You did nothing wrong.
You're not passed until the passer is completely by you. Not 1/2 way or 2/3's or even 9/10's but completely in front. The reason you drop back when you've been passed is to avoid the drafting zone. You're under no obligation to drop back just to make it easier for someone else. That said there are times when I know I'm slower I'll let someone go and conserve my energy for further down the road. It all depends on the situation.

Unfortunately some people are just jerks. You happened to find one and I wouldn't let it bother you any longer than it takes to read one of the responses to your question.

I think that there is no justification for bad behaviour even if he thought you were in violation.
Slowing down to lecture you was just stupid. That cost him more time in the race than your error could have justified. He clearly felt lecturing you was more important than the race. Idiot.

Hey, I'm glad nothing serious came of it, like say, a brawl like we see when the pitcher brushes back a batter with a 90mph fastball around his ears!

better luck next time,

PoC

It is not against the rules until their front tire passes yours. However, it can be bad sportsmanship. If they have been gaining on you and pass you, let them pass, and then repass if it was a wakeup call for you that you weren't going as hard as you can.

I personally get annoyed when someone (often a guy) sees that I'm passing and then picks it up just enough that I can't make it in the time limit. So I have to drop back. And they slow again, and we repeat soon after. If they are stronger than you, let them by and try to earn your way back past them. Don't pull out your ego if you are then going to back off.

You're right, I was mistaken. (Not the first time!)

I still think the guy was a jerk though.

I think it's OK within the rules. Personally, I'm usually trying to maintain a target effort, so I try not to get involved in a bike race during a triathlon b/c it can take you out of your game plan. (Of course, if I were gunning for a podium spot that strategy might change depending on who was trying to pass me, but that hasn't been an issue yet...)

Good point that what's OK by the rules may not be good form. From the MOP, it makes no sense for me to speed up. What say the FOPers?

The real story is that the "hater" was drafting off of you and couldn't cut it on his own so he got mad and pulled into your lane. Think about it, if they had on enough speed to pass you, you shouldn't have to "drop back" that much. They should continue to pass you without your help. I know what the USAT rules states and it's to keep people who are getting passed from accelerating to prevent the pass. If this guy was in a big enough of a hurry to get into your line then he was probably drafting off of you.

When I pass I don't start passing unless I can overtake them by a full draft zone. I just don't trust other riders to clear out of my way. It's not worth crossing wheels and going down. Thanks for bringing up some good USAT rules. I don't know if I've ever read the entire list of rules.

Rule 5.10(z) states a hypothetical situation:

While riding along minding your own business, another rider (we shall refer to as DICK) attempts to pass you in an unsafe manner. Upon nearly completing said pass, DICK then gets angry at your concern of his stupidity. In this situation DICK has failed to properly complete his pass and is in violation of unsportsman like conduct.

At USAT we want you to have a successful and safe race and we encourage you not to be a DICK.

Have a nice day. :)

On a more general note, I've also encountered or witnessed a couple of "aggro" triathletes in the last few years of racing. Thankfully these appeared to be very isolated situations and without reflecting on the tri community at large... but it reminds me that just like anywhere, be it the freeway or the workplace or in a supermarket, you never know what kind of mental state people bring to the table. As a younger man, I might have met hostility in kind but now I find that there is greater gain by simply cutting a prompt retreat away from any source of "crazy".

I once racked next to a guy and he got completely mad at me for getting in his way. I simply moved my bike and gear to another rack. he went off on the next person who tried to rack into the obviously giant empty spot next to him. I could have argued the issue to show him I was in the right but in life, it's not always about being right but about finding and maintaining your peace that is of greater value.

Probably good that you moved all your stuff yourself in this case. I have a friend who had her stuff moved by SOMEONE ELSE in transition. Luckily she found her stuff before the race. Imagine running into TA and finding your entire pile of gear + bike not being there.

Hard to say what's wrong with some of these people...well except those described in that rule...what was it? 5.10(z)? NICE!

It is always amazing how snarky some people can be.