Andy_K 

First off, let me say that I'm 39 and my handlebars are nearly level with my saddle, so to a lot of cyclists I probably am an old guy on an upright. But now my story....

On the way to work today, about 100 yards after I pulled away from a traffic light, I got passed by this guy who I'm guessing was in his mid-60's. He had a dorky Bell Citi (same helmet I wear) over his snow white hair. He was wearing casual slacks (Dickies, maybe) and an unzipped red wind breaker that was flapping in the wind. He was riding a flat-bar hybrid of some sort (Jamis Commuter or similar) with a rack, fenders and a pair of panniers, and was sitting completely upright.

As he passed me and my Kona Jake, he looked over, smiled and said "good morning" in a very casual and friendly way.

He obviously had hit the light when it was green and I wasn't up to speed yet. So I figured I'd follow him for a bit and then pass him on the next hill. The hill in question is about 5-7 percent for around a quarter mile -- nothing major but enough that I can usually pass slower riders there pretty easily. I totally p'wned a clydesdale on a mountain bike there yesterday.

Back to this morning, we were both going around 12-14 MPH. I had been sitting back 50 feet or so. When we hit the hill, I dug in to make my pass...except I wasn't catching up. I eventually got up to just over 20 MPH, and I still wasn't catching this guy. Nodding appreciatively, I planned to pay him some complement when I finally caught up...but I never caught up.

I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to blame my knobby 'cross tires or my sore right calf.

10 Wheels

Us old guys can ride.

MNBikeguy

lol..
I enjoy stories like this. I once ran into an old guy wearing street shoes and brown polyester long pants, riding some unknown Magna type rusted crap. Looked uncomfortable as hell. We both took off. I never even had a chance.
As time ticks away, I secretly have fantasized about becoming one of those old crusties you write about that surprise you. Sadly, it just ain't gonna happen. Now, 10 Wheels on the other hand....

canyoneagle

I'm 43, but as a former racer, tend to ride a bit stronger than most folks by nature/habit. I occasionally encounter a guy who has a full curly white beard and hair (guessing 60's) who rides a LeMond road bike, and he can HAMMER. In my current condition I can keep pace with him, but there is no way I could drop him. Just a reminder that there are some really strong riders in all age groups.

In my racing days there was a South African woman (whos husband, one of my training partners, was a leading contender in the South African 1st category racing scene) who would lead/hang with the multiple attacks off the front or our weekly group rides. In many cases, she was the one attacking. She was an ANIMAL! so don't be fooled by gender, either!

Andy_K 

Believe me, I'm quite used to being dropped by old guys on long road rides. If the guy had looked like a roadie, I would have thought nothing of this. It was the fact that he looked like he was on his way to a checkers tournament at the local park that caught me by surprise.

hairnet

I once got passed by the old guy on an MUP. I always try to keep up with whoever passes me so I started to pick up the pace. I was surprised by how much I had to work to ride along with him, then an inline skater passed us and I moved on to pace with him. He didn't look too young either.

10 Wheels

Reverse story:
I commute to a long distance bike ride 4 to 5 times a week.
Coming home one day I spy a bike 3 blocks behind me.
He appears to be gaining so I slow a bit to meet him.
The guy is 6'-5" tall, 30 y/o ,dressed in a complete company kit. Everything matched.
His cross bike matched his size. I asked him how far he was riding?
Out of breath and barely able to speak, he said A Loop. (15 mile loop around the area)
I say I just passed 92 miles. He said Oh Sh-t and stopped pedaling to catch his breath as
I pulled away.

Sci-Fi

Maybe he was in a hurry to get somewhere...lol. If the guy never got out of his saddle, then you've been had...regardless of his age.

jeffpoulin

I bet that guy is posting about dropping some 39 year old young'un right now...

Consularrider

Anybody going to crosscheck on the 50+ forum?

zzyzx_xyzzy

Old guys on hybrids are really an unknown quantity and especially on hills.

There was the time I was behind a guy on a mountain bike carrying panniers going slightly uphill, and it was an incredible effort to catch up! .... he had a hub motor.

gna

Somewhat reverse story:

I commute on a Raleigh three speed--a 40-something year-old man on a 40-something year-old bike (40-something pounds, too). I usually get dropped by other riders, but I just keep pedaling.

Part of my commute leads me through the University of Minnesota, where I ride in the bike lanes. Since school started, I've had several young men look askance at me while I'm waiting for a light, and position themselves in front of me, in the classic bike lane sandbar way. When the light changes, they wobble about, pedal a few times, coast, then seem very surprised when I ride around them--I've had to brake to avoid hitting some of them, as they don't expect me to be there and move about in the lane.

I've got 25 years on them, so it surprises me, too.

BA Commuter

I'm an older guy riding a Jamis Commuter who still likes to rock. I enjoy passing compact cars on steep hills!

KLW2

Love it!
I'm 61 and commute 50 miles round trip daily with heavy panniers on my 1988 Schwinn Voyageur, occasionally dropping a roadie. But then some roadies get me....

cyclefreaksix

Love these stories! Somedays you're the windsheild and some days...

wunderkind

That's why I don't wanna ride in a road bike. Getting dropped like OP wrote just adds to the embarassment. Atleast I can console myself that I have a "heavy" hybridized MTB with front shocks and disc brakes.... oh and MTB gearing too!

cyclefreaksix

Doesn't matter. Dropped is dropped man!

I-Like-To-Bike

If I should get interested in passing or not passing anyone else, I will take up racing, in the meantime I just enjoy my own pace without the drama.

Some of us old guys commute without giving a thought about being dropped or dropping other cyclists, and never have.

chipcom 

Wow, cruising 12-14mph and you kicked it up to just over 20mph. You should turn pro.

lambo_vt

20mph up 5%? That's really impressive, like nearly 500W.

guadzilla

Atleast in cycling, it isnt so bad b/c it is an endurance sport and some of the old geezers have been at it since the p-far days.

It sucks a LOT worse if it happens in a high-intensity sport, like, say squash. Sucks even more if you are 20 year old, in peak physical condition and on the varsity team of a top-ranked collegiate team and you get absolutely *destroyed* - taken apart - by an old coot who doesnt even break a sweat. Just a hypothetical example, of course.

V "hasnt been dropped on a bike by any old coots... although that is primarily due to lack of opportunity"

I-Like-To-Bike

Like the Trojans and the Huskies last weekend, eh?

Andy_K 

Well then maybe I'm wrong about the grade. Of course, it's not like I could sustain that speed on that grade. I'm only talking about a quarter mile here, so who knows.

lambo_vt

Ah, I missed the quarter mile part. Yeah I guess that's in line with the level of effort of a sprint or something. My bust!