cubewheels

This is my first post, hello! As the title says, I've been having issues with other cyclists lately at exactly the same spot and time in my route with different (unrelated) cyclists.

The spot is a bridge that goes 20 meters up and then down. It's in the city with medium vehicle traffic. It's not really steep since I can pedal all the way up in relatively high gear even with small starting momentum. However its hard enough for many casual bikers that they prefer to get off the bike and walk it up instead while others pace it real slow in very low gear.

However, I prefer to sprint my way up with large starting momentum (same/matching the speed of cars and motorbikes). It's only a short climb after all. I feel less tired that way than to slowly pace my way up.

And that's where the problem comes. When I sprint, I often pass other cyclists on the way up with my 20"x 14 "girl bike" with full fenders. I've already had two male cyclists chase me on the way down (not minding the other vehicles on the road, and thus, risking their own safety) only to cut me off or try to pass me. They actually went faster than the cars and motorbikes going down on the bridge (since I'm at the same speed as the cars / motorbikes). It's a busy bridge so what they did is totally unsafe.

I'm a little confused about attitude since I let other cyclists pass me all the time and don't try to chase them down. I don't have the urge to race, especially in a busy public road in a city.

Anything I may have possibly done wrong? Never pass another cyclist on the way up??

sirjag

they just jelly...haters gonna hate! Ride your bike!

JAG

sirjag

also welcome! I joined a few years ago, after riding pretty serious for 12 months on a target $200 bike! put 1700 miles on that thing and it was pretty much toast...joined here, got a decent road bike, never looked back.

there are so many kind and welcoming people in this forum, i have learned so much from them.

JAG

PJay120

[if this post is honest] just keep riding!

If you do consider giving up cycling, consider being a jockey.

Paul Barnard

How are you doing today PJ?

CB HI

I think you are seeing danger where there really is none. So what if they are passing you on the downhill? Your post is not very clear, so I am left thinking they move farther into the traffic lane than you and go by. Are motorist moving to pass them on the wrong side and nearly hitting you? Are they sharing a shoulder with you and you just do not like them passing you on the shoulder, maybe closer than you are comfortable with? If several cyclist are passing you this way, it seems it is something that is not really dangerous, otherwise there would be several dead bodies on that bridge. Sounds like you just need to watch these cyclist and see if their riding is something you can learn from. I doubt all of them are trying to race you, and so what if they are, just keep riding at your pace.

If you are safely passing them up on the uphill, why is their passing you on the downhill not safe?

Lots of cyclist pass me on uphills and I easily pass them on downhills of a flat after an uphill. I am not trying to race them, I am just riding my own pace for that road.

What is a 20"x 14 "girl bike"? Do a google search and pull the link out that looks like your bike? Are you actually talking a 20" step through frame?

bikecrate

Some cyclist don't like to be passed and take it as a challenge. I've encountered similar riders. Just hold your line, stay calm and let them go.

PJay120

doing great! hiking today - no cycling.

Riveting

Why would a cyclist that's catching up to, and then and passing you be considered hot-headed? Don't confuse hot-headed with competitive. Maybe he thought you'd want to race on your girls bike, since you sprinted past him. Maybe he thought "you" were hot-headed?

Paul Barnard

I just bought my wife an E-bike. I took it for a spin today. That thing is a hoot. I didn't get hot headed with anyone. Was your hike free of hot heads?

cubewheels

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

cubewheels

Thank you for your response! Some additional info, there is no shoulder, nor bike lane on the bridge. We all share the same lanes with cars and motorbikes. Rarely had problems with other motorists passing too close.

Indeed, two-wheeler accidents are very common on the way down, mostly with motorbikes because they tend to be faster (noting I go downhill at the same speed as motorbikes)

Uphill is straight, downhill turns sharply with a busy, uncontrolled intersection at the end. Sorry for not telling this earlier. This is why two-wheeler accidents are common on the way down. Turning downhill + chaotic flow of traffic - lots of situation where you'll need to hit on the brakes. It's bad enough to hit the brakes while turning. Doing it at higher speeds will only make it worse.

Most of the cyclists who pass me on the way down does it right. Just a couple ones that would take additional risks and not even slow down for the uncontrolled intersection at the end (which has blind spots).

