Had a great ride home. Here there are few fast bike riders, so I have to content myself with chasing down electric bikes, not as much fun.

On the way home I came across a bike rider up in the distance. I was moving along at about 31 - 32 kph, and sped up a little. When I caught him, I noticed that he was sweating a little, and moving along at about 30 kph. I went past him at about 34 kph, and after a bit looked back to see him drafting me.

So I picked it up a bit to about 37 kph, and he stayed there, so I went to 40. I cant stay there for long, but he came alongside me, and we looked at each other, we both smiled and went for it. After a bit we came to a slight down hill to go under the 4th ring road, and moved into the low 40's. He was also on a fairly cheap Giant mtb, and had a smalll backpack, I had one fairly empty Ortlieb back roller.

Going up the hill from the underpass I thought I might lose him, but he had the same idea. We both blew through the next couple of reds, but got stopped just before 3rd ring road. We tried to talk but didnt have enough common language. When there was no traffic we started up again.

By now we were both fairly tired and could only manage about 36. We stayed about level as we weaved through the increasing traffic, but managed to work out that we were both going left on the second ring raod. I nearly lost him in the rich suburb of Tongzalin, but went a little slower on the road leading to 2nd ring road until he caught up.

The road we were on, that leads up to 2nd ring road has a beautiful surface, and is one way, though busses can go the other way. I cut across the traffic to salmon against the bus lane as I could see it was blocked about 200 m ahead. He stuck to me like glue. Then the light turned green as we were about 100 m south of the intersection. Now 2 1/2 lanes turn left, and 2 1/2 lanes go straight. As I was zooming along the waiting cars, they started to move. When I was level with cars going almost as fast as me I started to cut back right across the lanes. I had to do a little weaving, sudden braking and accelerating, and I managed to do the left at a fair clip.

I dived into the bike lane and started to look for my new bike buddy, but he wasnt there. I slowed right down, but he still didnt appear.

Maybe I didnt understand him, and he was going straight on.

Hope I see him again.

My ride home was 12.5 km in 23.47 minutes, at an average of 31.5 kmph.

Not bad for a 46 year old heavy smoker on a cheap Giant mountain bike.

z