Commuting - Commuter/Racer

Yesterday's ride home Scenario:
The lift bridge is up while the freighter "Lake Ontario" passes underneath. It's rush hour, 2 lanes of cars are lined up waiting - about a mile long backup. To make the left turn after the bridge, one has to leave as soon as the gates are up, ride as fast as possible, then wander to the left turn lane before the horde of cars makes it a 10 minute wait to turn.
Waiting for the bridge to come down: a few bike trail riders on their comfort bikes, and MTB's, and a young guy (30ish) on a US Postal Service carbon fibre Trek road bike. Just before the gates go up, he clips in one shoe, and as the gate rises, and I accelerate past him, I hear his other shoe clip in.
In short: I smoked him across the bridge, he didn't pass me until about 300' past the bridge.
Things to consider:
maybe he wasn't racing (doesn't matter, I beat him anyways - plus he was in a hurry to hit the left turn lane before the traffic)
maybe he rode a long distance and was tired (doesn't matter he had a good 10 minute rest waiting for the bridge to come down)

Anyways, I felt great the rest of the way home, other than being short of breath and a little more fatigued than usual.
I rule! :D

You have got to be kidding, maybe he was doing a recovery ride, maybe he just rode for 500 miles. After i do a good ride 10 minutes aint sh*t.

There are plenty of posers around on fancy bikes.

I pass plenty of them on my 40lb commuter.

It's more a matter of fitness vs equipment.

As my father used to say when we were out sailing, it is only a race if you are winning.

And I agree, I also pass lots of riders decked out in the latest bike racing attire and seated on high end road bikes. This is with both my bent/full panniers and my MTB towing a trailer.

Some of you fellow bicyclists who make comments about fancy machines and throw the poser word around need to evaluate what riding is truly all about. My ride is the same as my name. I've been riding for thirty years, log over 13,000 miles on every year. I ride a high end beauty around because I can and because I deserve it after thirty years. For the record, I guarantee what ever bike I was on I could dust you TELEPOSER, learn what this sport is really about.

I have a training partner that rides similarly ... I'll get caught behind traffic or at a light and while trying to catch up he'll call a sprint that he's already over half way to. Most of the time I don't challenge, I let him have his little victory knowing that in a fair sprint I can take him.

You were "accelerating" before he was clipped in, he was unprepared for a race across the bridge, etc. Whether he was riding a bike that fit his skill level or not you had an unfair advantage in a game he wasn't playing. He passed you 300' after the bridge, this tells me he probably didn't try too hard, just sat back and watched you "accelerate" and laughed because you "smoked him."

You rule? No not so much. If you see him again, have a conversation, make a friend, set up rides ... then you will be on your way. If you want to race then do it fairly, ask for a sprint across the bridge, or to the first sign post past the bridge ... if you win, then you will rule, if you lose then at least you tried.

I rule! :D

You rule the kingdom of your own imagination.

As others point out, it's only a race if everybody's actually racing. I get passed all the time by wannabees who later disappear because their ride's over, they stopped for coffee, they went home, whatever. If they think they somehow "beat" me, well, I guess I missed the part where I was supposed to give a sh*t what they think.

They're done. I'm still riding. Maybe I win, eh?

RichC

I rule! :D

Am I the only one who was laughing after reading this post? Pinerider, this was supposed to be humorous, right? :roflmao:

Some of you fellow bicyclists who make comments about fancy machines and throw the poser word around need to evaluate what riding is truly all about. My ride is the same as my name. I've been riding for thirty years, log over 13,000 miles on every year. I ride a high end beauty around because I can and because I deserve it after thirty years. For the record, I guarantee what ever bike I was on I could dust you TELEPOSER, learn what this sport is really about.


I'm sorry. You must be very sensitive and your feelings are hurt.

Just what is this "sport really about"? Who can buy the highest end bikes and the sharpest togs?

Come on. You say you ride over 13,000 miles a year, don't you come across many folks who try to think they can buy their way into the sport? Why would you think my poseur comment would be directed at you?

Personally, I could care if any one "dusted" me at all. My ego isn't that easily bruised.

Am I the only one who was laughing after reading this post? Pinerider, this was supposed to be humorous, right? :roflmao:

As I prepare to enter the "golden years" (turn 50 next year), I've learned 2 things that I'm ready to pass on to the young'uns:


1. Humour is where you find it - Some may think I waste a lot of time looking, but I usually manage to find it somewhere. It's always worth the effort to find it. :D :D :D

2. Timing is everything. For 1 short instant in time, at that particular place, I did rule! The rest is just technicalities. I don't care if the other guy was racing or not - I was and I won! (the short sprint part of the competition) When maturity is competing with youth, maturity tends to pick their spots.
:D :D :D

Oh, and on the other issue - High end vs low end (I'm definitely a low ender):
If you ride or drive a high end pseudo racing machine, the expectation of others is that they have to race you. It's just the way it is. :D

I guess I can see how my "poseur" comment could be taken as directed at all riders of high-end bikes. I was just making an observation that because someone is on a high-end bike, it does not necessarily mean they have devoted the time and energy, or have the commitment to bicycling that thier gear would otherwise have you believe.

I have much respect for those who actually do have a commitment to their sport, whatever grade of gear they have. I certainly did not mean for my comment to be directed at them.

Many sports, especially ones with bright, high-tech, expensive, shiny gear, seem to attract a certain type of person. This person is more interested in faddish yuppie consumerism than a commitment to true atheleticism or as a vehicle to enhance thier lives. This is who I directed my poseur comment at.

I apologize to anyone who felt that my comment made them feel unwelcome or ostracized in this community.

As far as me being a poseur...
I don't know what my ratty t-shirt, 8-year old Marin Stinson bike, panniers, and a fresh loaf of Italian bread strapped to the rack says about me. All I know is that day-by-day my legs are getting stronger, and that will lead to a great winter season of free-heel skiing in the woods.

FELTF10,

In your post you mentioned, "My ride is the same as my name." Your parents named you FELTF10 and decades later you buy a bike with the same name? That's incredible!