I am a solo rider and do not usually overtake other riders because I honestly have never caught up to any other riders. I typically see lots of other riders out along the route I typically ride, but usually am going in the opposite direction or just not fast enough to keep up with them. However, yesterday I did manage to catch up with one rider who was going about 4 mph slower than I was. I called out "on your left" and passed him up and as I did he called out "well that's just rude." I was going steady at about an 18 mph pace while he was plodding along going about 13-14 mph and I did not see the need to stay behind him or ride at his pace. I did slow down though and talked to him for about a mile before I felt I was losing my own ride so I said goodbye and went on my way.

So I guess I need to ask what is the accepted norm when coming upon another road cyclist who is going slower than you are? Do you slow down and talk or do you stay behind the slower rider? Is what I did considered rude?

Thanks

I just tell them I'm passing and say, "hello" before I continue on my way. No need to over think, just ride :]

I just ride along without saying anything unless I know the person.

everyone usually just passes me by and give's the "wassap" nod... no biggie... i won't make convo unless there's a need for it...

Not sure what he thought was rude. You did nothing wrong unless you aren't telling us everything.

I will say "hi" but you really don't have to say anything. Its not like you are demeaning them by simply passing.

There HAS to be something missing from this story.

Wait a minute. You said you "slowed down and talked to him for about a mile" ? Was that before you went right on by him?

you probably scared him...

Were you gassy?...

haha

You weren't rude at all, in fact you did what is considered normal and courteous to the extent that you don't sneak up on someone and scare them off the road as you pass.

I will call it if passing in a congested area; otherwise I either know they have seen me approaching, or pass quietly on the left leaving ample room between bikes and nothing needs to be said.

You actually were quite polite by saying "on your left", many riders will get kind of upset when others just zoom by them without saying a word.

Nope absolutely nothing missing, it happened exactly as I described above. I called out "on your left" to let him know I would be passing on his left and as I passed he said "well that's just rude." Not sure what was so rude, but it was the first time it had ever happened so I was just checking to see if maybe I did something wrong.

That's what I figured so that's why I called it out, just to let him know I would be passing him on his left. Thought that was the nice thing to do.

when i pass someone, i always "good (insert time of day here)"

Was he insulted that you stopped riding with him ?

On the rare occasions I see another rider, I just pass and say "Good Morning/afternoon" and skip the "On your left" part. That just confuses most people.

You didn't fart as your rode by did you? Sometimes it's fun to crop dust the person pulling off the front as you rotate, so you may have done it without thinking...

was he joking?

one day while i was out riding, i passed a couple on fixes on a hill. a while later, they passed me. as they passed, i said, "yeah, i knew that was going to happen". i was joking around and they laughed.

sounds to me like your guy was might have been joking about the fact that he was being passed.

j

I did that a couple of weeks ago at a light on my ride home from work, it just slipped out and was pretty thunderous. At the next light I apologized to the dude, and he just laughed and said, "Me and my buddies do that all the time, but that was a first coming from a complete stranger." I pulled out ahead of him at the green because I think he was trying to work up a little payback

He could have been joking because his tone wasn't mean sounding at all. He then joked that he was on mile 100 and that was why he was slow, that's when I slowed down to talk to him because at first I thought he was serious. As we talked I learned he was a fairly new rider with less than 100 miles on his bike and he typically only rode on Saturdays.

For all those who have asked or insinuated, no I did not let one loose as I passed him. I typically will look around and ensure there is no one around before I let one out because they do tend to be rather loud most times. lol

maybe that rider was sentimental or upset, he hasnt gotten used to the fact the he's gonna get passed.

I was like that, i always get "crushed" and im used to it. I suck and that's the bottome line.....give it time, he'll get used to it.

I normally get "On your left" then we exchange a greeting like good morning or good afternoon. I think it would be rude to speed past someone silently and scare the heck outta them.

Wouldn't the 4 minute mile chat been the time to try and figure out what the originator of the comment thought was rude instead of BF speculation based on limited to no knowledge of the situation? Of course that would be no fun.

Yeah I'm really surprised I haven't been passed yet since where I ride there are a lot of riders, I know it's only a matter of time though. Not sure whether I suck or not since I have never ever raced or done a time trial to compare myself against any sort of competition. I did manage to ride a 17.2 mph pace for mile 25 miles on Saturday and then 16.9 mph for 45 miles on Sunday. I know that's no where near serious competitive cyclists, but for me it is pretty good and hopefully I'll keep improving.

Sounds to me he thought he had made a new friend.. you did bond over a mile or so.... Then like that - you were gone.

I like when people call out 'on your left' when to go to pass me. It gives me a chance to kick at them as they go by.

16.9 is pretty good for a non competitive ride... assuming it is not all downhill

Most clubs would put that at moderate.