The Cycling Experiment - Observations

Observations from today's ride

This morning as I was riding to work I started to gain on another rider following the same route. I was taking it easy because my weekly basketball game is tonight. My rest pace was faster than the rider I was approaching, so I knew I would be passing him if he followed the same route for long. As I got to where I would have passed the road started to make a whole lot of turns. I eased up on the pedals and waited until the road straightened up to pass. I wasn't drafting by any means, but I was following closely for a fair amount of time. Right before the road straightened out another rider turned onto the road ahead of us cycling at a slower pace. When the road straightened the first rider (who said something as I passed, but I couldn't hear with my headphones) and I passed the second, and then I passed the first. I resumed the pace I started at. After a couple minutes I came to a road with a stop sign. I crossed the road and continued on my way. Shortly after that the first rider, who just a few minutes earlier was going too slow for my casual pace, passes (he said something as he passed, but I again couldn't hear because of my headphones) and then proceeds to leave me far behind.

My observations:
1. I've noticed that when I see a rider ahead of me I get a competitive urge and try to catch up and pass. I've seen this in a couple other younger riders that I have observed (this morning's first rider included). When I am trying to maintain a specific pace to "rest" or "work" this can be a problem.

2. I've noticed over the years that there is a social phenomenon among motorcycle riders of waving to each other even if on opposite sides of the freeway. I have observed this same behavior among cyclists. It doesn't seem to be as widespread, but it is there, especially with the older generation of cyclists.

3. I like being social, but right now I enjoy the solitude of cycling by myself with some good music. When I'm riding at a "resting" pace I even enjoy singing along. There are utilitarian benefits to riding in groups, but I'm just enjoying the me time.

4. It amuses me when people try to talk to me when I'm riding with headphones on. Observations 2 and 3 collide a bit when others try to talk to me with headphones on. I can't hear anything. It's not like I'm flying by so the headphones are hard to see. A friend of mine tried to get my attention as I rode by his house but didn't see him, but he immediately knew I probably didn't hear him because of the music.

5. I have a heart monitor that I've been using to monitor my work level. I know that when I'm at my resting pace (about 140 beats per minute) I can sing along with the music fairly well. Anything beyond that I don't even try. The heart monitor is invaluable when considering observation 1. I've noticed that when I see a rider ahead I don't think I'm kicking the pace up a notch, but I'll look at the heart monitor and it will be up about 10 beats per minute. It'd be nice to get a better heart monitor (one that is made for bikes rather than a wristwatch style one strapped to the handlebars). It would be even nicer to get a cycling computer that would also measure watts, but I'd have to get some really nice donations to pick up one of those.

6. I think that when I do start riding socially I'll have to find a group that is my age or older to avoid the testosterone driven competition that I see in the younger riders.