I love this post, this is fun.
While I do get that joy of passing a wonder boy on his Ti/Carbon bike, I do understand that in me is that desire to be on that Ti/Carbon bike. I imagine how my riding would improve so much more once I get it. That's what's great about imagination.
But something impresses me more, that's the wonder boy that takes my wheel, offers to pull, and we are flat out at 21 mph for a good mile or two. They aren't so set to a rigid, "I've got to stay in my MHR zone," and are willing to take some pursuit on their rides, be it a nooner from work, or commuting, or just fun riding.
I had a wonder boy(actually he was more of a Fred with UPS shorts on and a Saturn jersey) pass me the other day, and I took his wheel, he was having fits trying to see where I was, he kept looking under his arm, between his legs, all the while cranking and trying to shake me. Eventually he shook me at an intersection. I'm a whimp when I see cars bearing down on the bike path. I don't care if they see me and wave me through or not, I stop. Comes from being hit and winding up in the hospital for 40 days. Not fun.
That's been the impressive part for me this last two years of riding. I have improved a great deal, I can catch a wheel and hang there. When I started I was lucky to make it to work without heaving. It was a major acheivement to ride a whole work week. Now I'm entertaining thoughts of a club, so I have people in my range to ride with, and actually do some real riding where we are pulling taking turns and challenging each other.
I don't think the other rider is a fool, he's got something to teach me, always, or maybe I've got some schooling for him.