ravenmore

I'm blaming you - or Dave Stoller.

So I'm on my way to work this morning cutting through this neighborhood to get to Parmer. I did 70 miles yesterday as I did my commute plus a group ride, then took April home (she rode the group ride with me) and then went home. I was trying hard to take it easy and make today a 'recovery' ride.

So I'm on this little neighborhood street keeping it light and easy when I notice a cement truck pulling out in front of me. A very heavily loaded cement truck. With a slight downhill approach to it in front of me. The opportunity lit up like a Christmas tree in my head. Oh, shiney!

Then the voice of reason reminded me that I was to keep a recovery pace. Leave it be.

So, there I am about 3 feet off the guys bumper and we're picking up the pace. I keep swinging out to the left to check ahead. I'm not sure but I think I see the driver smiling in his rear view. He's certainly picking up the pace, but nice and slow. Its not hard at all to keep up. The pace is feeling kind of brisk but I'm maintaining my distance easily.

wonder how fast we're going? Feels like around 30...

I look down at my computer and am surprised at what I see - 43 mph and accelerating briskly. It wasn't hard at all - in fact the truck draft felt like it was pulling me into him a little.

Then it happens.

There's a reason for mud flaps. A reason that becomes readily apparent when drafting a dump truck that is missing one at 45 mph and you enter a muddy construction zone right after the night of a nice good soaking rain.

I start getting pelted by mud balls. Hard. Arms and face mostly. You know, the nice tender bits that tend to sting the most. Oh, and they're tacky enough to stick. I'm sure I looked something like chocolate chip cookie dough at this point. Then we enter a nice dusty sandy stretch and the mud turns to sand, gravel and grit, some of which I was still spitting out around 10:30 or so this morning.

At this point I decided I think I'll get back into the recovery ride. Needless to say my clean up took quite a bit longer this morning once I got to work. D@mn you Dave Stoller.

permanentjaun

I pictured this in my head like a scene out of a movie where you're the loser guy trying to mimic the actions of the successful, handsome man at the wedding reception that the whole family just seems to adore. You can't seem to understand what the big deal is, and you fail miserably to get the point.

You don't get the girl in the end by the way.

nachomc

At least you got a great story to tell.

ravenmore

uhm, yeah. ok.

Watching Mike (rockets), and maybe one or two others I ride with chase car/truck drafts rubbed off on me (plus the movie). Plus I was distinctly remembering Mike mention heavily loaded trucks were the best when I saw the dump truck pull out. Just matched his comment.

Oh, and I already got the girl. M'kay sparky?

jsharr

Pics or it did not happen. And make sure to shake off all good compost you collected onto your rose bushes.

Spreggy

I hopped behind a school bus this morning due to the example of the same BFers. And I was thinking hey, you really can see yourself cycling in the back door window. It was a country bus though, and she droped the hamer and spit me out the back.

HigherGround

Great story, thanks for sharing it!

I remember drafting a dump truck once, up to about 45 mph. I was also suddenly reminded that the road had a bend in it, which I couldn't see approaching. That kept me on my toes for the rest of the ride!

ravenmore

Done.



Just got the idea to see what the computer said my max speed was today on the ride in. No way that can be right though.

Man, didn't consider the compost angle.

RazorWind

In your analogy, is the girl... A dump truck?

ravenmore - Where was this at? I may have passed you going the other way on my way in this morning.

ravenmore

Park Rd before it ends at Vista Ridge. I then hang a right to Brushy Creek, then left to head over to Parmer. I take Parmer south past McNeil. I saw a couple of cyclist this morning - it was around 8 to 8:30'ish.

ravenmore

Yeah, I got the impression this guy was as into it as I was. He was accelerating nice and slow. It was very easy to keep up.

powerglide

scary

waterrockets 

Nice one. After this, they're going to draw you like flies to a light.

big john

Crazy. Here's one of Theo Bos @140kph. Maybe botto can translate it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Pl-H3UJJg

ravenmore

maybe, but I'm checking for mud flaps first next time.