So Saturday I get to ride alone on the trail since the wife had other plans. I get to do my pace without worring about going to fast etc. So I end up riding with some guy that I don't really want to ride with. I said no a few times but he wouldn't accept it so I did my pace. Turns out our "riding together" is me pulling for 7 miles from the start. He's gasping for air and making sounds like he want to puke or go into cardiac. I don't surge, no speed increase just a steady strong pace into a stiff headwind. I'm pretty happy he dropped off when he did because I know the guy and he's never once beenable to keep even when my wife is riding with me. There was a reason I didn't want to ride with him so just doing my pace, if he fell back, he was on his own.
Soon after I run into another dude. I met this dude about 2 years ago about stories of being the senior TT state champ. I was rather impressed with is 26 mph average into the wind as my solo efforts were 19 mph max over the 50 miles on the same trail. 26 MPH!!! Wow, I could never even imagine keeping up with this monster.
So I ride around the guy politely then the dude hops on to suck my wheel. Sometimes I would rather just ride myself but no biggie. I don't want to be a jerk like those mentioned in so many threads, so I just keep doing my thing!
So he sucks my wheel for 6 or 7 miles. Just keeping my pace when some dude hops on the trail on a 3 speed with big huge fat tires. He's commuting but he jumps in line but soon after he pulls up to the fornt and takes a pull for a couple minutes. He drops back then comes to the front again a few minutes later. Couple miles down the road he turns off. I was shocked as this dude on some huge fat tires was willing to work if even for a bit !
....but the state TT champ made no attempt or offer!
But like I said, I was just doing my thing for a good workout. Another mile down the road and the state TT champ falls off my wheel on a molehill of a climb. 20 yard climb and he's gone. I keep my same consistent pace to the coast and usual rest stop, shared by several cyclist.
TT champ fell off pace about 5 miles back so he arrives a few minutes. He rides up and says,"you were doing a good pace into the headwind". I said thanks as I was proud of my effort. I don't get to open up much on the trail as my rides are usually with my wife on the weekends. Then the Champ says, you were lucky I didn't catch you. I was cut off by a lady on a bike right when I was planning to catch you".
..I just laughed seeing as the guy was about a mile ahead of me when he first came into sight, but he's catching me!
So another several (like 20) minutes go by when the other rider shows up. He rolls up and immediately says," I couldn't keep your pace because I'm at a disadvantage".
"Really, Like what?" I asked knowing that it's because I ride a ton more. I ride in the mountains, I ride hills, 45 mph winds, road bike, tandem, Mountin bike and probably did 20 times the mileage that this guy did last year. That was my answer, but I didn't say anything, I just wanted to hear his answer for a good laugh.
He says he was at a disavantage because he removed his aerobars!
But! But! If I don't have them, what disadvantage? He says he loses 5 mph on his overall 'AVERAGE" without them. So I compared our averages and mine was 2.5 better than his over the 12 mie section and I pulled him half of that.
"So if you had your aerobars, there was no way I could have kept up with you?" He says nope that he has hit 29 mph on the trail before. "Well I've hit 32 but what does that have to do with it?" I asked. Then he says his 29 was a sustained effort and my 32 was a max speed. True my 32 was max speed but I just laughed add let it go. Like I said, I've known this guy for years, with or without aerobars he can't keep with my wife LOL!
So after couple of minutes he says, "oh yeah, my wheel slowed me down too". So I have to ask, whatcha got? He says an Ultegra hub. So I tell him I'm riding an Ultegra 600 hub from back in 1997! "Yeah but then new Ultegra hub is a slow roller" he says.
That's it, man I have to go so I left!
So my thoughts, yeah I suck at racing!
I don't even know enough to know when I am racing!
Worst part is that if I do get dropped by another rider, I'm not sure that I'd be able to think up a good enough excuse!
BTW, I do the same timed event rides that some of the other SoCal members may do. Members like JohnR, UMD, BenFR who seriously kick my arse on the ride. So if you have any suggestions for a good excuse, feel free to post them, might come in handy later on! hahaha!