Anyone find it awkward when other random cyclists think you're racing them?
 

I passed another cyclist on the street, riding at a steady pace, and he would drop behind and gun it to pass me, and did that for a couple miles at least. I just got off work and the last thing I wanted to do was race some random guy. He finally turned onto a sidestreet, but I found it awkward. I was just thinking "leave me alone". Anyone else find it awkward when another random cyclist is about the same speed as you, or thinks you're racing him/her?

Playing chase the cyclist is a great training aid, maybe he was just doing that.

It's no different than the drivers that speed up after passing them. Apparently it's a declaration of war to some!

One of you was a Cat 6 racer.

Yeah, that crossed my mind, and I'll do that in group rides, but when I'm heading home after getting off work, I'd just rather be left alone.

Ha! I tried to do this very thing last Friday at the local park. I was doing a lap around Stoney Creek when a guy on a Madone passed me. I was on my hybrid. He wasn't cooking, and I thought that I had a shot at keeping pace.

So I tried to pick up speed. No luck. He slowly crept away until he finally lost me after one of the hills.

To me, it was exciting trying to catch this guy. To him, it was a non-event since he didn't even know that he was in a race!

I don't mess with other cyclists and I prefer they don't mess with me. I will acknowledge them or say "hi" but I'm out for a workout and not to meet new friends or make new enemies.

I guess I'm like that lone, soft spoken hero that rides off into the sunset ... on his bicycle. :D

Shout out, "Let's play demolition derby!" and ram him.

Or just ignore it and think about pleasant things. That guy might have been having the time of his life pretending he was competing in the TdF or something.

I always say/yell 'how's it going?' when I pass someone. I think it shows you're just moving a bit faster, not trying to incite anyone. I've noticed other cyclists often do the same when they pass me.

Just tell him that.

I can't really relate to someone passing me.

No different than trying to outdo others on Strava.

I used to be bothered by it and give a challenge. Now I am a zone trainer and ignore those folks. I just don't respond. I have a plan for my rides am not going to let another rider impose a pace on me. Besides, I might be doing 40 miles in zone 2 and he is out for a 10 miler. Let him go. If I pass someone at MY pace and he speeds up so what. Let him go.

Naw. I'm not too proud to let them "win."

They can't keep passing you if you don't keep passing them. Maybe they were just trying to ride at a steady pace after work and you were annoying them?

I had this happen to me over the weekend. I was working on distance and pace and had a guy that I passed. I just smiled and said 'hi, you will probably pass me later' and went on my way. We played leapfrog for a little while until he was off ahead of me. Wasn't really a competition, I think he was doing the same thing I was. Had a few of these encounters Saturday due to how busy the trail was.

So far I've only had one cyclist that I'd passed earlier later sprint ahead of me. I was amused.

When I'm in commute mode, I ride at whatever pace I feel like, which is usually on the slow side. When I first started commuting, I used to feel awkward about passing anybody, but not anymore. I pass cyclists who are struggling with a climb or just slumming it even more than me (I tip my helmet towards each one in acknowledgment of his/her superior slumming skill as I pass), without worrying anymore if I'm hurting said cyclist's feeling by passing. Any of them is free to pass me at any time later.

On one of my morning commutes, I was also amused to see two cyclists race ahead of me in the National Mall, then switch to riding on the sidewalk while I stayed on the streets and accelerated past them to build momentum for the modest climb up towards Union Station.

Not at all. Riders come up on me then pass and as remarkable as it sounds, sometimes I come up on a rider, pass them and they drop back or draft or pass....no big deal.

No sense in getting my cycling shorts all bunched up.

I don't think a thing of it. I figure they are just using me as a rabbit (HA!) to catch then re-catch. As long as they don't pass me then get in front and slow way down I'm ok with it. I've noticed people in the distance and kicked it in a bit to see if I could catch up to them but unless I think I am going to continue on past for a while I let off.

I like for everybody to pass me,yes now I'm at peace,,

I have never been passed so don't know what it feels like tbh

Those times when I do this, I won't usually pass unless I think I can stay at that pace. If I spend too much catching, or I think I will immediately be fodder, I tend not to pass. I don't want to pass and then ride too slow. I just back off a little and try to keep at a pace from behind. If I think I can pass and keep pace, I'll pass. It can be a fun workout.

John

Yes, basically the same. I did have one person who seemed a bit distracted by me being back there. I wasn't drafting or even close but he kept looking so I went ahead and passed. Didn't seem mad, just .... distracted.

I don't generally have that problem. Last time I did it involved a child on a Walmart bike.

Riding my bent or my trike, I always find it funny when the worst out of shape rider on a DF bike wants to prove the DF bikes are faster than my non-real bike. I often see them in my mirror slowly comming up from behind. Then they stand, huff and puff around me, and often find it hard to keep ahead. Often they turn off, and I will see them again later.