Commuting - Why do noob riders do this?

I was riding to work, pre-dawn on a Folding commuter with a loaded saddle bag,
not exactly built for speed. I was on the road and I passed a guy riding on the
sidewalk. "Good mornin' ". .... No response. (I'm ok with that)

1/2 mile later the guy is passing me, huffing away. That's ok too. More power
to him. Then he cuts in front of me and SLOWS DOWN!! WTFH?! He used his
last ounce to pass me and just gave out.

What was the point?

CE

Like the bumper sticker says, "I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you". Or is it, "Don't like my driving? Call 1-800-EAT-POOP"

As a matter of pride (and part male ego, I guess), when I make the effort to pass someone, I'm going to be sure to stay ahead, at least for a few km.

Happens all the time. I've seen silent races happen from time to time as well, like two guys see each other eye-to-eye and go at it (with completely different bikes as well, I saw a fixie versus a MTB Klein once, it was a good laugh).

It's so rare that I see anyone else riding a bike on my commute it's automatically a race! But only if I'm going home from work, when I'm riding to work I generally try to sweat as little as possible.

So if you're riding in rural new hampshire at midnight along my route, watch out! chooo choooooo! Which is another way to say I never get to race anyone. I just get passed during the day when I'm riding to work. People must think I suck. :p

I commute by bike everyday, but I also ride for sport. When I'm in my full kit, people assume my life is one big bike race. Had a dude pass me on a steady climb on a hybrid type bike the other day. Passed my buddy and I, and then he turned around back down the hill. I was mystified. We were on mile 8 of 85. That's not exactly our sprinting section.

However, to their defense, when I was younger... I was the same way. I always tried to pass people on my bike. Never did it occur to me that MAYBE they were on mile 70, while I was on mile 10. I always thought, "I'm 14 and I'm passing these older guys! I'm so tough!" Now I'm 26 thinking, "just pass me already. I'm going 12 mph on the flats." Distance > Speed.

I'll also add, the "commuter" is way less likely to wave to me than a Euro-lookin roadie while I'm in my spandex. What gives?!

As a serial wheel-sucker, I'm happy to have someone willing to slog it out in front of me.

No one passes me, mile 10 of 70 or mile 70 of 100, doesn't matter. If you pass me, it's probably because you're doping

:)

Half of my commute passes through a state park that is surrounded by yuppie haven, and is, by default, also roadie haven on a sunny day. Few cars, great weather, nice rolling flats and I see probably 100 riders or more on my way through.

Inevitably I end up in a race with someone, though not through my instigation. I'm the one guy with the blinkie, the panniers, the day-glo illuminite jacket and not in full road kit on a spendy 2008 roadie. Though I did race a guy on a fixie once, I'm almost always teh only guy with one gear.

As such I spin the same every day. I've found that it's my perfect pace, so I'm always right there with it. Lucky, people are good natured and usually strike up a few words, like "Wow, I've got a way nicer bike than you and you're kicking my butt!"

It's pretty funny when I tell them I have one speed, to boot, forty-fifty lbs. in my sacks and I'm on my 25th or so mile for the day out of 40 that I will have done when I get home. I only got passed once for keeps, and I believe the guy was going at most 1 mph faster than me. Quite funny :D

I had one of those in my last California commute. He'd pass me and slow down to the point where I'd have to coast a lot and I'd be late for work following him. If I passed him he'd try to keep up so I had to keep pedaling hard, but he could never keep up so it was no question of who was the faster rider. But if I made a gap and resumed my usual pace, he'd work hard to pass me and then slow down.

Day after day, this nonsense continued. Truth was, I hated that job and I wasn't really into riding fast to get there. Nor did I relish having to re-prove a point on a daily basis. So if I saw him, I'd just take an alternate route. Even though it was longer, it was still faster than following him. And more pleasant.

I had a similar incident yesterday. Some guy that I judged to be about 55 with a ponytail decided to pass this 60 year old. Quite a few red lights that we had to stop at and he'd sprint across the intersection when the light turned green. I'd just do my normal acceleration/cadence and catch up in about 1/2 block. Whenever I was close to him I'd start whistling some impromptu tune just to let him know where I was (I'm a horrible whistler) AND annoy the hell out of him. He turned off after about 8 blocks. I was tempted to follow him, ala Dennis Weaver in Duel. :)

People do this in cars too. Some folks just can't stand not to be out in front.

