Best wind up when someone tries to be a hero whilst you’re riding.

[screenman]

Does inexperienced equate to idiot?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The best bit, hearing their harrumph and once out if earshot laughing at their need to be a hero by passing you.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I must hold my hand up to occasionally using other riders as a challenge. I'm not normally bothered about pushing myself for a full ride but sometimes, if I'm bimbling along and somebody clearly faster than me overtakes I will try and use them as a challenging pacer for a while until I blow up. I would never sit on their back wheel and tend to stay at least 30 metres behind to not be cheeky and never ever try to overtake as I know that would finish me off. I am pleased to be able to keep up for a while.

I hope this isn't bad cycling manners, and wonder if 30 metres should be increased a bit.

 

[nickyboy]

Is RR indulging in a little satire at his own expense, or is he being serious?
Never had this happen to me. On occasion, I’ve overtaken a cyclist and had them increase their speed to sit on my back wheel. Now that really is irritating and a little childish!

Why? I think that's fair enough. Faster cyclist overtakes, I hook on and get a tow for a while

I did exactly that a couple of times on the last ride. I always ask if the person who overtook me would mind me draughting them though. Cant exactly say no can they, it's just me being polite

One time he was fast so I just sat on. Other time he wasn't so we took turns

 

[Dave Davenport]

Is RR indulging in a little satire at his own expense, or is he being serious?
Never had this happen to me. On occasion, I’ve overtaken a cyclist and had them increase their speed to sit on my back wheel. Now that really is irritating and a little childish!

I don't think RR does satire, he just puts accounts of incidents that only happened in his imagination on here now and again.

 

[Pikey]

Aha, but I’m referring to the idiots that barge past, busting a lung to do so, then instantly run out of everything, which invariably leads to a closing speed, which necessitates a re overtake. I don’t care about people on a mission who want to crack on. I’m planning on using the Hybrid a lot more next year, it doesn’t seem to be such a chopper magnet. That’s less stress, and more fun.

Exactly why I go out on my mtb now, apart from me just liking it more

I don’t think those competitively inclined see me as a scalp so we end up having a chat mostly.
I’ve only once had overtake politics when I overtook two roadies many years back on my old mtb. “We are not being scalped by an mtb, come on!” He said to his mate and got a wriggle on mid overtake I just waved them through and had a chat, I think it was just banter anyway.

how fast I am compared to others isn’t really relevant to me tbh, as long as I’m better than the last time I went out that’s all that matters.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I go out on my mtb now

Holy 2018 thread resurrection, @Racing roadkill (are you still a 'thing'? or have you still got me on 'ignore')

 

[derrick]

This time of year does seem to bring out the Superman brigade. I’ve had a couple of rides in the past couple of days, where I’ve been chopped by someone who’s consequently ‘blown up’ a couple of yards later. The two things I’ve found that winds them up is to re pass them whilst slow clapping sat bolt upright with both hands off the bars, and saying “If I thought it was a race I’d have made an effort”. It’s fun winding choppers up.

He may of just been going for a segment on Strava, i have done this myself, That's the thing with people on bikes you never know what they have done on the day,

 

[FishFright]

Who knew riding a bike was so complicated. Is it time we had a book of etiquette ?

 

[Juan Kog]

Who knew riding a bike was so complicated. Is it time we had a book of etiquette ?

NO , the many rules and etiquette of cycling must forever be unwritten . That way when you're happily cycling along you don't know who you've offended and why. Which may bother some less experienced cyclists . But as you gain experience you develop the attitude, I don't give a rodents bottom and up yours to mate .

 

[Ajax Bay]

the attitude, I don't give a rodents bottom and up yours to mate .

Quality experience!

 

[icowden]

He may of just been going for a segment on Strava, i have done this myself, That's the thing with people on bikes you never know what they have done on the day,

Or he might just have been like me, enjoying a downhill and then knackered on an uphill!

 

[Brandane]

Holy 2018 thread resurrection, @Racing roadkill (are you still a 'thing'? or have you still got me on 'ignore')

Please; don't wake him up!

 

[biggs682]

Surely it's about enjoying the ride not the speed

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Surely it's about enjoying the ride not the speed

That's my approach. I just pootle along most of the time, and I expect to be passed by roadies out on a training mission. So long as I don't get buzzed with inches to spare I couldn't give a shoot. My rides don't seem to attract many wannabee racer overtakes though. I suppose there's not much kudos to be gained from trying to scalp a bloke dressed like a builder riding an old steel bike with mudguards and a rack!