agoodale

Dear Pro,

Sorry for ruining your glorious finish to the Tour de Palm Springs Century Race this weekend. When you and your buddy rode by when the light turned green I realized we were going about the same speed so I decided to grab your wheel. We were only 2 miles away from the finish and I was just happy to bring it home with a group going my speed. I didn't realize you were in the winning break of the 100 mile race instead of just a few of the other 7000 riders doing a shorter route like me.

I apologize for not immediately slowing down when you flipped me the bird and began cursing me out after 1/2 a block. I was simply waiting to take a pull up front and did not recognize that you were operating the highly technical and unique reverse paceline. I thought the lead rider would peel off and signal you to take your pull and then I would follow. Instead, as you explained furiously at the next stop light, I should have gone to the front and pulled my weight...after 1/2 block of sucking your wheel.

Lastly I would like to apologize for not sulking away in shame when you mocked me for only riding 56 miles instead of 100 like yourself. You did put up an World Class time of 4:45. I myself could never do that (unless I had hundreds of other riders to help me in the beginning OR I gave a *******. I will have to be content with my pathetic 2:50 56 mile solo effort. You've taught me a valuable lesson. Next time I'll: Make sure I'm not 50 minutes late, I'll ditch my 17yr old nephew earlier, and I'll be sure to flip off and curse at the riders sucking my wheel all day (instead of smiling and waving when they thanked me).

I hope I didn't completely ruin your day. After the finish I saw you sitting alone by the port-a-potty holding the prize for being the 1st 100 miler (a t-shirt, bottle of water, and an orange slice). You looked somewhat sullen and pathetic as you slowly got up and blended into the crowd of Freds...

Voodoo76

Let me guess. They were wearing full pro team kits? I know those dudes, they are everywhere. The funny thing is when they show up in the real racing world it's usually to get their asses handed to them. I would have laughed, continued sucking wheel, and sprinted by them at the finish (complete with hands up).

Congrats on the nice 56mi effort.

merlinextraligh

Oxymoron.

Pilsley

Huh,

Well there you go....

Gluteus

carpediemracing 

Heh.

I did that ride a while back. The "seriousness" factor was pretty high for some people. After I did a pretty slow (but really hot) 50-ish miles, I apologized to my two ride companions and did some sprints and such, waiting each time for my friends (and the group that had kinda sorta coalesced around them). It was a lot of fun.

It's too bad you ran into someone like that. Good on you for riding with your cousin.

cdr

Grumpy McTrumpy

OP: why tell us this?

If it really bothered you that much then why not just tell the people involved directly?

agoodale

Sometimes I curse the fact that I'm too nice a guy. I only come up with ideas like that later instead of right away when I can use it.

The best I came up with was to half wheel him the rest of the way and then maybe force him into the cones right at the finish. I'm sure I could have made it look like an accident.

Cactuskid

I was there yesterday, It was just a ride as far as we knew, had a great time , perfect weather for a century, did you catch the guy with 2 dogs in his backpack...lol

agoodale

Well...I actually did. At the next light up the road I rode over to talk to him. That's when he mocked my 56 mile effort. But I explained to him what I was doing and he struggled with a few excuses for his profanity (but no apology). So be it.

Why tell BF? It seemed like a funny story. Do we really need reasons for posting on BF now?

rollin

...

agoodale

That's part of what makes it fun and why I jumped on their wheel. The whole ride people were jumping on my wheel and I had a great time pulling them around. When he started cursing me out I had to look around because it didn't even cross my mind that I was pissing him off.

Oops, it was actually my nephew. My sister's family was in town and she wanted to do some training with her son for Solvang next month. He didn't have much experience with organized rides so I stayed with him for the first 5-8 miles. At that point he was feeling ok and told me to go ahead. I tried to encourage him as much as I could. He's mentally strong and has the perfect body type to make a good cyclist.

tspek

I chuckled.

Not really, but internet chuckled.

It's like a silent chuckle that doesn't exist.

Nachoman

Reverse paceline?

umd

Awesome

Not sarcastic

You doing San Dimas this year?

mrvile

My favorite part

Mr. Beanz

That's the reason I avoid those really tough centuries like Tour De Palmsprings, too many hardcore riders!

zzzwillzzz

sorry i had to yell at you but i was just taking orders from the director sportif in the team car behind

Pedaleur

No kidding. "Wait. You're mad at _me_?"

Chuckle.

agoodale

fixed it for you

DinoShepherd

Did you find out his screen name here?

-Z

gettingold

Hilarious!

Reynolds 

Ha! I know cyclists like him too. Would be nice if some day he confronted some real pros.

Kai Winters

Half wheel him into a curb then blurt out "did I do that"...

dgasmd

These people are everywhere. I used to do 2 centuries per year in Miami mostly as an excuse to hang out with a friend there since we now live a bit apart and never see each other or ride together anymore. Last year in one of those rides, there was a club (although they think they are a team) with the full kit on including the aero shoe covers and all and a support car behind them. There were like 25 of them with their director sportiff riding among them screaming orders at them as they organized their "double paceline at 18 MPH!! The same guy then proceeds to scream at anyone near and behind them not to draft their riders, not get too close, blah blah while they are basically blocking and using up all the road available and not allowing people behind them to pass safely. I sat there behind them for about 5-10 min thinking they are just about to really take off only to realize that was their intended pace and speed. I laughed as I passed them only to have their director sportiff scream at me while passing them "not to disturb their paceline". I slowed down and yelled back at him to get the fock off the road if they don't want anyone around them. Never saw them again.

It doesn't cease to amaze me how many people think these rides are races and how hard core they can get. I guess it is true that you simply cannot cure stupid!!