It finally happened: I DROPED THE HAMER!
08-10-15, 06:47 PM
#51
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But also, why would I want to draft off someone going 2mph slower than I was already? Talk about your road to hell!
08-10-15, 06:48 PM
#52
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08-10-15, 06:50 PM
#53
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Lol! I gave him a look, fer sure, I don't know if it was "the look," but I'm fairly certain it said what I was thinking...if you catch my draft...i mean my drift...
08-10-15, 07:25 PM
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So I'm a noob. Only been riding for a year. 54 yrs old, recently quit smoking. Not a Clyde, just not much of a sporting boy.
Anyway, yesterday I was going for my first half-century, riding on rt 27 from Sag Harbor to Montauk, and I was riding along at a pretty decent clip for me, around 17-18mph. So I'm about 20 miles into my ride and some guy comes up on my left and passes me, pulls in front and immediately slows down. Doesn't say anything, doesn't look at me, nuthin! Rude dude.
You know those guys that are all long lean muscle? Tall and lanky. Minimal kit, no saddle bag--totally serious? And they pass you, and maybe you try to follow for a bit but there's just no way in hell you can keep up because they're holding 21mph up a long grade...then they're gone? He was one of those guys. I hate those guys.
So I'm drafting him at ~17mph and mostly coasting, and, call me weird, but I just can't stay there in his contrail of nasty man smell. Now, maybe he's ridden all the way from NYC or something, but why bother to pass me if you're just going to slow down? So I get mad, AND I DROPED THE HAMER! I pass him, and sort of give him this look, and nod, and then take off.
Since I started riding, I haven't really been able to hold 145bpm without seeing spots, but, dammit, I was going to get this guy behind me if it killed me! So I'm HAMERING away, 20...21...22mph, and my heart rate is climbing, and I'm starting to huff and puff, and I get to 140bpm, and I'm expecting to have to back off...but I hold it there and start breathing deeply and keep going! It was the most amazing feeling! For the first part he was drafting me, but as I kept HAMERING he slowly dropped back! And then I was that guy! After a bit he was just a spot in my rear-view, and I never saw him again.
So what a milestone day! I finished my first half-century, AND I DROPED THE HAMER!
Anyway, yesterday I was going for my first half-century, riding on rt 27 from Sag Harbor to Montauk, and I was riding along at a pretty decent clip for me, around 17-18mph. So I'm about 20 miles into my ride and some guy comes up on my left and passes me, pulls in front and immediately slows down. Doesn't say anything, doesn't look at me, nuthin! Rude dude.
You know those guys that are all long lean muscle? Tall and lanky. Minimal kit, no saddle bag--totally serious? And they pass you, and maybe you try to follow for a bit but there's just no way in hell you can keep up because they're holding 21mph up a long grade...then they're gone? He was one of those guys. I hate those guys.
So I'm drafting him at ~17mph and mostly coasting, and, call me weird, but I just can't stay there in his contrail of nasty man smell. Now, maybe he's ridden all the way from NYC or something, but why bother to pass me if you're just going to slow down? So I get mad, AND I DROPED THE HAMER! I pass him, and sort of give him this look, and nod, and then take off.
Since I started riding, I haven't really been able to hold 145bpm without seeing spots, but, dammit, I was going to get this guy behind me if it killed me! So I'm HAMERING away, 20...21...22mph, and my heart rate is climbing, and I'm starting to huff and puff, and I get to 140bpm, and I'm expecting to have to back off...but I hold it there and start breathing deeply and keep going! It was the most amazing feeling! For the first part he was drafting me, but as I kept HAMERING he slowly dropped back! And then I was that guy! After a bit he was just a spot in my rear-view, and I never saw him again.
So what a milestone day! I finished my first half-century, AND I DROPED THE HAMER!
Start worrying if it doesn't drop when you lay off though. That would signal to me that I should get it checked out.
08-10-15, 07:53 PM
#55
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alright, alright... brava mano....
now do it every time you go out and ride.... ;^)
now do it every time you go out and ride.... ;^)
08-10-15, 09:13 PM
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08-12-15, 06:15 AM
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In my 30 years of riding the only time someone passes and pulls in front of you is to let you draft although this is most common in club rides and organized rides. I have pulled in front of plenty of people without waving or introducing myself and let them draft me, always with the same effect, they are grateful and we usually start at conversation down the road or at the finish. You say you were doing 17-18 when pulled past you and slowed to 17, so my guess is he was trying to match your speed and probably underestimated. My reaction would have been draft for a few minutes and then to pull in front of him and set the pace I preferred 18, 19, 20... whatever and let him draft you. Waving while you are passing someone is not so easy, and looking back would have been dangerous. Maybe he should have said something in passing, but maybe he was a newbie as well and doesn't know the secret handshake yet.
