Riding my normal 18 mile route on my fixed gear, I pass a cyclist pulled over talking on his cell phone. I thought maybe if he came my way I'd ride with him a bit, which would be new for me since I ride fixed alone. Since fixed riding is slower up and down hills, if I ride with someone on a geared bike, I also ride a geared bike.

I was riding at about 18 MPH and sat up a bit to decrease speed before a downhill, and he blew past me pretty fast in aerobar position. I caught him at the next red light and jumped on his wheel for a few miles. The pace was great up hills, keeping me spinning and seated while in his draft. Some downhills had me pretty spun out and thinking I was about to lose his draft, but I stayed on his wheel.

When he slowed to climb out of saddle up a hill before a traffic light, I was at a good cadence to climb the hill fast. I was never sure if he knew I was behind him, but I pulled out and passed him, climbing pretty fast. He said: "If I was going too slow, you could have passed my any time" Since I was pretty maxed out just staying on his wheel. I said: "Right"

He burned the next section after the light, allowing no chance for me to suck his wheel on the next section which has some long mild downhills. He was likely averaging 22 or 23 for a few miles. It was fun while it lasted.