I think competition is a good thing. I makes us better. So does getting beat up! It's all a lesson. I want to race everybody all the time no matter what the bike. Problem is it's like being a gun fighter. Somebody is always faster. I do love riding Cat 5's roadracers off of my wheel when I'm riding my mountainbike however. Geared or SS. Oh yeah, I'm probably considered an old guy also. I also like sprinting with people and then pulling up along side and asking "When are we going to sprint?" If you do that though be prepared to be called some names. Ha! There's good riders out there no matter what they're riding. One other thing, those guys you were dicing with probably have some fixed gear bikes at home. Maybe even ex-track riders. You never know.