Sometimes you just have to...

First let me say that I am not some commuting tough-guy. Hell, I hardly EVER run into another rider on either side of my commute- except for the occasional bum riding to the liquor store (and those guys are always cool for the most part). But I am pretty proud of the fact that I've been commuting in a town of almost no bike commuters and I hold my own on bad roads with drivers who hardly ever have to deal with cyclists (and they behave accordingly- I was almost run off of a narrow road by a cop the other day if that tells you anything).

... But I recently got a road bike. That changes EVERYTHING.

Well not really. But it does mean that I can go slightly faster than I could previously on the Royce Union mountain bike that I ghetto-ized into a pseudo-commuter with slicks, locked-out and completely removed suspension (front and back respectively) and other assorted commuting toys.

All that aside, I bought a 1989 Trek 330 in January and I can really tell the difference in my riding. Mostly in the amount of flat tires I get- but that is neither here nor there. The reason for this already long winded account is my new nemesis; Another commuter. And he is a formidable foe.

I've only seen him on my trip three times now and the first time was when I was walking my bike to get a ride with a friend after running over a giant roofing nail on my way into work. The tire was torn and the tube irreparable. He flew past me with a gleeful look and disappeared. The second time was as he took up the whole shoulder of the road and I had to pass him by jumping into the traffic lane. I thought nothing of it- it was something I did all the time to get around slow moving bums.

Today was different.

I was pulling out of the parking lot of my place of employment. I usually just check for traffic on the crossroad and when clear blow by the stop sign into a small downhill (Very small- this IS Florida) right turn. Not legal, but fun. So today I see another cyclist as I approach the stop sign. I'm always happy to see a fellow two-wheeled, human-powered vehicle, so I slow to a quick stop and wait for him to pass. But I recognize the person atop that bike. It was the same guy who whizzed by me while I carried my lame bicycle earlier that week- Off I go from the intersection in the same gear I always seem to be in while I cruise along on my flat-land commute. He's riding an unrecognizable mountain bike and not exactly speeding along so I check over my shoulder for traffic and accelerate. There is no traffic so I overtake him with a wide berth into the lane and don't even think to give the normal "on yer right" salutation. On I ride thinking nothing of it.

Apparently I awoke a sleeping beast. A large, long-haired and suspended sleeping beast by this action- He was coming for me like a nightmare. 30 or 40 yards later I hear the familiar sound of rotating chain and cogs as he slips past me... Much like I had just nonchalantly glided past him. Before I have time to even think about what is happening (remember NO ONE here commutes and this is the first time someone has even tried to go around me on a bike) he is ahead of me and is spinning like mad.

At last. A challenge.

Well not really, but what the hell, some dude on his mountain bike just dropped me- and here I am on a road bike. This sort of thing just doesn't happen! (or it shouldn't if I believed what I read on the road bike forums).

So I smile quite big. I actually chortle as he pulls ahead of me. Not out of conceitedness. Hardly. Actually I was just happy that someone on a bicycle FINALLY had the ability to get ahead of me.

At this point I should tell you that I'm a 32 year old guy. And I smoke. Like a freaking chimney I smoke. I'd love to stop but I'm a monkey and this monkey likes his tobacco. Also- until 8 months ago I was completely out of shape and weighed 50 pounds more than I do now... With that said...

HE AWOKE THE GORILLA (the gorilla inside the monkey you see)

I reach toward my downtube shifter and click it forward a notch. "Let's see if this bastard can do 90 rpm's with a 42X16" (another lame Back To The Future reference, sorry).

30 yards and I was past him. And I keep spinning. And spinning. And spinning. And... (a mile later: )
"Holy crap I think I'm going to die"

The world goes a bit wonky and I decide that I need to slow down a bit. I take a quick look back and my nemesis is nowhere to be seen. "Thank f*****g god" I say under my breath (which is coming in gasps and tobacco riddled rattles)


I pull into where my friend works- the one whom I regularly get a ride home with- because after spending 8 hours a day hefting sofas at a furniture store I'm too tired to even think about doing another 7 mile ride home. I'm sweating like a man my age who smokes too much should be, and I try to catch my breath before walking inside the office to get her keys so I can load my "sort of vintage" bike into her trunk...

And I smile.

That was fun.

(All of the above is related quite tongue-in-cheek but true. Commuting is a battlefield )

lol, awesome story. So.....where did the MTB guy go? Did he meltdown like Chernobyl from trying to keep up with you?

Good story. You almost wrote a novel.

