michaelwlf3

With the doubling up of my diuretics to rid me of excess water weight, I rode much stronger yesterday, and, although I can’t prove it, I think my blood pressure is much lower.

I had ridden much stronger yesterday when I went out, covering my usual ride in about 15 minutes less time, although I generally have a tendency to, shall we say, stop and smell the flowers, not really stuffing it into high gear and hammering.

So when I went out this morning, I was expecting to be riding well today, too, although I was not expecting what happened.

I had just passed the first bridge, which is about 1/2 mile from the entrance to the Greenway. I was riding along at my usual pace when I heard a "On your left" over my left shoulder and a young man on a dual suspension Giant cross country mountain bike passed me at a pretty good clip.

This had happened the other day when a guy on a road bike dressed in brightly colored spandex passed in pretty much the same way. Wanting to test my legs, I stood on the pedals and gave chase, but was unable to keep up for very long.

The kid on the mountain bike was more of an apples to apples test. I took off in hot pursuit.

I had to get out of the saddle to catch up since I had reacted a second or so after the kid had passed, but caught up with him and stayed on his wheel for about two miles, where he turned off.

Just before he did, though, I went to adjust my speed, and apparently a small stone had gotten between the brake shoe and the front rim, so that when I applied the brake it made a bit of a harsh sound. The kid looked over his shoulder in surprise to see me behind him.

I kept going straight, and after having turned around I ran into him coming straight at me.

I stopped him and asked him how fast we were going coming down the path the way we did, and he told me it was about 21 miles per hour.

He is coming back from knee surgery, he told me, and although neither of us can ride like we used to, 21 miles per hour on knob tires is not too bad for starters. I am going to have to get a cyclocomputer.

jppe

If I understood you correctly, 21 mph on knobbies is quite impressive. A very inspirational effort indeed. Which greenway were you riding? Would that be in the Raleigh area around Crabtree by chance?

webist

Good ride. Go ahead. Get the computer. I think the added information really makes for more fun.

oldspark

Wow-21mph on nobbies, I would not expect to see this post in the 50's and over forum.

stapfam

You must be joking!! the fastest I can get on the road with knobblies is about 18mph, and I mean maximum. I know this would be at the end of an offroad ride, when I am tired and the last 4 miles is on tarmac, but your leg and lung strength must be well up to standard. Keep it up, but get some slicks sometime and see what you can average for a normal ride of yours, but on the tyres for the job.