Dogsled

It's a cold Winters night, I'm board, so I thought I would send out a ping on some cycling etiquette thoughts. Ok, so your out on your ride by yourself, your thinking maybe I can take it easy now that I am not with the gang. Then, way ahead, you see a cyclist, hmmm, do I speed up to catch them? no, I'm just going to take it easy. So on I go, then a quick glance at the computer shows an increase in speed, the HR monitor is up so somehow I have decided to catch this person. What do you do when you reach them only to find they are obviously out for a putt, do you speed up and pass them as fast as you can cause it's fun or slow down, buzz on by and say hi. How about when you are having a real problem catching this person and then by chance, the stop light gods are in your favor and you pull up behind them at the light. Knowing you had a problem catching them, you are respectful, you hang back when the light changes and size them up for a while. What determines if you should try to bust a move on them? (if you are feeling frisky). Type of bike they are on? size of leg meat? absence of seat bag? name on the jersey? obviously if they leave you rather quickly that's a good indicator to go back to the take it easy mode but the again, maybe it is just the thing you need? (chase the rabbit) Do these cyclists in the distance help with your training rides?

roadfix

When I approach within 25 yards I'll make my assessment and decide whether to strike or not.

MediaCreations 

If I see a cyclist in the distance I'll generally try to bridge the gap. If I can do that quickly I'm obviously going much faster than them so I'll pass but make sure that I say hello as I do.

If it takes a real effort to catch them I wouldn't be quite so keen to fly past. Maybe I'd sit behind for a while then offer to take a turn in front.

Either way I'd be grateful for the extra stretch on my ride.

Machka 

What happens to me is that I'm out on yet another ride by myself ... then ... up ahead I see another cyclist! Surprise, surprise!! Imagine there being another cyclist out here! Maybe if he/she is going slow enough, I might be able to catch up and exchange a pleasant greeting with him/her because, after all, he/she is probably going to be just as surprised as I am at seeing another cyclist out here.

I pick up my pace a little, tiny bit but not too much because there's no point to make an effort to catch the cyclist ... after a few hundred metres or so, I look up again and am pleasantly surprised to discover that I'm gaining on the cyclist.

A few hundred metres later ... the cyclist looks a bit odd. It almost looks like he/she isn't moving at all.

A few hundred metres later .............. the cyclist is just another mailbox.

Oh well.

Shortrider06

Turn it up to 400 watts, that is all

JayC

+1.. then add another notch on your belt

HereNT

Like this one?

Machka 

Yeah, just like that!!

Actually that one reminds me of some I saw in Idaho as I was driving on a dark and stormy night. I had been warned by a border guard as I crossed into Idaho that there were a lot of deer on the road because of forest fires further up the mountains ... and in the heavy rain, hail, and lightening, all these mailboxes loomed out at me looking for all the world like deer ... and the reflectors people put on them looked like deer eyes. Add to that all the huge crosses and memorials people put up all along the way for people who had died on that road ........ it was quite a nerve wracking trip!!

I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that the mailbox in the photo is located in Idaho!!

ollo_ollo

I've been tricked by those pesky mailboxes to many times Machka. Sure disappointing.

DesFlurane

Border guards?
Thought those were only for keeping the Canadians out!