A thread I posted in the commuting forum "You're not my coach":
Depending on my route home, I usually only get onto White Rock Lake's MUP to cross the bridge. Then I'm back on the roadway. Occasionally, I will follow it around and enjoy the lake, before turning off towards the house.
Last night, I stayed on the path and there is a small incline that goes for less than a quarter mile. It's not really steep enough to call it a hill, but it can slow you down a bit.
I was about halfway up this incline, when I herd a voice behind me say, "Don't stop." The sun was just setting behind me so when I looked in my rearview mirror all I could see was the silhouette of a cyclist coming up the little hill.
"Keep going." He says.
I was thinking, "Does it look like I'm having a problem, here? Does he really think that he has to encourage me to stay on my bike?"
"Push...push...push...push"
His rhythm was a little faster than my cadence, so I picked up the pace to match time with his "coaching." (I was still thinking, "Who is this guy and why does he feel the need to talk me up this little hill?") He was in a higher gear, because even at the same cadence, he was gaining on me.
...
"Don't stop."
"Keep at it."
"Push...push...push...push"
...
I was just topping the slope, when he called out, "On your left!"
Now, I use that shout out so as not to surprise anyone who may be unaware of my presence. If the others already know I'm there, why issue the warning?
I thought, "Well duh! Obviously, I know you're on my left. You just talked me up the hill!"
That's when I looked over and realized he was on a tandem. He wasn't talking to me at all. He was encouraging his stoker.
I suddenly felt rather silly. I gave them both a nod. They are probably still wondering what had me all tickled, as they went by.