I used to be like Joe here, but I found I wasn’t enjoying my ride when I’d push myself to keep up with fast riders. So now I just go at my own pace. If I WANT to go fast, I do; if I want to relax I do.
I find most cyclists (for that matter, most PEOPLE) have an obsessive compulsive streak; I’ve found you need to FIGHT this tendency if you’re going to enjoy life.
I never chase, but a biker in my rearview mirror will cause me to increase my normal 12.8 mph speed to a blazing 12.9 mph until I’m passed. Then I get back into my comfort zone.
The last critical mass ride I was in was really boring. There were not a lot of people and even less energy. As the ride was ending, a group of club riders riding on a cross street crossed in front of us. I split off from the group to follow the club riders. I was on my fixed gear and wearing street clothes, but it felt SO good to go fast and catch those riders and hang on their wheels. When they realized that the last rider in the line was on a fixie with fenders they sped up. Then it really got fun. I can understand Joe wanting to catch that rider.
@Seth Higbee why is that? i was doing the bike the drive here in chicago a few months back. and i found the club riders there to give me and my fixie dirty looks. when they found i was drafting them they sped up to lose me. i was just trying to enjoy a ride with ppl i thought would be interesting. i guess they were more concerned about haning with ppl that spent way to much on their bikes then then with ppl that just really liked to bike. oh well
A couple times I was passed by a chubby guy on a mountain bike wearing dockers and a backpack. This was on a stretch notorious for head-winds, yet he was pedaling easy and steady. He was becoming my “Grail”, until I saw a bike looking just like his with a battery on the frame. The front hub was large, possibly the engine. It was confirmed when I saw that bike going fast without any pedaling from the rider. I gave up that quest for the grail right then and there!
@cinchel To you and many others, a bike is a bike. We are all one community. To others, a bike is a symbol. It can be a symbol of status, wealth, strength, or individuality. To those people my brakeless fixie says that I
I actually saw Yehuda drafting club riders this morning! This guy looked just like Yehuda ‘cept his bike wasn’t nearly as nice – squeaky old MTB-turned-commuter with a milk crate on the back. I was swinging left onto a deserted side street and just as I did this line of Spandex-clad warriors came by with “Yehuda” stuck onto the back. I dropped in to draft “Yehuda” just when he says “on your left” and pulls me by the Club (with me hammering for all I was worth to stay on his wheel with him apparently just cruising along)! Fortunately for me my turn came up in only a couple of blocks because I was gassed trying to stick with this guy. The club got on my wheel but last I saw there line was falling apart as they were hammering to bridge the gap I left when I turned. LOL – very entertaining ride to work this morning!
LOL – I couldn’t believe it. The looks we got as we went by were priceless. I look only slightly better than this guy – non-squeaky MTB-turned-commuter with good panniers.
Also: Don’t be confused if you notice that there are some extra ‘pre-dated’ entries in the drop down menu above… the comics will load as usual; I just needed to get the menu ready for my time away from the computer. Thanks.
I am a Joe and Yehuda. I commute on a racing bike. Let Joe chase, he is having fun and riding his bike. No harm no foul. Yehuda could use a little fire in his rides on occasion, if not he is gonna get fat.
It’s fun to chase if you have a chance. I used to chase and be chased as well until I got an extra 135 pounds of children, trailer and groceries stuck to my bike. Boy, will that ever slow you down! I used to get discouraged being passed by every one (even a grandma once). Now I just chuckle to myself and tell myself jokes about it, like: “hey! Where’s your kid and groceries?!” Ok, not as good as Rick’s jokes, but better than giving up
Hey cinchel, did you try talking to them? Roadies are nervous about riders who don’t “look the part,” because they are an unknown quantity. Riding in a paceline at speed is not a place where you want to be caught unawares by a sketchy rider. In any case, grabbing onto a line of riders without saying hello or asking if you can join in seems pretty rude. I’ve been showing up to local club rides with an old, grimy-looking road bike for over a year now. Most of the people I ride with are really nice, friendly guys who couldn’t care less about the value of your bike. Why do so many people get worked up about “elitist” roadies? If someone showed up on your commute and started hanging silently off your back wheel, wouldn’t that put you a bit ill at ease?
Anyway, I don’t usually chase – it’s just not worth it. I’m either riding with my buddy, or worn down from a day of work and don’t feel up to it, or just plain don’t see the point. Of course, most of the time, I’m the guy passing other riders, when I encounter them. My commute is not exactly a bicycle superhighway!
I usually hold my own on my old mtb-turned-commuter. today I pulled my 30 mile highway commute in an hour and ten. so, I feel pretty good. I got passed by a guy on a wal-mart schwinn with a two stroke engine attached. I gave chase but could not maintain 35 mph for long. The little sneak passed me on an uphill so it was not exactly fair. There are several folks out there to whom I am the grail, but some I can’t catch. I just don’t see them often. i do like passing the carbon straddling roadies.
So that’s who was chasing me earlier…
I used to be like Joe here, but I found I wasn’t enjoying my ride when I’d push myself to keep up with fast riders. So now I just go at my own pace. If I WANT to go fast, I do; if I want to relax I do.
I find most cyclists (for that matter, most PEOPLE) have an obsessive compulsive streak; I’ve found you need to FIGHT this tendency if you’re going to enjoy life.
