Originally Posted by
WestMass
I know people always brag on this forum about how they passed a guy on a $10,000 carbon fiber bike wear a full kit, aero helmet, shoe covers, shaved legs, going up a hill on their 45 pound extracycle carrying a trailer without sweating or losing their breath and how good they feel and what not.
I had a funny incident yesterday where I was the roadie! I generally feel like I cross the line between many types of cyclist. I commute to work on a cyclocross bike with rack, lights, panniers, etc. I have a relatively nice road bike and a really enjoy riding road. I also do triathlon, cyclocross, and am starting to get into mountain biking.
Yesterday I rode a bike for the first time in over a week because I've been home sick with the flu. I just got my caad-10 road frame warrantied because it cracked and I really wanted to try out my new bike! Early in the ride I passed a dude on an old 10 speed in baggy pants and a hoodie with no helmet. I said hi, and passed him going approx 16mph up a slight but long grade. For the next 5-10 minutes I could tell he was trying to re-pass me (and of course it made me think of this forum). Eventually we came to a stop light and I slowed to a stop just as the light turned green. The timing was perfect for him to catch up and zoom past me (without saying hi!), ha ha. Right after the light was a long downhill and he was pedaling like crazy. I caught up to him at the next traffic light and we had a nice conversation riding side by side for the next few miles before our routes went different ways.
Roadies and Commuties can be Friendsies guys!!
I got passed by a couple of roadies on the way to work a few days ago. They were in full kit, carbon road bikes, whole nine yards. I was wearing walking shorts and walking shoes, on platform pedals, riding my LHT with panniers. They were friendly as they passed me, and I didn't feel any urge to catch up with them; I was going to work, not racing, and it's not like I could have kept up anyway. Even so, one of the roadies kept looking back at me, just to be sure. This left me wondering: is every bike ride a race for some people?
I personally do not harbor any ill-will towards roadies. I'll never be a roadie myself, but many of them are pretty impressive athletes, and I respect that. In addition, the more cyclists there are, the safer all of us are. I don't care if you're Tyler Farrar or my coworker who commutes on a Breezer Uptown. I won't give you any kind of sh*t if you're on a bicycle, no matter what kind; I will welcome your presence as I tool along at 15-17 mph on my touring bike with well-worn panniers.