not as fast as a roadie. :(
08-31-07, 07:50 PM
#51
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To be honest, I don't understand the mentality of feeling like you need to pass every "Fred" or "Roadie" you see. Who cares? Occasionally I'll be passed by a slower rider who's working their ass off to pass me and then they can't hold pace so I have to pass them right away (or slow my pace so they can feel superior). Or they'll pass and blow a stop to get further ahead and then I'll pass them a little way down the road. It's annoying as hell! Just ride your pace and enjoy the ride.
08-31-07, 07:53 PM
#52
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I reeled in a mini peloton of 8 roadies earlier this year. One of 'em turned around and saw me, yelled something, and they all sprinted. I pushed harder and stayed with 'em. Shortly after we all reached a scenic spot where almost everyone slows or stops, and one of the roadies turned around and there I was. He said, "Whoa!" 
Oh this is me on the full suspension Liquid 25.
I love doing that. Not that I didn't work hard, mind you.
Oh this is me on the full suspension Liquid 25.
I love doing that. Not that I didn't work hard, mind you.
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08-31-07, 08:37 PM
#53
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Well they weren't racers. They were dudes in lycra on road bikes. Admittedly I couldn't push the weight that fast for long. It only lasted about a half mile. 
I don't take it too seriously. I ride every day, so I'm pretty quick. I'm sure the "serious" guys would eat me for lunch. Good thing there aren't many of them around here.
The thing that's fun about reeling in or fighting off is that you get to push and see what you can do. I always wish I had some regular commute partners because I always seem to ride faster when I'm chasing or escaping.
I don't take it too seriously. I ride every day, so I'm pretty quick. I'm sure the "serious" guys would eat me for lunch. Good thing there aren't many of them around here. The thing that's fun about reeling in or fighting off is that you get to push and see what you can do. I always wish I had some regular commute partners because I always seem to ride faster when I'm chasing or escaping.
08-31-07, 08:57 PM
#54
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There was barely any room between me and the pedestrians. I was on the road an arms length from the peds. To my left are the cars. The guy, i guess, just made it as the light turned green and barged between me and the peds. Dangerous maneuver on his part.
08-31-07, 09:19 PM
#55
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08-31-07, 09:40 PM
#56
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ok, sorry, that probably wasn't called for.
As to everyone who seems upset that someone would
a.) want to pass everyone they see (which I try to do )
or
b.) differentiate between freds and roadies
a.) I don't pass rudely. I give room, and if I cant do it safely, I don't do it. I say hi, or on you left, or whatever seems appropriate. And I enjoy it. it's a challenge to myself, like trying to sprint to the next stoplight. Now, that's not because I think I'm better than the stoplights I'm sprinting towards, it's just because they happen to be there.
and
b.) a roadie is something I'm working up to.
I got my first bike since I was a kid about a year ago.
I've been commuting slightly longer and more on it since then.
Now I make intervals and hill climbs part of my commute home (don't want to do it going in to the office because it makes me smell like I've been doing intervals and hill climbs) so when I see some people in a paceline, or in full kit doing their thing, or hell, if I see an old Mexican gentleman with a milk crate on his walmart special that seems to be moving at an especially good clip, I'm going to compare and contrast. What are they doing better than me? what am I doing better than them? what can I LEARN from watching them?
This Sunday I'm going to go do a 50 mile ride to the beach.
Competition is something you do not necessarily to beet someone else, but to find a reason to push yourself to your breaking point and learn about you. As such, it doesn't really matter if you're competing against someone who's even aware you're using them as a benchmark, or against a clock, or against a stationary object, except as it motivates you to MOVE.
The corelary to this is that in this type of competition, you want to build everyone up, even (especially) those you are competing with or against. You can be friendly and not have to crush the competition, just make yourself better.
I compete against everything and everyone in every thing I do. for what it's worth, it makes me happier when I get spanked than when I win. Because now I've got a clear and simple goal.
Maybe that doesn't make any sense to anyone, maybe I sound like a proper tool.
I hope I don't but if I do, so be it.
-- James
08-31-07, 09:48 PM
#57
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There's this guy on a road bike (does that make him a roadie?) who passes me every morning. We usually exchange pleasantries. About a month ago I saw him coming up in my mirror, so I tried to stay out front. After about a mile, I thought I would pass out, and I'm sure he was getting tired of looking at my fat arse working overtime. So I pulled over and waved (couldn't speak) while he went by.
Ever since then, I just let him go by, say "hi", and wonder how he goes so damn fast. Then I look at the flowers (or sunrise, or rain, or whatever) and say to myself, "at least I'm not driving a car".
Ever since then, I just let him go by, say "hi", and wonder how he goes so damn fast. Then I look at the flowers (or sunrise, or rain, or whatever) and say to myself, "at least I'm not driving a car".
09-01-07, 06:04 PM
#58
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I love keeping up with them, but sometimes you run into a person who is just simply FAST. I could keep up with most around here if I were on my Bertoni, but then it would just be two guys riding fast road bikes. 
However most of the time I don't pass someone else unless they're just going slower than I would be anyway.
However most of the time I don't pass someone else unless they're just going slower than I would be anyway.
09-01-07, 06:35 PM
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I don't see many roadies..... mostly college students. what I hate is when they are going just slow enough that I don't want to be stuck behind them but to pass them and stay ahead I have to go faster than I would really like to.
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"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
09-02-07, 02:11 AM
#60
Full Member
I'm a fast commuter - but nowhere close to a true roadie.
I was gratified the other day when waiting at the lights at the top of a climb a roadie pulls up next to me and asks 'Who do you race with?' When I said I didn't, he said 'You should. That was an impressive climb'.
But then sometimes I'm trying to keep up with a roadie and failing miserably, and I get an inkling of the pain and humiliation I would endure if I did try racing...
I was gratified the other day when waiting at the lights at the top of a climb a roadie pulls up next to me and asks 'Who do you race with?' When I said I didn't, he said 'You should. That was an impressive climb'.
But then sometimes I'm trying to keep up with a roadie and failing miserably, and I get an inkling of the pain and humiliation I would endure if I did try racing...
