indyfabz

No. I find it funny. Try it. You might have less angst in your life.

Stratocaster

I confess, I'm usually the one doing the chasing.
Being new to this, I'm trying to get into shape. So whenever I see an experienced rider in front of me, I try to catch him. I just want something to gauge my progress.

I usually don't pass...in fact, I usually don't even get too close. I just want to catch up to maybe 50-75 yards and keep pace. That way we all have our "space".

If the person ahead isn't going at a decent pace, I'll just go ahead and pass and blaze well ahead.

avidone1

I did something similar recently except it wasn't a guy, it was a girl.....Oh the shame

bmthom.gis

I have yet to be passed on my commute. There just aren't that many cyclists on my usual route. Sometimes my timing will coincide with students going to/leaving from classes on their bikes, but they tend to stay on the sidewalk. I always end up passing them while crossing the bridge out of the city. I enjoy the chase. I also don't like being stuck at someone else's speed. If I pass someone, I plan on remaining in front of them, unless this is a sporty group ride. I don't think most commuters care...I certainly don't. If I hurt someone's feelings by passing them, oh well.

rdtindsm

I've ridden in Tibet and Nepal. Always amused when I would catch somebody on a heavy single speed chinese/indian bike and the rider would speed up to "race" me. I was on MTB with panniers in Nepal.

Garfield Cat

Wasn't it that Clint Eastwood actor who rode his horse into the sunset, a soft spoken hero to many.

BlazingPedals

Just dial it up to 400 watts and drope the hamer.

Wheever

Wen I pass someone, I always say something like "great day for a ride, hey." AND THEN I DROPE THE HAMER!

knobster

It's called testosterone and apparently that guy had an overabundance of it. Like someone else said about others in cars, some guys see it as a challenge to their manhood or something. I usually don't even give it the time of day.

fthomas

I'm a real "Fred"
Once while riding a river trail here a guy passed me on his high end carbon bike in full kit. I was on my touring bike with Brooks Flyer saddle and the bike weighed 32 pounds plus my 200. So I said: Self, I wonder if I can catch him and keep pace.

And I was off giving it everything I had. Slowly I began to close the gap. I kicked it up another notch and ever so slowly began to close in at 22 mph. Just as I got within 30 feet he slammed on the brakes. I grabbed all the brakes I could and skid right up to his rear wheel. I stopped, but immediately did what seemed like a slow motion fall sideways. Dang, I forgot to clip out!

bbbean 

It never occurs to me to worry whether they're racing me. Unless they're too close to my wheel or riding squirrelly in front of me, their ride and my ride are independent.

hoodat

"Come back Shane".

hoodat

I'm an old #### I can't relate to someone NOT passing me.

CliffordK

I'm usually THAT GUY! My speed varies from about 9 MPH to 22 MPH or so. When someone passes me (or comes up behind me) on a MTB, it reminds me I've let my speed drop, and I'll be a bit embarrassed, so I'll sometimes give it a few extra strokes, just to go at the pace I should be riding at.

A week or so ago I was out shopping, pulling my trailer, and in jeans, of course. I came up to a popular Strava sprint segment on the bike path, and saw a guy in full team kit, turning around for another run down the path. So, I kicked it up to 22 or so pulling the trailer... and the "roadie" never came close to catching me.

I won't play games of pass and drop down for a block, then pass again, although a while ago I was out for a fun ride up the McKenzie Highway. I caught up to some guy with full touring gear, so I passed him, then turned off onto a frontage road while he rode straight. Then when the road rejoined the main highway, I passed him again, only to turn onto another frontage road. In the end, I probably passed him, made a loop, and passed him again 3 or 4 times.

