Having trouble computing that one.

I am in the process of getting back into shape and the only thing I can pass on my
commute so far has been a person off to the side using a cell phone and a little
girl that was riding all over the trail while her parents were out for a walk.

+1 Human nature and if it is only you and your cyclometer you will end up racing your last best time

Tempo Tuesdays: My buddy and I did a 20 mile out and back this morning, flat course, 6mph breeze (headwind out, tailwind in), averaged 20.5 mph according to my computer. It was easy enough to carry on a conversation, but it was not "comfy." Not comfy at all.

Riding a decent road bike on flat terrain with no headwind, - 21 mph isn't difficult (not sure about comfy). Even a small headwind can change the equation for me though and I'll have to work hard to stay over 20 for an extended period of time. By the same token a bit of a tailwind can make 25 seem easy.

It's not hard to imagine somebody who's a bit stronger and in better shape than myself cruising along effortlessly at 21 even with headwinds and small changes in grade.

We've done metric centuries and maintained a pace of just over 30 kmh and I have soloed and done sub hour 35's on my touring bike...

Keeping up this pace on the commute is a bit harder.

To go back to the OP's question, I don't think there are a whole bunch of people out there that behave like that.

I use my commute (both ways) as exercise, and I do ride fast the whole way. This means that I will pass a few people each way. Mostly, they do not react, but occasionally they will speed up and try to pass me. This does not bother me in general, as long as they keep up the pace, and don't force me to pass them again (even then I would not mind if I didn't have to keep passing and re-passing; but that's never happened to me). Since I stop for all red lights and stop signs, this gives the time-triallers ample time to pass me (I've noticed that someone who so desperately wants to pass you will generally run reds).

Still, I guess if somewone was ahead of me and I passed them, they'd think I was racing them, when I was really just doing my thing.

I had one somewhat funny experience on a commute, which is probably quite common: I was riding in to work, doing my usual pace (19-21 mph, unless there's a headwind), and I was on this nice, straight road with a decent bike lane. Up ahead of me I noticed another rider. The road was slightly uphill over a 2 mile stretch, so I wound up catching up quickly, and noticed this generously proportioned guy on a nice bike with the saddle too low ambling on at a nice easy pace. Anyway, I passed him an went on my merry way. About half a mile further on, I had to take a left and had to merge through two lanes of 40 mph traffic, so I started looking back at regular intervals to see when I should signal and start the merge. I see this guy about 20 metres behind me puffing away, and really straining from side-to-side, looking like he was going to have a coronary. He actually did quite a good job of keeping up, but I hope he did not overreach himself. He could have been doing intervals, I guess.

Actually they're supposed to think that their entire life to this point has been a dissolute waste of misspent youth and poorly placed priorities. They will reflect on their go-go lifestyle and how it has led them on an arrogant path of self-absorption. They will see, like Saul on the Road to Damascus, struck down by the Hand of God, the error of their ways and how they can achieve inner strength by taking the time to stop at a red light and appreciate the beauty of creation. This inner strength will allow them to drop the hammer like a humble carpenter, a fisher of men who reels in his daily catches with speed and mercy.

Then they will buy fenders and mudflap for their bike because they will leave so many people in the dust of their commute, that it is only considerate to ensure that people sucking on your wheel not get a mouthful of road spray and rain grit.

That is what they're supposed to think, anyway. Me? I just look for an excuse to make the day a little more interesting.

I don't know why, but this reminds me of a story. Years and years ago I was hiking through the mountains with a group, and I was chatting with an attractive girl, but she didn't seem all that interested in me. Then at one point, I tripped on a tree root, and did a face plant right between her butt cheeks . She gave me a very strange look, and I never really tried to talk to her after that...

My commute is 18.6 miles each way - when I first started, I needed to pace myself to conserve energy. Coast when I could, and take a slower pace the rest of the time. I got passed a lot, and didn't really care about it very much.

As time as gone on, the hills that used to be really tough to climb became no big deal, so I started to pick up the pace. Still, I see no point in racing anyone - the ride is long enough, and it never really occurs to me to try something like that.

...or fart in your general direction.

Others may know more though.

Let them pass,who gives a rats ass.If they really want to impress their friends,I'll throw them a rope and they can tow me around town.

Since I am new to commuting and still building up my speed and fitness..I fall back when someone passes me. I don't know why...I guess I just don't want them to think I am trying to race them.

I've had to pass a couple people before though too. When no other bikes are close..I push it..and try to develop techniques I read about to increase my speed. Right now I am practicing lifting my opposite knee on the downstroke.

No, I kept the same cadence as I was using when I was passing. And with a fixed gear, that pretty much means the exact same speed.


I don't mind the passing, it's just that obnoxious smirk me made that I guess must have made him feel superior.

In honor of this thread, I sprinted full out the entire 7.5 miles home today. The first few miles were faster than the last couple, but I was giving all I had...

Yeah, on my way home I like to roll fast some days. Yesterday I buzzed a guy w/ an iPod in, no helmet, and what looked like lunch. I debated whether or not he could hear me but gave him a loud "on your left", he, in turn, turns into my path and I have to ride off the path into the grass. He did say sorry, though. As I passed him, there was a dad w/ no helmet who had what I assume to be his son in the stoker position on a tandem, and I dropped them as they passed a lady with a weiner dog on a retractable leash. Booyah, take that, leisure iPod man and dad on a tandem! I did refrain from cackling manically.

I was in a hurry this morning and was hauling arse on my SS. 42X16 gearing riding between 19-21 mph for 14 miles. Passed 5 cyclists on road bikes in a short stretch. The last guy I paced for a while since he was going quite fast. Then he decided to take a nap forcing me to pass him (I was still in a hurry).
Apparently, being passed by another roadie type person on a SS wearing spd sandals with one pannier with fenders sticking out of it was too much for him. He hung on my wheel for a bit trying to pass. Unfortunately, my stop was up ahead. Oh the race that would have been! I lament this fact every few mintutes! Well... maybe not but it was fun.

That shaved a good couple min of my commute. Yay!

OP is on a single speed which instantly makes him cooler than the guy with all those gears.

He was just jealous about all the extra weight he's toting around.

I love to race on my commute but I don't act obnoxious towards other riders. Most people don't want to race and so I pass them and there is no issue. But I do enjoy it when I meet someone who wants to compete and actually has some legs to back it up. Its fun and makes my ride in more interesting. The problem with the individual you ran across is that he has no class. Everyone with an ounce of class knows that the most satisfying victory is one concluded graciously.

Except if you are racing a car then feel free to be obnoxious.

Most fun i get is when roadies chase me uphill ... what a surprise they get.