I have a weird mental thing going on when I commute.

If there is another cyclist ahead of me, even a block away, I want to catch and then pass him or her. If there is a cyclist behind me, I don't want to be caught by him. I end up riding pretty hard, even in my "business casual" clothes with a heavy laptop and jacket-stuffed messenger bag over my shoulder.

Panting, heart pounding, sweating hard on hot days, I'll think - what's this about? Why can't I just casually toodle home, not break a sweat? After all, that's what the other commuters are doing (which is why I can catch them . . . as much as I'd like to think otherwise, I'm not actually fast).

Fortunately, I go in early enough that I hardly see anyone else, so I don't have to arrive at work all sweaty.

Are you similarly afflicted? Or are you more inclined to flow with other riders?