Surprises are part of the deal in riding a bike. We all know
about the bad surprises, don’t we? Yes we do. For me those have included
crashing when a squirrel ran under my front wheel, flatting with leaky spare
tubes, getting honked at from behind by an angry driver, being insulted by a
passing driver seemingly for no reason, having a spoke bend or break, rendering
the bike unrideable in a remote place (twice), falling off the bike, unable to
kick out of my clip in time (too many times, embarrassed to report), having the
chain drop off mid shift (occasionally, but always annoyingly).
In general, most of my rides have tons of fun in them. Just
getting out on the bike is the biggest thrill alone. But I just had a ride that
blew me away with nice surprises. What made it extra great was that I didn’t
expect any at all. I figured I’d have a rather routine, relatively low energy
ride. I needed a second 51-mile out and back on the local bike trail to get in
my the 100 maintenance miles I try for on weeks when I’m not off on big
climbing rides with buddies.
The first 51-miler of the week was a good one, I had good
energy but felt my stamina dropped off during the last 10 miles or so. It was
cooler than I’d predicted so I didn’t wear leggings. My leg muscles stiffened
up, so finishing out the ride was a cool, tired slog.
I figured my second
ride two days later would be slow pedaling base training, a way to raise my
overall fitness. Holiday eating had made me feel heavy and I was ready to work
off some LBs.
I wore leggings and a cold weather jersey this time. At
about two miles into the ride is a 14.5-mile stretch that is flat with a few
short, quick climbs and mild rollers. That’s where I like to go all out, time
trial style, just for fun. Sometimes I have high energy and I go fast, other
times I go medium fast, other times, pretty damn sluggishly.
On this last ride I felt I was in a medium fast zone, and
was content not to push it. I was riding for base conditioning. After about
three miles, a tall young rider passed me up with relative ease. He had a nice
bike, he looked the part of a very strong rider, a thin Italian looking guy
with black hair flowing out under his helmet. So I made the quick decision to
grab his wheel. He was riding at about 21.7 miles an hour, quite a bit faster
than I’d been, so I just told myself to draft him and enjoy the ride.
And I did, as he kept his pace. He pedaled hard but it
didn’t seem to be too tough for him. I followed him up a steep pitch after
about nine miles or so and then on the short downhill he pulled away. By this
time, I’d been going fast on his draft, and I felt fresh. I gained on him and
at the base of the last short climb of the section. He slowed down and I passed
him on the up pitch. I had about a mile to go to the end of my time trial
section of the ride, so I hammered it. I decided it would be fun if I could
beat this guy to my 14.5 mile split line.
Of course, he’d given me all the energy I felt at that point.
I had enough to get pretty close to the pace he set. I thought he’d be on my
wheel, but he wasn’t. Gotta say, it felt great when I passed the split line. He
gave me a medium fast time that would have been a whole lot slower without all
that drafting speed and energy conservation. Nice surprise.
The second section of the ride is about nine miles with a
bit of a climb, but after that fast finish at the first split, I was back in a
slow-go mode.
After eating some energy snacks at the turnaround point at
Folsom Lake, I took some photos of the nearly drained reservoir. Nice riding
weather, but boy do we need a wet winter. Otherwise it’s drought time.
On the way back down from the lake there are some great
descents, not too long but plenty fast, curvy and technical. I figured I’d just
cruise after the main descent and go back to my original plan of slow pedaling
base training. Then a rider passed me up in a slick looking black and red Colnago
and I figured, hey, gotta grab his wheel too! I did, and noticed this guy had
plenty of energy, he was spinning at 20 mph, in a lower gear than I usually use.
He was a small wiry rider with a look and style much like the great French pro
Thomas Voeckler. This guy, Thomas Voeckler’s seeming twin,
was rode fast with ease. The guy gave me energy just
watching his cadence. So after awhile I passed him and he took my wheel. On a
very steep, fairly short pitch toward the end of this split, I stood up and
took the inside of the path, thinking I might beat Thomas Voeckler up it.
Well, no way! He took the outside and flew past me with a
high standup cadence I couldn’t believe! That was awesome to watch. I caught up
with him and we drafted back and forth, picking up and dropping another rider
along the way.
Another tall rider joined our two man drafting blast and we
traded off taking the lead every two miles or so. The tall guy also rode a nice
Colnago, so when I was in front, working hard on 20-22 mph pace, he and Thomas
Voeckler were chatting behind me relaxing, probably comparing notes on their
bikes. Thomas Voeckler waved goodbye at about two miles left in the 14.5 mile
split, looking fresh as ever. I just stayed on the wheel of the tall guy, who
was doing a high-gear 20 mph pace. He peeled off just before the end of the
split where I always do a 200-yard sprint, standing up. An older rider had just
passed me going about 22-23 mph, so I decided I’d try to nose him out with my
usual sprint. Put it in the highest gear and then stood, hammer all the way
down. Passed the guy and finished the split, pressed my split time into my
computer and flew into the 90 degree turn at the immediate exit path. I hit it
wide and was nearly out of control, close to leaving pavement and hitting dirt.
Wow! Now that was a ride I expected would be routine. But it
was anything but. It rocked all the way through. What a high! Pure joy. And it
was all because of the energy from fellow riders I happened upon. Thanks guys,
keep riding far and fast.
Til next time, remember to strap on a helmet every time you
ride, and then, you know what you have to do: Keep the rubber side down! Ride
safe and make it fun.
-- Mark Eric Larson
Mark Eric Larson has written two
books of essays, "The NERVE...of Some People's Kids," and "Don't
Force it, Get a Bigger Hammer. To read, visit:
http://www.scribd.com/Mark%20Eric%20Larson/shelfHis blog of personal essays is at: http://marksmuzings.blogspot.com/
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