What was the point?

CE


Same as this thread... to make himself feel better?

Pass him again...and then lead him on into chasing you until he explodes. (BWAAAHAAHAHAHA):D

All you need for a bike race is 2 people, 2 bikes, and someplace to ride.

Remember the great chase scene in Bullet ? Picture Steve McQueen on a road bike, and two hitmen on a tandem...Imagine firing a 12 guage from the back of a dually....Ahh, forget it!

I ride a little faster than x-mas!

One reason I like having a speedometer on a bike is to help me hold a steady pace. Otherwise, it's just sort of human nature to speed up when someone's in front of you and to slow down when they're not, which leads to exactly the kind of thing you're talking about.

It can also be really irritating, on a bike or in a car, to get behind someone that's going 0.0001 mph slower than what you would like to go. You can stay right on their tail. Or pass them really really slowly. Or speed up, pass them, then slow back down to where you think you were. And in the meantime, the guy you passed has sped up by 0.0002 mph, meaning he's now wanting to go 0.0001 mph faster than YOU.

The other day while riding home from school, I found myself behind a guy who was going at a decent pace. I thought it would be rude to pass him, so I slowed down a touch and rode behind him. I don't think he noticed me for quite a ways, and it was nice to slow down a bit but I didn't want to spook him by saying "hi" since he looked pretty focused. I finally ended up passing him on a hill because he was slowing down and didn't say anything then since it was a hill and we were both pretty focused.

Then the other day I was riding to the store from school with an empty 3-gallon water jug strapped to my rear rack. At a light, this biker rode up behind me and said "your water bottle is empty." I thought it was the best hello I have ever received.

People do this in cars too. Some folks just can't stand not to be out in front.

+1 I've watched semi drivers do it to each other as well.

I have had someone yell "What's the point?" at me. I finished checking for traffic, crossed the road, and then realised he thought I was racing him and looking behind to see where he was. I was just riding home. :rolleyes:


I'll also add, the "commuter" is way less likely to wave to me than a Euro-lookin roadie while I'm in my spandex. What gives?!

Do you wave first? I always return a wave/nod if I see it - quite often commuting I'm either thinking about work, or wishing I didn't have to go into work and could just keep riding somewhere else, so I might not even see.

That and most roadies don't acknowledge me if I do wave so why bother.

I used to commute to work through the city on my road bike and would often encounter fellow cyclists, most often twenty-somethings on front/full-suspension mountain bikes that they obviouslly only ever ride to work or the shops. Quite often I would encounter a unique breed of cyclist, every time I would pass them they felt the need to stop in front of me at the next set of lights. They'd take off slowly at the lights and I'd overtake them again, queue this happening over and over again and me pwning those n00bs.

As a former 400 mile-per-week rider, I never had that erge and can't really say why someone does something like that other than for fun. I always road my own way and stayed within my ability. Maybe they were testing themselves, maybe it's ego, hard to say on a generality, but, I just ignor their behavior. Let them win the big one, in their head, and you just keep doing what you have fun with...

Most goofy behaviors I c'halk them as "the observed trait might have been a useful one while when we where hunters/gatherers

All you need for a bike race is 2 people, 2 bikes, and someplace to ride.

But..but...Queen made it so clear that you obviously need scantily clad women for any bicycle race (specifically with bells)

What bothers me even more is when people pass me on 55mph+ roads (riding in large shoulder) without saying anything. Always gives me a slight scare and generally hate it because often to shoulders are filled the debris and I ride to avoid it and not the person who is silently passing me. If I am on a path or any type of other road I stay straight and narrow but its hard on rough roads so it really irritates me when people pass me without a warning.

I think it's an odd human nature thing. I get similar all the time, I'll be on the MUP and stop for the cross-traffic. Invariably while I'm waiting someone will come up from behind and darned if they don't frequently pull around and stop in front of me. Get a break and there they are in the freaking way.

I'm pretty quick off the blocks, and I'll usually run right up on the back of them and yell "You wanted to be in front, now MOVE!!" :P

-R

it really irritates me when people pass me without a warning.

Thank you. Now I know it's not just me. That's my #1 pet peeve!

-R

I was riding to work, pre-dawn on a Folding commuter with a loaded saddle bag,
not exactly built for speed. I was on the road and I passed a guy riding on the
sidewalk. "Good mornin' ". .... No response. (I'm ok with that)

1/2 mile later the guy is passing me, huffing away. That's ok too. More power
to him. Then he cuts in front of me and SLOWS DOWN!! WTFH?! He used his
last ounce to pass me and just gave out.

