Broctoon

Yeah, if I’m gaining slowly on someone and to pass him would leave me completely gassed so I then have to slow back down, I just stay back. I pass if I can do so and then walk away.

scottfsmith

I had two times my ride last weekend where I did this trading places thing. I passed these riders on a flat, then on the uphill they passed me, then I passed them on the way down and that was that. All fine, we just had our own paces on different grades. The annoying thing was later someone passed me at the very top of a hill at a fast clip, and then proceeded to go about 5mph slower than I would want to go on the downhill, but it was heavy traffic so I didn't feel like passing. Don't do that. I think he was trying to catch me for awhile and did a "whew" when he made it, forgetting what an annoyance he was going so slow right after passing.

Eric F 

If you want to use a rider up the road as a rabbit, and add that dimension to your ride, go for it. There's really no harm being done. Just don't be an @$$ about it. Honestly, my first instinct on a bike is to make it competitive, even if I'm only competing with my own PR. Riding for the simple joy of rolling down the road under your own power is something I'm learning how to do.

Broctoon

I get that. I’ve never been very scientific in my training. I usually just go out and try to ride hard. But I’m aware a lot of guys are focused on an objective that is not “go as fast as possible around this park.”

Lately I’ve been wondering if I should do some more structured routines. In the winter I ride inside on my TACX trainer, so I can see my power, I can enjoy ride parameters that are often not possible in the real world, and I can focus on the effort with no distractions or safety concerns.

Since I don’t have power measurement on the bike itself, I can’t ride for power outside. I don’t believe it’s important at all for a guy without specific goals for performance improvement.

My goals are to maintain or improve my general health and fitness, and to be able to ride increasing distance and intensity over time. With these vague objectives, there’s probably no need for structured workouts where I ride for a specific length of time at a certain power. Love me some intervals, but I just let the hills of my favorite course dictate them.

I have done FTP tests occasionally and I try to work out in a way that my FTP will increase over time, but all the math and science to make that happen is handled transparently by my app.

FWIW, I had about 180W FTP a few years ago, and I gradually brought it up to 200. This of course is an estimate and not necessarily super accurate. It’s good enough for me though. I don’t know how well I’ve maintained that since my last test, as I went through an illness and some family situations that temporarily derailed my training. Soon I’ll probably get back on the trainer and take another test to see where I stand.

terrymorse 

Chase riders, catch riders, pass riders, drop riders. Go for it, as long as you do it safely.

What's not fine is jumping on the wheel of some stranger, treating them as your own personal domestique. Now THAT is ******-bagery.

Hey, wheel sucker! I don't know you, and I certainly don't work for you, get off my ****-ing wheel!

It happened on today's endurance/tempo ride (Cañada Rd., for those who know it). Heading north, I caught up to a guy, said "hi" as I passed. He didn't even look up or grunt an acknowledgement. I kept on at my pace.

Several hundred yards later, as I slowed for a stop sign, surprise! There he was on my wheel, ready to plow into me! He had quietly jumped on my wheel.

Fortunately, Cañada Road has a nice uphill section, so I was able to ride him off my wheel with just a little extra effort.

People, don't do that.

Eric F 

Hmmm...I've never really been bothered if someone I pass jumps on my wheel. It doesn't happen very often. Typically, I just continue on at whatever pace is my choice, and they fade away soon enough. On occasion, I will incrementally dial up the heat a little at a time until they break. If I'm riding solo, I wouldn't be opposed to trading pulls with another rider of a similar level, if they're down for that.

LarrySellerz

What if he told you "im on your wheel" or something along those lines, its canada road you gotta expect drafters

Koyote

Haven't we already covered this, Larry?

terrymorse 

No drafting without permission, that's my rule.

This bozo almost crashed into me.

Caliwild

I don't mind if people pass me, but I'd appreciate a "good morning" or "great day, huh?" I'm usually riding really early in the morning so if someone passes me (and I can tell they're just trying to prove themselves), I just say "GOOD MORNING" as loud as I can. It startles them and amuses me... Yeah, I know it's childish but oh well...

