Originally Posted by
NTWR
It's funny that no one is willing to admit that they're the one who is trying to catch every rider in front of them. Given the experiences shared here, it must be pretty common.
That said, this is a good thread for beginners like myself. I've been commuting by bike for years, but only recently started on a road bike for fitness and sport. I'm happy to have your input. Thanks for sharing.
If I see a cyclist somewhere ahead of me I'll often see if I can catch them. Sometimes catching them feels like a real achievement, sometimes it turns out the cyclist was someone's granny bimbling along with her shopping in which case it doesn't feel like such an achievement.
As a rule I don't overtake another vehicle unless I can pass promptly and maintain a faster speed. It bugs the snot out of me when someone overtakes as if to make a point only to slow down and leave me having to either slow down to match their reduced speed or pass them back. On a quiet road it's no big deal but when there's traffic to contend with it just creates problems for no apparent benefit.