Why is it so enjoyable

[BSRU]

Why is it that cruising past someone really trying up a small drag is so enjoyable.

Some cyclist, on better bike than mine, in front of me seemed to be going quite quickly on the flat, then there was a short sharp drag with him giving it some out of the saddle and I just cruised past still in the saddle. I think I even heard a strange sound from him as he realised I was now in front of him.

I always seem to find it easier to go past people on climbs, even in my days riding with my local CC, although a big girls blouse going down hills and reasonable on the flat.

 

[wesa]

I had something similar last night.

As I went round the bend at the bottom of a 0.75 mile gradual climb I saw a bike about half way up. I normally manage about 14mph up this climb but with some motivation I passed the guy at 18mph, he was barley above walking pace. He was on a nice road bike, full lycra, taking a swig of a very orange drink, and obviousley suffering, I am sure he had done some serious distance. But I felt no remorse as I flew past him with a cheery 'evening' on my pannier laden hybrid.

I felt sure he would up the pace and I gave it everything all the way home, I never saw him again but I did start feeling guilty for feeling so smug.

 

[Adasta]

I am sure he had done some serious distance.

For me, there's no glory in overtaking someone who is clearly tired. Like you say, this guy could've been coming back from a long ride and was knackered on the way home.

It's far more satisfying to overtake someone who looks strong.

 

[Andrew_P]

Are unfit people not allowed decent bikes then?

 

[BSRU]

I had something similar last night.

As I went round the bend at the bottom of a 0.75 mile gradual climb I saw a bike about half way up. I normally manage about 14mph up this climb but with some motivation I passed the guy at 18mph, he was barley above walking pace. He was on a nice road bike, full lycra, taking a swig of a very orange drink, and obviousley suffering, I am sure he had done some serious distance. But I felt no remorse as I flew past him with a cheery 'evening' on my pannier laden hybrid.

I felt sure he would up the pace and I gave it everything all the way home, I never saw him again but I did start feeling guilty for feeling so smug.

No need to feel guilty about that one, silly commuter racing takes no account of the rider's state at the time you scalp them.

 

[al78]

I had something similar last night.

As I went round the bend at the bottom of a 0.75 mile gradual climb I saw a bike about half way up. I normally manage about 14mph up this climb but with some motivation I passed the guy at 18mph, he was barley above walking pace. He was on a nice road bike, full lycra, taking a swig of a very orange drink, and obviousley suffering, I am sure he had done some serious distance. But I felt no remorse as I flew past him with a cheery 'evening' on my pannier laden hybrid.

I felt sure he would up the pace and I gave it everything all the way home, I never saw him again but I did start feeling guilty for feeling so smug.

I had something similar happen to me when I made the mistake of having a sports massage the day before I was due to lead a club ride. Needless to say my legs just packed in after about 10 miles, to the point where I had to abandon the ride and limp home struggling to maintain 10 mph on the flat. Not an enjoyable experience (and yes, I had had a decent breakfast and had an energy drink with me, so it was nothing to do with a lack of calories).

 

[asterix]

Was trundling along a Wolds road last Sunday when 2 guys on black Cervelo's and identikit black cycling gear pulled out just in front. Me on my old steel tourer, mudguards, saddle-bag, scruffy gear and just having climbed Acklam Bank.

One of them casually leaned back in the saddle to take a swig just in front of me. There was only one thing to be done, so I overtook them. In front of a group of ramblers They got their own back a bit further on but the ramblers were well out of sight by then.

 

[TVC]

I scalped a rodie on my commute a couple of weeks back, and me on my SS.... he really didn't like it.

I see him regularly now, he's sucked my back wheel a couple of times but he's not got me back yet

 

[gbb]

It's so enjoyable because...
The one thing we're all trying to do is improve fitness, endurance, speed etc. Every time you scalp someone it hopefully re-inforces in your mind what we are all trying to achieve.
It's true scalping a tired rider counts for nothing really, but what is even better is when you scalp someone on the end of your 35 mile ride.

I was on the end of one such ride, just a couple of miles from home when i came upon a group of three riders (probably toward the end of their ride too) with small gaps between them...i took the first, he tried to catch my wheel, then fell back, i took the second, the same happened...same with the third .
Its a bit peurile, but does make you feel good. But then again, who knows if they were just on the end of a 70 mile ride ? Then my scalping counts for nothing too.

 

[wesa]

It's true scalping a tired rider counts for nothing really, but what is even better is when you scalp someone on the end of your 35 mile ride.

I got permission to spend 3 hours on the bike today, I have a 50-60 mile route planned (several options) and I am trying to time my departure so that there will be plenty of 'targets' towards the end of the ride to help motivate me.

Unfortunately the nice weather has bought out some seriously quick roadies, let battle commence.

 

[BSRU]

I got permission to spend 3 hours on the bike today, I have a 50-60 mile route planned (several options) and I am trying to time my departure so that there will be plenty of 'targets' towards the end of the ride to help motivate me.

Unfortunately the nice weather has bought out some seriously quick roadies, let battle commence.

I think for people like me who just commute, now is the time to try to scalp roadies, before they have put in lots of training miles now the weather is warmer.

 

[astrocan]

I was toodling along on my commute when I heard a bike behind me and after a brief look behind decided to leave him eating my dust. Needless to say after about a mile of him sticking to my back wheel he romped past me on a foldie, the worst part was he had a set of golf clubs across his back.

On the other hand, toodling around Suffolk on one of the old mountain bikes I keep at the caravan, I caught up with a bloke in lycra on a Fausto Coppi struggling up a hill (in SUFFOLK). For some reason he seemed intent on heaving up the incline in a massive gear and I stayed a respectful distance behind for a while but eventually I couldn't go any slower and easily zipped past. I fully expected him to fly by on the other side but I never saw him again. I will ignore any logical justification for this, I enjoyed it too much.