STP is a great lesson in how most people are utter shit at bikes.
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I did STP four or five times (I know, I’m a masochist) and every time I would see three or four people straight up crash for no apparent reason. Usually in Portland because I guess they’re tired.
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I had a weirdly convoluted Cat 6 experience.
I got on the MUP and hit a steady post-work pace but somewhere along the line I picked up a cling-on, kitted up Masters racer, who was poor at communicating his intentions. But he had ALSO picked up a cling-on on a flat bar bike.
So they’re drafting off me (without me knowing) when I had to briefly slow down while approaching a woman with a stroller. Masters Guy chose that moment to pass me. Rude, but when I went to follow him around the stroller I nearly ran into Flat Bar guy behind him because neither announced they were there and I’m not used to expecting so many people on the trails (It was 15C/60F) who can actually keep pace.
And also, c’mon guys, I’m trying not to run into this woman on a stroller, so maybe you slow down, too?
Anyway, now I’m between Masters Guy and Flat Bar Guy and Masters Guy is really turning the screws. I’m thinking I’ll just let him go, but then my competitiveness kicked in and I crawled my way back to him.
On the other side of the path there was this loud scraping sound as a rider approached. This guy was on a junky-ass bike and it looked like the tire had rolled off the rim. But he was still riding it, rim directly on pavement with his tire jammed between the brakes and the stays.
Shortly after this Masters Guy appeared to be slowing down, so I rolled up next to him and was like, “Did you see that dude on the junky mountain bike without a tire?” Masters Guy was slobbering all over himself and huffing really loudly. He didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Did he bury himself so much that he didn’t notice. Because it was very loud.
I tried to keep talking to him, but he kept slowing down, so I shrugged my shoulders, and took off again. But 3 minutes later I look behind me and he’s directly on my wheel again, scary close for someone who didn’t announce they were back there.
Eventually, as noted above, we reached a small incline and he dropped off. However, it was not far from my exit, so since I turned off first, he’s probably bragging to his wife about his Cat 6 palmares, but I probably had less saliva to clean off my face.
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Today I had a convertible mazda miata follow me down a large hill on my commute (marine view to thistle/wildwood) about 10 feet from my rear wheel. I took the whole lane and was above the speed limit the whole time and annoyed at him for driving so close to me.
At the stop sign at the bottom of the hill he starts yelling “41! 41!dude!, Dude! 41!” Apparently he was just really stoked on how fast I was going… I gave him an awkward thumbs up and rolled on…
Also, Ive been running into more and more riders on my way back from university on weeknights. I still highly recommend chatting with folks to racing them.
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Yeah, I always just talk to people. They usually either ignore me or act like I’ve crazy.
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Yea, I’m always friendly to other cyclists and it’s interesting to notice which ones ignore me and which ones are friendly back. People with rando bikes are always friendly. People on ‘spensive road bikes with kits on are 50/50 - sometimes really friendly, sometimes complete jerks. Hybrid commuters dont’ give a shit about “cycling community.” E-bike riders who’re on Rad Power bikes are actively rude/dangerous/shitty 70% of the time. Dudes riding BMX bikes and hopping curbs are always friendly, 30% chance they’re also high as fuck.
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I never announce it if I randomly draft somebody going the same way. I also don’t merge in behind somebody without looking, just assuming there’s nobody there because… why on earth would I assume that?
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i usually nod at people and that’s about as social as i’ll get on a road bike
mtb i will talk to folx wherever whenever or cut laps with them no dramas, plenty of times i’ve rocked up at a trailhead solo and met someone in the car-park then proceed to ride for 2hrs+ with said persons
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This aligns almost perfectly with my experience.
I appreciate that hybrid commuters don’t give a shit about cycling community, since in a sensible world, we wouldn’t be banding together because we ride bikes, and there would be so many people on their bikes every day that talking to any or all of them would just seem like an unnecessary and bizarre waste of time. They’re the vanguard of cycling.
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Be the change you want to see 8n the world.
I love this, hasn’t happened to me in a while but it’s great when it does.
I never announce snot rockets to people who randomly draft me that haven’t announced themselves.
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I only chat with people if I have something of substance to say.
I’ve had less success chatting with lady cyclists, who just assume I’m going to hit on them (I get it).
One time I caught up to a friend’s girlfriend and rode up beside her and just said, “Suup!” without putting too much thought into it. She basically did a heavy sigh then, put on a fake smile and turned to look at me with fake friendly eyes. When she realized it was actually someone she knew, her whole demeanor changed. Cracked me up.
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Today I made a bad pass and forced an oncoming cyclist to go 3 wide on the MUP.
He called me out on it.
I realize this is a cardinal sin and this is my confession.
I do actually feel bad about it.
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Say 10 On Your Lefts, fix 3 strangers flats and get buzzed by a car and your sins will be absolved.
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Really wish coaches would teach junior racers not to silently pass other riders/walkers on the MUP’s blind corners (South Boulder Creek Path for locals).
I’m already done with other people on bikes
That said, I love the “wearing what I wore when it was -20 when it’s 45” dudes I’m seeing everywhere now. I guess every temperature is cold until it’s 75.
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I’m still wearing jeans and a button-down on my commutes and I’ll continue to do so until it gets up to 70 or so.
It makes the pathlete tears that much sweeter.
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I saw a man in a face mask yesterday. It was 40. How.
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I wear hats with ear flaps under my helmet until it is 60 degrees or so. The reason is cold or coltish wind rushing past my ears has always given me this weird bone deep headache