robnol

anyone ever pass a pace line on a recumbent....they dont like it and think that ur cheating because ur sooo much more aero than ur average upright df rider....

Skankingbiker

I just like to ride my bike and try not to pay attention to what others think. I passed a paceline on a downhill last weekend, but they caught me on the next roller. Thought nothing of it. I have no clue if they are recreational, training, or on a cool down. I am not racing them. I just smile and wave.

Leisesturm

I don't know. Pacelines can be pretty fast. And focused. I can't imagine a DF rider concentrating on staying out of the rear derailleur of the bike he is drafting having much time or inclination to throw verbal or emotional caca at anything else on the road. Let's not get too full of ourselves. Recumbents are groovy, fer sure, but a DF rider in full tuck is pretty damn aero. Put a bunch of them on a paceline and you need a very strong rider on a Velokraft lowracer to even stay near them, let alone pass them. So, my guess is, they weren't hammering. They were just out for a roll. And you roll upon them and pass leaving them choking on testosterone fumes. Yeah, I'd be pissed too.

BlazingPedals

I've passed and/or dropped pacelines so many times I don't pay attention anymore. Occasionally one rider will bust out of the group and chase me solo. That never lasts because once he loses his group's draft he's toast.

Leisesturm is correct, a lowracer is the correct tool for the job.

Edit: I've been accused of 'cheating' before and I have two thoughts on that:
1. Unless the bike type for the ride is specified, it's 'ride what you brought;' and it's not my fault if they made a poor choice for which one to bring.
2. Riding in a paceline can confer even more advantage than being on a lowracer, so either the pot is calling the kettle black, or they suck.

robnol

yeah i dont know their situation...it was into a head wind the upright df riders most hated thing...up on the hoods into a headwind man thats serious air drag

robnol

drafting is cheating....they use drafting to do speeds and distances they cant do by themselves...i believe one mans results are from one mans efforts

DrIsotope

I've got a handful of my best segment times by tucking in behind big rigs, cement mixers, etc. I don't consider it cheating because it's dangerous to the point where I can only post it here because I know my wife will never read it. It is a behavior that she would absolutely disapprove of. A paceline is a safe as the sofa by comparison.

Over a long enough timeframe, every Strava KOM will be from a wind-assisted group. That's just how it is. --racer roadie guy from my LBS

BlazingPedals

Once upon a time, Strava had the words, "best personal effort" in their rules for segments. It was universally ignored, so it's no longer there. Shame. On a lighter note, someone here in my regular riding area created a new 2-mile-long segment, thinking it would demonstrate the group's prowess. Nope, I own it.

u235

And same with your own PRs. I ride a lot of the same routes and I've done many segments 200+ times. If I get a PR or even a top 3 the wind was blowing at least 35+ mph or I am being chased by some very large animal and on the flip side I'll have just as many PW.

DrIsotope

Oh, no doubt-- I have some PRs that are simply unapproachable unless the conditions outside of my control are absolutely 100% in my favor. I finished last years Rapha Festive with a 70-miler from my house to the Pacific Ocean-- with a nearly constant 15mph tailwind. There are some 5-8 mile long segments on that route, and I was shaving 3-5 minutes off of my previous PRs. I will very likely not touch those times again.