Youngin

Ok, I'm fourteen, considered a youth compared to you all. So when I'm on the bike trail, I like to try to find some older road bikers or catch up and draft YOU! Its fun because you don't suspect it and sometimes try to test us younger rides by picking up the pace. Some of you are cranky, please don't be. I've got my Schwinn Prelude, you've got your Cervélo, just remember that doesn't make you fast, it makes you cool. We just want to hang out with you cool riders! I thank the guy with the TimBuk2 Pack and italian colors, and that older dude on the Minneapolis Bike trail for inspiring me. THe italian color guy was booking it on a windy day and when I caught up to him he let me draft for awhile, suddenly it was my turn to lead. Woah, didn't expect that, I'd never done that before. Hopefully I kept the pace up for you, then we switched off for the next few miles. Boy was that a blast! You didn't talk, not once, but I hope you heard my "thank you" for the experience. The older dude was cool too. He had a red bike I think, and I was starting to pick up the pace and you started to draft. There was another rider passing us so I picked it up to catch him and it was ON! After a few miles I heard a "nice going kid" I turned around but you were gone. That was fun too.

HolyInstantRice

Right on, dude. Start racing soon?

VT to CA

Oy... what are you really, 40?

Youngin

As soon as I get a bike that doesn't fall apart on group rides! That's embarrassing....

Sirrobinofcoxly

And then you had no one to ride with. Dropping someone doesn't count unless they know "it's on".

If I saw some kid pounding away trying to drop me, I would let him so that we wouldn't have to ride near each other.

JBS103

You're hardcore, man.

zonatandem

A 'big hill' in NYC/NJ?
Come out West where we have mountains . . .

ejm876

Before I dropped him I gave him "the look." Then he shifted to the big ring. It was ON.

operator

This is the worst troll to hit the front page in a while.

urbanknight

Just make sure you're not sneaking up on anyone. Let them know if you're going to draft because stealth wheel suckers make an unsafe environment (which may explain some riders' crankiness).

blonduathlongrl

Here fixed it for you so that you could really impress people now.

Machka 

I have a good laugh at riders like you. There I am wrapping up a 600K brevet ... only 20 kms to go ... and some young kid catches me and goes roaring past looking at me under his arm ... like it's some big accomplishment to catch a rider who has just finished riding 580 kilometers in the past 32 hours.

Youngin

I am fourteen, got my math text book to prove it would you like pictures operator?

heres my prelude

it would be hard to sneak up on people with it, the thing is loud, I found it trashed next to free sign.

Machka 

Yeah, do be careful about this ... the rider in front is NOT responsible for the uninvited drafter. In other words, if there's a piece of wood on the road, or a pothole or something, the rider in front does not have to point them out. The rider in front could swerve suddenly, or slow up to take a drink or eat something, or might stand up and stretch ... you just never know.

I get a bit cranky if someone takes my wheel without being invited because all of a sudden I feel like I can't ride in my own little world anymore ... that I'm being forced to be more careful and watch what I do.

AchiLLe..s

Wow, do you think your good or something?

Youngin

Not at all. Just wanted to thank some of riders and hope others do the same. I'm sure they could kick my butt if they really tried, but it was fun anyways. In response to Machka, I'll remember this, thanks. I go around people if they slow down though.

Machka 

That's fine ... but if you're drafting, and you're 6 inches off the person's wheel, and that person slows suddenly, you could run into that person ... and you'll be the one going down. Or if you're 6 inches off the person's wheel, and the person in front swerves to avoid a good-sized pothole, you'll be the one going in. Just be careful.

Youngin

actually thats how I wrecked my thumb, I didn't know my dad was behind me and my brake pretty quick and crashed and broke my thumb and snapped a ligament!

monk

Hey, I'm only 52 1/2 and I like to drop 55 year old dudes man. Yo dude it was cool.

operator

Yawn. You simply suck at trolling. Try harder and maybe in a different forum.

Youngin

All I wanted was to tell my story and thank riders. I didn't expect a negative response.

jccaclimber

Now, have you actually had a bike do that?
I have, it sucks when a derailer decides to become 2 or 3 things on a ride with no warning (and I don't mean the cage bolts coming loose).
I later discovered that $50-60 at nashbar or the local shop's parts bin would have saved me all of that trouble with 35 year old parts.

StephenH

Keep in mind too that some of those "older guys" may be newer at cycling than you are. It's not like all the 50-year-olds have been pedaling every day for the last 40 years- some of 'em just started up and are trying to get in shape.

As for dropping guys...I've "dropped" some people all right...but the guys that are really fast just zip on past me, there's no dropping involved, just whoosh and they're gone.

Edonis13

good for you man.

Youngin

Yeah, I know how to shift correctly, and my chain seems at the right tension too, but my chain falls off what seems randomly because I can't think of anything that caused it. My pump and water bottle fall off sometimes. I haven't had a derailleur problem on a group ride, but I ripped a derailleur off my dads hybrid .