Ain't this the truth. Now if the UPS guy would just drop off my motor (or even ANY motor) I'd be happy.

"Incest is best because it's cheap, domestic and familiar." Joe Bob's Unified Feel Theory Harvard Press 1969

I'm one of those guys. I have worked at shops in high school and after college, I just love the looks of classic italian machines. So I have always purchased the best that I could reasonably afford. When I ride, I pass a few people but get passed a lot.

I also want a BMW M3. But I won't drive it like an idiot.

In my former days of Cycling (I have now evolved into a roadie)- I rode mountain bikes. I had to as it was the only bikes I had. Rigid forks and lightweight bike so it was a good one for road Century rides and it was just change the tyres to narrow High pressure slicks and off we go. I was also a lot younger and that may have had an effect. One Memorable ride and the Salisbury 100. At mile 50 there is a hill and I do mean a hill- called Brassknocker Hill. Got to the bottom and there were all these roadies passing me but about 1/2 mile further on and they would be leaning over the back wheel- obviously a gear selection problem they were trying to sort out.

Naah--- As I approached I heard the Heavy puffing as they tried to get their breath back. I just sailed past them using my 24/28 gearing and asked if they were OK. From that point on there were plenty of pace lines- Normally with me pulling them. I had got to the stage of the ride where I had finally got into the "Rhythm" and those that were beginning to flag were coming together.

Admittedly I was fit- I was over 50 though and I did have a good bike that was sorted for the ride. All that had occured was my pacing level had reached a higher level than those that had not.

Now as to whether I would be able to do the same on a good lightweight road bike is debatable. I think the intervening years have had their toll on as to whether I would want to ride up a hill with gearing that may be just a tad too tall. That is why I set one bike up last year with a triple. But it would be nice to see if I could still drag those "Wannabee" racers for the last 50. Might have to go to 22/32 gearing to get up that hill though.

Well, I hate to break it to you dudes who take joy in passing racers out in full kit, but we really couldn't care less. Some days/some rides are just meant to be at a relaxed pace. In fact, you are well on your way to becoming a real racer when you realize that it's not the hard days that develop your strength; it's the easy days where your body has the resources to be building muscle and aerobic capacity in response to the work done on the hard days. If you don't take easy days, you are merely tearing down your body.

I think it's really sad when someone "drops" a bunch of racers and thinks they've accomplished something. The only time it really matters is in an actual race (which most of these guys would never enter because they just know they will get mercilessly blown away on the level playing field). Most people who ride bikes and who do not race have absolutely no idea how much effort goes into training on the hard days. That's why I no longer race; the training is just so hard, one can only take so much in a lifetime. If you just followed a real racer on one hard training day, you would quickly understand how they can move fast with no evident effort. Now I just go out on long rides and enjoy the cycling.

Luis

+1

+1. I am in your group also and see the same thing. Each of the three groups you describe are engaged in different sports. I don't think it makes sense to fret about not being at a level you are not attempting to achieve. I windsurfed for 15 years but there was no way I could do loops like the guys in Maui. Never lost sleep over that either.

Two points... This is the internet, where anything can be written and if one drops another who isn't aware there's a race going on, there isn't much to brag about.

Most of the A group riders I know don't do much outside of work, but ride. That's perfectly fine, for example I have other friends that are equally hardcore about golf and bowling. In other words their level of commitment is higher than mine. I'm a B group rider and on a really good day I can hang with the A group, but those days are far and few in between. As I've written before, I've been passed by a kid on a BMX bike (His shorts really should have caught fire as he seemed to be running 3000 RPM!).

Bottom line is to enjoy the ride.

Brad

I think it's really sad that some riders think being a "racer type" is self centered and want to term our enthusiasm and time dedication as "mid-life crisis". I have plenty of riding friends who are not racers that could ride the wheels off most, but choose to ride for other reasons. We often ride together and do club rides. They don't win the "town line sprints" or KOM's but we all know with training and time in the saddle they could. They are also comfortable riding in the group as they don't feel threatened or humiliated if they can't take a pull or drop off the back when the pace goes fast. They also come out and ride with me on easy/recovery days and we just shoot the breeze, while enjoying each other's company. The easy rides and winter night time rides are the ones I remember and cherish the most.

A few years ago I made a conscious decision to have a multiyear plan to train and race just to see where that will take me. Racing takes a willingness to suffer alone while training, only to put it all out there in a race with a good chance of being humiliated and even injured, all for the reward of the satisfaction of giving it your best shot. Money can't buy you into that situation, its planning, effort, sacrifice and time in the saddle that allows one get there. Some of us are wired to compete and have found bike racing. Personally, I was a 3 time All American decathlete way back in college training an average of 4 to 5 hours a day for the chance, if not injured, to do 2 to 4 decathlons a year. I was not “genetically gifted” in any one discipline but found ways to be good enough at all 10 events. The experience for me was rewarding both on the track and defining me as a person. I'm sure back then I was termed "one of those lucky jocks" by some students but it didn’t matter because they had no idea "who I was" and had nothing to do with my mission.