Sorry, it seems I can't post links and pictures yet (less than 10 posts). It's a junior 21-speed 20" MTB with the frame (seat tube) size increased to 14" with low bottom bracket (to have the lowest profile possible with short cranks). Additionally, I added a huge setback seatpost to have the correct saddle height. Where I live, a lot of girls ride these bikes (is why it's considered a girl bike). I sometimes ride with a front basket too!

I used to have a 26" MTB but I actually do prefer this small bugger. The sharper and tighter handling of the 20" wheeler is most welcome in the overcrowded city. Ironically, it's faster than my 26'er on the flats and can sustain the speed for longer. I had the bar on the lowest height possible, low BB and short cranks, better aero I suppose and the short cranks made it easier to pedal for me. Front forks and suspension seat, helps deal with the harsher ride of the 20'er.

cubewheels

I agree but it's still not a good reason to put yourself in danger.

The bridge is straight uphill (a lot safer to sprint) but turns sharply on the way down with plenty of other motorists. I consider it suicidal to race on the way down. Plenty of two-wheeler accidents on that turning section of the bridge - usually when they had to brake due to the chaotic traffic flow.

cubewheels

I guess you're right. But I suppose they're also pissed if they're trying to make reckless moves in the presence of relatively chaotic traffic in a turn while sharing the lanes with other motorists.

I did used to ride with a 650c road bike many years ago and never had any issues with it with other cyclists. So maybe the full size cyclists just hate seeing small wheel bikes.

Climb14er

I personally don't care if the speed merchants ride their guts out on the road. However, when it comes to bike paths, especially when shared with peds, the speeders need to slow down, especially on the tight descents and show a little respect and safety towards others. It's getting dangerous on the paths these days.

berner

I think it was Einstein or someone like him who said there was no limit on stupidity. Some of them drive autos and some ride bikes. There are numerous measures of intelligence. One key measure it the capacity to anticipate events that have not yet happened.

rydabent

Some of the egotistical racer boyz just dont like being passed. It is also the reason they hate e-bikes. Pay them no attention. Do your own thing.

trailangel

I don't know where the bridge is, but in many states it's illegal for a motor vehicle to pass another on a bridge. Sometimes bikes are considered motor vehicles per the law.

base2 

I really don't see the issue. They have a full lane to do whatever it is they are going to do.

Is anyone running stopsigns or other tom-foolery?
Traffic right-of-way in uncontrolled intersections is usually by order of arrival.

It's not uncommon to ride a bike at or near the speed limit & many cyclists consider it a point of pride that they can do so. Hold 25mph on Main Street? "Heck, yeah!" Or 35 on a down hill? "Sign me up!" they may say.

As a "serious cyclist" myself, I get a kick out of running down other "Serious" cyclists on my mountain bike or my touring bike. It's great fun. But it's not them. It's intervals & nothing more.

edit:
(I don't actually think of myself as a "serious cyclist" whatever that is or is supposed to look like but I, do recognize others may attatch that description to anyone going faster or rides more often than them.)

CB HI

I really want to see a picture of this bridge that was build with lots of turns in it.

CB HI

You should be breaking to slow your speed before the turn, not in the turn. Your added information post was written much better.

AlmostTrick

I wanna see the 20x14 girls bike. (with basket)

genec

Any two cyclists going in the same direction is automatically a race for some folks. The minute you passed them, you threw down the gauntlet... they "MUST" respond to the challenge. This is the unwritten rule. Applies in lots of other places in life... two sailboats, two similar muscle cars, two empire building managers in the same office... two kids building sand castles on the beach... grades in the classroom. It IS a way of life.

Either don't pass, or slow down extremely at the crest to avoid the conflict... or learn to be more tolerant, or just get out there and kick a$$. The choice is yours.

livedarklions

If they're offended because a woman on a "girl's bike" can climb faster than they can, that's on them. You climb that way because it's a better pace for you and you're under no obligation to slow yourself down to spare their fragile egos.


If you let them goad you into doing something you think is unsafe on the way down, that's on you. If they hurt themselves going down the hill, you didn't do anything to cause that. They're adults making bad choices.

Welcome to BF!

livedarklions

I had to basically kick myself last weekend when I started "racing" a couple riding with aerobars when I was about 45 miles into a century. It was just passing 90 degrees on its way up to 95. About three miles of that and I realized this was probably not going to do wonders for my endurance on the hotter return ride home.

Seriously, if it gets too instinctive, you really can hurt yourself.