Originally Posted by
tarwheel
The thing about passing other riders is you have no idea whether the other rider is pushing it or on a recovery ride, or just winding down after a 60-mile ride, or has tired legs from riding 100 miles the day before or 250 miles the previous week. If it makes you feel good about passing a roadie, then go ahead and gloat, but the reason might have nothing to do with your relative fitness or speed.
Does not matter one bit. What matters is that, no matter what has transpired in the hours or minutes beforehand, Spandex(R) clad geeks HATE getting passed by anyone not all geeked out. I care not for their pre-pass antics. The fact that it hurts them makes me want to pass them. Yes, I have a mean streak. Sue me. My self esteem gets elevated by climbing over the self esteem of the so called "racers" while wearing "civilian" clothes - preferably on my commuter with panniers and a front basket. Feels even better than my wife telling me "You were right".