I ride a big hill (around here it is called a mountain but it's some 1600 feet, not 4500 like the North Shore mountains) at the end of a moderately long ride. Riding up it on a clear day in the fall I got passed by a 50 year old guy on an old '80s mountain bike set up as a commuter bike, with fenders and a rack (holding his briefcase). I am rarely passed on this hill, which I ride all the time, and I frequently pass all kinds of riders. This guy blew past me like I was mired in quicksand. I thought I'd catch him on a short flatter stretch and then at least match him on the next steep part. But all that happened was he receded in the distance. I've never seen anyone ride up that hill like that, not even my buddies, and my regular training partner's a triathlete and trailrunner.