slyjackson

I was about two miles from finishing my daily 15 miler, crusing about 15 mph maybe a mile or two less when out of nowhere some guy on a "Specialized" flew by me. He didn't say hello or good day or anything eles. I immediatly stood on the pedals and got within five feet of his rear tire after about a half of a mile or so. He looked back at that time I guess to see how far he left me. I shouted to him, "I'm still here on your ass after riding 14 miles,You are going to have to do better than that if you want to shame me". He smiled and turned off at the next corner. I'm glad he did cause I was tired as hell and had no more power left. I guess he saw me foaming at the mouth and that is why he laughed and turned.

But this is why I ride alone because most of the people out where I ride want to be a "Lance Armstrong" and will not do a social ride with anyone. Everyone is a racer. This was about the third time this has happend to me this month. I'm like another poster here who stated" I'm too slow for the fast guys, too fast for the slow guys and dont seem to find anyone in between" So I'm a loner.

jk610

I like riding with friends most of the time but theres something to be said about a night time ride by yourself.

gfspencer

I always bike alone. That way I can ride when I want to and where I want to. (And I don't get dropped. )

gurana

I mostly ride alone. I see plenty of other roadies out there, and sometimes I chat with them, but for the most part I enjoy the 'me time' i get out there by myself.

M_S

I think you've got a bit of a problem, frankly.

First of all, unless the guy was a complete poseur, I don't think he was falling off his bike in disbelief at the thought of you riding 15 miles. Secondly, I doubt he was trying to "shame" you. I think he, like you, was out riding his bike because he enjoys it. He was just going faster than you. So what?

Also, why do you expect him to say "hello." Maybe he was in a kind of zone, and was really concentrating . Maybe he had a lot on his mind and was riding to relieve some stress. It's possible that he had just ridden a solo century and was simply really tired. And what exactly has happened to you three times this month? getting passed? Seeing road bikes? What about this guy made him appear to be wanting to look like Lance Armstrong? Besides, everyone knows Armstrong rode Trek, not Specialized

A lot of non cyclists can't distinguish my steel touring bike from a road race bike (heck, they both have drop bars and no suspension). And if I'm wearing my (plain black) bike shorts, I'm obviously a aracer wannabe.

Basically, just enjoy your rides, and don't be concerned with how other people enjoy theirs.

slyjackson

Nope, I know the guy. We had words before and his goal was to be ahead of me when we got close to a gas station. His buddies and girl friend were watching. I know that 15 miles may not be a lot to you but it is a hilly route and only flat for the final 2 miles. I know what type bike lance rode and that was not what I was referring too. What happen to me three times last month? The same guy waited for me to clear the top of the hill and turned on the flats so he can looked like he smoked me that’s what.

I'm the guy with the most miles during the week and most of the guys in my area want to see how they compare. I'm not trying to shoot anyone down, but only to show how competitive it is in my area and point out an example of how people ride here. He was not in a "Zone" as you call it.

I do enjoy my rides, thats are why I ride alone. Otherwise I would be like this guy who wants to race anyone who rides on the flats. Hell I think I did well after fighting 4 hills back to back and was still able to walk a guy down on the flats who was fresh don’t’ you think ?

M_S

I ride alone too, most of the time, though I'm going on a tour with some friends next week. I can understand why you'd want to.

But you have to admit that referring to him as "some guy" sure makes it sound like he was a complete stranger. The fact that you know him puts your anecdote in a somewhat different context.

akatsuki

I sometimes pace myself with other people, just using them as targets to go further, like by the time I am done with this climb, I will be even with that person ahead of me. It is not that I really care what the other person is doing, they just represent a bit of motivation to push myself.

Michigander

I tend to ride with my brother. Neither of us commute on bikes due to our jobs requiring cars, but we often ride together on weekends. We call ourselves "The A Team". I also ride with my local club called the Wolverines.

I ride alone every now and then, but I stay motivated a lot better when I am with other riders.

rallykid

I ride with the wife when I ride. It gives us a chance to get out and away from everything like all the BS at work. You can feel the stress melt away in the first mile, it's a beautiful thing. She drives an hour into metro Detroit and I drive an hour and a half into metro Detroit everyday so it is nice for both of us to be able to get away from roads and traffic.

IchBinDarren

I ride alone somethimes but I always prefer riding with people.