Am I a ******bag on my bike sometimes?
#76
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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.
Now, people routinely drive 75-80 on our local freeways. It's insane.
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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.
Now, people routinely drive 75-80 on our local freeways. It's insane.
We were on some roads last weekend with 80 and 85 limits, and saw quite a few running around 100 mph. That's scary.
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Our local freeways all have 70-75 mph speed limits. That means people are driving 80 to 85 in a lot of places. It gets hairy really fast when there are people out there who do not know how to drive that fast, and there are an awful lot of those.
We were on some roads last weekend with 80 and 85 limits, and saw quite a few running around 100 mph. That's scary.
We were on some roads last weekend with 80 and 85 limits, and saw quite a few running around 100 mph. That's scary.
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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.
Now, people routinely drive 75-80 on our local freeways. It's insane.
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#81
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Agreed. My 80mph isn't bobbing and weaving through gaps. If the surrounding vehicles aren't traveling at a similar cruising speed, I adjust accordingly.
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#82
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So I sometimes like to try passing other riders. Often, I can pull it off. (Not always.) I’m not smug about it. I don’t gloat or grin at them. Most of them probably don’t care or even pay any attention to me. But I wonder.
Years ago, someone on the forums read a post from a guy who described doing the same thing and replied “Yeah, nothing cooler than beating other riders who aren’t racing.” He’s being sarcastic, and he’s (sarcastically) right.
I just have a little competitive streak, and I find I can push myself harder during a workout if I lock onto a target a quarter mile or so ahead and commit to passing him. If I notice someone approaching me from behind, I try to keep my lead on him.
Not trying to troll here. I’m sincerely interested in your take on this tendency of mine. What do you say?
Years ago, someone on the forums read a post from a guy who described doing the same thing and replied “Yeah, nothing cooler than beating other riders who aren’t racing.” He’s being sarcastic, and he’s (sarcastically) right.
I just have a little competitive streak, and I find I can push myself harder during a workout if I lock onto a target a quarter mile or so ahead and commit to passing him. If I notice someone approaching me from behind, I try to keep my lead on him.
Not trying to troll here. I’m sincerely interested in your take on this tendency of mine. What do you say?
I once caught up to a a strong rider with a good uphill climb lead with maybe 1/2 a mile (I could see him from the bottom hillside), so I picked up the pace to catch up to him. When I finally reached him, he didn't want to lose his lead to someone who came out of nowhere. My original intention was just to catch up to him, but he ended up picking up the pace so we both went all out on the climb. By the time we hit the switchback he conceded by pulling off fatigued while gasping for air. We waved each other off, had a few friendly words and it was all good vibes. I finished the climb to the summit, but by the time I reached the top, my heart felt like it was about to burst!
To me that's what cycling is all about!
#83
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A couple of weeks ago, I was grinding up what I considered a "modest climb" when someone pulled up beside me and said "These false flats are demoralizing" and then droped the hammer and left me behind. Looked at my computer to see it was a 4% gradient and couldn't decide if the guy was humble bragging or if I was being a wimp.
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#84
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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...
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#85
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Out on a long ride, sometimes I'll start to see another rider ahead of me. Sometimes it's not a mailbox. I'll very gradually overtake them, maybe 1-2 mph. When I get up there and pass them, I'll pull over a couple feet in front of them, offering my wheel, which they could certainly take and go a little faster. They never do. They gradually disappear behind me. Eh. On our tandem if we start to catch another bike, Stoker will say, "Not quarry!" but we'll catch them anyway.
I don't get the issue. If I or we are faster than another bike and overtake them, of course we'll pass and of course they won't be able to keep up unless they grab a wheel. Maybe riders are just a lot saner out here in the bucolic PNW.
I don't get the issue. If I or we are faster than another bike and overtake them, of course we'll pass and of course they won't be able to keep up unless they grab a wheel. Maybe riders are just a lot saner out here in the bucolic PNW.
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#86
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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.
One time, another rider passed me, and said, "I'm gonna slow up in about 15 seconds. I'm on a workout, I don't want you to think I'm being a jerk!" That was nice of him.
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That's nice, but my mind would still have Phil Liggett's voice saying, "Oh, he doesn't have it in him! He's hit a wall and Urban Knight is on the attack!"
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#88
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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.
On a couple of occasions I have even pulled off to the shoulder or on an exit to get someone to GTFO my door.
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I cannot stand when people pull up and drive right next to me. Especially out here where there are literally dozens of miles of open highway between towns. Give me some space. You just never know what's going to happen.
On a couple of occasions I have even pulled off to the shoulder or on an exit to get someone to GTFO my door.
On a couple of occasions I have even pulled off to the shoulder or on an exit to get someone to GTFO my door.
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I do that a lot, for fun and exercise. Last night I spent 2 miles catching a guy who started out 50 yards ahead then got farther away. Eventually I caught up to close enough that I could have put in an almighty effort and passed him but since I was finishing my ride within half a mile, I didn't bother.
One time, another rider passed me, and said, "I'm gonna slow up in about 15 seconds. I'm on a workout, I don't want you to think I'm being a jerk!" That was nice of him.