I never chase, but a biker in my rearview mirror will cause me to increase my normal 12.8 mph speed to a blazing 12.9 mph until I’m passed. Then I get back into my comfort zone.
The last critical mass ride I was in was really boring. There were not a lot of people and even less energy. As the ride was ending, a group of club riders riding on a cross street crossed in front of us. I split off from the group to follow the club riders. I was on my fixed gear and wearing street clothes, but it felt SO good to go fast and catch those riders and hang on their wheels. When they realized that the last rider in the line was on a fixie with fenders they sped up. Then it really got fun. I can understand Joe wanting to catch that rider.
Oh wow. Does Joe’s bike have a threaded headset, or do my eyes deceive me? (or maybe Rick is skimping on the details)
To the RSS readers out there:
The RSS feed will be updated sporadically for the next week. The comic will still update every day, but the RSS probably won’t. Just a heads up.
“THE GRAIL” Love it!
@Seth Higbee why is that? i was doing the bike the drive here in chicago a few months back. and i found the club riders there to give me and my fixie dirty looks. when they found i was drafting them they sped up to lose me. i was just trying to enjoy a ride with ppl i thought would be interesting. i guess they were more concerned about haning with ppl that spent way to much on their bikes then then with ppl that just really liked to bike. oh well
this pretty much sums up my ride every morning when a roadie passes me on my mtb
A couple times I was passed by a chubby guy on a mountain bike wearing dockers and a backpack. This was on a stretch notorious for head-winds, yet he was pedaling easy and steady. He was becoming my “Grail”, until I saw a bike looking just like his with a battery on the frame. The front hub was large, possibly the engine. It was confirmed when I saw that bike going fast without any pedaling from the rider. I gave up that quest for the grail right then and there!
@cinchel To you and many others, a bike is a bike. We are all one community. To others, a bike is a symbol. It can be a symbol of status, wealth, strength, or individuality. To those people my brakeless fixie says that I
Four wheels good.
Two wheels better!
I actually saw Yehuda drafting club riders this morning! This guy looked just like Yehuda ‘cept his bike wasn’t nearly as nice – squeaky old MTB-turned-commuter with a milk crate on the back. I was swinging left onto a deserted side street and just as I did this line of Spandex-clad warriors came by with “Yehuda” stuck onto the back. I dropped in to draft “Yehuda” just when he says “on your left” and pulls me by the Club (with me hammering for all I was worth to stay on his wheel with him apparently just cruising along)! Fortunately for me my turn came up in only a couple of blocks because I was gassed trying to stick with this guy. The club got on my wheel but last I saw there line was falling apart as they were hammering to bridge the gap I left when I turned. LOL – very entertaining ride to work this morning!
LOL – I couldn’t believe it. The looks we got as we went by were priceless. I look only slightly better than this guy – non-squeaky MTB-turned-commuter with good panniers.
Also: Don’t be confused if you notice that there are some extra ‘pre-dated’ entries in the drop down menu above… the comics will load as usual; I just needed to get the menu ready for my time away from the computer. Thanks.
I am a Joe and Yehuda. I commute on a racing bike. Let Joe chase, he is having fun and riding his bike. No harm no foul. Yehuda could use a little fire in his rides on occasion, if not he is gonna get fat.
@Erik, I agree, no harm no foul.
It’s fun to chase if you have a chance. I used to chase and be chased as well until I got an extra 135 pounds of children, trailer and groceries stuck to my bike. Boy, will that ever slow you down! I used to get discouraged being passed by every one (even a grandma once). Now I just chuckle to myself and tell myself jokes about it, like: “hey! Where’s your kid and groceries?!” Ok, not as good as Rick’s jokes, but better than giving up
@’pre-dated’ entries
Thanks Rick, now the anticipation…
I should admit I have had some rides where I Went a few blocks too far just by trying to catch up with someone..
Hey cinchel, did you try talking to them? Roadies are nervous about riders who don’t “look the part,” because they are an unknown quantity. Riding in a paceline at speed is not a place where you want to be caught unawares by a sketchy rider. In any case, grabbing onto a line of riders without saying hello or asking if you can join in seems pretty rude. I’ve been showing up to local club rides with an old, grimy-looking road bike for over a year now. Most of the people I ride with are really nice, friendly guys who couldn’t care less about the value of your bike. Why do so many people get worked up about “elitist” roadies? If someone showed up on your commute and started hanging silently off your back wheel, wouldn’t that put you a bit ill at ease?
Anyway, I don’t usually chase – it’s just not worth it. I’m either riding with my buddy, or worn down from a day of work and don’t feel up to it, or just plain don’t see the point. Of course, most of the time, I’m the guy passing other riders, when I encounter them. My commute is not exactly a bicycle superhighway!
I usually hold my own on my old mtb-turned-commuter. today I pulled my 30 mile highway commute in an hour and ten. so, I feel pretty good. I got passed by a guy on a wal-mart schwinn with a two stroke engine attached. I gave chase but could not maintain 35 mph for long. The little sneak passed me on an uphill so it was not exactly fair. There are several folks out there to whom I am the grail, but some I can’t catch. I just don’t see them often. i do like passing the carbon straddling roadies.