Another etiquette question

[li10up]

Wouldn't it be in poor taste to go flying by someone who was waiting for you? If someone gets out in front of me and then allows me to catch up wouldn't it be in poor taste for me to go whizzing by them? I just kind of roll up behind or beside them. On several occasions (rare) when I've pulled ahead and noticed a gap and slowed to let the person catch up, they've gone racing right by me. Is that a no-no?

[Eden]

Wouldn't it be in poor taste to go flying by someone who was waiting for you? If someone gets out in front of me and then allows me to catch up wouldn't it be in poor taste for me to go whizzing by them? I just kind of roll up behind or beside them. On several occasions (rare) when I've pulled ahead and noticed a gap and slowed to let the person catch up, they've gone racing right by me. Is that a no-no?

Hmmm I don't really know if I've heard of any formal etiquette for this one, but I think I would consider it to be somewhat rude, but some of it may be your responsibilty too. If the person hasn't fallen considerably far behind you and you've slowed down, now suddenly the person behind you is coming up much more quickly than they've anticipated, their reaction is to pass you rather than slow down. When you do wait for someone try to not slow down too much, just enough to allow them to start gaining on you and when they get close pick up the speed again to a level that they'll stay with you, but still behind you.

If we are still talking paceline here, when you are on the front one of your responsibilities is to keep the pace nice and even so that the people behind you aren't experiencing the accordian effect (slowing and speeding up cause everyone to come together and apart like an accordian - this can cause accidents!). The folks behind you also need to communicate it if someone is falling off and the leader needs to back off the pace a bit.

[RoadRaven]

I'm just kind've murmuring here in agreement with Eden...

If you slow down deliberately to help someone out, then yes, I guess it would be bad manners if they flew past you... however, if you have slowed down to help someone out it is likley they will be gasping and just want to sit behind you and catch their breath as you lift their pace and catch them up to the group.

If it is in a paceline - well, the only time I have seen this happen is when someone is making a break...

[li10up]

This is just when there are two of us and we aren't drafting...just kind of doing our own thing and not necessarily trying to stay together the whole time. Sometimes you just feel strong and before you know it you're out ahead...or just the opposite...you don't feel at your best and you've lagged behind.

[bcipam]

I think it has to do with whether or not you are talking about someone you don't know but was kind enough to wait or someone you ride with all the time. If a Stranger, then I would not ride by, I would ride up to and engage in conversation and either drop back or then ride ahead. If a bud, usually whoever is waiting starts off as I ride up so I can draft or if stopped then I would ride by, signaling OK I'm here let's get riding. It would probably be impolite to not acknowledge that the person waited. Always give them a thumbs up or thank you.

[RoadRaven]

If its the two of you out for a training ride, then I wouldn't worry too much... I tend to get passed on hills by my training mates as I set my own pace according to my HR... but on downhill legs I tend to shoot away and past them and we all kind've mooch back together on the flats.

Check that your training partner isn't doing something like sprint intervals - that will mean they shoot by occasionally.

And have a chat with them when you pull alongside each other - ask "wow, that was a quick burst... were you; practicing sprints/testing your strength/etc...?"

Have fun and chill - you kind've explain why this happens anyway when you write

just kind of doing our own thing and not necessarily trying to stay together the whole time

If it bothers you when they fly by, ask what they were doing - maybe its something you could do too to improve your cycling too!