What was the point?

CE

He's a road racer without the skill and stamina. He has the mentality, though.

Those people are so cute.....

Oh, you said "good morning?" I thought you said you would give me a hundred bucks if I could pass you. Damn ipod.

People do this in cars too. Some folks just can't stand not to be out in front. I've never really seen this behavior on a bike, but it drives me nuts on the interstate. If someone did this to me on a bike, I'd probably pull out my lightweight camping axe and ask if they know where I can get it sharpened because the last shop called the cops when they found blood on it.

I'll also add, the "commuter" is way less likely to wave to me than a Euro-lookin roadie while I'm in my spandex. What gives?!

We are embarrassed, that's what gives. Bad enough your choice of "clown sausage" clothing (with loud logos of Italian dish soap companies that will never sponsor you) makes non cyclists hate us - but to admit we actually KNOW you personally??? Never.

http://cucinatestarossa.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/red_bike_shorts_1.jpg

As for the folding bike guy....c'mon folks....be honest. Do you want to lay in bed that night thinking about a folding bike destroying you? I would throw up my lungs and swallow them again first.

Bad enough your choice of "clown sausage" clothing (with loud logos of Italian dish soap companies that will never sponsor you) makes non cyclists hate us

Aaah, another one with a persecution/insecurity complex that makes him think that "non cyclists hate us" because of something that another cyclist is doing. Wear your clothes, ride your ride, mind your business.

I'll also add, the "commuter" is way less likely to wave to me than a Euro-lookin roadie while I'm in my spandex. What gives?!

It goes both ways. When I'm on my commuter, roadies in spandex don't wave to me. I think they are busy sneering at the fenders and saddlebags. And of course when I'm in my spandex and on the road bike.... wait, never mind, I've never seen another commuter in real life so I'm not sure if they'd wave at me. But the triathlete looking people don't wave at me no matter what.

Most of the time though I don't think it's people being rude, I think it's just people who are too focused on what they're doing that they don't notice somebody doing the casual 'cyclist wave.' However, I have been told that I give human beings far too much credit sometimes and I should just admit that people are dogs.

Aaah, another one with a persecution/insecurity complex that makes him think that "non cyclists hate us" because of something that another cyclist is doing. Wear your clothes, ride your ride, mind your business.

...let us laugh....

Anyone going slower is an idiot, anyone going faster is a maniac.

Some guy that I judged to be about 55 with a ponytail decided to pass this 60 year old.

:eek:
That was you???

Anyone going slower is an idiot, anyone going faster is a maniac.

+1.

Was that a Carlin line, too?

As a former 400 mile-per-week rider, I never had that erge and can't really say why someone does something like that other than for fun. I always road my own way and stayed within my ability. Maybe they were testing themselves, maybe it's ego, hard to say on a generality, but, I just ignor their behavior. Let them win the big one, in their head, and you just keep doing what you have fun with...


Ok Johann, why are you resurrecting all of my old threads? :deadhorse2:

CE

Aaah, another one with a persecution/insecurity complex that makes him think that "non cyclists hate us" because of something that another cyclist is doing. Wear your clothes, ride your ride, mind your business.

I have to agree with Joey on this point. Some people do hate all cyclists, often basing their negative opinion on something they saw other cyclists do in the past. Individual actions do in fact affect the whole community. And the colorful Lycra outfits probably don't earn anyone any points; if you're not into cycling, it's hard to imagine that a guy wearing tights on a public road actually has a real job. (Of course, I'm pretty sure running lights, splitting lanes on the left side, and riding the wrong way on one-way streets doesn't earn us many friends, either...)

Getting passed ... why do I dislike it so much?

This summer on the return leg of a 55 mile ride on my fixie I realized someone was on my tail. I thought he was trying to pass me so I sped up and kept my pace more so than if no one was behind me. Turns out he was drafting me. After about 5 miles this guy passes me and says you can draft me for a while like I was you. I barely had the breath to say: "I would but I can't keep up". He totally smoked me and he was on a mountain bike with a straight bar! AGH! I kept him in sight for the next 5 miles. I fantasized about catching up and passing him but it never happened. Must have been his legs and gears.

I'm thinking come spring my old MTB with slicks is gonna get on the road again.