Bah Humbug

And dork. And berk. And dong.

indyfabz

On Sunday a neighbor blew his rear tire while someone was drafting him without his knowledge. My neighbor started to wobble and slowed. The guy behind him took them both down. My neighbor wasn’t hurt badly. The drafter got a gash on his face, among other injuries. Neighbor said it looked bad enough to require stitches, but the guy didn’t want anyone to call for medical assistance.

koala logs

I literally meant cruise like cruising on a long flat road section, not average speed. The average speed would be a lot lower and max speed I'm hitting is not much beyond 25mph as I'm starting to spin out.

It was this bike but my friend's had more handlebar drop giving a lower riding position and the chain ring on his has been replaced and looked bigger. Conti slick tires. It felt a lot faster than my much cheaper road bike because it felt really light and the small wheels must be making a lot less drag.

I'm quite confident in this bike's design than other folders because the folding mechanism is entirely under tension (less metal fatigue) and integrated with elastomer suspension. I won't even dare riding at those speeds with other folders.

LarrySellerz

as far as i know the “rule” is no unannounced silent drafting. If he called out that he was on your wheel how would you have reacted? Try to ride him off your wheel? Wanting permission is all well and good but IRL it sometimes doesnt work out that way.

did you slow down at the Jefferson stopsign or something? I dont think cops care if cyclists going uphill run that one.

MoAlpha

I did that on many summer evenings long ago in Central Park. It was easier than actually riding the Sunday morning club crits and I assume the mooks are still doing it there.

These days, on the rare occasions when I pass someone on the road, I listen for wheezing and look for signs of congestive heart failure.

Broctoon

"Wait, I just passed you? Sir, are you okay? Do you need an ambulance? Stay with me! Don't go toward the light!"

terrymorse 

When I'm on the front I have rules, and one of those rules is strangers may not suck my wheel.

I would have informed him of my rule. If that didn't get him off, I would take "other measures".

Yes, I slowed down at the Jefferson stop sign, so I could see if the intersection was clear. Cops or not, I don't blow through stop signs at full gas. Garmin says I slowed to 10.5 mph.

rumrunn6

both normal human tendencies, I think. when I was younger, in my 20s, while driving too fast, I would often feel like a pac-man when passing other cars, feeling as tho I ate the competition

urbanknight

As long as the other riders aren't being dragged into your fantasy racing world, who cares? Tell yourself they're the maillot jaune and that you need to beat them by a full minute to win the GC. That will keep you hammering with enthusiasm long after you've passed them and after they probably turned off on some other route, blissfully oblivious to their crushing defeat.

Broctoon

Oh, in my Class 6 races, I'm always wearing the yellow jersey. If someone else beats me, I'm sure the officials will find he was doping or something. If I win, it was a clean kill.

DonkeyShow

Go on...internet is full of tough guys soo this should be good.

terrymorse 

Sorry to disappoint. I'm not a tough guy.

One of my "other measures" is slowing to a crawl and waving the wheel sucker to pass.

big john

My ex had this problem. She would always pass the fastest car on the freeway. If she was going 70 and someone cruised by at 75, she would pass them back. I don't even think it was a conscious thing. When we moved and her commute was a longer freeway drive she got 4 speeding tickets in like 6 months. Our insurance went through the roof and she had to do traffic school and community service. She seemed to get the message, finally.

Now, people routinely drive 75-80 on our local freeways. It's insane.

rumrunn6

yeah I like the 70mph pocket. it's helps that I drive SUVs now. slows me down ... in my twenties I lived in that left lane, even in the middle of the night w/ no traffic. the things I did w/ those old Chevy Citations were not good, I was pretty active in the old Mercury Capri too

MoAlpha

I agree it’s unconscious. There’s something about the state of complete mindlessness which many drivers seem to inhabit which allows the visual cortex direct neural access to the flexors of the right ankle. The key to this understanding is that they slow down to 62 mph, as soon as they’re past you and the stimulus is gone.