So I've ridden my whole life,but got serious about road riding a couple of years ago. I just turned 50 and by no means am I the fastest out there. Generally I pass more then get passed.

The other day for the first time I was passed pretty easily by a young woman. This was a first for me.I've never considered myself a overly competitive person but it bothered me. Maybe it is turning 50 and not wanting to admit I probably will be in decline from this point on.

Can anyone relate?

Did she scream, "ON YOUR LEFT"?

Drop the hammer to 400W

Was she cute?

you might not be competitive but you might be a sexist

The gender of the passing rider is only important for aesthetic purposes.

Age is not a specific limitation either. Go watch the 65+ racers and be shocked at what old folks can do.

I knew a guy who said until he hit about 78 he never lost a beat. After that his recovery times went up ... he was 82 and faster than I'll ever be.

You are only on the downslope if you want to be.

On the other hand, I have no illusions about how fast I am ... or how motivated some riders are, simply to always go faster. I ride for pleasure, not pain ... so I am not as fast.

Pictures?

I heard about that guy. He became faster and faster with age and at 100 eventually left the earth's atmosphere because he had too much energy to contain. No word if mechanical doping was involved.

Did both of you have numbers pinned to your jerseys?

Don't you know that when you pass someone, you're supposed to make it look as easy as possible, even if you're tying yourself in a knot? Console yourself with the knowledge that she was in a world of hurt but was hiding it exceptionally well.

Just kidding - you're old.

It's never too late to get serious.

I was on the PCH a few months back, as a newb rider. I was on a climb and got passed by a set of ladies with kid trailers on the back. They didn't "zoom" by me, but I had to get out of the saddle and pedal like my life depended on it, not to get dusted. At the second traffic light, I finally caught them, and as "wtf" began to come out of my mouth, I noticed... they were on E-bikes...

You don't get to determine if you're serious or not. We do. Post some sock pictures ASAP.

Um ... I hate to say this, but your body has been deteriorating for close to 30 years. How have you not noticed this?

When a group passes you, do you count that as one pass, or do you count each individual rider? Or do you just assume they were all on e-bikes and move along?

Troll thread successful.

Not trolling. Wanted some input.

This is pretty funny.

You need one of those newfangled hidden motors:
https://cyclingtips.com/2015/04/hidd...how-they-work/

You're a fifty year old guy that admits that you're not fast. And you admit that you get passed more than you pass other cyclists.

And now you allege that for the first time ever you were passed easily by a beautiful young girl. And it bothered you so.

Yeah. Not trolling.

I get passed by younger women from time to time. Doesn't bother me at all. Solo female riders in these parts are usually pretty good. Not only a lot younger than me, but a lot more serious. I did feel a bit bad when I once got dropped by a female paceline. I would have thought a cute young butt in spandex would have been incentive enough to work just a little harder, but I didn't get more than about two miles before even that motivation was insufficient.

Lots of e-bikes out nowadays. I have noticed that. Normal bikes- I have been passed by 4-5 women in the past few weeks...all on race teams, if their bodies and gear was any indication. That said, it is just luck (and my deserted routes, I guess) that I don't get passed by women more on the uphills. I know of a few fast ones. I'm 48 and hoping to get better and better.

Fixed title for you

If a girl passes me I just slow down and let them go, even if I'm still warming up. I just refuse to be "that guy" the stereotype whose testosterone-fueled ego makes him bust a gut because he won't be "chicked".

But if I happen to spot them first, in my little mirror, no way.

Welcome to the dirty old man club.