Passed a roadie on my hybrid! Got it on video!

[ridebikeme]

Congradulations on losing weight and feeling stronger on the bike; that's exciting!!:

I'll be honest and say that I don't understand the "need" to vocalize passing other cyclists. I've always been a competitve athlete, and will always be that way. I have defintiely used cyclists who have been in front of me as motivation to ride harder, pass them, but that's where it ends. I don't feel the need to tell my friends, put my achievement online etc...

There have been days where I have pased another cyclist, and I know they are riding easy... perhaps a recovery day from a race, or perhaps from a tough week at work. What I have learned is that "I" may have been having a good day and passed someone, but it isn't about anyone or anything else... it's about me. I compete with myself and myself alone. While I do ride with people that are faster than me, it definitely makes me a faster cyclist and I still know what my limitations/ability levels are. It is truly very exciting to become a stronger cyclist, and it's wonderful to share with friends, and keep the motivation rolling for the next ride.

Although I'm more than likely in the minority here, I think posting such events are crazy. The reality is that at one point or another, we will become the cyclist that we just passed. It's wonderful when we can meet our goals and ride to the next level, that's an addiction all in inself... and something that I know that I strive for. I also know that in tomorrows ride, I might be the person that someone else passes and I could be having a good day.. or a bad day... again it's simply about "ME".

[paiger81]

It might just be a Texas thing...when I just started getting into cycling (in Corpus Christi in '06) I got reemed out good by a cyclist for not saying "On your left". I learned my lesson quick and it doesn't matter what situation I'm in, I call out. I sometimes get funny looks, but it's better than the alternative, IMO

[KnottedYet]

Here in the city there are enough bikes around that vocalizing ("passing on your left" or just a "hello") is a safety issue.

If the bike you are passing doesn't know you are there, they could kill you.

Imagine happy little Knott tootling along on her single speed mixte. She spots her prey ahead, a slightly tired roadie in full spandexed glory on a "crabon" infused plastic bike. As she silently stalks him, her front wheel overlaps his rear wheel, then gets to his cranks... then he swerves to his left to a avoid a patch of gravel and knocks into Knott's front wheel throwing her into the traffic. Mayhem ensues.

Ooopsy.

I looooooove passing racer-boys while I'm on inappropriate bikes. (passing the dude used as an example above is a highlight in my little world: going uphill on a ss mixte wearing sandals FTW!) It helps if they are tired and I'm not. And I always let them know I'm there so they don't kill me.

There have been many times I've been startled by said dudes passing quite close to me with no warning. They are fast and they are concentrating. I generally yell out "ON YOUR RIGHT, HONEY!!!!" Since I'm old enough to be their mother, I can call 'em "honey" or "sugar" or "sweetie." And since they are young enough to be my children, they usually say "sorry." And since I'm a damn good rider and have been on bikes since before they were born, I manage not to startle so bad that I swerve into them.

The big city is a dangerous place for bikes. (some chubby ol' biddy on a ss mixte might shame you! )

[Eden]

I doubt you are in the minority.... most of us just don't bother to say anything....

I've found being in a race kit puts a target on your back - lots of yahoos out there think just because they see you they must be racing you... Just remember while you are being all self congratulatory that you passed [a man] [a racer] [insert your "achievement"], that you don't know their story at all. They might be cooling down, on a recovery day, they might be coming back from an injury or an illness, they might just not give a flying patootie about you..... you can pat yourself on the back all you like, but they may be spinning up that hill in zone 2, while you are busting a gut. If you want to measure your achievement, go do the same hills - see how you feel and how long it takes you or enter a real race - where all the other participants actually know they are racing....

As far as vocalizing goes - I prefer roads and I prefer just passing as a car should pass - leave 3 feet, no yelling necessary.....

[Biciclista]

Eden, i think you are missing the point. We know they might be in pain, or at the finish of a long grueling ride, or listening for a noise on their bike, but we get passed SO many times that it's fun to pass someone else every now and then. When you're at the slow end of the continuum, like it or not, passing someone else that is not on a little kid's bike with trainers IS an event.

[Crankin]

I appreciate it when someone announces they are passing me, even here on the country/suburban roads I ride on. I can usually "feel" a rider approaching, the same way I can with a car, but there have been enough times that someone (always a guy) comes up behind me, going about 25-30 to my 18 or 20 and it scared the crap out of me. This has mostly happened on one particular straight road that is a slight down hill, kind of a false flat when I am riding it to go home. It's an extremely popular route for cyclists.
I always announce myself when passing others and I usually say hi, no matter who it is. I don't feel like I "have to" say hi, but I like to.
But I don't make any big deal about passing others. When DH rides with me, he could be going a lot faster and people pass us. Those riders don't know how fast he really is... and they shouldn't care. I've been passed by old guys, wearing jeans, riding a mountain bike, with a backpack on. Yeah, they're stronger than me.

[Cataboo]

Luv2climb, that's awesome you got the gears swapped out on your bike and it's helping so much with your hill climbing!

