This has kinda been bothering me for a while. When I ride on the bike paths around town, I pretty much mind my own business. I ride at my own pace and don't really care what other people are doing. Sometimes I'll pass someone that is riding a bit slower and they act like I've formally thrown down a challenge to their manhood. This usually doesn't happen with women, so that's why I say "manhood". A few weeks ago, I passed this dude on a Bianchi Pista with ridiculously long straight bars. He wasn't going particularly fast and I just wanted to get home. I look behind me to pass someone else and I see this guy is literally inches from my back wheel. I keep riding wondering if he's gonna pass me and look back again to see he's right still right there. I speed up a bit, got over to the right and slow down and wave him past. As he passes, I look over and say "how's it going?". He doesn't say anything and just passes and then slows down and I think to myself.....I don't want this guy on my @ss so I'm just gonna ride behind him for about a mile until my exit comes up. Another time, I pass a guy on a mountain bike and he literally curses as I pass. He tries to keep up for a while but I drop him...not because I'm a strong rider, but he's on a mountain bike and I'm on my fixed gear. One bike is faster than the other. Don't get me wrong, I've been surprised and a bit disappointed when getting passed. I actually did get passed by a guy on a mountain bike, but he was obviously sprinting and got off the path right after he passed me. Just the other day, I got passed by a roadie and he gives me the "what's up?" as he passed. I didn't mind him just riding faster than me and didn't try to ride right behind him.

Anyhow...what's up with this mentality? If these guys want to race, why don't they sign up for a real race instead trying to race other folks that are just riding home or to work? It's pretty annoying. Do other folks in other cities have this problem or is it just Denver?