Showed myself up this morning

ilovegrace
ilovegrace Posts: 677
edited February 2013 in Training, fitness and health
Gradual climb over the north Yorkshire Moors when I spotted a couple of riders turning at a junction in front of me and up the went.
Now I am an easy going chap but with nearly 40 years of competative sport behind me I thought I would give it a go and try and catch them,I put a big effort in and caught then up about half way up the climb.
Why didnt I just leave it at that ? Things were reasonably steady so I thought I would get on the front to take the wind ,not a good idea . The lads (must be 20 plus yrs younger than me) were on Cervelo and Giant TCR with all the top clothing kit ,must have looked at me with my aldi/lidl gear on a cyclo cross and thought F**k this .
Steady away they just pulled away and basically took the p**s out of me .
I have never raced time trilled even a sportive but the effort I made trying to get back on for the next five or so miles
made me feel this was what a race must be like.
Alas eventually they sailed away ,as a new cyclist what is the etiquette here ?
Should I have stayed on the back and followed as long as I could ?

Comments

  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    There is no etiquette but it is more fun being overtaken by someone and then leaving them for dead than the other way around. Best to keep something in reserve for such situations, if you enjoy that sort of thing. If you catch someone sit behind for a while rather than risk humiliation.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    There is no etiquette for this, except to realise that if you try and put the hurt on others, you need to realise that you have to be able to take the hurt they might dish out in return ;)

    Don't go writing cheques your legs cant cash in other words.... :D
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • daxplusplus
    daxplusplus Posts: 631
    Well done for going for it.

    Obviously you realise in over taking someone your likely to provoke a reaction that could end in tears but staying back and playing it safe all the time is boring and the road to mediocrity.

    However if you were on a training run or trying to complete some other particular objective then maybe blowing up should not be in the game plan and you should stick to your own ride and not get drawn in.

    Me - I'd go for it and just hope and pray that they had all the gear and no idea :twisted:
    Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail

    strava profile
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Pedal harder
  • cyco2
    cyco2 Posts: 593
    The thing about young riders and having an old git ride up on them is that the youngsters have just had a dead rat crawl up on them. They have very little ability to communicate with the said dead rat who they think should crawl back down your hole. Get what you want from the liaison and move on because trying to get some friendly meaning full conversation out of these Olympic wannabes is like polishing a turd.
    ...................................................................................................

    If you want to be a strong rider you have to do strong things.
    However if you train like a cart horse you'll race like one.
  • Lightning
    Lightning Posts: 360
    cyco2 wrote:
    The thing about young riders and having an old git ride up on them is that the youngsters have just had a dead rat crawl up on them. They have very little ability to communicate with the said dead rat who they think should crawl back down your hole. Get what you want from the liaison and move on because trying to get some friendly meaning full conversation out of these Olympic wannabes is like polishing a turd.
    Nice generalization :roll:
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    I feel encouraged by the replies , so my plan is this.
    Stay at the back for a little while go and take my turn at the front ,if this is seen as a challenge then f**k it.
    Head down arse up and one day,one day it will be my day and then I can call myself a cyclist.
  • AK_jnr
    AK_jnr Posts: 717
    If someone came up on me then sat on the front I would think they were a right t*at. Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....
  • Froomes Edgar
    Froomes Edgar Posts: 359
    AK_jnr wrote:
    If someone came up on me then sat on the front I would think they were a right t*at. Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....

    +1
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    ilovegrace wrote:
    I feel encouraged by the replies , so my plan is this.
    Stay at the back for a little while go and take my turn at the front ,if this is seen as a challenge then f**k it.
    Head down ars* up and one day,one day it will be my day and then I can call myself a cyclist.

    Just get yourself into a club, it's very simple... you can then start to annoy your ride mates and not some random strangers :wink:
  • zammmmo
    zammmmo Posts: 315
    AK_jnr wrote:
    If someone came up on me then sat on the front I would think they were a right t*at. Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....