Great post AJ.

Well I'm just happy to see the little improvements as the miles add up. I ride for other reasons. Although when I pass someone on a hill around here (West Virginia) there is that little satisfaction that I'm not the weakest nor the slowest.

On the other hand I have an exotic Italian motorcycle that I ride very well. A "genetic gift" I guess along with some serious effort and seat time. Biggest compliment ever was from a guy who apologized " Hope I didn't slow you down too much" with a smile at the end of a particularly difficult stretch of road. He was on a much faster bike than mine yet couldn't get near me. I just don't aspire to that level on a bicycle.

To a point this is correct!

Except, most of the people we are talking about are NOT racers to begin with.
Most of the guys we see out on tues/ wen nights, only think they are. MOST of these guys are posers.

The true racer could care less. He has a training program, he works when it is time for him to work, and rides easy when it's that time.

90% of the guys racing Cat 3-5 have no idea what it takes to be a racer. They are strong riders, but will only get as far as their god given talent will take them.
They know nothing about how to train or how to really race. They know about "the hammer" and making excuses when somebody they don't know whips them at their own game.

I have had the honor of ridding with 1 pro, he and I met off the bike and he asked me to go for a ride with him. YEA me! He explained to me the training he went thru. NO THANKS.

I also met a 14 year old kid on a MTB who out rode alot of racer types in N FL.


All in all most of the guys you see riding in full kits, on high dollar bikes are not racers.

When speaking of real racers, you make a point. But for most of us, who ride, we will never see them, nor ride with them or understand.

Personaly, I love passing guys in full kits, riding high $$ bikes, I'm not racing, I'm riding faster than them.
My friend here likes doing it as well, Hes over 50 and refuses to wear bike gear, and rides a old steel bike with DT shifters, and platform pedals, and can ride 25+ ALL day.
If you want to sprint from that speed, you better be Quick, because he CAN sprint by most.
He has told me he can ride a 100 miles @ sub 4 hours and I believe him.

Sorry my reply is so long.

LOL, man you all need to "lighten up", there's nothing wrong with getting a little feeling of special, if you have a good day and end up out doing a rider on a better, lighter bike. 95% of the time, I'm the rider, getting "blown into the weeds", no problemo on my part! There's a level of satisfaction when I get blown by, then take off to see "What I can do", getting up to full boil!

Sometimes I can just keep that other rider in sight, other times I've surprized myself by either staying like glue on their rear wheel or even pass them up, I do it with a smile and if it's crime to enjoy passing up a "full kitted" rider, then I'm gulity as charged!!! I ride what most of you all would consider a "commuter" and get a lot of "what a pile" looks from a lot of "pure rodies", I doubt that many of them are "RACERS", cause IF they were, I'm sure I couldn't get near them, even if their just "taking it easy". These are usually the guy/gal that has lot's of bucks and gives you the "sneer" as they go by you on their full carbon, ti, whatever machine. Maybe you all that ride "decent" level ROAD BIKES don't get the "SNEER" but it seems to come my way a LOT. So forgive me for ENJOYING the moment!

If someone passes, I often up my pace to see if I can hold them at 50 yards ahead, that's good training.
(Plus, I like to find out if those who pass can maintain that pace.)

I never chase a fast paceline of riders, that's good road etiquette.
(Plus, I don't want others to find out I can't hold their pace.)

Humiliated is an understatement

In regards to the OP, you gotta understand that many, if not all, of these story tellers either tend to embellish or they think every lycra-clad rider on a drop-bar bike is a Cat x racer. And let's not forget that in many cases the story tellers are the only ones who even know there is a race on.

I fondly recall a race three years ago where you and I were in the same boat.

I take no offense in seeing anyone in Full Pro Team Kit. I take no offense in seeing anyone in baggies and a muscleT.
Their reasons for riding how/when/where and with whom or alone are theirs.
Racers are those who chose to 'race', either in USCF sanctioned events or those few citizen events so designated. How successfully they race is up to their own efforts and for their own reasons. Pros are not the only racers, same for a Cat 1 or any other classification.
60+ (insert whatever age you wish...) year olds who have recenty decided to compete, are racers, as much as 60+ yr Olds who have done it for 40+ yrs.
Riding a $10K CF bike, while in full Pro Kit, to the local Starbucks might be a very enjoyable diversion - not owning a 10K Bike, I can only speak for the bimble down to starbucks - great fun!

I consider myself blessed to have been able to ride a bike for many years. Riding has been as much about the process as about the goal. Some goals were passed and others not quite reached. The process of ridin a bike, however, has always made it all worthwhile. Pumpin all that blood sure seems to clear the mind quite well on a ride.