Paul Barnard

That's much closer the my truth!

slimyfrog

And if they say "Oh I'm not racing...". Tell them "Yes you are. And you are losing".

tramptrade 

I'm usually loaded with various bags, packs, and a trailer, so no hero cookie for passing me. Most people just nod to me in that "glad it's not me" kinda way and offer a quick "how 'dyu do..." as they ride by.

jgadamski

[QUOTE=when I'm heading home after getting off work, I'd just rather be left alone.[/QUOTE]
so let him win. be big about it.

JamesRL

OK, Thirty years ago I was one of those Cat 6 types.

Back in the 80s, I lived for a while near High Park in Toronto. High Park was often used for cycling races back then, and many would ride the course for training purposes. I liked to have fun with it, and you got to know other fast riders.

I also used to ride fast at times on portions of the lakeshore trails, and there were times I raced. I would pass, if I was strong enough, and if they tried to catch and pass, then it was on. Of course there were times when we had to brake and deal with traffic, and I wouldn't even try to ride fast on busy days. This was just play and we usually ended it with a wave and smile.

And I've oft told the time when I was touring and caught a racer while climbing a hill. I was young and fit, he was older, and by his bike well off. He wasn't happy to be caught by a guy with 30 lbs of gear on a low end bike, but I was near the end of my tour and at the peak of fitness. I wasnt going to slow down. Now I am sure others fly by me thinking they don't want to get old and slow.

DMC707

I am technically a categoried cyclist (on the track , - and sport level on the MTB years ago) -- but now i am a 300 lb "Super Clyde"

I restored a used downhill bike over the summer so i could try the slopes out for the first time -- i took the bunny trails (green trail) on my first run -- but on my 2nd run i branched out to a blue trail (a little more complicated trail, basically)
Again -- i felt like i may be getting in over my head as it was a new bike and i had never done anything like that before-- i was wearing jeans and a long sleeve t shirt , but with a full face helmet, so i was definitely not the picture of a guy who was trying to "kill it" or anything. There was a small group behind me at the trail entrance that was fully kitted out -- pads, trick new looking machines, and the whole bit ---- i let them take the trail ahead of me and stated that i was pretty new at this and didnt want to hold them up

That was the truth too -- at 44 years old , i dont need to ride with a bunch of 20-somethings that are trying to emulate Shawn White or something ---- i was literally riding my own pace just trying to survive the more complicated path when 10 minutes later i started blasting past these guys one by one --- i flatted close to the bottom and was on the side changing out the tube when they rolled by and one said -- "I thought you were new at this !"

I thought that was funny as it WAS literally my first time --- but it was nothing personal at all --

The next day i tried some even more advanced trails and i had folks blowing past me all day, (and guys' older than me to boot ) -- but i learned to stand my ground and just go when its my time to go --- Pass or get passed - who cares, its all part of the experience --- and trust me, when someone goes by me on a rocky DH trail going 1/3 faster, the last thing i think of is to try and stay with them

fietsbob

I'm With the Old Guys

FBinNY 

It's a public street, he has a right to play catchup, pass or whatever. As long as he doesn't crowd me, I ride my bike and let him ride his.

If it works out I might engage in a short conversation, because you never know where that may lead. I've had a few nice afternoon rides with pickup buddies just this way, making something more of my usual ride home.

chasm54

Amazing what some people consider to be worth worrying about.

wphamilton

I am one of those guys who will chase you down, if I can. I'm not racing though - I've passed guys that I know for a fact can smoke me if they want. It's no big deal. But I'll still chase the rabbit given a chance.

Being the rabbit is more fun, if you spot them way back and it looks like they're trying to catch you. Game over when they do, unless you want to let them get a good lead and then chase. You don't have to leap-frog for this game.

Cyclist0084

+1

I'm about as slow as a turtle, so I have no illusions of anybody "racing" against me. When I'm on the MUP or road, I expect to be passed. To me, it's no big deal.

I think I've only done the race thing once when I was in the final few miles of a ride and was losing energy fast. And I think in that instance, it was more of a "latching on" type of thing, trying to use the cyclist in front of me as a "carrot" to help me make it to the finish.