I usually ride with just one other person and have picked up a couple of little "tricks" that I am graciously passing on to everyone else but the person with whom I ride.

My favorite, particularly on a windy day, is to call "car back" while riding in a good spot to block Skipper's view. I let him move ahead and tuck in behind and spend a few minutes cleaning my glasses, having a drink, and watching the world go by. When I've had plenty of rest, I move up next to him and report that the car turned off. He gets a little better workout and as I'm a bit older, I get a little better rest.

In the same vein, if there really is a car back, I gallantly forge ahead and take the lead. I figure he's a bit more visible and besides I like my bike better than his and therefore don't wish to endanger it anymore than necessary.

Lastly, I like to go fast down hills so I am inevitably in the lead at the top. Just as inevitably, Skipper passes me as gravity tends to favor him in this case. At the momment he passes, if I time it properly, I can tuck in and carry my speed for just a bit longer than I would on my own. How sweet it is!

So there you are, a few things I've picked up over the course of the years. Feel free to add, criticize, or use. Lastly, I might add that I've learned that a little company, at least for me, sure shortens a ride.

I prefer to ride with a friend as well. I am not much of a talker, so I usually end up riding with a friend who can talk for the both of us. While he is explaining the finer points of "War and Peace" I am conserving my energy slowly wearing him down. That's my little secret.

It's interesting tht you point out how riding with a friend shortens the ride. You're completely correct. That fact is a function of the fact that cycling, like pretty much all forms of exercise, is usually not very interesting. The dirty little secret about exercising is that it is boring, it hurts, and it makes you tired. I don't particularly like exercising; however, I love having exercised. Doing it with someone alleviates, at least, the first of those problems.

All I want to know is Irma's open again?

Offroad and we had a rider that used to always keep a wheel in front of everyone else. He never used to ride with us. If you got level with him- he put on speed till eventually he was going too fast for me. That annoys me as I do like to ride with someone occasionally.

Easy solution- I just mentioned to him that his rear tyre seems to be misalined on the rim. Bit later I said that I wondered if it was the rim that was out of true. Nothing wrong with it ofcourse but it did slow him down as he didn't want to damage his wheel any further.

Then another rider with too much energy for our good and we came to a crossroads in the trail.Nothing wrong with a rider going on in front as every one has to do his own ride. By the time we got to the junction he was 50 yards downhill. We turned uphill and called him back as we cycled on. Then just before he caught us- we stopped said "Sorry- it's the wrong way" and turned round. After that He stopped at every junction to let the group reform. The way we like to ride as offroad we do like to keep in contact with every rider just in case of problems.

Affirmative.

Whew!!

When cyclo-touring, if beans was on the menu the previous evening in camp, always cycle in the lead. Really. I'm surprised she married me.

I've learned that the people who praise listening to Ipod while you ride are right.

So wheres the proof- no pics yet and no copy of the menu.




And just so some of you can understand why Irma's is held in such reverence on this Forum. RCK and Skipper found it- or already knew of it- and posted the menu once. The menu and the look of the pies made every one drool and as this is an international Forum--- it was decided that Irma's was going to be the "Virtual Clubhouse" of the 50+ Forum.

So if you are ever in the vicinity- keep RCK and skipper company sometime. They need help in getting back on the bikes after the Pie.

Things I've learned:

Road rash isn't really a "rash" at all.
White bikes are the fastest - until I get on them.
An overdraft has noting to do with banking. It has to do with not taking your proper pull at the front.
A coffee shop might be a great ride destination, but only if there's ample places to "get rid of the coffee" on the way home.
Cycling tights really are tight.
A wind breaker and breaking wind are two entirely different things.
Clean chains never break or jump off the chainrings. Only dirty ones do that.
One of the most important skills you can learn about dismounting is that of remembering if you're riding your straight top tube bike or your sloping top tube bike.

"A coffee shop might be a great ride destination, but only if there's ample places to "get rid of the coffee" on the way home."

Amen!

I prefer riding alone because I can have a decent conversation with the guy who always hovers over my left shoulder. (Shut up a minute, will ya', I'm trying to type.) Sorry, I got distracted, what were we talking about?

look where you are going, not who you are talking to.(crash #1).
Stop for loose kids with dogs.(crash #2).
Road rash in not really a rash(as stated above).
Joined club Tombay the first day in toe clips.
Rejoined club Tombay the first day with clipless pedals.
How to have fun on two wheels and 4 hours to kill.
My legs look great, now have to work on the gut.

Hey!