Quote Originally Posted by singletrackmind View Post
Yer not s'posed to hang onto 'em, yer s'posed to lose 'em. Hard. Or die trying.
Cause if yer goin' for the chase you gotta make the kill.



(and then pull over for some fictional reason and hold it....hold it....hold it....ok, he's gone...keel over from lack of oxygen)
I agree. I don't race, I'm not fast, I suck at climbing. Yet I do have a competitive streak in me. When on my road bike I assume I should be able to to catch and pass any mountain bike. Not true yet if they look never like not such good form or cadence, or newer or road or mountain the chase is on.

Especially if they are guys, even more if they are younger, best if they are on road bikes .... so on.

Often I can't pass them or even reel 'em in but the sprint and effort is worth it.

But I don't get close unless I can to pass. If there's nothing left in the tank it does not matter. If I can't pass or it's not safe to do so why bother. and you never know, some riders are not familiar with signals and your cheery "on your left " can be interpreted as "you must do an immediate sharp left "

I've seen it happen. So back off, I hardly know you

The one time I chased a guy down and was not going to let him get away was on a training season opener for ALC. A rider nearly caused a horrific crash when our route crossed the course of the "Escape from Alcatraz" Triathlon and he crossed the street smack dab in front of a racer.

If you're lurking and were descending I can't get your screamed "noooooooooooo!" outta my head. Glad you are ok, nice handling skills

He was on a new carbon race bike, I on my tank of a commuter. Once we were clear to cross the street safely without racers on a closed course with an only in San Francisco style steep hill flying towards us I set off and chased him up the same hill. I was determined.

When I caught up I motioned him over. Once I could breath and calmed down I gave him a stern lecture. A new rider he did not know bikes can go 60-70, he'd never heard the term "closed course" and thought the racers had a stoplight , he just didn't know.

Another rider rolled up introduced us and told him I'm an experienced ALC'er. Then with my permission he rode with me. When we returned he said he'd just been doing everything I did; if i shifted he shifted, if I signaled he did ... but I knew he was there, and knew he was new.