This sure sounds awfully like this:

USA satellite office killed: Hmm, opposite of supposed intentions to bring more business to the USA. Who'd have thought?

Rather than winning on an ultra-premium bike, I would think it would be way more fun to win on a "sleeper", a well-built bike in modest dress, even age-distressed finish. My dad had an early '60s Chevy wagon with a 409 under the hood, would love to blow away fast looking cars at green lights, sometimes towing his small boat. The bike equivalent is winning on anything with small wheels that the ignorant thinks is a circus-bear bike. Like a Moulton AM with a Zzipper fairing, I think someone raced one of those in a RAAM.

No, not 5 am -- far too early for me. 8 am? Sure.

Anger? Lol ... no! Anyone who considers themselves to have "smoked" me on a bicycle would be in need of serious psychiatric help. The poseur element is simply risible. What angers me is inconsiderate and potentially dangerous behaviour -- Cat 6 racing on a MUP, for example.

You think that’s bicycle racing?? That’s not racing. It’s a pissing contest.

If you want to race - join a club and go racing. It will be eye opening.

It's not about tariffs -- ICE is no longer allowing CAT 6 racers into the U.S.

Guess I’m still safe

2.5lbs on a 9% grade = 3 watts +/-. Or about 45 seconds on a 70 min climb @230w - an HC climb in the Alps (Huez for this example).

A short local climb where you are "racing" the dentist - not a difference. If they are riding away from you, 2.5lbs won't stop that from happening.

They are riding away from you because they are better climbers - and, you don't even know if they are going full gas.

It’s a race. Living in a densely populated city with countless roadies, you quickly learn the difference between someone you pass who don’t care and someone who really does.

No it’s not sanctioned official la de da racing but it’s racing and it’s damn fun and some of the uber fit guys on their fancy bikes are worthy challenges.

Don't ever change, Mikey D! You are very special.

Wont happen on a Spesh, he’s a trek fanboi.

.

Well, Trek did just win 6 stages of the Giro... he may not get caught on the climbs if he gets one of those fancy Emodone concoctions with the speedy hole in the frame.

Well, he hasn't. One year ago (to the day), the OP was trying to buy speed to fend off CAT 6 racers on the MUP:

35mm v 45mm

you saw the part where I’m riding a Roubaix ?

would be looking at an S-Works Roubaix but stock is scarce. Apparently, there’s a new gen in the works.

There is always a new generation in the works. And they time it's introduction to coincide with when they think the newness will have worn off the previous generation and the most owners of them will be getting that itch for something new.

The new gen will allow you to blow right past the guys on the humpy old gen versions...

You must have an inside source, because that's top secret information.

The Road Forum has morphed to become the General Forum.
All the sanctioned (now Masters+) occasional racers moved over to Generalists. And brought their condescending arrogance.
Prime example was referenced above.

BTW - it's the Cat6 wannabe racers that keep the high-end of the road cycling industry in business. Chasing the marketing hype is the most intense race for current and former wannabe competitors. Campa 13 speed is out.
Campagnolo's brand new Super Record groupset is now 13-speed, and believe-it-or-not, more affordable | Cycling Weekly
Time to upgrade.
And save your pennies for the 2026 Scott road bike.

There is a wide distance between ego-driven competitive games with another rider and racing. Sure, those games can be fun, and I sometimes play at that, too. However, it's not bike racing any more than driving a car and trying to beat the guy next to you across the intersection when the light turns green is car racing.

This brings up a good point - as the Campy thread talks about products not for racers and whatnot.

We think we are on the fastest bikes. The reality is, we are on the fastest bikes per UCI regulations. We buy into the X amount faster, x amount more watts saved... but that only really applies to race bikes and the limitations of race bikes.

They could sell much faster bikes to us duffers.

"They" already do; those bikes come with motors.

What you describing here isn't racing. It's just a bunch of cyclists flexing their egos and showing off.

If you're too weak or old to flex, go the I don't care route if it makes you feel better.

Most decked-out, fancy bike, uber fit riders I encounter take it as a personal affront if you pull ahead. And once I'm there, I like to stay there.

They're probably upset because you slow down after you pass them, and they now have to get around you to maintain their pace.

How do you know what other riders are thinking?

EDIT: A few weeks ago, I was rolling solo in an area I don't ride very often, along the beautiful coastline of So Cal. A couple of younger guys on nice bikes wearing expensive kits rode past me, a bit faster than I was going. I jumped on their wheel and asked if it was cool if I rolled with them for a while. The 3 of us took turns taking pulls at a moderately high effort level. After about 10 miles, our rotes went different directions. We thanked each other for sharing the ride, and went on our way. No egos. No pissing contests. Just 3 experienced riders who understand how it works, sharing the magic of working together to get down the road a little more efficiently.