I ride a touring bike and the only folks who try to race are on mountain bikes. Normal roadies don't usually bother with me. Too darn slow. Last summer one arsehole passed my while I was spinning along at 30mph in the middle chainring. That was not the annoying part. It was when he took a right while on my left. Fortunately, I was also taking a right. Anyhow, I put it in the large chainring and obliged that annoying action by passing him going up a hill. After a mile I had to take an unplanned right to avoid blowing up. Still, he was about a 1/2 mile behind me. Vengeance was mine!

Don't you just love being male? Too much dang testosterone.

Heh, he probably got to his destination 15 seconds after he was passed.

Don't worry, he'll be back...and gun'n for you...Be stoked and ready Mr. 1.21jW!

Nemesis stories are a lot of fun to read. You will have to keep us posted on this.

East Hill

People pass me on the sidewalk I just smile and enjoy myself.

Yea on rare days I see cyclist on the road dropping me. I get that gorilla feeling too.

Looks like your welll on your way to becoming addicted to cycling.

As a former smoker good luck. On Feb. 12 it will be 4 long years.

The last time I got dropped by an actual commuter, he was on a mountain bike and I was on my cheap NEXT Wal-Mart bike. I haven't seen him in months, so he's an obvious fair-weather commuter. I could almost keep up with him, and I was in worse shape then than I am now. I can't wait to see him again just to see if he wants to race. Hopefully I'll be on my Outlook (it's a little faster and lighter) when it happens.

NOBODY has ever passed me on my 24 mile R/T commute for the last 4+ years; of course;
I have never passed anybody either.

I never get passed, nor do I ever pass anyone, because everyone is always going the opposite direction .

Happens when you work graveyard.

East Hill

Jigga what?

Jigga PLEASE.

My GF used the book "The Easy Way To Quit Smoking" a few months ago, she's been enjoying being smoke-free. I used the drinking version last summer and it really helped with the cravings. Only $10 at Amazon.

I have been passed by another commuter only once. But that wasn't due to superior speed, but somewhat poor judgement, on the other person's part.

On a downhill section of my commute home, I stopped for a red light, where seconds before, a young woman on a typical commuter bike had stopped next to me. As soon as the light turned green, I sprinted away, like I always do. Still going downhill, I had to slow down to make a turn, then soon after make another turn, and then had to slow to let crossing traffic pass. That was enough for the other commuter to almost catch up. I darted off again and approached a red light, so I slowed down, but it turned green before I reached it so I kept going. She was still close behind (maybe 100-150 ft back).

Onto a much slower street, with virtually no room to pass cars and frequent speed bumps. 10 seconds later, she was right behind me and going the same speed (which was very low at this point - 10 mph maybe). The car we were both behind had to brake to let pedestrians pass, so I stopped, because there was almost no room on either side of the car to pass. Then she slid past me on my right and squeezed herself in beside the car and the edge of the street (about 8" high sides). She couldn't pedal, so she "walked" the bike past the car (almost scratching it), and pulled away off ahead.

At first I was amazed that she kept up with me so well, but when I thought about a bit more, I realised how much time slowing down for traffic and stopping for red lights really eats up. Yet, still she "won"!

funny post.

I call it "going fishing". I see the other rider up ahead and I reel him in. Just like a fish you don't want to pull too hard or move too fast or you'll lose him. Nice and steady. Take the time to watch him. How he rides. Is he jumpy? Steady and strong?

Hunter instinct.

And once you make your jump you've got to have the guts to stay with it or you're toast.

And I've met some of my best friends this way.

Wows. You oughta stop smoking the engine coolant. It'll cool you down in the short term, but in the long term it causes lung cancer. Then, if you ever have more challenges in the future, you will be able to more easily smoke the competition

Y'know, Hipcycler took like a year to beat his knave. It took you a couple commutes. Think you can repeat when your knave shows up on a roadbike?

Man, Daytona Beach! Haha road biking there is practically considered unAmerican (at least when it isn't a sport, in which it is both unAmerican AND "gay"). I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for three years and I went up to Daytona Beach a lot. It is completely devoid of bikes.

Good job! And good luck

Heh, hopefully he smokes too and then it'll be an even match

I really wasn't kidding when I said no one rides here. I've seen exactly two stereotypical roadies and other than that just your average kids and bums riding here since I started commuting. It's sad really. I looked around for a bike club- and there is one- In Ormond. And while I'm not exactly a young guy the members are (I'm trying to put this nicely) "older". Which is cool, hell some of those guys could probably wipe the floor with me. I should probably check them out on their next ride.