Road Cycling - yet another reason to look good when bikin

went on the path today, excellent spring/summer sunday, around 19C/68F temp, and people _everywhere_, kept saying "on your left", family, kids, etc.

anyway, as i'm turning into a crowded area, slowing down, there are a bunch of kids, and one of the kids yells out at another of the kids, "see, now THAT'S a fast guy!"

lol. and indeed, i did feel quite fast today.. gotta love the kids.

sd

I had a similar thing happen the other day. I was cruising along when I hooked up with another rider, on a Specialized Allez Comp, the bike I used to ride until it got bent by a car that turned left into me when the driver didn't see me. We compared notes about our bikes, he told me to lead out because I "was the stronger rider." He asked me if I raced. I was feeling pretty studly. Until our routes diverged and, while tackling a short, moderate climb, I got blown away by a 50 year-old guy wearing jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and loafers, stoking a Bike Friday! Er, could I have some ice cream with that Humble Pie? :)

A buddy who rides the trails in the area says he's seen this rider pull similar smackdowns on other roadies, almost as if he cruises the base of the climb waiting for his chance to show up the lycra "dweebs."

I must have the opposite effect on kids - THREE of them have offered to race me this week!

-chris

Bike paths are a good example of how everything is relative. The last time I rode a busy bike path I buzzed by nearly everybody...only 3 people passed me.
I did a very hilly club ride today and was very nearly at the tail end of the pack.
I hate bike paths, but I might need to ride one next time to restore my ego.

I don;t think I look good at all (more like a Fred), but I was stoked when I got held up lats week. I do a short cut along the back of a baseball field to get under a bride and to avoid some nasty roads. Well, there was a field trip of kids about "seat high" to my 54cm frame. The road was too narow for all of us, so I stopped. They all busted out high-fives! How cool was that! The chaperones were apolgetic, but I thought it was cool for kids to be excited abuot a cyclist. Maybe that is just the "dad-to-be" in me...

I am confused how did looking good make you fast while slowing down, and turning.

was talk'n about looking fast, not being fast. cool stories though.

sd

This might give you a giggle: I rode to the bank one day with my long tights on -- I was only young at the time, and new to cycling.
The bank was totally packed and typically quite, then a little kid said to his mum, at the top of his voice: "mummy, that man's wearing stockings." So, I suppose I was looking too good for the bank.

Ok, it's a boring story; what do I know....it's too late now :(

Several years ago doing a 2 mile climb off our main route, this guy on a mtn. bike passes all of us and a few minutes later I see him flying down the hill and then come by and pass us again!
:eek:

Talk about handing the skinnies too us on a silver platter.

I don;t think I look good at all (more like a Fred)

What's that supposed to mean?

A few days ago, a minivan full of kids waved at me while I was on my road bike. I waved back. Maybe they thought I was training for a race, somebody they knew, or just playing a game of 'wave at the cyclists.' Either way, I felt a little faster and it made my morning commute.

Little kids in the back seats of cars always seem really interested when I ride behind them so I usually wave and they smile or wave back. Whats fun is to keep up with the car at 30mph + drafting off the back... kids seem to really get a kick out of that.

Little kids in the back seats of cars always seem really interested when I ride behind them so I usually wave and they smile or wave back. Whats fun is to keep up with the car at 30mph + drafting off the back... kids seem to really get a kick out of that.

i agree about little kids and their interest. today on a decent i was doing 60km/h in a 50km/h zone and i was slowly passing this car. this little kid looks out the window in amazement and then gives me a big smile and a wave. then she started to get her parents attention to show them what she had found. i found it quite amusing.

"see, now THAT'S a fast guy!"

I love it.