    Exactly. I do one of two things if someone does this to me. I either stop and wait half a minute so they are no longer annoying me, or I move to one side, not take their draft and wait for the next hill :)

    If people want to bust a gut trying to catch up, wheelsuck and then try and drop you, I think they should have the ability to 'mantain it'. I had a guy do this only last week and then once Past me he turned off the road and when
    i looked down the side road as I carried on past, he was softpedalling presumably absolutely spent. If you cant walk the walk......
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Well nothing wrong with using another cyclist in front of you for motivation - if you catch them though you are kind of going to have to either chat to them and ride with them, ride past them and sustain it, or look like you've killed yourself catching them and feel a bit silly when you blow up. Personally I've caught up with or been caught by others while I'm out, shared the work on the front for a bit and then gone our separate ways - doesn't happen that often but nothing wrong with having a chat with a fellow cyclist for 5-10 minutes of a ride.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    Tom Butcher wrote:
    Well nothing wrong with using another cyclist in front of you for motivation - if you catch them though you are kind of going to have to either chat to them and ride with them, ride past them and sustain it, or look like you've killed yourself catching them and feel a bit silly when you blow up. Personally I've caught up with or been caught by others while I'm out, shared the work on the front for a bit and then gone our separate ways - doesn't happen that often but nothing wrong with having a chat with a fellow cyclist for 5-10 minutes of a ride.
    This is what I think ,during these few, minutes route choce ,fitness leves etc can be shared and if so what was gouing to be a lonley ride can be sheraed for a few miles and you neve r know a new cycling buddy found.
    To re iterate my aim in passing was to share the wind ,this was mistakenly taken as a chalange (I think).
    Anyhow, I felt a bit of a dick when the sailed of into the distance but it has done me a of be good , as a previous poster said " pedal harder" .
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    Would suggest that if your in the same situation again you introduce yourself when you get on their back wheel. So they know you are there, or if they know you are there your not just going to take the tow up the hill & that you don't mind putting in your time on the front.

    They will either say yes or no but you've not lost anything by introducing yourself.
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    Danlikesbikes wrote:
    Would suggest that if your in the same situation again you introduce yourself when you get on their back wheel. So they know you are there, or if they know you are there your not just going to take the tow up the hill & that you don't mind putting in your time on the front.

    They will either say yes or no but you've not lost anything by introducing yourself.
    Will do , seems like a good plan to me.
  • Rulebritania
    Rulebritania Posts: 209
    Danlikesbikes wrote:
    Would suggest that if your in the same situation again you introduce yourself when you get on their back wheel. So they know you are there, or if they know you are there your not just going to take the tow up the hill & that you don't mind putting in your time on the front.

    They will either say yes or no but you've not lost anything by introducing yourself.

    I agree with that, I am a novice but also have a competitive streak in me, I also know my limits at 40+ and new to cycling this would be my plan.
    Don't call me sir I work for a living
  • LegendLust
    LegendLust Posts: 1,022
    To all these novices who have a competitive streak. Find out who your local club is, find out if they have evening time trials in the summer, and go and turn up and pin a number on your back.
    Selling my Legend frame
    http://owningalegend.wordpress.com/2014 ... ced-price/
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    ilovegrace wrote:
    Danlikesbikes wrote:
    Would suggest that if your in the same situation again you introduce yourself when you get on their back wheel. So they know you are there, or if they know you are there your not just going to take the tow up the hill & that you don't mind putting in your time on the front.

    They will either say yes or no but you've not lost anything by introducing yourself.
    Will do , seems like a good plan to me.

    I was out a few days ago & had both things happen. A wheel sucker on my wheel for 2kms over some rolling hills, not a thing from him no offer to come through and do a turn. I was had upped the pace a bit and not really dropped him finally turned around at a flat junction and he shot off the other way.

