ypsetihw

this was so much fun I wish I had it on my handlebarcam

I was riding back to work after a climb/sprint sesh at the local park. Passing through the hipstery part of town mid afternoon, I came upon a fellow who couldn't decide if he was riding in the street or on the sidewalk. After what seemed like minutes of watching him just a block ahead of me, wandering this way and that, he finally settled on the sidewalk at the intersection where I finally caught up. I was in full kit on my race bike, unencumbered and trying out my new (color matching of course) cycling shoes (clipless) on a spirited training ride. He was clad in flannel and jeans, with Vans on flats, proudly installed on a Schwinn Katana. The Bern skate-style helmet and Element skate backpack really tied the room together.

I rolled away from the corner as usual and I settle into a pace of 16-17mph, when about halfway down the block, I sense someone attacking on the left.

Out in the middle of the lane. He's hammering it (and looking worse for wear because of it) and flying down the center of the traffic lane. Flying is relative. He was probably going 20mph, but it was enough to pass me in the space of a long side city block while I watched in shame. I was dropped.

We made eye contact as he passed for just long enough for him to feel like Lance. We pulled up to the next light, and I tried to say hello (cyclists around here have a pretty tight community of which I'm a part). Instead, he avoided my gaze and hopped forward a few feet looking ever so slightly smug.

The block in front of us was the same length, but was a small, steady hill bringing about 40 feet of gain. I let him lead us out of the light because he won that place, right? About 100 feet from the stop I could tell he was still gassed, and I set off a #wattagebazooka . What's one more sprint rep right? I looked down, legs were holding up. I looked back, and he was barely past the bus stop.

When he finally got to the next light, he positioned himself back on the sidewalk, and seem very preoccupied with something off the right side of the road . . .

milkbaby

Technically a Fred should be wearing all hi-viz neon yellow, have a bike mirror or two, a reflective vest, reflective ankle bands, an Airzound horn, and a ton of lights.

No.

ypsetihw

hey I have an ankle band . . . lol

it's just an embellished piece of short fiction based one of my rides today, because I'm feeling narrative at the moment.

ThermionicScott 

Sounds like a great thread for the 41.

the sci guy 

I was going to berate you for using the word 'sesh' but then you made up for it with the big lebowski reference.

CliffordK

Some days I am the "Fred" along the road dropping the roadies.
Other days I am dropped by the "Fred".

If I drop someone, I usually don't give them a chance to catch back up until our path diverges (at which point I may take a few deep breaths).

Camilo

I get passed regularly by college kids commuting on mountain bikes, wearing Carhardts and Extra Tuff boots, with backpacks (which I assume are not light, text books being what they (still?) are). I'm not in clownish wannabee kit, but do wear bib tights, club cut jerseys (but they are jerseys, not T shirts, shoes that cost more than those guys' (and gals') bikes, and ride go-fast bikes.

I've given up feeling anything except a big "howdydoo!" when it happens. I was in my twenties 40 years ago, so I had my time to be fit and strong without thinking about it.

OldTryGuy

Fred by name......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Hoffman

AND equipment.......https://miles4melanoma.com/freddiehoffman/ scroll down to 2nd picture for his bike

Definitely a lesson in humility when riding with him, especially when climbing.

highrpm

I don't own cycling clothes. I usually ride in my normal shorts, or in work clothes in the morning.

I ride at a decent pace, 17-18mph. I noticed that anyone wearing cycling clothes really wants to pass me. I must be the Fred...

OldsCOOL

Who said all Freds are slow and ride sidewalks?

I-Like-To-Bike

?? Isn't that clownish wannabee kit?
What kind of clothing would you describe as clownish wannabee kit?

kickstart

I've always wondered why riding a bicycle makes some people insecure, and competitive. I also get a kick out of the pace speeds bandied about as if they represent ones actual average speed.

mrodgers

Comparing pace speed is more accurate than comparing average speed if everyone would specify that it is the pace they ride at. Average speed take into consideration all slowdowns and stops. If rider 1 can ride at a 19 mph pace but has 50 stoplights he has to stop at and gets a 15 mph average, is he slower than rider 2 who can ride at a 17 mph pace and doesn't have a single stoplight so his average is 16 mph?

Everyone should be comparing pace speed rather than average.

dsaul

I have been known to enjoy dropping fully kitted roadies, on climbs, with my old English 3 speed, while wearing jeans and flat shoes.

maartendc

What is a Fred?

Why do people worry about getting "dropped" by random strangers anyway? I just want to ride at my own pace, and if I get passed by someone, great, if I pass someone else, also great.

Slash5

Was on a organized ride with my brother in law and we were riding on good road bikes at a respectable pace with the assumption that there was a long way to go. A casually dressed young guy on a MTB started with us so I told him to tuck in behind us and take it easy. My brother in law and I swapped leads every so often for a while until the young guy pulled up beside us, said he was heading out and hoped we had a nice ride and disappeared down the road. Sure makes you feel old and slow.

fietsbob

Fred and I biked between Pubs on Sunday.

Wildwood 

Shamed......, I can never show my face again in Buffalo.

Oh, and just for the record - those flat pedals had Ti spindles & ceramic bearings - my mechanic said it was the best-bang-for-the-buck. And those jeans are actually cool riding pants (or so I thought they were). Slim Fit | Osloh Bicycle Jeans = only $198. And please lay off my Van's = cool to the core! What's your favorite color?

And thanks for the rise, I love passing racer wannabe boys, if only for a block - then back to the sidewalk. It was a recovery day - did 3 centuries in the preceding 3 days.

Ta-Ta - you fast, handsome, kitted-out racer boy, with matching shoes. Maybe, instead of leaving town, I'll be checking you out for the next lunch hour race.

CliffordK

Where do you get "Pace Speed"?

The speed I think I'm riding at and my average speed never seem to quite jibe. Even randomly glancing at the speedo, and it seems as if I'm riding faster than I actually am on average.

So, I suppose it is best to post fantasy speeds than the recorded numbers

kickstart

My average speed of all riding over a month is around 11.5 mph. If I cherry pick a pace it could be anywhere between 4 and 35 mph for several miles depending on conditions. So what?

mprelaw

When you set off the wattage bazooka, did you dial it up to 400 and drope the hamer?

kickstart

I sometimes like playing a game with myself when riding a regular route. I'll try to guess if it was faster or slower than average, most of the time I get it wrong. There's been times when I hit every light just right, have fair winds, and feel good only to find out I was slower than average when I look at my computer.
Perceptions can be tricky at best, and misrepresented statistics can be downright deceptive.

kickstart

I dope with gravity.

ypsetihw

438 actually according to strava estimates, good thing I garbed all that crabon for lunch before my ride, topped my up glycogen stores

I-Like-To-Bike

Or not giving a darn about measuring their own bicycling speed, and care even less about any other bicyclist's speed.