Originally Posted by
DeanB
All the people that say "stay off MUPs" must only have really some really leisurely ones. Out here there are sections of the longer ones where you'll see people on their Sunday ride, and some of the shorter ones have lots of runners/walkers, but there are some that stretch pretty far out to where you'll only really see "cyclists".
I'd still consider it a silly place to do intervals or some other intense training, mostly like to incorporate them into longer rides. It can be relaxing to get off the road when you're on it for 5+ hours.
MUP haters are pretty funny. Where I ride out in the country as many road bikes as other types. Plenty of room to hammer.
Of course its foolhardy to blow by little kids...or even to pass in the other direction as they can turn in front of you in a moment's notice and bad things can happen. It always comes down to discretion anywhere you ride.
Good story OP. A buddy of mine and me had some fun with some full kit mtb'rs last weekend. They were good natured...and old cylists. They were also pretty fast and learned talking to them later they were ironman riders. They had no problem holding 20 mph. For kicks my buddy and I decided to drop them and upped the ante and droped the hammer. I believe one guy could have stuck a while...but the other two couldn't. A Cat 1 mtb'er is something to behold however and can ride seriously fast on fat tires with flat bar.