Commuting - Dropped by an old guy

I'm on my way home yesterday when this old guy passes me. I accelerate to get on his wheel and catch a draft. 25 mph, 26, 27, 28. Finally he drops me, my computer maxing out at 28.6. I might have been able to go with him a little longer if I had thought to shift, but I was maxing out spinning probably 130 or so before I got dropped. Of course, he was driving a Lincoln.
Rainman

Originally posted by RainmanP
I'm on my way home yesterday when this old guy passes me. I accelerate to get on his wheel and catch a draft. 25 mph, 26, 27, 28. Finally he drops me, my computer maxing out at 28.6. I might have been able to go with him a little longer if I had thought to shift, but I was maxing out spinning probably 130 or so before I got dropped. Of course, he was driving a Lincoln.
Rainman

What do you do when on the rare occasions you catch an auto? Do you bite at the tires? :p

Originally posted by Gus Riley


What do you do when on the rare occasions you catch an auto? Do you bite at the tires? :p

To approximately quote an extract from a bit involving two dogs, by the inimitable Cheech and Chong:

"So ya wanna go chase cars or sump'n?"

"Naw, man, that stuff causes brain damage."

"Brain damage? From smellin' car exhaust?"

"Naw, man, gettin' your head run over by the rear tire, man!"

:D

Actually, I was beginning to wonder if my bike and I would fit into the keyhole on the trunk. That's when I sat up.

:D Perfect! :D :beer:

:roflmao: :lol: :roflmao:

Last summer a van tried racing me up a short hill. He finally overtook me a few feet from the top. Made me feel pretty cocky for a while. :eek:

Sounds suspiciously like one of the infamous "hat drivers", as described by Allister, long ago on another forum. :p

Originally posted by RainmanP
I'm on my way home yesterday when this old guy passes me. I accelerate to get on his wheel and catch a draft. 25 mph, 26, 27, 28. Finally he drops me, my computer maxing out at 28.6. I might have been able to go with him a little longer if I had thought to shift, but I was maxing out spinning probably 130 or so before I got dropped. Of course, he was driving a Lincoln.
Rainman
I admit, I compete against cars, too. I usually "lose," but I always come out ahead in the end. :)

I think this guy might have enjoyed it all, knowing he had the advantage. You may have won an admirer!

Pete,
You may be right. I had the feeling he was easing up the speed gently to see how long I could stay with him. Or maybe like most motorists he just wanted to SHOW me that his CAR was faster than an old fat guy on a bike. You can understand how impressed with themselves such people are. :D
Rainman

Sounds suspiciously like one of the infamous "hat drivers", as described by Allister, long ago on another forum.

Heh!

HeeHeeHee :lol:

There's a good downhill leading up to the bridge. If you catch the lights right you can build up some serious speed and crest the bridge going faster than the speed limit, and almost as fast as the cars. On my commute home one day, I was sitting next to a van at a red light on that hill leading up to the bridge. I glanced over and saw that it was a coworker. We went over the top of the bridge side by side at 32 mph. Then she put her foot down and dropped me as I pulled into the right turn lane on the other side of the bridge.

The next day at work, she didn't even say hello to me, just "You have too much energy." I wonder what I could've done if I wasn't hauling panniers.

On the other hand, I was on a week-long mtb ride two years ago. I found myself riding with an old roadie for the best part of a day. He was 20 years my senior and I'm no spring chicken. On the dirt I was taking it a little easy so he could keep up with me, and dropping him on the hills. We hit a stretch of pavement and he started to wind up the cranks. I hung with him for about 10 minutes before I finally cracked. As he went away from me, I swear I saw a red-shift. I felt all those days of my youth wasted drinking beer and smoking cigarettes weighing heavily upon me.

Originally posted by RegularGuy
HeeHeeHee :lol:

...you can build up some serious speed and crest the bridge going faster than the speed limit, and almost as fast as the cars. ...We went over the top of the bridge side by side at 32 mph.

The next day at work, she didn't even say hello to me, just "You have too much energy."
YAHOO! :)

I just love showing off! ;)

(What is, "too much energy," exactly? A sign of happiness?)