Mr. Beanz

Oh! Well then you are awesome too!

EchtoGammut

ROFL... This forum has made me nervous when I am out riding. This Sunday, I was running my usual route (not racing) and I came upon this gentleman who was clearly in better shape than I. He passed me at a stop light and I followed assuming he would just pull away from me. However, his pace was a bit slower than mine, so I just gave my usual "on your left" went on my merry way.

Another stop light later, he manages to hit green while I am stopped and so I am a few hundred feet behind him, but his pace has clearly picked up, so it is a while before I am drafting him again, but at this point it feels like a comfortable pace for me. However, I keep thinking to myself, "Am I supposed to alert him that I am pacing with him?", I was literally agonizing over this and I am not even sure he was aware that I was there. He gave no sign of acknowledgement to my comments or presence.

A few miles go by and I get to thinking about how long I can draft him, before it becomes rude. He has made a couple of backward glances to check for cars and I have nodded at him, but I am still not sure if he knows I am there. Nevertheless, I began thinking about the forums and how long I can draft him before I should take the lead. Following him, he is clearly keep a very steady pace and I start wondering if I take the lead, will my pace be as steady? Because the last thing I want to do is get in his way. Torn by indecision, I once again alert him to a pass and try to drop the hammer (so to speak), so I can run clear of the situation. Then, I realize I had become that other person in this forum, the recreational racer. It was laundry day, so all I had left was my mountain biking gear and I am passing this guy. To all the forum I would look like the guy who tells the story about passing 'that guy riding a Cervelo' (no glistening legs in this story though). Thankfully, our paths split a couple of miles later or I really was going fast enough to lose him. It was a shame to, because I don't come across too many people that ride at my pace. Hopefully, I will bump into him again and acquit myself better.

Mr. Beanz

EG, if it were me, I'd say, "nice pace" to alert him I was on his wheel. Seems he knew you were there.

But I NEVER NEVER EVER drop or race around any rider that has taken the front. If anything I move to the front and pull to return the favor. If I keep the same pace and he drops after a mile or so, then it's on him, but IMO, I don't think it's right to accelerate around another rider that has just taken a pull and helped me out or worked with me.

I've ran into other riders that have taken the front then faded. Depending on how long they've been working with me, if I see they fade, I will back off a step til they recover rather than drop them. If things get too tough, they say "go ahead without me". IF I fade, I just say, "thanks for the ride and wave to them as the pull away".

EchtoGammut

My only excuse was I was on the last leg of 40 miles (a fair distance for me) and I wasn't really sure I wouldn't fade after passing. We were probably doing around 22, my only saving grace that didn't make me look like a complete ****** was there was another intersection where we split after about a mile. I think he was holding my pace after my last pass or least I thought I heard his bike, but I didn't see him when I hit the intersection. I need to ride with more groups, but for right now I just ride to make me happy.

skol

Great story Mr. Beanz - don't sweat all of the negativity - I like reading your posts as my wife and I ride a lot together as well and good to hear your take on things.

botto 

corrected.

Reynolds 

You are awesome Beanz! You might even be able to do a century!
Yes, I remember that thread...

Mr. Beanz

Oops!

Mr. Beanz

Thanks! The good people make it worth the annoyance of having to deal with the Bottoms of the world!

botto 

the lady doth protest too much, methinks.

tony2v

Great story Beanz! Can't we all just get along and just ride !