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Why do noob riders do this?

Old 12-26-08, 10:08 PM
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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!!"

-R
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Old 12-26-08, 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by infecto
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
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Old 12-26-08, 10:14 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
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.....
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Old 12-26-08, 11:33 PM
  #29  
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Oh, you said "good morning?" I thought you said you would give me a hundred bucks if I could pass you. Damn ipod.
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Old 12-27-08, 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted by savethekudzu
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.
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Old 12-27-08, 12:17 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by Tapeworm21
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.



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.

Last edited by JoeyBike; 12-28-08 at 12:08 AM.
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Old 12-27-08, 06:52 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by JoeyBike
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.
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Old 12-27-08, 07:16 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by Tapeworm21
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.
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Old 12-27-08, 12:05 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by lil brown bat
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....
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Old 12-27-08, 03:56 PM
  #35  
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Anyone going slower is an idiot, anyone going faster is a maniac.
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Old 12-27-08, 03:58 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Bill Kapaun
Some guy that I judged to be about 55 with a ponytail decided to pass this 60 year old.

That was you???
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Old 12-27-08, 04:45 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by frankenmike
Anyone going slower is an idiot, anyone going faster is a maniac.
+1.

Was that a Carlin line, too?
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Old 12-28-08, 02:10 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by lil brown bat
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...)
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Old 12-28-08, 08:43 AM
  #39  
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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.
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Old 12-28-08, 12:34 PM
  #40  
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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.
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Old 12-28-08, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
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.
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Old 12-28-08, 04:10 PM
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hey 10wheels - my reply (about wheels) was for another thread, so I just deleted it
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Old 12-28-08, 07:45 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by InfiniteRegress
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!
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Old 12-28-08, 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by darkfinger
+1



Impromptu bike races are ssssooooo much fun!
Yes

I always pay compliments to whoever i am chasing down ...
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Old 12-28-08, 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Lizzylou
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?
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Old 12-29-08, 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by darkfinger

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 It's like watching a falcon hunt, ya know they don't stand much of a chance
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Old 12-29-08, 08:34 AM
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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 ... :-)
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Old 12-29-08, 08:41 AM
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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.
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