Being boastful in word and action is part of the human condition, and I'm sure I've done both at some time, especially at a young age. I've prolly forgotten most of those, not being more willing than anyone else to admit fault. In that vein, I know when I hear a boast or see that action, it's a natural, human thing. Likely that person offers way more content than just one boastful word or deed. But then sometimes not, sometimes they have been consumed by their own condition - then I'm sad for them.
I'm sad when people with experience, who should know better, 50+ forum, fall into the trap of taking others down to validate their own thing.
Do your own thing!
Celebrate the racer, celebrate the rider recovering from ailment/injury/weakness, celebrate the family riders, celebrate all the variants of rider self-reliance.
because we're over 50, doesn't make us special, doesn't make us better, it makes us over 50...

I used to come here more often, less now. Used to enjoy the 'special' take on humor here, seems there's less of that now.

hope you all continue to find your best ride in this wonderful process, ridin bikes

I have two tales on fast club rides. The local club rides Thursday evening about my quitting time and cross my path twice during my commute. One time I timed the light at the bottom of a long hill so that I passed at full speed as they were clipping back into the pedals. I was on my single speed with panniers. My lead lasted less than a minute but was fun.
The second tale was when I jumped on the back of the pack as they passed me. When I got up to speed for the last three minutes of my commute I clocked the group at 25+ mph. That's too fast for my motor.


boy (male) racers riding behind woman in shorts / sports bra -- not too hard to believe

I think the annoying thing about these Racers in Full team kit is that they have something that I can no longer attain---Youth.

But there does come a time when they get married- have a wife that wants to do other things- a family-mortgage and car to maintain and cycling gets put on the back burner for a while. Then suddenly they realise that they are 40- have a pot belly and can't go to the local shops without getting the car out. But money is still tight- the CF bike (or the equivalent That they had 10 to 15 years ago) had to be sold to pay for the Repairs to the car and they can't afford another good bike-Yet. They no longer have the fitness to warrant a good bike either so it is down to Craigs list to find a respectable bike- or a cheaper one from wherever they can get a deal. But the fitness comes back gradually- The family stop being quite such a burden on time and finances and they start to regain some of what they had. Never fully get it back but then they find a friendly group in bikeforums.net and the interest really gets rekindled.

They try to join in on the road forum but soon find out that they just don't fit in with these young club racers that are doing exactly what they used to do 20 years ago. But there are alternatives that seem to fit in with their current lifestyle and fitness and they are not such a bad crowd.

Only problem is that they still think of their past glories and can't let go of them. They are soon bought down to earth when they find out that they only have the Skill- competence- fitness and equipment that many others of their age have. And some of those only took up cycling last year

Sounds exactly like me- except I only took up cycling at 43. My previous sports were in other fields so I just remind the young Turks (What does that word mean) that what they are looking at in me- Is what they will be like in 40 years time- If they are lucky.

To me, it is all about the ride and I agree with cyclezen that we should celebrate all riders whatever their reason for being on a bike. I get a laugh out of stories about dropping other riders. Unless your in a race, how can you drop someone without knowing their circumstances? I ride alone most of the time and last weekend, a couple of riders in full kit blew by me. I caught up to them at a light and could her them s****** about it. They probably had a good laugh about the old guy on a cervelo RS. What they didn't know was that I just finished 50 miles and still had 10 to get home. Not saying that they wouldn't have blown me away at 20 miles, but unless you know whats going on with the rider, how to you feel good about it?

I give credit to anyone on bike for just getting out there and doing it. It just reminds me, that it's about me and not them and as long as I enjoyed the ride thats all that matters.

I think 'celebrating all riders' is a good reason to always give a wave or other (positive!) acknowledgement to those you see, whether you are passing them, they are passing you, or you are going in different directions. I little finger wave, a nod, a 'hey'. In fact, it is a great thing to do not just for other riders, but anyone else you meet on the road/path/trail.

Good Karma; easily procured.

OFOTCC? "I'm tired."

I'm with BikeWNC and AZTailRider. I don't really care who's in full kit and fooling around passing (or being passed) by other riders when I'm out solo is really just an amusement - a way to keep myself stimulated - and nothing about ego or a judgement of the other riders. But I do wonder if I'll ever have the motor to keep from being dropped by the faster guys in the club (or to do strong pulls in front of the pacelines for which now I can, on a good day, just wheelsuck). On the one hand, I work in the hopes that I can get to that goal, and on the other I have a bit of fear that I'm just never going to have the training or the genes to attain my goal.

This thread reminds me of why I like to ride alone, suffering in private when I feel like it and taking whatever satisfaction I can from my own cycling accomplishments. Riding with friends of similar ability is fun sometimes though.

I know and inside I should just let it go. I just happened to run accross such a post right after a very hard training ride of a nine mile climb pushing myself for all I was worth. I had been working keeping my spin up and for the first time managed to keep the whole climb in the 85/95 range with one dip into 78. Put paniers and upright bars on me and you could have stuck a fork in me.