Originally Posted by
astrodust
So I've ridden my whole life,but got serious about road riding a couple of years ago. I just turned 50 and by no means am I the fastest out there. Generally I pass more then get passed.
The other day for the first time I was passed pretty easily by a young woman. This was a first for me.I've never considered myself a overly competitive person but it bothered me. Maybe it is turning 50 and not wanting to admit I probably will be in decline from this point on.
Can anyone relate?
Maybe.
Were you in you in your "serious" mode, or were you caught lollygagging about?
How young? And how "serious" did she appear to be?
I'm about your age and have crossed the "seriousness" threshold, and I've found that when I've been "easily" passed by a young woman (or anyone for that matter), it's usually because she was being more serious than I at the time. (If 25 mph is "easy" for them, then they're more serious than I even when they're coasting.
) Which isn't to say there aren't a fair number of younger (and older) women who aren't stronger and faster, just that, to be honest, they are relatively uncommon - if someone passes you, it's usually a guy, and the average female "serious" cyclist is not as fast as the average male "serious" cyclist. So they catch one by surprise - so what? I don't see why that would make one notably "sexist," but some are eager to point fingers.
Does it bother me? Yes, usually, because usually they catch me when I'm being lazy. But sometimes I've been passed by some women I know who are faster and better trained than I, and that doesn't bother me at all; I just try to keep up.