08-12-15, 11:37 AM
#58
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In my 30 years of riding the only time someone passes and pulls in front of you is to let you draft although this is most common in club rides and organized rides. I have pulled in front of plenty of people without waving or introducing myself and let them draft me, always with the same effect, they are grateful and we usually start at conversation down the road or at the finish. You say you were doing 17-18 when pulled past you and slowed to 17, so my guess is he was trying to match your speed and probably underestimated. My reaction would have been draft for a few minutes and then to pull in front of him and set the pace I preferred 18, 19, 20... whatever and let him draft you. Waving while you are passing someone is not so easy, and looking back would have been dangerous. Maybe he should have said something in passing, but maybe he was a newbie as well and doesn't know the secret handshake yet.
Like I said, he could have ridden in from NYC for all I know, (~110 miles) so I'm not really patting myself on the back for HAMERING him. I just liked the small victory, especially in the context of my first half-century.
08-12-15, 12:24 PM
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In my 30 years of riding the only time someone passes and pulls in front of you is to let you draft although this is most common in club rides and organized rides. I have pulled in front of plenty of people without waving or introducing myself and let them draft me, always with the same effect, they are grateful and we usually start at conversation down the road or at the finish. You say you were doing 17-18 when pulled past you and slowed to 17, so my guess is he was trying to match your speed and probably underestimated. My reaction would have been draft for a few minutes and then to pull in front of him and set the pace I preferred 18, 19, 20... whatever and let him draft you. Waving while you are passing someone is not so easy, and looking back would have been dangerous. Maybe he should have said something in passing, but maybe he was a newbie as well and doesn't know the secret handshake yet.
08-12-15, 01:07 PM
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Nobody chases down a rabbit pulls in front and slows down. He would have slowed down behind you unnoticed, caught his breath and then dropped the hammer and blown by you. This is a case for Columbo, the evidence just doesn't add up...
08-12-15, 07:20 PM
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Maybe what happened was that you were inclined to kept working as hard despite the advantage of the draft he was providing (while he maintained his effort, but lacked the advantage your draft had recently given him), so it just seemed like he intentionally slowed down in front of you. Add the fact that the guy smelled and suddenly the effort required to get and stay ahead of him (rather than drop back and remain effectively downwind) became inconsequential.
In any event, I can just imagine what it was like, and it sure seems like fun; good story!
In any event, I can just imagine what it was like, and it sure seems like fun; good story!
08-12-15, 07:44 PM
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I ride on paved paths with many "cyclists" and other bike riders. A few of them are extremely good at the sport.
If I come up on someone, I usually make damn sure I can drop them before passing. If I have doubts, I'll hang back and build up reserves, passing them after I get my second wind. When I see someone coming up on me, I step on it to try to keep them from passing. Sometimes I fail at both.
Occasionally the guy I pass will step on it and end up drafting behind me. I usually end up enjoying the competition and push myself to new limits. Sometimes the guy I spot in my mirror is coming up so fast, that I know I stand no chance and let him blow right by me. This happens very rarely though these days. I'm happy about that.
If I come up on someone, I usually make damn sure I can drop them before passing. If I have doubts, I'll hang back and build up reserves, passing them after I get my second wind. When I see someone coming up on me, I step on it to try to keep them from passing. Sometimes I fail at both.
Occasionally the guy I pass will step on it and end up drafting behind me. I usually end up enjoying the competition and push myself to new limits. Sometimes the guy I spot in my mirror is coming up so fast, that I know I stand no chance and let him blow right by me. This happens very rarely though these days. I'm happy about that.
08-12-15, 09:17 PM
#64
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Today I was riding my mountain bike and a fellow roadie all kitted out started to catch up to me so I down shifted one gear and floored so I ran out of gearing but we tied at about 24-25 mph, I lasted about 30 seconds before my legs gave out.
08-12-15, 09:45 PM
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08-13-15, 08:43 AM
#66
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08-13-15, 09:15 AM
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