Yesterday I rode with two friends of mine (we are all women), one 38 yrs. old, one 35 yrs. old and me 56 yrs old. We decide to ride to Solana Beach, which means we have to ride up and down Torrey Pines Hill, which is a very popular hill for cyclists. They always beat me on the flats, so I knew they would get a good start ahead of me. By the time I got to the base of the hill, I couldn't even see them, they were so far ahead. I kept my usual pace, chug chug chug, up the hill. About 3/4 of the way up the hill, I caught the 38 yr. old and passed her and darn near caught up to the 35 yr. old before she got to the top. I know if we had all started at the bottom of the hill at the same time, I would have beat them by a long shot, does this count as a win???

Absolutely it counts as a win! Besides, they're both too young to give us any other version of the facts. Congratulations.

Doesn't it feel good? Way to go.

If you beat them on the hills you win every time!

2nd place with a view.

That sounds good to me.
Why are they dropping you on the flats? You sound tough and they should not be able to do that. Posture? Cadence? Nutrition? Training? Bike? Equipment?
I would not accept that considering you performance on the hill.

Nuttin' wrong with a come-from-behind second place. Did'ja go up the steep side (from the north,) or the easy side?

It's a win, but don't celebrate in front of the looser just yet. Next time "suck wheel" off the two and "leave" them on the hill. Once over the top, just sit up and take a drink from your water bottle while they catch up. Sitting up and sipping water while the others' catch back up is a victory celebration.

I'm guessing you're lighter than they are, or you have a lot more miles in the bank. Do you like long mountainous rides? Take them up to Mt Palomar. If you beat them up Torrey Pines, you'll have to wait for them on a long climb.
My friend Valleygirl is the same age as you and she drops me and most other club riders in the mountains. She is right at the 2 pounds per inch of height mark. I don't think age is a big factor here.

Definitely a win. Or at least over one of them and you worried the other. I would put it down to their lack of Maturity (Or lack of Mature years).

Problem with youngsters is that they do not know how to pace themselves. They go flat out on the easy bits, like on the flat, and then have no stamina for the hard bits.

If I was you- I would get them out on more hills. Forget the easy bits and show them how to climb.

I took the easy route, haven't tried the harder road yet. Last time I rode with the 35 year old, I made her start out at the same time as me on the Tide Pool Hill, which is about 1/2 mile long and a little steeper then Torrey Pines. I told her to pace herself, but she still had to stop twice. I beat her by a good 2 minutes on that one. She is built like a bull dog (short and stocky, but not really over weight) and can go like mad on the flats but has no good cardio training on the hills. I'm just not comfortable on a down hill I don't know, with lots of people walking around and cars parked on the side and cars racing by on the other side. If it was a flat area or even a down hill with little or no traffic, I wouldn't have a problem.

You done good!
Stay after it

chug chug chug...WINS!

A SUPER WIn in my book, way to go!!