Is cycling in my DNA? This is not meant to come across ignorantly or demeaning to other people I've cycled past.
When I come across other cyclists in long or short rides, I feel like I'm holding back to save hurting their feelings. It doesn't matter if they are commuters or group riders with rapha jerseys and bikes I can't afford. I have a used Bianchi that I got for £500 from a colleague at work. So it's nothing to write home about and is a very basic gear setup. It's a hybrid bike.
For example, there was a solo rider on my way to work and he looked to be putting in an effort on a climb. I didn’t get too much of a look at the bike, but it looked like a giant TCR. And he wore the normal cycling bib and jersey. I was wearing baggy joggers and somewhat loose jacket. I don’t know how long he's been riding nor the amount of time he has been riding for this specific ride. I got past him in no time and never saw him again after that.
Before I got my bike I walked everywhere. At the gym I could easily lift a massive weight with my legs. My legs have always been &quot;big&quot; and it wasn't due to my weight.
Sorry, I'm kind of stressing myself out about this. Do I have above average cycling legs unintentionally or did I just happen to condition my legs to be this way? Is it genetically a thing? None of my family have ever cycled, but yet I can go past everyone I meet in the streets that are cycling.
Before anyone says anything, I am not putting effort in to go past anyone; I'm going at my normal pace.
If you really want to find out, look for a local time trial route and see what people can do on that.
There's also an advantage coming up behind someone - not so much the aero advantage as you have to get close for that, but the knowledge that there's someone to catch up with - your head goes into race mode, even just a little, but theirs doesn't.
Some riders have all the gear but no fitness. Others are having off days. I've seen the effects you note from both sides. Within the last few days I've blasted past 2 roadies uphill while on my shopping bike with a big backpack, and struggled to make much headway at all on my faster but still heavy bike after wearing myself out earlier in the ride (140km with some rough gravel). Flat out on the TT course near me I might average 21mph for half an hour, commuting on the same bike little more than half that unless I'm rushing to get somewhere. But my fast pace would be almost last looking at events on that course; winners are 50% faster than me.