Originally Posted by DrIsotope (Post 19079146)

I don't ride with groups like that because I have no desire to be associated with groups like that. They're always "training" for something, perhaps this week's 6 hours of "work" is preparation for the 6 hours the following week.

And they're not slower by any stretch-- they move along at a good clip when clustered up-- but as far as my worthless opinion is concerned, not nearly fast enough to justify the cloud of attitude they exude. I got plenty of over-the-shoulder glances-- as if I were somehow occupying their space. This is typical of my experience with the weekend club rider mentality-- and this would have been an A-level group.

I never intimated I give a crap what they think. Making that pass on a group of 10+ feels to me like one-upsmanship, and I'm not in competition with anyone for anything. Better to just slow down and share the bike lane, rather than jumping out into a gap in traffic to get past a leisurely pace line.

I also never intimated that I'm any better than they are, as a cyclist or as a human being. I made no more effort to be social than they did. But I'm not keeping up any appearances. I don't like most people sight unseen. Once I see more of how people really are, I tend to like them even less.