agustinkim

I was riding today and was passed by some biker, so I say to myself, why not go with him? So i start picking up my pace, he looks back and starts speeding. Not knowing whether he wants the challenge or not, I took it and started to follow... Of course I was on a fixie, he was on a cannondale... I was reeling him in when he decided to shift gears and just blasted off...
Was wondering if it is okay to do things like this? I just started cycling and was wondering if random "challenges" like these are okay. Or if they make cyclists mad? Thanks.

SprinterT

I bet it made that guy mad that you were trying to race him on a fixie.

DataJunkie

I doubt he even noticed.

ericm979

Most of the time when someone does that to me, I just think they are lame until I drop them on the next hill, then I think they're pathetic too.

OTOH if you catch up to someone, say "hi" and ride with them, and you both get competitive, that's cool. I've met some interesting people just by saying "hi" as I pass them or they pass me.

Yaniel

I usually have at least one person latch on behind me while i'm riding, it doesn't bother me. Well except for the guys that take a free ride for 5 miles then stand up and sprint past me while looking at me with a bad face. Don't do that and I don't think anybody will care. I try not to do it to others though, if I'm riding solo, I rather not get the benefit of the draft. I will pace you from a distance though. As for being on a fixie, it doesn't matter, I know tons of guys on FG bikes that are usually in the breaks on the hammer rides here.

midgetmaestro 

There's usually 1-2 of these threads per week.

Yaniel

This one isn't so bad though. They're usually about how some troll in sandals and cargo shorts dropped one of us roadies in full kit and a carbon bike.

mrrab

Wouldn't know... No one has yet to pass me. Usually when I pass riders that look some what serious I usually say "hi". I've only had one rider catch up to me and draft with me for about 1/2 mile - didn't even know he was drafting with me until the last minute.

Usually if I pass riders, I do my best to keep pace and not to let them pass me. :-)

DataJunkie

I start making comments like that due to a temporarily inflated ego and then go ride in Boulder. Tis generally a humbling experience.

DtotheJtotheH

Since I am a beginner, I often try to do this. I don't follow them extremely close or anything (50+ feet back, not drafting distance), but I try to make myself step up to their level for as long as I can. It's how you getter better, so I really see nothing wrong with it, so long as you do not interfere with their riding.

urbanknight

If it bothers them, they won't (or shouldn't) participate. If they do participate, then game on!

Treefox

I often find this rather irritating. If I'm out riding alone, that's probably because I intend to do so. If I were looking for a group ride, I'd go find a group ride. If someone decides to grab my wheel, the only options are to slow down until they go away or to drop them.

(also, of course, a dilemma when gradually coming up on another rider who is going only marginally slower - do you slow up so as not to catch up, or gun it by and break your rhythm?)

At the very least ask if you want to hop on and borrow a draft for a little while to recover or are bonked and need to get back to town or whatever.

Really irritating: randoms who hop on, then yell when I don't point potholes, yell 'slowing,' or whatever. I ain't no group ride.

More irritating: coming back into town from a 100+ miler and encountering randoms who want to 'race' like this


Also all reasons I don't wear team kit while commuting. It attracts cowboys.


(sorry to sound like some old curmudgeon)

agustinkim

ohh alright guys, thanks for all the help. I don't really think he was upset or anything, i think he had fun with it... I could only stay up with him for a while and did not draft... I think it was fun trying to push myself like that. More motivation to get faster right? Won't do it for a while though, at least until i know i can put on a fight haha.

and i don't think he would be upset that i was trying to do that with my fixie, it's got drops + aero bars... don't think he even noticed it was a fixie, and why would it matter anyways? a bike's a bike's a bike.

mobike_moexcite

So close to dropping the ol' Performance video for this. I don't let people get close enough to race me when I'm riding solo. Especially if it was a fixie.

OldLog

I am too old to care you all can go on by and enjoy the ride.

jmsmke

Yeah, I can attest to this. I spent a week in Boulder last year and got passed more times in a week than I do in an entire year in SE Wisconsin.

tero

I sometimes get passed by the same guy. He's on one of the local triathlon teams, and with my sucking as bad as I do, it's no wonder he maintains a faster pace (also, he has aerobars...).

What I like to do is give him a good gap, say 50 meters, and then try to match and maintain his speed. It's my way of proving to myself I don't always suck so much, but without being a jerk at the same time (I know, I'm a sad person). He knows I do this, but so far he's never said anything to me.

[edit: avoiding the censor filter]

JoelS

There's always someone faster. If you'd like to draft, strike up a conversation. You'll be expected to do your fair share of time up front. But racing a random stranger? See if their interested first. I just ignore folks that attempt that with me. I'm just not interested.

Keep SA Lame

1. Pull up even with them
2. Look over at them and make eye contact.
3. Pull ahead of them and see what they do.

(personally, I chase faster riders and will take on any challenge- but I'm a fun loving, trusting soul.)

Yaniel

same here. If they ask if they can jump on, or say hi, before jumping on my wheel, I'll point things out. If they just quietly jump, that's their problem. I've also had ones that jump on and I don't notice, then I suddenly sit up for what ever reason, or make a sudden right turn and they get mad. It's not my fault they were "tailgating" unannounced.

scotch

this is not OK. please sell your bike and take up geocaching instead.