So Lance has been tweeting that he has been riding around close to where I live and that got me thinking. What if I was out riding and saw him riding, or any other pro that fact, what would I do? I know the code about not tagging along unless your invited and not that I would probably get more than a “hi” in before I was flushed out the back, but would you try? How many chances in life do you get to tag along with a pro, even if it’s for a few minutes.
If I saw him out on the road I’d certainly give him the thumbs up, but I would leave the fellow alone. He’s got work to do and likely has a lot on his mind. If I had a chance to chat with him on a ride I’d simply wish him a quick recovery and maybe ride his wheel unobtrusively for a while… until he dropped me, which would be, like, in seven seconds.
Depends.
If he passed me while I was going the other way, I would wave and say “Hi” as I normally do to any cyclits that I cross paths with this way, and carry on my way.
If he passed me going in the same direction, and he was not going too fast, I might try and get up to his speed, say “hi” and ask if I can ride along for a bit.
If he passes me, like he was shot out of a cannon, I would guess that he is in the middle of a hard bit and I would not bother to do anything. I could not catch him, and my guess is that if I could, I would be a bother, so I would not bother!
/pink
Since he would never pass me unless he was going the other way, I would ride past him and say hi and proceed to go on my marry way. I might let him suck wheel for a while if it looked like he was really suffering. 
Doesnt he normally train motorpaced? Regardless of where he is, just to help prevent someone hitting him or running him off the road because he is a cyclist?
Half wheel him for maybe 20mi, then pull ahead, give him “the look” and drop his sorry ass…
I have ridden with him many times and when he doesn’t want you there you will know it … he wont say anything but just crank of the speed and drop you. We get people that try to beat Lance on our rides all the time
Oh yeah, another thing dont stop him and ask for an autograph too
LOL, I’d fake I was hurting first then I’d dig into my suitcase of courage, pass him, and hand him my bag of rocks as I went by.
I would jump on his ass like a democrat on a tax dollar and hang on for as long as he lets me!
Half wheel him for maybe 20mi, then pull ahead, give him “the look” and drop his sorry ass…
classic
A few years ago, when LA was still with USPS, Bicyling magazine published a letter by a guy that met Lance alone on a training ride outside NYC. This CAT5 rider saw some guy pass him on a Madone wearing the USPS uniform and thought it was just some LA fan, until he took both hands off the handlebars reach into his back pocket and eat a bar while climbing. After about 8 miles Lance let the guy catch him because he was lost and needed directions. They rode together for 15 miles. Lance talked to this stranger about cancer, his recent divorce, the tour, etc. The guy wrote that Lance made him nervous because he rode side-by-side about 3cm off his handlebars. When they got into the city, they shook hands and LA rode away. Pretty cool story.