Why so competitive?

cld531c

Anyone else out there fed up with how competitive 'recreational' cycling has become?
I understand it if people are training for TTs or races but if you are not racing why be so competitive?
The amount of people I see half killing themselves on the road or bragging about their (usually over inflated) average speeds is getting absurd. Also, the average ride seems to be about 20-25 miles.
Whilst I admit I do sometimes enjoy pootling alongside someone who has killed themselves trying to overtake when they refuse to (or cant) talk, it would be nice if there were more 'normal' people out there who enjoy riding for ridings sake.
Is it because I started cycling pre-Strava that I find this so strange? Anyone with me?

haydenm

Maybe they are enjoying themselves and like going fast?

fenix

How do you know what they're up to though ? Someone half killing themselves might be training for racing ?
Let them be - you do your own thing.

shirley_basso

Fast is fun. You gotta kill yourself to get faster.

Why are average speeds inflated in your view? I don't use auto pause on my Garmin and let Strava correct it for me, which it does.

cld531c

Shirley Basso wrote:

Fast is fun. You gotta kill yourself to get faster.

Why are average speeds inflated in your view? I don't use auto pause on my Garmin and let Strava correct it for me, which it does.

If they are not over inflated then the ones I am referring to have managed to get Strava to show their speeds as 2-4mph less than they quote.

cld531c

Fenix wrote:

How do you know what they're up to though ? Someone half killing themselves might be training for racing ?
Let them be - you do your own thing.

I know these people and know they have never and will never enter a race or TT.

cld531c

HaydenM wrote:

Maybe they are enjoying themselves and like going fast?

Shoulders rocking, having to stop with fatigue every few miles isnt my idea of fun. Hey ho.

cougie

Where do they report this average speed ?

keef66

Live and let live. I usually like to take it easy and see how far I can go, look around and enjoy the countryside, occasionally stop for a breather and a sit down. Unless they ask I don't bore people with how far or how fast (slow) I rode, and I certainly don't post stuff online for others to see.

My son on the other hand is completely obsessed with speed, both average and maximum. He's a Strava nut and is constantly looking for new segments, many of them down-hill, and looking to climb the leader boards. Whenever I see him he tells me of a new speed related PB. There's a good chance he's going to come a cropper one day; even if I could, there's no way I'd be contemplating descending at 50+ mph on the country roads round here.

At least he's out on a bike and not slumped in front of the TV.

The only cyclists I find mildly annoying are those who think they are racing when they are in fact doing a sportive or charity ride. You can still push yourself and set a good time without riding like a dickhead and endangering others.

cld531c

cougie wrote:

Where do they report this average speed ?

Verbally!

haydenm

cld531c wrote:

HaydenM wrote:

Maybe they are enjoying themselves and like going fast?

Shoulders rocking, having to stop with fatigue every few miles isnt my idea of fun. Hey ho.

People do lots of things that don't sound like fun to a lot of people. A lot of pros experiences of the TdF would be hell to most people, or ultra running or riding mountain bikes downhill at speed.

Pootling around at walking pace sound desperately boring to me but hey ho...

Not saying I have anyone to be competitive with other than myself, but I understand why people want to go fast

dinyull

cld531c wrote:

Fenix wrote:

How do you know what they're up to though ? Someone half killing themselves might be training for racing ?
Let them be - you do your own thing.

I know these people and know they have never and will never enter a race or TT.

You know them and they won't speak to you?

cld531c

Clearly just me.
WIll leave you with your incorrect assumptions that these riders are going faster.

cld531c

Dinyull wrote:

cld531c wrote:

Fenix wrote:

How do you know what they're up to though ? Someone half killing themselves might be training for racing ?
Let them be - you do your own thing.

I know these people and know they have never and will never enter a race or TT.

You know them and they won't speak to you?

Two different scenarios if you read it properly.

haydenm

cld531c wrote:

Clearly just me.
WIll leave you with your incorrect assumptions that these riders are going faster.

As opposed to your incorrect assumptions that everyone going fast on a bike is being unnecessarily competitive and not enjoying it?

fenix

cld531c wrote:

cougie wrote:

Where do they report this average speed ?

Verbally!

Call them out on their BS then ? You'd be ripped to pieces in the average club coming up with Billy Bullsh*t speeds that you can't repeat.

I cant actually remember giving my average speed for a ride out ever - nobody cares.

cld531c

Fenix wrote:

cld531c wrote:

cougie wrote:

Where do they report this average speed ?

Verbally!

Call them out on their BS then ? You'd be ripped to pieces in the average club coming up with Billy Bullsh*t speeds that you can't repeat.

I cant actually remember giving my average speed for a ride out ever - nobody cares.

Prefer to just pretend I believe them then make them suffer :-)

cld531c

HaydenM wrote:

cld531c wrote:

Clearly just me.
WIll leave you with your incorrect assumptions that these riders are going faster.

As opposed to your incorrect assumptions that everyone going fast on a bike is being unnecessarily competitive and not enjoying it?

I do not recall saying anywhere that the riders I was referring to were fast. You can be competitive without being any good.

