BikeArkansas

My wife and I do not agree on this. I would like to know what other people think. She says my riding groups race all the time. I say that racing is not a part of our riding and I do not plan to race.
The ride this afternoon is a good example.
We have a Monday evening group that is small, usually 7 or 8 riders, but we do enjoy this 25 to 30 mile ride every week. Today a new rider joined us and we always welcome new riders.

To get right to the point, I normally top out our biggest climb first. Sometimes I am challenged, but I have held my own for a while now. Today I was beaten on a shorter sprint type climb by the new rider. He was very smooth and confident as he went by me. I knew the challenge was there.

When we started up the main climb, which is a little over a mile long, the two of us worked our way to the front and rode together through the first couple of switchbacks. Finally he looked over at me and it was certain the time had come. Both of us shifted up and started working hard. We were wheel to wheel for a good distance as the sweat in the 100 degree heat was pouring. I was riding as well as I could up the hill, but was not gaining, so I decided to call to my legs for more power. I think he did the same thing.

It was no longer just sweat, as I guess I was entering the slobering stage, as I was not going to give up my hill and he was still beside me. I started to come out of the saddle, but knew I could not sustain my speed with the distance remaining, so I gave on that idea and stayed on the seat.

Finally I did not see him beside me, but I knew he was only a bike length back. This was not the time to let up. With only about a hundred yards to go I decided to call for any last kick from my legs. I was now past the slobering and into my nose causing these funny little bubbles.

I did go over the crest where I could ease up and look back. To my surprise I was close to 50 yards ahead. The new rider came up to thank me for a good ride and he looked forward to more of these rides.

My wife calls this racing. I do not think so. What's the verdict.

Artkansas 

As a married man, when is your wife ever wrong?

FightingPanther

our group rides around here are no drop but every hill is an open door for anybody who wishes to be pummeled by our veteran and low cat racers, and if someone goes then its a race but only till the top

Hermes

Not racing. Racing is much more intense and tactical with a prescribed course with a definitive start and finish. One may be part of a team and work together. In road racing, there are typically laps e.g. 10 miles each with X amount of climbing per lap. Riders will attack on various laps. What you participated in is more dueling / challenging each other to improve performance.

fthomas

Did your wife witness this event?

On the other hand, I have seldom met a wife who was, uh, incorrect, but may be simply ill informed.

So, what did you tell her? And there I was with slobber and snot flying as we ...........................

cccorlew

A race has a starting line, prizes, EPO, UCI stuff and such.
You are just being a kid and having run with your buds.
Just as you should be.
Carry on.

cccorlew

Oh sure. Give some well thought out accurate answer. Spoil sport.

Wildwood 

Competitive cycling is not racing unless you are in a "sanctioned event".

Robert Foster

The first time two men found themselves running in the same direction and one refused to let the other pass him it was a race. Maybe not organized but a race nonetheless. You don’t have to be on a track to be in a race it is only the challenge between you and another person. Two cars sitting at a stoplight and taking off at the same time are racing as soon as one tries to beat the other to the next light. Two sail powered fishing boats trying to get back to the harbor to get their fish to market first are racing. If someone is first when at least two people tried to be first it is a race. Be honest and admit it, your wife has nailed you and she is right.

Catweazle

Just wanted to emphasize that bit of the previous post, in case it was missed.
A race is a race. Doesn't have to have formal rules, conditions and arrangements. It's one person trying to beat another person. All these people saying otherwise are dirty great fibbers, and their goldfish are gonna turn into tadpoles!

cyclinfool

In my sailing days the old addage was - when can you tell if to sailboats are racing - thier sails are up.
I find the same goes for biking. Although the intensity of the race depends on the determination of both parties, some days I am not very determined. Let the newbie win a few.

Retro Grouch 

So what does the other rider think?

If you both thought that it was a race to the top of the hill, then it was a race to the top of the hill. If either rider didn't know that it was a race, then it wasn't.

Terrierman

If you were in fast cars instead of on bikes and went all out to be the first one to a given point would it be racing? Give it up, your wife is 1000% right.

Pista Largo

I always called these "Pickup races"

Floyd

I have to agree with the Yes you were racing ... maybe you did not say, hey wanna race...maybe it was not official,as some have said...but you were in it those few moments to beat the guy...you wanted to win the "race".
+1 on the your wife has you nailed.
that does not mean it is a bad thing...racing is fun, but we have to face the fact that it is a competition in your mind. that is a race. and a good race is fun and not a bad thing.

bac

There is a HUGE difference between racing with your buds on a group ride, and actually racing your road bike. There is really no comparison.

... Brad

DnvrFox

Well, if you weren't "racing," you were "intensely competing."

From your wife's viewpoint and for her purposes, I fail to see the difference. I doubt she understands, or cares to understand, the subtle differences pointed out by Hermes.

I also fail to see why she should object.

Do you wait for her at the top of the hill? - Or circle back down and climb the hill again with her?

Catweazle

Of course there's a difference. They're different *kinds* of racing. Accepting that competitive riding is racing doesn't mean that you're equating it with formal competitive events. You're merely acknowledging a quality of the activity engaged in.

cccorlew mentioned earlier "You are just being a kid and having run with your buds." That's right. Having fun racing each other, just like kids do.

I didn't get the impression, from the topic post, that she actually objected. Instead I got the impression that she was simply insisting on saying it like it is

DnvrFox

Well, we need a clarification here. I suspect there is more to the story than we were told in the OP.

BikeArkansas - clarify things for us!

bac

Do a road race. The difference is night and day.

... Brad

Allegheny Jet

Since it was important to you to be the first rider to the top of the hill, you were racing. Don't know if the new guy was just holding your wheel and trying not to show you up on his first day. Your wife is correct.

Years ago my wife and I played on a sand court co-ed volleyball team. The league kept score and had standings, I would play nice most of the time, but, once in a while the ball was "right there" and as a natural reaction I had to spike it. Sometimes the spiked ball would hit a woman on the other side. On the way home I would get the lecture about being too competitive in a co-ed league. My response usually was "if we are keeping score don't we want to win?"

Catweazle

Don't need to. I have plenty enough experience in competitive sports to know the difference between formal competition and informal competitiveness.

vtc12ip

Race. Not organized but a race nonetheless.

Terrierman

Other than the fact that both guys were trying their best to go the fastest to beat the other guy and there was one guy who won and one who didn't and I would guess they felt like they were gonna puke when they were done, I guess you might be right....

cranky old dude

Ya weren't racing, you just wanted to see who could get up the hill first!