These are how some of the the best impromptu bike commuting races are born. A guy did this to me one day while I was biking down NJ Ave NW in DC on my way to work. It was an early summer morning and the sun was rising, casting the Capitol building that was just in front of us in an eerie orange-pink glow. He passed me, slowed down a bit, I caught up to him, he peddled faster. We ended up racing the entire length of New Jersey Ave. It was the best ride in I ever had, even though he beat me to the "finish line" by a good bike-length or two. We shook hands at the end and chatted a bit. He then proceeded to tell me that he was 71, a grandfather several times over, and had been bike commuting to his job on the Hill for nearly 35 years. Even though I had my then-27-year-old butt whipped by a grandfather, I had a smile on my face the entire day.

I bought a hybrid with 700c wheels thinking the bigger diameter from a standard old school 10-speed 27" wheel would improve speed. Actually when I measure them both there doesn't seem to be any difference at all!

The Motor makes a bike faster, not the tires.

hey 10wheels - my reply (about wheels) was for another thread, so I just deleted it

These are how some of the the best impromptu bike commuting races are born. A guy did this to me one day while I was biking down NJ Ave NW in DC on my way to work. It was an early summer morning and the sun was rising, casting the Capitol building that was just in front of us in an eerie orange-pink glow. He passed me, slowed down a bit, I caught up to him, he peddled faster. We ended up racing the entire length of New Jersey Ave. It was the best ride in I ever had, even though he beat me to the "finish line" by a good bike-length or two. We shook hands at the end and chatted a bit. He then proceeded to tell me that he was 71, a grandfather several times over, and had been bike commuting to his job on the Hill for nearly 35 years. Even though I had my then-27-year-old butt whipped by a grandfather, I had a smile on my face the entire day.

+1

Last spring I was riding home from work on my new TCR and at about 5kms into the ride I noticed someone on my wheel. It was this 60ish guy on some beater mtb. He drafted me for a couple of clicks, then out of nowhere flew past me like I was standing still. "No f-ing way!" I thought to myself as I spun up to catch him. We raced for a few kms, and I managed to pass him, but I thought I was going to puke a lung out.
When it came time for me to turn off the main drag and onto my street I had to stop as there was a stoplight. he pulled up next to me and asked if this was where I had to turn off. I gasped out a "yes" and he said "too bad, that was a lot of fun."
He wasn't even breathing heavily. That was when I realized that he could have shelled me at any time during the ride but enjoyed the friendly competition.

Impromptu bike races are ssssooooo much fun!

+1



Impromptu bike races are ssssooooo much fun!

Yes

I always pay compliments to whoever i am chasing down ...

It goes both ways. When I'm on my commuter, roadies in spandex don't wave to me. I think they are busy sneering at the fenders and saddlebags. And of course when I'm in my spandex and on the road bike.... wait, never mind, I've never seen another commuter in real life so I'm not sure if they'd wave at me. But the triathlete looking people don't wave at me no matter what.

Your supposed to wave?

Impromptu bike races are ssssooooo much fun!

I bring my 17 year old son for the entertainment :) He loves to drop full carbon roadie posers on his MTB :thumb::thumb: It's like watching a falcon hunt, ya know they don't stand much of a chance :roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

Too funny!

Ah, to be 17 again ... I rode everywhere. That's before I had a car, you know? Also I think I was my most handsome then. Another great age, professionally, and relationship-wise was 23. I'll be 50 in April and I'm doing my damdest to fight aging and regain muscle mass. I must say now my arms are the biggest they've ever been, I can do 25 pullups and my legs are more muscular too. I still get looks from women, but of course, that's all I get. Does your son smoke them in sprint or like we were talking about long rides, cause anyone can smoke anyone in a sprint if their opponent is in the middle of a 60 mile ride ... :-)

reg: waving - like motorcyclists, there's a comradery where a nod of the head is appropriate. It's a sign of respect. I don't always do it. The guys in spandex are hard to get it from especially when I'm in total Fred mode, so when I do get it, it lifts my spirits. Sometimes it's just a smile like on a rail trail and I'm absolutely flying in the opposite direction, they see my strobe, racks and flag, and despite my Fredness, they see my speed, and so I get the smile. I must say that flag gets the most smiles. Anyone who wants to try and pass my stupid flag is welcome to try, but I'll tell ya, people stop their cars and watch me pass through intersections. It would be hard give up that kind of courteous right-of-way.