    About an hour later I was looking at the water levels in the fields cruising along and eating & I thought my rear mech was playing up, turns out it was some chap who's bike was changing through the gears who duly came along side introduced himself and asked if I minded him riding with me and even said "can I follow you up the next hill I'm not that fast on uphills". I didn't mind one bit & when we got to the top he looked pretty spent, but its happened to me the other way round I've been the one chewing my bars off.
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • gubber12345
    gubber12345 Posts: 493
    zammmmo wrote:
    AK_jnr wrote:
    If someone came up on me then sat on the front I would think they were a right t*at. Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....

    Exactly. I do one of two things if someone does this to me. I either stop and wait half a minute so they are no longer annoying me, or I move to one side, not take their draft and wait for the next hill :)

    If people want to bust a gut trying to catch up, wheelsuck and then try and drop you, I think they should have the ability to 'mantain it'. I had a guy do this only last week and then once Past me he turned off the road and when
    i looked down the side road as I carried on past, he was softpedalling presumably absolutely spent. If you cant walk the walk......
    :lol::lol::lol: that side road prob couldnt have come quick enough for him :lol::lol: :P
    Lapierre Aircode 300
    Merida
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    I would have done the same as these 'young lads' did to you, if i catch someone up just before i catch them i ease up a bit so when i finally to come past I can give it some beans and make sure i gap them, but living on a small island the only people likely to catch me, I know and am mates with, if i was off island and was caught i would just keep going the same speed i was and see if those who overtook could maintain it or if they just sped off into the distance
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    AK_jnr wrote:
    If someone came up on me then sat on the front I would think they were a right t*at. Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....
    To make myself clear. caught up and sat behind two cyclists the one at the front was obviously stronger and taking the wind, I sat in at the back for awhile and thought I would take a bit of the wind and went to the front I tried to make conversation but nothing doing , I have run and raced competativly for 30 years and never had this done to me .
    I have met and been met by dozens of runners, had a bit of crack ,how far are you going , what are you training for etc and you can easily judge if you can share the pace .or to fast to slow etc but never , not once have I or anyone I have met just taken off.
    Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....[/quote] what happened to ride up to the front or alongside exchange a few pleasantries ,say goodbye and off you go ?
    Or is it me ?
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    You may get more agreement with you if you posted this in road beginners.
  • cyco2
    cyco2 Posts: 593
    ilovegrace wrote:
    AK_jnr wrote:
    To make myself clear. caught up and sat behind two cyclists the one at the front was obviously stronger and taking the wind, I sat in at the back for awhile and thought I would take a bit of the wind and went to the front I tried to make conversation but nothing doing , I have run and raced competativly for 30 years and never had this done to me .
    I have met and been met by dozens of runners, had a bit of crack ,how far are you going , what are you training for etc and you can easily judge if you can share the pace .or to fast to slow etc but never , not once have I or anyone I have met just taken off.
    Either fully overtake and then bugger off or stay behind....
    what happened to ride up to the front or alongside exchange a few pleasantries ,say goodbye and off you go ?
    Or is it me ?

    No, it's not you. The only satisfaction you can get from it is....Oh! there goes another turd I don't have to polish!! :lol:
    ...................................................................................................

    If you want to be a strong rider you have to do strong things.
    However if you train like a cart horse you'll race like one.
  • saprkzz
    saprkzz Posts: 592
    I will only ever overtake if i know I can move on from them once i get past.

    If i am approaching quickly i listen to my legs, If I feel no pain, (or sustainable) then I will keep my momentum, but I will never catch someone up ahead if i need to put in all my effort because its only going to end in tears (for me :lol: ) Especially when climbing, nothing worse than puffing past someone for them to open up and making you eat their dust.

    We were on a sportive last year, and a couple of guys came raoring past us, who were not on the same event as us, and as soon as we came to a climb their legs went, I picked a speed i was comfortable at which happened to be quicker than theirs, and we sailed past. One of the guys had the nerve to have a go at me!.. couldnt believe it!

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