves to early...

Either that or I haul ass to catch up and make it a personal challenge....

I hate that i even think about it ! But it's hard not to sometimes. I feel like i have to keep up, but the fact is i'm about twice as old as most of the riders i see. But as someone passes you you can't scream out "don't look so smug...you're beating a guy twice your age". :D

What i like is when someone on a nice bike passes by me when I am pulling my daughter in her cart and I keep pace with them or even pass them back.

I typically do have a specific pace in mind that I will maintain unless it is a fast day, then any challenge becomes a race if the other is willing.

See my sig below for my thoughts on this subject...

Since I'm pretty new to biking (in my 3rd month) and currently unfit, I am always being passed. However when I was younger I was very competitive and, once fit enough, I hope to regain my competitive streak. I would attempt to chase them but I don't want to look a jerk when they repass me later (panting like a dog).

Depends,

If it's granny on here 1940s vintage 3 speed, I'll just pretend I'm taking it easy that day, ya know, I abused myself yesterday so I gotta do a recovery ride.

If it is some young'un on his super fast tri bike then I'll just pretend I'm taking it easy that day, ya know, I abused myself yesterday so I gotta do a recovery ride.

If it is some young FEMALE on a super fast road bike then I'll stick behind her like snot on a doorknob.

Digger.

If I am trying to maintain a specific pace I let them go. Usually you catch the person if you keep your pace, especially if the person is passing you just to be passing you. On RAGBRAI last summer two guys passed me when I was already into a fast pace. It was obvious they had blown their wad passing me because I caught them a half mile up, without increasing my pace. That was when they sealed their fate -- they blocked the road and would not move over to let me pass. After at least five minutes of patiently calling for a pass, we finally reached a section where I could get around them. They latched on to my tail, so I pushed the pace high and kept it there. Neither guy lasted very long. For their rudeness I hope they puked from trying to keep up!!!!

I just let them go.

I was out riding by myself. There was a small group of riders that I would see now and again. They were all decked out in the jersey's and everything. I was heading back to my truck on a trial (which is a gnarly single track) and got behind their group. They were pretty good riders. The trail forks at the end right before the parking lot. You can go around inot the lot or you can take the 3-4ft drop. I decided for the drop. I went right over the bars, scraped the right side of my leg. Their group came over to me to ask if i was alright. I said something like "go big or don't go" just to save face. They laughed, I laughed, talked for a few minutes and admired each others bikes and left.

Since I do not know many cyclists in this area I catch them to chat a bit. I've found some great routes and met some good people in the past by doing that. It's amazing how quickly you are accepted into a pack. I'm still looking for a pack up here. Of course the last few days have been the only warm (& not snowy) days.

I'm going to have to change my signature soon.:D

Since I started racing I can't be bothered catching someone up ahead or latching onto someone's wheel. If I want to race, I leave that for Saturdays.

Considering how easy it is to latch onto someone's wheel and stay there, it really isn't proving anything. Actually it proves nothing.

If someone latches onto my wheel unannounced I will pull over and let them go past.

If you want to race then do so, don't try to embarrass someone who is just out for a ride.

Racing is very humbling.

CHEERS.

Mark

It depends on exactly how fast they are going. Quite often I'll pick up my pace a little and ride with them for a while. If they are much faster than me I'll chase for as long as I can, pushing myself a little bit harder to delay the inevitable as best I can (i.e. being dropped).

I learnt my lesson not too long after I started to ride, about 15 years ago. If I saw a roadie decked out in all the gear, I'd go like hell and pass him and feel invincible. I decided to do this to one guy, and he just got on my wheel and kept yelling at me "c'mon, keep going, keep going". Needless to say he didn't have a problem and I was wrecked in no time. I didn't do that again.

Now I usually let them go, or if they are close to my pace, I'll try to match theirs and have a chat.

This happens while commuting, too. I usually ride faster than about 90% of other cyclists I see. The remaining 10% can be interesting.

Once I spotted a fellow commuter ahead, riding at about the same pace. With some conscious effort I was able to close the gap until I was right behind his wheel. I caught my breath there for a while, noticing that I actually had no business passing him. So I decided to do the right thing and do my share of pulling, stating my intentions as I passed him. This isn't too common here, so the guy looked a bit surprised and didn't say anything. I went ahead, pulling for about 400 meters until the next intersection where I turned left. He continued straight ahead, shouting, "WRONG WAY!!" :D

It was nice to find someone who shares your idea of a good pace. I have tried to spot him later in that same route, but our paths have not crossed. Funny thing is, I remember his bike, panniers and rear derailleur brands but I have no idea what he looked like.

--J

Originally posted by Juha
This happens while commuting, too. I usually ride faster than about 90% of other cyclists I see. The remaining 10% can be interesting.

It was nice to find someone who shares your idea of a good pace.
--J


Originally posted by dazco
I hate that i even think about it ! But it's hard not to sometimes. I feel like i have to keep up, but the fact is i'm about twice as old as most of the riders i see. But as someone passes you you can't scream out "don't look so smug...you're beating a guy twice your age". :D

This happened this a.m I just got on to the bridge and was just picking up speed and a guy passed me. I normally climb that section at 12mph in deference to my dodgy left knee, until I warm up, but I upped the pace, latched on and climbed at 15mph.

Over the top of the bridge I passed him and he dropped behind then, as I spun out my top gear, he passed (I have only a 48 outer ring). I followed again and then we took separate routes but arrived at a junction at about the same time. I passed him, then he me and as he came past, he started up a conversation. We rode in together for the next 8 or 9 miles.

We had a good ride in at a good pace. Don't know his name, but a Cannondale bike in blue, Conti tyres, STi. :)

My left knee suffered a bit when I got into work though

Usually I ride my ride, and let them ride thier ride. Some times I pass them later and sometimes I don't.

I usually wave and say hello though.

Dan

Pass to pass,not just to show up.If you pass and stay ahead,fine but dont{like the kids do**hull ass to pass and not keep that pace and get passed back by the guy,dumb.I've passed the same guy 3-4 times but i am keeping the same pace.Whats he doing?