MyTi

I wonder if you guys ever felt challenged or decided you didn't want to get dropped by some random dude/girl when you are riding solo. Or if you were the guy passing someone and they responded and dropped you? Is it all in good fun or not advisable since this isn't a sanctioned club/group ride.

chainwhip

I've done it, but IMO, it's actually a bit rude.
Maybe no harm done unless we get upset when they drope the hamerz .
lol.

Colnago Mixte

Sure. I try to pass everyone I can on solo rides, doesn't everyone? What I will do is follow them for a while until it's safe to pass, analyzing their bike and riding style a bit, then pass with gusto, enough to discourage them from following without a major effort. For whatever reason, I've noticed that people with a lot of mirrors always seem to be the easiest victims.

Of course, I don't pass everyone. But people who pass me, I will at least attempt to keep up with for a while, and maybe have a quick chat. I find people who pass me much more willing to engage in conversation than people I've just passed.

I find solo rides to be much more enjoyable when there are other riders out, and I can usually find someone close to my fitness level to ride with for a while, though I don't know if I would call it a "race". And though it goes unsaid, there is a certain amount of pride involved in making it to the top of a hill first, or catching up on a descent. And I can gauge my fitness a certain amount by looking at the number of people that pass me vs, the number of people I pass.

exmechanic89

I've done it several times. Never been dropped except for one time where I gave up early because I could tell the guy was not gonna have any trouble dropping me.

02Giant 

Occasionally I will attempt to keep pace with a younger rider that passes me. Not the attempt to hang on to their rear wheel pacing, but having them get out a ways (100 yards or so) and see if I can hang or not. A bit of a challenge of sorts. Once in a while I will pass someone and they will pick up their pace. I maintain the pace I had been on, if they want to overtake, good for them.

topflightpro

FIFY: You ever NOT wind up racing a random person on your solo ride?

ksryder

No, I'm afraid I'll get yelled at.
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/200479-we-re-going-yell-you.html

Maelochs

Absolutely this.
I never wheel suck ... I stay a ways back for as long as I can if they are faster, and pass otherwise .... usually I only pass older people on tricycles.

Last Sundya I trailed some guy for a while at 19 mph---quite a bit higher than my 15-mph average. He was apparently only riding a short ways ... i was starting a 40 mile ride. I paid heavily for my efforts.

I would probably do the same again, though ... Proud not to have learned .... because it was big fun, and only hurt a little ... until later.

brianmcg123

chainwhip

You mean like this?:

"For whatever reason, I've noticed that people with a lot of mirrors always seem to be the easiest victims." - Colnago Mixte

​​​​​​

indyfabz

qft

Some Fred tried to shake me on the M.U.P. and failed miserably.

You can read about it here:

Fred Tried to Shake Me on the MUP

MoAlpha

As we say in yawwwting, "any two boats traveling in the same direction is a race" and I have to admit I like to chase people down. Even people with no mirrors. These days, I mainly ride solo because I'm old and done with competitive cycling, I like to let my mind wander, and I prefer an unobstructed view (I also have no friends). However, I try to be pleasant and cooperative and keep my competitive instincts in check (or at least disguised) on the road.

Silent and anonymous wheel sucking is rude. Come on up, make brief small talk, and then hop on if you want. I don't insist on dinner or flowers or even that you pull. In fact, I'd rather have you behind me than look at your ugly ass. Also, don't come up and half-wheel me. If you want company, don't force my pace.

daviddavieboy

rubiksoval

No. And I'd be very annoyed if someone tried to race me on a solo ride. I've had a couple of occasions where I've been coming up behind people who I saw looking back and then accelerating. Fortunately both times had side streets nearby so I just changed my route. Most occurrences I just pass someone and that's it, though.

I don't want to be in close proximity with people who probably don't know how to ride in close proximity. And I don't want to change my effort in order to avoid having to ride in close proximity.

downhillmaster

Colnago Mixte

If I attempted to race a Cat 1, I doubt they would even notice my feeble efforts.

puma1552

Since buying my road bike less than a month ago and having it out 10ish times I've had someone silently wheel suck on at least 4 occasions. Why I have no idea, I'm a fred with flat pedals and a t shirt blowing in the wind at this point. I guess I go pretty quick though for sustained periods, all things considered.

waters60

jon c. 

I try to up my pace to hold off faster riders for as long as I can. But I only do that when I spot them a fair distance behind me. If they get to me I let them pass without additional effort. I don't encounter all that many slower riders, but if there's a rider in front of me I do try and close the gap. If I get within a few hundred yards, I'll assess whether or not I can readily pass and easily stay in front. If I don't think I can, I'll stay back until our routes diverge. So I play with other riders a bit, but I try not to directly involve them.

hsuehhwa

IMHO, it's never a race unless all parties agree it is a race.

You never know what the other parties are being through: recovery ride, finishing a century, entering into a century ride, training....

ksryder

I remember that thread, that was fun. Subtlety is sometimes wasted on bf.

Colnago Mixte

True. I remember some guy on a road bike kept flying past me, then I would catch and pass him, then he'd come flying past again. One of the times he came past, he mumbled "intervals", and I finally figured out what was going on.

Maelochs

Wrong! The best races are fantasy races ....

I ma like yourself, sort of ... i won't speed up to try to stay ahead ... but i will speed up to try to keep another rider in sight ... good exercise. But ... if the other person knew I was trying, s/he could just ride away and the fun would be over.

jitteringjr

I really try to stick with my work out strategy that I planned out long before I jumped on the bike that day so I don't really try to race. If it is a day where I am really pushing myself and someone faster than me passes me, I will try to push myself to keep up with them but still stay dropped back from them. This is just to motivate me to push myself harder for the work out and not to race. The hardest bit for me is when I am going easy on a recovery ride and I get a wheel sucker. I then fight the urge to pick up the pace 7-8 mph and be gone with them. I am not always successful at fighting this urge.

caloso