One time, another rider passed me, and said, "I'm gonna slow up in about 15 seconds. I'm on a workout, I don't want you to think I'm being a jerk!" That was nice of him.
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A month or so ago, I had one of those days where you feel like a Cycling God. You know, those rare days when every time you call down to the legs for more steam, they have no difficulty complying? So I was on this ~3% gradient with a couple stoplights. Turning onto the road, I passed a couple other riders. Then I was stopped at a light, and they caught up with me. I had a hard time clipping in on starting up so they gapped me a little bit, but I passed them again. This happened maybe twice more. The last time, some guy on an old Kestrel says something like, "It's nice when the bike does the work for you!" After I had dropped him for the last time, it occurred to me that maybe he thought I was on an e-bike. Nope. Just a really good day for the legs.
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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.
Now, people routinely drive 75-80 on our local freeways. It's insane.
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#93
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"The elastic has broken!"
A month or so ago, I had one of those days where you feel like a Cycling God. You know, those rare days when every time you call down to the legs for more steam, they have no difficulty complying? So I was on this ~3% gradient with a couple stoplights. Turning onto the road, I passed a couple other riders. Then I was stopped at a light, and they caught up with me. I had a hard time clipping in on starting up so they gapped me a little bit, but I passed them again. This happened maybe twice more. The last time, some guy on an old Kestrel says something like, "It's nice when the bike does the work for you!" After I had dropped him for the last time, it occurred to me that maybe he thought I was on an e-bike. Nope. Just a really good day for the legs.
A month or so ago, I had one of those days where you feel like a Cycling God. You know, those rare days when every time you call down to the legs for more steam, they have no difficulty complying? So I was on this ~3% gradient with a couple stoplights. Turning onto the road, I passed a couple other riders. Then I was stopped at a light, and they caught up with me. I had a hard time clipping in on starting up so they gapped me a little bit, but I passed them again. This happened maybe twice more. The last time, some guy on an old Kestrel says something like, "It's nice when the bike does the work for you!" After I had dropped him for the last time, it occurred to me that maybe he thought I was on an e-bike. Nope. Just a really good day for the legs.
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#94
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The problem with the "Cycling God" days is I know that there will also be the "Cycling Dog" days where you feel like you're really pushing hard and you look down and you're going slower than usual on that segment.
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#95
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"The elastic has broken!"
A month or so ago, I had one of those days where you feel like a Cycling God. You know, those rare days when every time you call down to the legs for more steam, they have no difficulty complying? So I was on this ~3% gradient with a couple stoplights. Turning onto the road, I passed a couple other riders. Then I was stopped at a light, and they caught up with me. I had a hard time clipping in on starting up so they gapped me a little bit, but I passed them again. This happened maybe twice more. The last time, some guy on an old Kestrel says something like, "It's nice when the bike does the work for you!" After I had dropped him for the last time, it occurred to me that maybe he thought I was on an e-bike. Nope. Just a really good day for the legs.
A month or so ago, I had one of those days where you feel like a Cycling God. You know, those rare days when every time you call down to the legs for more steam, they have no difficulty complying? So I was on this ~3% gradient with a couple stoplights. Turning onto the road, I passed a couple other riders. Then I was stopped at a light, and they caught up with me. I had a hard time clipping in on starting up so they gapped me a little bit, but I passed them again. This happened maybe twice more. The last time, some guy on an old Kestrel says something like, "It's nice when the bike does the work for you!" After I had dropped him for the last time, it occurred to me that maybe he thought I was on an e-bike. Nope. Just a really good day for the legs.
#96
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After I got the Challenger I noticed a lot more people speeding up as I passed them on the freeway, sometimes passing me. Didn't happen nearly as often when I was driving a Subaru Outback - which I drove at the same speed. I noticed that men driving Priuses were overrepresented in the 'gotta pass you' group.
#97
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#98
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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.
Now, people routinely drive 75-80 on our local freeways. It's insane.
#99
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So I sometimes like to try passing other riders. Often, I can pull it off. (Not always.) I’m not smug about it. I don’t gloat or grin at them. Most of them probably don’t care or even pay any attention to me. But I wonder.
Years ago, someone on the forums read a post from a guy who described doing the same thing and replied “Yeah, nothing cooler than beating other riders who aren’t racing.” He’s being sarcastic, and he’s (sarcastically) right.
I just have a little competitive streak, and I find I can push myself harder during a workout if I lock onto a target a quarter mile or so ahead and commit to passing him. If I notice someone approaching me from behind, I try to keep my lead on him.
Not trying to troll here. I’m sincerely interested in your take on this tendency of mine. What do you say?
Years ago, someone on the forums read a post from a guy who described doing the same thing and replied “Yeah, nothing cooler than beating other riders who aren’t racing.” He’s being sarcastic, and he’s (sarcastically) right.
I just have a little competitive streak, and I find I can push myself harder during a workout if I lock onto a target a quarter mile or so ahead and commit to passing him. If I notice someone approaching me from behind, I try to keep my lead on him.
Not trying to troll here. I’m sincerely interested in your take on this tendency of mine. What do you say?
As long as you announce, "On your left" before passing him or her, I doubt that anyone would care.
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