Recumbent - Corvallis Oregon Recumbent Riding Mutant Earns Repect

So living here in Western Oregon I get to see lots of 'bents, touring rigs, commuters, we've even got a local multiple DUI case bent rider. If just for the sheer diversity of humanity attached to these bikes, I tend to cast them in a "less than performance oriented" light.

Maybe not now. I try to not race-commute like I used to, but I'm at the peak of my performance at this time of year so its a very rare thing to get passed by anyone. I frequently frustrate or amuse other riders of flash bikes, particularly up hills, again, because I'm usually going pretty much full out when I'm riding.

So today when a grey-haired, mutashio', crochet-glove wearing bent rider with full rain gear sling shot right up beside me I knew I couldn't be left in the dust. I could not drop this guy. I kept thinking he was gone as I'm revving up the intensity, but there he was, stuck to my back wheel. He would try to pass, and getting out of the draft would lose it, but I could just not drop him. We get up to a stop light where there's a couple of mile stretch of reasonably flat pavement one direction, and agree to let it go as hard as possible all the way to the end. I was eventually able to get past him, and finished ahead by a few bike lengths BUT GOOD GOD. I'm 29, 6"4, 151 LBS, and like I said, at the peak of my yearly performance. This guy has earned my respect for recumbent riders everywhere, and anytime I think about disparaging this type of bike, I will think back to this day.

From the description that sounds like old Slo-Joe Harrison. You should have seen him go back when he had both lungs.

I know there's a few recumbent riders in your area. Never been there, but I will eventually since my oldest son just moved to Albany. Yep, performance 'bents are a whole 'nother beast from the standard ones. Most of the guys around my home area have learned that the hard way.

So today when a grey-haired, mutashio', crochet-glove wearing bent rider with full rain gear sling shot right up beside me I knew I couldn't be left in the dust. I could not drop this guy. I kept thinking he was gone as I'm revving up the intensity, but there he was, stuck to my back wheel. He would try to pass, and getting out of the draft would lose it, but I could just not drop him.

What kind of 'bent? That sounds like Dave Miller- yes, he's fast. He rides everywhere, all the time. He rides a lowracer. John Williams is retired from teaching at Philomath High but still lives near Corvallis. His current ride is a long wheelbase, I think. He doesn't race much now, but he was on the recumbent team that won the Race Across Oregon a couple years back:
http://www.ohpv.org/events/albums/rao2005/
and
http://www.raceacrossoregon.com/blog/team-rao-speedwagons-2005-race-recap

Corvallis was the home of the now defunct BikeE. I knew the founder.

Could it have been an electric bike?

I find myself wondering why the recumbent rider couldn't pass the upright. We don't know the OP's speed or what kind of recumbent, which would probably answer a few questions. I pass plenty of 29 YO.s; but not on my V-Rex.

There's a reason why recumbents are banned in the TdF. :)

There's a reason why recumbents are banned in the TdF. :)

Please don't start on that.