thebankman

Yesterday on the commute home I got passed by a skinny road cyclist on a team Discovery bike with Team Volkswagen shorts and jersey. He sped ahead for a block of flat ground, then we hit a block of uphill and both stood up and started climbing. I slowly caught up on the uphill, transitioned to harder gears for the flat-to-downhill, tucked in and pedalled my butt off. We passed a bunch of parents and kids on bikes in the park we were in, then I passed him and never looked back. It feels good to go faster than some dude in a full riding kit while you're wearing a Bill Cosby sweater, cotton pants with a giant reflective cuff holster, and a cheap helmet covered in reflective material, all while riding a comfort bike with 38 width tires.

Can't wait to get another road bike and pass these dudes twice as fast. He was probably recovering from cancer treatment or something oh well.

Cheers, Al

55/Rad

And your point is?

If it feels so good, why don't you take it to a level where it really counts?

Don't get me wrong - I love the little battles I encounter out on the streets. But for anyone other than me, they're pretty meaningless.

55/Rad

theshoemaker

I have a hard time justifying whether or not there really was any competition at all unless it was agreed upon. But there's nothing wrong with being optimistice about your own performance. Keep pedalin' hard man!

Mr. Beanz

I rarely pass anyone that doesn't put up a fight, so I know what you're talkin' about! It's all for fun anyway unless you're in the TDF, so enjoy it!

Just to let you know though! I knew a guy that was a great fast rider on a GT "pos" with slicks. Easily kept up with roadies!

He spend 3k for a Masi Triple V and Spinergys back in '98(?). Then he totally sucked! Don't ask me why, he just did! He had big expectations too!

furiousferret

I find the whole OCP hate thing silly. Every sport I've participated in there is always a hate towards the rich, elitist, casual person in the sport who can afford whatever he wants. Surfing is 10x worse than cycling, and in general the person everyone stereotypes rarely exists.

Before you ask, I dont own any team jerseys and my bike is worth less than 1500.

bkrownd

I totally dropped this hippie surfer kid on a clunker bike with a milk crate bungeed on the rear. He was struggling to stay in motion mashing at 40rpm, and my motor was purring at 110. Am I cool too?

Nachoman

I passed a roller skater today. Does that count?

Russ9000

I passed wind does that count?

Pink_Ninja

hmmm, maybe

theshoemaker

There may not be any meaning in it at all, but an under prepared rider passing an over prepared rider definitely has a better chance of deserving respect than does an over prepared rider passing an under prepared rider.

johnnny

What does OCP mean

giantcfr1

...Obsessive Compulsive Poseur

thebankman

I got into an informal race the other day through the park with a dude on a mountain bike. We just looked over at each other, he was on partial dirt, I was on tarmac, and started to accelerate. When we slowed down on the top of the next hill we are both weezing like old men and gave each other props for a good run. Apparently we both noted the other as a "pace" to try and match.

By the way, no one ever suspects you to be a fast rider in a Bill Cosby-esque sweater

EURO

I love the fact that in your world, that guy is considered a poseur. Here, he's considered a rather silly beginner.

What do really accomplished, fast, and committed cyclists in the US ride and wear?

USAZorro

The maillot jaune. Seriously though, I haven't noticed a "uniform" as they've whizzed by me. They all do seem to wear cycling jerseys and cycling shorts - at least when it's warm.

Raiyn

Game, set, match

EURO

I guess if you can't tell the difference you'd probably think they all look the same.


Even in a race?


Around here, you can pretty much see by looking at someone if they are fast or not. Full pro team kit and a Trek is usually a pretty good indicator of a slower rider. Plain kit or club kit and a Time or Look or something is usually a pretty good indicator of a faster rider. Poseurs ride Colnagos, De Rosas etc.

johnnny

A faster rider would realise how crap Looks are, so they would more likely ride a Time, Trek, Giant etc

EURO

EURO

OBVIOUSLY that's not posing. It's a contractual obligation.


That's even more stupid. Who would find the logos of a parquet flooring company or hearing aid manufacturer attractive?

Barese Rider

Talk about poseurs..
If you think that youre that good go to a local race pay your fee and then tell us how you did.. at least those you were racing against would know that they were in a race other than the tour de your head..Failing that, find a local club and ride with them for awhile, even the B group, and near the end of the ride bet a couple of them a beer or two as to who gets back to the lot first and good or bad give us an account.. That I would find alot more interesting..

EURO

Yes. I don't find shocking pink with the logo of a German Telecomunications company attractive. Does your car look like this? Would you put that crap all over it?

patentcad

Euro: >>What do really accomplished, fast, and committed cyclists in the US ride and wear?<<


USAZorro >>The maillot jaune.<<

I nominate this response to Euro for the Bike Forum Annual Slam Dunk Award.

patentcad

Please don't sully NASCAR with your Eurocentric rantings in the future. Have some respect for our National Sport. And no matter how much you may piss on NASCAR one thing will always be true:

It's 10x easier to get laid at the Daytona 500 than @ Paris-Roubaix. 50x more drunken babes.

slvoid

I wouldn't mind owning one of these..




All 3 of em can hold its own against a nascar race car, plus I get to have someone else in the seat next to me with AC running and a movie in the DVD player.