Sixty Fiver

What is this getting passed you speak of ?

RISKDR1

if i got mad i would be a drooling crazy man every time I ride the river trail. I am 70 and frankly don't care. I have nothing I need to prove.

caloso

This is what I'm talking about. The last few times I did a set of 2x20's on the bike path, there was some guy who took it as a challenge to hop on my wheel. Great, knock yourself out. I'm going to be maintaining a steady wattage until the end of the 20 minutes and then I'm going to sit up and soft pedal for the next 5. But for gods sake don't crash me or anyone else. And don't be put out if I don't want to trade pulls.

Like I said, this is why I tend to avoid the bike path and do these sets on a country road.

patrickgm60

To answer the question: No. I'm confident in my riding ability and am well aware that, on any particular ride, I may be the fastest, slowest, or averagist rider in the area.

OP, it is likely that you are (unconsciously) slowing down, after passing other cyclists. That's why you are encountering the "mad" re-pass or reactions from others. When I pass another cyclist going nearly the same speed as I, I'll speed up a bit, to make the speed difference greater, then dial it back to original pace, being sure to not slow to a pacer below what made me catch them, in the first place.

Sixty Fiver

But seriously...

It has never bothered me to be passed by anyone save for those who pass you and then slow down and make you alter your pace.

bananasmoothie

The trail is hilly so I can't really tell if I'm unconsciously lowing down after I pass. But like someone else said, to catch them from behind, I had to be going faster than them even before I saw them.

tagaproject6

No need to get mad unless your baby bike bolts get stollen!

boattail71

When I'm passing on one of my "not so cool bikes" I give a friendly wave or gesture of acknowledgment so as not to show them that I'm trying to run 'em into the ground and that I'm just riding along and I'm a nice guy - regardless if I'm in a competitive state and trying to run 'em down to pass or not. When I get passed (esp. when I'm kitted up) I expect the same "nice-guy" treatment from them lest I retaliate with a pass myself - and of course a overt friendly "nice-guy" greeting as an example of what to do. "Do unto others..." & "get more with honey...", ya know?

EvilWeasel

I learned long ago to just go my own pace and do my own thing. Chasing every person that passes you is going to burn you out or cause you to crash while trying to hard. You may re pass some as the game wears on.

Can't remember where i leaned this lesson though. Out was either distance running in the USMC. Or sage advise from the instructor that signed off my motorcycle racing license.

I guess that lesson can apply to many things.

Mark Stone

I get passed all the time. I'm 61 and 61 year old people get passed, that's just life. So a week ago Friday I was climbing over "Scenic Drive" which is a maybe 4? 5? mile moderately steep pass over the Franklin Mountains here in ELP, enjoying the scenery, in a granny gear going prolly 8 or 9 mph. Beautiful day, beautiful ride. As I approached the top of the climb, a guy - looked to be in his 20s - passed me on a road bike. As he passed he looked back at me and said "Gotcha!!" Then rode off into the distance pumping his fist because of his big victory. And it was a big victory too - he had just beaten an elderly gentleman on an upright city bike that had no idea he was in a race! Blue Ribbon!

wphamilton

But chasing the ones that are faster than me is a great motivator! I don't care to actually catch them - it's better when they're faster.

powbob

As others have said, it's just a natural instinct. It also doesn't matter whether you're riding The newest Colnago, a cross bike, or a cruiser. I once had a woman on a cruiser looking bike pull into my direction of travel from a side street. She was pulling ahead so of course I had to up my speed. When I finally passed her I looked at my computer and saw that I was going 29 mph. Turns out her bike was a Pedego.

mcours2006

I don't encounter too many riders on my rides, mainly because of the times that I go--very early AM on the weekends and commuting on weekdays.

I have, however, as a runner, paced a few other runners from time to time. But usually this is done from a safe distance and they likely have no idea that I'm pacing them. If I do catch up to them I usually turn off before I have to pass them. No feelings hurt. No harm done.

Ultraorange

lol, I know what you mean. But I've seen this in Europe and the US. When I pass a guy in bibs loaded up with gels and I'm wearing cargo shorts and eating a snickers they speed up a lot. I couldn't do much at the time but giggle since my bike only had one gear.

But it really only bothers me if we are nearing a corner and they force me to the outside when I can't see what is coming.

popeye

Poor babies you have no idea what the fast gals have to endure when passing guys. They most all try to be faster near girls which may not last for long.

BoSoxYacht

I can't remember the last time it happened.

FLvector

I like fast girls.

bt

oh the drama

Kai Winters

Ever get chased by a dog as you pass by its' territory?...about the same thing I guess

CactoesGel

The other day at the beginning of my ride, I sprinted at a segment where I always tried to break my PR. There happened to be another cyclist on the bike path. I waved at him as I passed him. A few miles up and down the hill, I had to slow down waiting on a slow rider on a narrow path. I glanced behind me and there it was - the old guy I passed a few miles back, drafting me. So I just kept going but couldn't lose him. I'm slow averaging 20mph. Finally, after about 15 miles, I slowed down to 17mph, moved to my right and waved him on. He just stared at me, without waving, as he passed me. LOL. Big chip on his shoulder I guess.

jon c. 

I'm not that fast and I don't mind getting passed at all. But when passed by faster riders I'll often pick up my pace after they've gone by and see how long I can stay relatively near them. It would strike me as rude to try and stay right with them so I see how long I can stay near the pace with a couple hundred yard gap. Other times, if I see faster riders coming from behind, I'll speed up and see how long I can stay in front. The street I live on is about 4 miles long, so I'll challenge myself to see if I can stay in front until I hit my driveway. But if they get near me, I slow a bit to let them pass. I'm trying to challenge myself a little without directly involving the other riders. It has nothing to do with being mad at being passed, it's just another way of having some fun while riding.

wallrat

I like drafting fast girls.

Campag4life

I get bored on the road if just out riding by myself. Plus, I am naturally curious. I like to see how fast others can ride. If I get passed by somebody with knobbies on my road bike, I am always curious just how fast they can ride. So if I am riding 18 mph and out for a stroll and a guy passes me on a mtb at 20 mph, I may pick up the pace and ride along to see if he can hold that 20 mph pace. Then I may pull along side and see if he can hold that pace and talk. Or I may pull ahead and accelerate to 23 mph and see if he can hold my wheel. People like to have fun on the road. Riding fast is fun. People are not the same. Some ride slow and don't care if they get passed and others like to ride fast with other fast guys. I am always curious to see how fast others ride and also test myself. If a guy can ride at 23 mph for mile after mile, he or she is a pretty fast rider. Sometimes I like to ride fast too and others I don't. I don't like to ride fast all the time.

Campag4life

Me too.

Campag4life

You are either a Cat 1 or you don't ride enough.