Edge705
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Thornton Lancashire
Looking out of my warm office window I was agin staring at another blustery 16 mile boring commute home. I say boring there is very little in the way of scenery or directional options to make the commute anymore exciting than it is which is 14 miles of country lane followed by the last two and half battling rush hour traffic However little did I know I was in for a peach of a ride home all thanks to a fellow cyclist by the name of Neil.
To paint a picture I rarely see cyclists on my commute as I leave the office at different times if I do they rarely are the sought to ride with me perhaps because Im going at pace and they dont fancy the effort but tonight was different I spotted Neil (another commuting cyclist) about 4 miles into my commute he was about 400 yards in the distance I thought another commuter I'll pass and not see again. However Neil was different he's obviously spotted me and was not going to make it easy for me to catch him up he too was going at a fare pace of knotts . I eventually caught up with him said the customary hello made some comment about how cold it was and set off thinking I would not se him again Little did I know he was right on my tail I wasnt bothered I dont mind taking the wind for people fair do's to them if they can keep up with me they deserve to be sheltered I thought to myself he is either blowing out of his backside and this will last for a mile or so or he is pretty fit so i thought I would test his fitness by racing up a short steepish incline perhaps 10 - 12 percent gradient I was doing 21mph at 110rpm cadence so breezed up it in no time at all but the downside is there is also the descent which you can easily be caught and fair play to Neil he was at my side before i could blink and at this point he was going really well and I was nearing my limit he asked where I was going and said we'd take turns about I said ok and thankfully dropped in at his wheel at this point more than grateful for a bit of shelter. Neil then put the hammer down and before I knew it I was off the back some 30 40 yards within seconds I raced to get back on his wheel but had to concede defeat and ease off to get a breather One thing Im pretty good at is recovery whilst still keeping up pace I must admit though Neil could of rode off but instead decided to ease off I then took up the pace and he sheltered for a bit but soon he was in front of me again and I found myself behind his wheel soon to be wizzed off the back again However Neil eased up a bit and again I took up the front but by this time I'd regained my second wind and was feeling pretty good and going at Pace but Neil obviously felt strong and took up the front again but by this time I was a little fresher and I was not going to lose his wheel this time. There was a final gradient a little sod of a incline about 500 meteres worth and I could see Neil really pushing as he battled with the drag up which was just before where we would part company. At this point I was cruising and could of easily passed Neil on the short climb but Mucho respect this guy had dragged me home for most part, waited up on a couple of occasions and did more miles out front so I was not going to show him disrepspect by leaving at the last hurdle. I gently rode upside and to the lights two abreast sharing comments on what a good workout that was. Turned out Neil did triathlon's and I'd met more than my match on the nightly commute he also welcomed the workout we shook hands and went seperate ways for the final few miles of our commute.
Afterwards I couldnt help thinking how fast my commute went I was home in not much quicker time but it felt quicker and was arguably the most enjoyable commute home you could ever experience in 25mph cross winds.
So if you ever get chance to read this post Neil thanks for a great ride home.
No where's that leg massager
To paint a picture I rarely see cyclists on my commute as I leave the office at different times if I do they rarely are the sought to ride with me perhaps because Im going at pace and they dont fancy the effort but tonight was different I spotted Neil (another commuting cyclist) about 4 miles into my commute he was about 400 yards in the distance I thought another commuter I'll pass and not see again. However Neil was different he's obviously spotted me and was not going to make it easy for me to catch him up he too was going at a fare pace of knotts . I eventually caught up with him said the customary hello made some comment about how cold it was and set off thinking I would not se him again Little did I know he was right on my tail I wasnt bothered I dont mind taking the wind for people fair do's to them if they can keep up with me they deserve to be sheltered I thought to myself he is either blowing out of his backside and this will last for a mile or so or he is pretty fit so i thought I would test his fitness by racing up a short steepish incline perhaps 10 - 12 percent gradient I was doing 21mph at 110rpm cadence so breezed up it in no time at all but the downside is there is also the descent which you can easily be caught and fair play to Neil he was at my side before i could blink and at this point he was going really well and I was nearing my limit he asked where I was going and said we'd take turns about I said ok and thankfully dropped in at his wheel at this point more than grateful for a bit of shelter. Neil then put the hammer down and before I knew it I was off the back some 30 40 yards within seconds I raced to get back on his wheel but had to concede defeat and ease off to get a breather One thing Im pretty good at is recovery whilst still keeping up pace I must admit though Neil could of rode off but instead decided to ease off I then took up the pace and he sheltered for a bit but soon he was in front of me again and I found myself behind his wheel soon to be wizzed off the back again However Neil eased up a bit and again I took up the front but by this time I'd regained my second wind and was feeling pretty good and going at Pace but Neil obviously felt strong and took up the front again but by this time I was a little fresher and I was not going to lose his wheel this time. There was a final gradient a little sod of a incline about 500 meteres worth and I could see Neil really pushing as he battled with the drag up which was just before where we would part company. At this point I was cruising and could of easily passed Neil on the short climb but Mucho respect this guy had dragged me home for most part, waited up on a couple of occasions and did more miles out front so I was not going to show him disrepspect by leaving at the last hurdle. I gently rode upside and to the lights two abreast sharing comments on what a good workout that was. Turned out Neil did triathlon's and I'd met more than my match on the nightly commute he also welcomed the workout we shook hands and went seperate ways for the final few miles of our commute.
Afterwards I couldnt help thinking how fast my commute went I was home in not much quicker time but it felt quicker and was arguably the most enjoyable commute home you could ever experience in 25mph cross winds.
So if you ever get chance to read this post Neil thanks for a great ride home.
No where's that leg massager
(Or am I showing my age!!)