Had a nice little ride today.

Sac Arrow

Sac Arrow

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
May 11, 2010
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Charlotte, NC
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Snorting his way across the USA
Okay so I'm riding down a long, deserted road doing about a 18 mph clip, and a group of four riders comes up behind me and overtakes me, slowly. I let them pass (if I detected their presence, I probably would have upped my pace a bit but I was taking it easy.)

Lead rider is a dude, looked like a typical pro rider, cloned from the same stock that produced Froome, Vittel and the rest of those guys. Behind him was a tallish rider chick, third was a tight little Asian riding an S-Works, and the trail rider was another pro rider looking dude riding a Cervelo. They all had upper end bikes and gear. I'm trailing the tail guy with a bit of a gap. He slows a bit, and motions for me to fall in, ahead of him.

Now, I haven't quite figured out the dynamics here. Presumably, the chick in the #2 slot belongs to the lead rider, and the tight little Asian chick in #3 belongs to the #4 rider. Can't tell definitively as both dudes are pasty white. So like, why does this guy want me to draft his chick? I mean hell, I'll take it if he's offering. Maybe he just wants to check out my ass. Or maybe he was worried about me checking out his ass. Or maybe he gets a kick out of watching another dude check out his chick's ass. Or maybe that was actually his buddy's chick and he's getting payback by putting a stranger on her ass. Not sure. So I caught up with the lead three and dude fell in behind me in a close draft.

Well, as soon as we transitioned in to the trail and the pace picked up a bit, it became abundantly clear. This chick was like all over the place! She kept doing stand climb bursts, and darting to the left and the right. Couldn't hold her line worth ****. Very annoying in a pack. Lead rider and second spot chick were rock steady. Due behind me was rock steady. NBFD though, I still got a draft and rode with them for about five miles before breaking off to my turnout.

All in all it was a good day, my lucky charm came through for me (two extra tubes stuffed in to my jersey. Damn it was cold out though, I had to break out the poly fleece thermal under, and the booties.

Anyway just sharing.
 
It's like playing with fire when you fall into a group that's riding just a little faster than you. Too many times, I've gone way past redline, limped home and spent the afternoon on the couch watching the ceiling spin.

Nothing like riding behind a fit female cyclist -- blond ponytail is always a nice touch.
 
Sam D said:
It's like playing with fire when you fall into a group that's riding just a little faster than you. Too many times, I've gone way past redline, limped home and spent the afternoon on the couch watching the ceiling spin.

Nothing like riding behind a fit female cyclist -- blond ponytail is always a nice touch.
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Yeah I really wasn't worried about that. Even without drafting I held the lead rider's pace no problem. But yes certainly if you're with a group going a lot faster than you that's problematic. Especially if you drop back too far and end up out of the draft.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Yeah I really wasn't worried about that. Even without drafting I held the lead rider's pace no problem. But yes certainly if you're with a group going a lot faster than you that's problematic. Especially if you drop back too far and end up out of the draft.
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A few years ago, I road with a couple of friends from San Diego to Arizona over a number of days. These guys were way more fit than me. As long as I could stay in their draft, I was just about ok. But a moment of distraction, and I'd look up to see them disappearing into the distance. One day, on our way to Palm Springs, was particularly grim.

Can you fit your bike in your plane? I've been thinking about flying to some riding destinations in the spring (Mendocino, Trinity Alps, etc)
 
Sam D said:
A few years ago, I road with a couple of friends from San Diego to Arizona over a number of days. These guys were way more fit than me. As long as I could stay in their draft, I was just about ok. But a moment of distraction, and I'd look up to see them disappearing into the distance. One day, on our way to Palm Springs, was particularly grim.

Can you fit your bike in your plane? I've been thinking about flying to some riding destinations in the spring (Mendocino, Trinity Alps, etc)
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Yeah my roadie fits in my Arrow no problem and it's a 58 cm frame. I have to take both wheels off and jockey the frame through the door, but it will fit fine in the rear seat or baggage compartment. I take it with me occasionally.
 
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