In awe of "Real Cyclists"

Last evening I went for a ride on my favorite bike trail. I was whizzing along (okay, my "whizzing" isn't all that fast) when I hear this faint roar and someone shout "cyclist," followed shortly by an increase in roar and "on your left!" I almost had to stop and watch as the 12 or more riders flew by me (I swear they were really truly flying!)and into the distance. I was left in such awe that I almost wobbled into the path of the riders racing to catch up with the group.

I applaud every one of you who can ride like that!

I usually only ride in a group of 3 to 4 people, so when I see a "peloton" go by I also think it is very cool. Saw a group of about 20 riders on my way home from the gym last night. I drove really slow as I approached just so I could watch them. And see how many of them I knew. Funny...the ones I knew where at the back or just off the back trying to catch up.

I love watching this too, and hearing the hum of the tires on the road

On the tours I was on this summer our little group left earlier, then would keep an eye out for "the peloton" - they sat and drank coffee longer but would catch up and go whizzing past us everyday - we would catch up at the rest stops and watch it all again :D

A couple of weeks ago on the club ride about 14 of us formed a double pace line. I was able to keep up for 15 miles (they weren't going their normal zoom pace but only about 17 mph) It was AWESOME - I just wish there had been someone to pass and impress :D :D :D

And BTW - WE are "REAL" cyclists too, :cool: just a little slower :p

I'm with eclectic - we are real cyclists!

Granted most of us don't have 19 close friends to ride with - all at once in a group! Some of us are real fast, some of us are not fast (that's me!).

I do think it is neat to see a large group of riders on the road - very cool :)

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Originally Posted by eclectic

And BTW - WE are "REAL" cyclists too, :cool: just a little slower :p

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You are absolutely right! It took my a long time to believe that I was a "real" runner (I'm not fast, I don't run long distances, etc.), and because of that, I wasn't allowing myself to really enjoy the sport and all that it has to offer. Please dont make that mistake. If you're out there on a bike, riding regularly, you're a real cyclist.

KB

Well, they are cool to watch... and admire. I can only dream of going that fast someday.

But I truly hate when they zoom past me... within inches of me... and they startle me because they never say anything when they come up on me. I call them piranha packs.

I usually and almost always say on your left or passing or hi, or whatever when i am on a path riding my bike and want to pass, but HELLO, what is wrong with some people?

Just this morning, I was riding to work - I was in a hurry so I was movin right along but this incident happened on a slight uphill so I wasn't goin that fast! This fit looking girl with long blond hair is walking up the hill on the FUTS trail near the community college. As I come up on her a little ways behind her, I say "On your left" in a pleasant but to be heard voice. She looks over her shoulder to her left looks right at me and jumps as fast as she can into the left hand side of the trail!

I shook my head and thought maybe she really is a true blond! (Sorry for the blond joke, but I couldn't resist thinking it).

For that matter, I've been a blond before too, actually a real one as I was growing up!

Anyway, you can understand why riders going fast don't want to say anything - and have the person they are trying to pass jump in front of them:rolleyes:

I honestly think they don't notice much else when they're flying along in a group like that. I've seen guys blow past me in a pack, and then I've seen the same guys waving and saying hello to me in the mornings when they're coasting alone.
Where I live, there are a lot of pros who train so I'm getting used to it. Plus, I can always hear that rumble-hum when they're approaching.
(KSH... Pirahna Packs, that's a good one.)

On the good side, they give me a VERY nice view to look at as they speed away!

Joy

I really consider all of you real cyclists, I just don't consider myself one. Yet! I really do love it, even though I've only logged about 20 miles since I got my bike.

I too get really nervous when I'm passed by more than one person. I tend to freak out a bit when anyone gets close to me. I'm always afraid I'm going to wobble and cause someone to crash. I would feel so horrible.

And talking about the woman jumping into the left lane - I can totally see my daughter doing that. She's 8, and when we all ride, I ride behind her and remind her to stay to her side of the path when people come along. If someone were to say "on your left" to her, she'd probably think she was supposed to move there. Perhaps I need to make sure she understands the difference between me telling her to stay to the right, and other people speaking when passing.

I had that happen to me once. On a local paved trail, about 20 roadies flew by. It was the coolest sound and beautiful. I was really struck by the blur of gorgeous colored jerseys. They were beautiful sailing along!