If someone has to get out of the saddle to overtake on the flat and you dont increase your speed but catch them shortly with ease then they 'need to stop to make a call' then I think them being competitive is a given. WHats the fun in passing someone for 100 yards then having to stop cos youre knackered? If thats how you enjoy yourself then thats your call but doesnt look much fun to me.

shirley_basso

May be doing intervals?

dinyull

cld531c wrote:

Fenix wrote:

cld531c wrote:

cougie wrote:

Where do they report this average speed ?

Verbally!

Call them out on their BS then ? You'd be ripped to pieces in the average club coming up with Billy Bullsh*t speeds that you can't repeat.

I cant actually remember giving my average speed for a ride out ever - nobody cares.

Prefer to just pretend I believe them then make them suffer :-)

Why so competitive?

cld531c

Dinyull wrote:

cld531c wrote:

Fenix wrote:

cld531c wrote:

cougie wrote:

Where do they report this average speed ?

Verbally!

Call them out on their BS then ? You'd be ripped to pieces in the average club coming up with Billy Bullsh*t speeds that you can't repeat.

I cant actually remember giving my average speed for a ride out ever - nobody cares.

Prefer to just pretend I believe them then make them suffer :-)

Why so competitive?

Ha ha! I'll give you that but only when Im pissed off with someone :-)

haydenm

cld531c wrote:

HaydenM wrote:

cld531c wrote:

Clearly just me.
WIll leave you with your incorrect assumptions that these riders are going faster.

As opposed to your incorrect assumptions that everyone going fast on a bike is being unnecessarily competitive and not enjoying it?

I do not recall saying anywhere that the riders I was referring to were fast. You can be competitive without being any good.

If someone has to get out of the saddle to overtake on the flat and you dont increase your speed but catch them shortly with ease then they 'need to stop to make a call' then I think them being competitive is a given. WHats the fun in passing someone for 100 yards then having to stop cos youre knackered? If thats how you enjoy yourself then thats your call but doesnt look much fun to me.

Maybe the rider enjoys seeing how hard they can push themselves? You're clearly a better rider than them, leave them to it. It's 'my call' but you are fed up with it and it's absurd...


I'm just playing devil's advocate because I'm procrastinating. I like to ride fast so I'm knackered when I get home, luckily I have no friends to brag to

cld531c

Thanks for all the replies - nice to see what others think, world would be boring if we all had the same opinions.

keef66

You really are in control over how other peoples' behaviour makes you feel. You can simply choose to ignore their childish 'my dad's bigger than your dad' playground bragging* as just that, and rise above it, feeling all superior.

Or you could let it silently eat away at you, and then come on here expecting sympathy...

*actually thinking about it, with the obesity tsunami sweeping the nation, that's more likely to be an insult than a brag...

cld531c

keef66 wrote:

You really are in control over how other peoples' behaviour makes you feel. You can simply choose to ignore their childish 'my dad's bigger than your dad' playground bragging* as just that, and rise above it, feeling all superior.

Or you could let it silently eat away at you, and then come on here expecting sympathy...

*actually thinking about it, with the obesity tsunami sweeping the nation, that's more likely to be an insult than a brag...

Expecting sympathy - No, just wondered if it got on other peoples nerves.

mtpockets

Things have changed but more cyclists on the roads is a good thing. Others' opinions or competitiveness don't bother me - they're free to overtake, although tortoise/hare moments are amusing. I don't even bother with a computer any more and still ride with toeclips and 'normal' clothes on a now 20 year old bike - just about exercise and enjoying the countryside personally. Each to their own motivations.

sloppyschleckonds

A lot of denial on this thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ive read what the bedwetters write on the indoor training forum

milemuncher1

cld531c wrote:

Anyone else out there fed up with how competitive 'recreational' cycling has become?
I understand it if people are training for TTs or races but if you are not racing why be so competitive?
The amount of people I see half killing themselves on the road or bragging about their (usually over inflated) average speeds is getting absurd. Also, the average ride seems to be about 20-25 miles.
Whilst I admit I do sometimes enjoy pootling alongside someone who has killed themselves trying to overtake when they refuse to (or cant) talk, it would be nice if there were more 'normal' people out there who enjoy riding for ridings sake.
Is it because I started cycling pre-Strava that I find this so strange? Anyone with me?

I’m 100 percent in agreement. I’ve been cycling for as long as I can remember, one way or another. Road cycling, in particular, has become hilariously over competitive, in recent years. MTB isn’t anything like as bad, as long as you don’t go to a dedicated trail centre, or somewhere that is known for attracting the competitive types. It doesn’t bother me particularly, unless someone is trying to be a billy big tiles, and does something that puts me directly at increased risk of an incident. I actually quite enjoy getting on my Hybrids, and riding along cycle paths / parks, as it’s a relief from the increasingly competitive environment I see on road routes now.

keef66

I just don't get the idea of a complete stranger trying to compete with me when I'm not. Competing, that is. It would be as satisfying as me sprinting past Usain Bolt when he's in Aldi looking for cheap socks. And then telling people about it. WTAF?

The only real competition in cycling is a proper race or time trial; not much scope there for claiming you were faster than you actually were. If somebody bragging that they average 20 mph really bothers you, suggest a ride with them, see if it's all bullshit. You might find out they really are that fast...

cougie

How are they competing with you though ? When I'm out I don't care what anyone else is doing. It's irrelevant.

keef66

Maybe the thread was just badly titled. The OP wasn't complaining about people being competitive. People making unsubstantiated claims about their cycling ability / achievements perhaps?