It always does feel like a minor victory when I manage to pass someone on a climb instead of being the one that's being passed.

It's also kinda cool when someone drafts behind me up a hill and they look like a stronger rider than I consider myself to be.

I tell someone that I'm passing them, if it's not obvious that they know I'm there. You know how you can see someone glance back when they hear a gear shift or something, if I see them do that and know they know I'm there, I might just say hey as I'm passing, but if I can't tell they know where I am, I do the on your left thing a couple times just in case.

[emily_in_nc]

I appreciate it when someone announces they are passing me, even here on the country/suburban roads I ride on. I can usually "feel" a rider approaching, the same way I can with a car, but there have been enough times that someone (always a guy) comes up behind me, going about 25-30 to my 18 or 20 and it scared the crap out of me. This has mostly happened on one particular straight road that is a slight down hill, kind of a false flat when I am riding it to go home. It's an extremely popular route for cyclists.

Exactly why I love my Take-a-Look mirror. I nearly always see cyclists coming up behind me on the road -- and very few of them say a word. A gal I used to ride with didn't wear a mirror and would practically jump out of her skin when people passed us unless I announced their presence (which I tried to remember to do!)

[luv2climb]

Thank you to all those who understood what I was trying to say in my OP. I really appreciate it

I've learned a couple lessons from this thread. One, always follow my instincts. If I have even a shred of doubt that what I say will not be taken out of context, word it differently.

Two, have an audible warning device other than my voice available to me when I ride my hybrid or road bike. Like people here and in other forums have said, people don't always hear things like "on your left" correctly, resulting in possible dangerous situations when passing. Those two bikes were the only ones in my fleet that didn't have bells. I dug around in my parts bin and found an extra Incredibell Brass Solo, which has a very nice tone compared to other small bells. Here it is on the hybrid (click to enlarge):



I had to buy one for the road bike. The only small, lightweight one I could find that will fit the 1 1/4" diameter bars is the Incredibell Adjustabell:



I'm not going to ring my bell on every pass. Like I said before, it depends on the situation. But there have been times I've been on my road bike and wished I had one.

I also use a Take-A-Look mirror. I wouldn't ride without it.

[PamNY]

When you're at the slow end of the continuum, like it or not, passing someone else that is not on a little kid's bike with trainers IS an event.

+1. That's the whole story in one sentence. I was trying to think of a way to say this, but now I don't have to.

[Norse]

When you're at the slow end of the continuum, like it or not, passing someone else that is not on a little kid's bike with trainers IS an event.

++1 One of my happy memories from my pre-road bike days, when I rode a lumbering hybrid that is now my trail bike, is out-climbing two skinny young things on their road bikes who had zoomed by me earlier on the flats. As to calling out, around here, it all depends on the circumstances, conditions, location... Sometimes it makes sense, especially on narrow trails so yes, and sometimes no.

[Geonz]

I doubt you are in the minority.... most of us just don't bother to say anything....

I've found being in a race kit puts a target on your back - lots of yahoos out there think just because they see you they must be racing you... Just remember while you are being all self congratulatory that you passed [a man] [a racer] [insert your "achievement"], that you don't know their story at all. They might be cooling down, on a recovery day, they might be coming back from an injury or an illness, they might just not give a flying patootie about you..... you can pat yourself on the back all you like, but they may be spinning up that hill in zone 2, while you are busting a gut. If you want to measure your achievement, go do the same hills - see how you feel and how long it takes you or enter a real race - where all the other participants actually know they are racing....

As far as vocalizing goes - I prefer roads and I prefer just passing as a car should pass - leave 3 feet, no yelling necessary.....

Hey, whatever makes ya feel good. Some people feel good passing somebody; others obviously feel good being superior, serious racers who are "above" all that.

On my Xtracycle I need a lot of room to pass and a lot of momentum... so usually I don't announce 'cause I'm giving at least the 3 feet a car would ... and, now that I think of it, because my huge visual imprint is usually noticed (and I may have stuff rattling around, or my bear bell on the top tube ) If I'm moving faster, I"ll usually announce.

I know some racer-types and racer wannabees in my community think I'm a yahoo -- but I've got more to do than worry about it. The first million times I passed people I *assumed* they were going slower than usual... then I realized I'd gotten strong in my old age Still, I'll leave the actual racing to those who like to be pitted against each other. And if I keep doing yoga, I may soon be able to pat myself on the back, and I *shall* do so.

[KnottedYet]

lots of yahoos out there think just because they see you they must be racing you...

I have no illusions that I'm racing anybody. I'm a 205 lb middle-aged chick who rides steel touring bikes with BMX pedals and saddles with springs and hardly ever gets going faster than 16 mph.

These boys have to be damned tired for ME to pass them!

It is just a hoot to bust a gut on my inappropriate bikes and pass these exhausted young things who usually breeze right by me without a thought.

Just like it's a hoot when some guy my age calls me "Miss" instead of "Ma'am."

It's all in good fun, and it's all in the privacy of my own head.