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Originally Posted by spokewench

Just this morning, I was riding to work - I was in a hurry so I was movin right along but this incident happened on a slight uphill so I wasn't goin that fast! This fit looking girl with long blond hair is walking up the hill on the FUTS trail near the community college. As I come up on her a little ways behind her, I say "On your left" in a pleasant but to be heard voice. She looks over her shoulder to her left looks right at me and jumps as fast as she can into the left hand side of the trail!

I shook my head and thought maybe she really is a true blond! (Sorry for the blond joke, but I couldn't resist thinking it).

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I am not hard of hearing, but lots of times when people come up behind me and shout out something, I will only hear the last part of what they said. This girl sounds like she heard you say "(mumble mumble)..LEFT!"
I am sure this is what happens a LOT when we come up behind people to pass them. I have a classic sounding bike bell (brring-brring!!) and I use it well ahead of when I'm coming up behind people either walking or on bikes. Because it's a classic bike sound, they instantly know there is a bike coming, they look back and step out of the way in a logical direction. No confusion, and I'm not seeming to give them weird instructions on what direction to move to.

I kinda like the bell idea. It would be very helpful for me not because I'm fast and passing people, but because there are a lot of families out wandering on the trails and it would be nice to grab their attention before I get to them.

Hi Sunny Hazel

With an 8 year old, it would be expected that she go the wrong way - I'm always super careful with kids! I'll stop and talk to them. The jump into the left hand lady this morning was quite old enough to know better - and not too old to be confused!

And, I'm sure you are a real cyclist - anyone who rides a bike is!

Thanks, SpokeWench!

I find myself saying, "what is wrong with people" more and more. I can't imagine blocking a bike on purpose. What kind of unhappy would I have to be to treat people the way some folks do?

Luckily, seems like everyone here is great! :p

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Originally Posted by SunnyHazel

I kinda like the bell idea. It would be very helpful for me not because I'm fast and passing people, but because there are a lot of families out wandering on the trails and it would be nice to grab their attention before I get to them.

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It works great. I get the old fashioned kind that sound like the classic bike bells, I think that's the KEY to being recognized as a bike approaching before they even see you. Here are a couple of examples:
http://www.mysteryridge.com/item424600.ctlg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Doff%26sa%3DN
I have mine mounted to my bike so that I can just drop my thumb down from the handlebars to ring it:
http://harmonias.com/LisaBike_7.jpg

One of the coolest things in life (to me anyway) is being in the middle of a pack like that and the hum of the tires and the sounds of people cranking in unison. When you're in a group of people you know, and you know how they ride and hold their lines, you can ride with less anxiety and just let the pack pull you along. It's very cool. And amazing how fast you can go. It is a sight to see, and even more amazing to partake in. Then you get spit out the back and have to hammer to catch up again :D All you can think is "gotta get back on....gotta get back on....please let me get back on...."

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Originally Posted by Bluetree

On the good side, they give me a VERY nice view to look at as they speed away!

Joy

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Now that I've started exercising and getting more fit, I have noticed that I have been noticing and appreciating really fit-looking bodies (especially men's bodies!) more than I ever have before I started exercising. This is new to me. Has anyone else ever felt this way? Or is it just my hormones kicking in? :rolleyes:

First time I saw a team pedaling together, I told DH it was a pod of borg bikers!

They all had the exact same pedaling pace -- pretty astonishing!

Karen in Boise

The coolest thing is to be a part of a huge group like that and it's all women :D

p.s.
Next time the peleton goes by, try to catch a ride!

And I can't tell you how many stares and how many "it's a bunch of chicks!" we get. When I started the club in 2002 it was unusual to see large groups of women together, especially riding in a pack. It's a little more commonplace now, but still turns a bunch of heads when 30 or 40 of us ride by together.

To me, there is nothing like wathing a peloton go by- we get a lot of clubs riding where we live and I just love to watch them as they go past my house ..... I was also fortunate enough to go watch part of a stage of the Tour de France this year and watching all of them fly by just put a lump in my throat - it was SUCH a thrill!!

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Originally Posted by Kano

First time I saw a team pedaling together, I told DH it was a pod of borg bikers!

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Resistance is futile. Can I be absorbed?

Joy