Fifty Plus (50+) - He Dropped Me Like a Plow

I head out this morning for my ride and find a large deere on the road ahead of me at the edge of town...a John Deere that is. I recognize the driver but don't know him...he's one of the regulars in the early AM gathering at the rancher-oil field-farmer greasy spoon down on the square.

Anyway, I form a paceline with him for about a mile of near flat ground as he is doing 16 mph into the wind, give or take, but I keep my distance because he's got his round bale spear (a 6'x4" sharp prong) sticking off the back. When we hit the downhills I pass him on the left as I zoom up over 25 mph, but he always catches me on the next hill as his speed is constant. The road we're on is nothing but 50-200 foot rollers. This goes on for about three miles of rollers and is not an entirely pleasant situation but I really hate to stop to let him get away from me and I don't and shouldn't expect him to slow down...farm implements rule the roads by law. He finally figures it out on one the hills, gives me a grin, pumps his arm, revs the RPM, and opens up his lead and takes off. The last time I see him we're 10 miles out of town, and he's at least a half mile ahead when he turns off on a dirt road.

Unusual experience to say the least. That tractor did a great job pulling me on our two man paceline and I didn't have to worry about the traffic behind me. Man, I wish I could climb hills like him.

When I first started riding to the train station I had to determine whether I was faster than the commuter bus that stopped in front of my house. We raced a few times. I could cut across a park and build a big lead, but the last mile was a gentle uphill all the way to the train station. And that bus is a climbin' fool.

I get into those kinds of races with school busses and rural mail carriers. Amish buggies are fun to draft until the horse poops... and, of course, I run my tires right through it. :cry:

Priceless!

I was at a century ride a few years ago in SE Georgia (Statesboro), where the land is as flat as pancake. While I was at a rest stop a big tractor came by. A couple of local guys told me that sometimes they get behind the tractors and draft for miles. Said they run a steady 20 mph all day long.

I get into those kinds of races with school busses and rural mail carriers. Amish buggies are fun to draft until the horse poops... and, of course, I run my tires right through it. :cry:
Watch it Louie, my great grandparents on my fathers' side were Amish...and I get real touchy when the subject of "Amish buggie horse poop" comes up in a disrespectful light!:)

I was on a long ride and saw a Deere 'way up ahead and decided to run him down. I had a tailwind (!) and was smokin' and closing in. As I was drawing close, he turned on to a dirt road. Never saw me. Took all the fun out of it.

Watch it Louie, my great grandparents on my fathers' side were Amish...and I get real touchy when the subject of "Amish buggie horse poop" comes up in a disrespectful light!:)
:roflmao:

I vaguely remember reading about your great grandfather. Wasn't his name Seth Diego?

:roflmao:

I vaguely remember reading about your great grandfather. Wasn't his name Seth Diego?
Step away from the Diego reference, Louie...:eek:

I kept up with a train going out of town for a while, course he was building up "steam" and left me panting...

I actually passed a John Deere last year, and pulled away and stayed out front....it was one of those 50-yr old 'poppin johnnies', not one of the new, big, flashing ones - they stopped making them in the last 50's. I think its top speed was about 12mph.

I get into those kinds of races with school busses and rural mail carriers. Amish buggies are fun to draft until the horse poops... and, of course, I run my tires right through it. :cry:
Thats the least of your problems passing a buggy.Jacob of Middlefield chews tobacco,so pass with caution.:eek:

That sounds like it was a lot of fun!

Once, I caught up with a tractor pulling a flatbed wagon (probably for hay.) There were a couple of kids riding on the wagon. I pulled in behind them and drafted for about 3 miles before they pulled off onto a side road. The kids thought it was great having someone to wave at. We were only doing about 15 mph, but it was all uphill.