Hi, I recently completed my first tri. It was a women's only event and very beginner friendly. Every woman I encountered was supportive and encouraging to all the women around her. Except for one. I was on the bike leg, my strongest leg, and passing on the left. I let people know as I approached and moved right whenever I had passed. It was a crowded course, so often I was on the left for a while as I passed a line of riders. Sometimes, there wasn't room to tuck in between riders on the right and cause them all to have to rearrange so as not to draft (they were all a little close, as it was). The route was on a closed road and wide enough for three or more to easily ride side by side. A woman approached and passed on my left with no problem. For a few seconds we were three abreast. In that time, a woman further behind starting yelling that she was passing on the left. The woman passing me, sprinted ahead, so there was plenty of room on my left. I also picked up the pace a bit to get adequately in front of the long line beside me to move right when I could.
But this woman stayed behind me screaming, "Let's move it, ladies. Passing on the left." I moved further right as soon as I could.
At the time, I was doing around a 22 pace, so it wasn't like I was coasting along. I moved right whenever there was room, but at this point, I would have had to brake severely to tuck in to the line to my right and thrown off all those women riding far slower. I certainly wasn't the fastest rider out there, but on my leg, I was only passed by three other riders.
I have to admit this woman screaming at me rattled me a bit. What should I have done here? Was I ok, and she was just a bit intense or should I have done something differently?
But this woman stayed behind me screaming, "Let's move it, ladies. Passing on the left." I moved further right as soon as I could.
At the time, I was doing around a 22 pace, so it wasn't like I was coasting along. I moved right whenever there was room, but at this point, I would have had to brake severely to tuck in to the line to my right and thrown off all those women riding far slower. I certainly wasn't the fastest rider out there, but on my leg, I was only passed by three other riders.
I have to admit this woman screaming at me rattled me a bit. What should I have done here? Was I ok, and she was just a bit intense or should I have done something differently?
Last edited by:
3sports1mom: Sep 18, 09 15:14