I Beat Corona!
Boy, a lot of different things can happen on any given ride, and that was the case today.
Since I had no bars or energy gels around, I decided not to attempt a longer ride out in the countryside, knowing I could bonk out there and be in need of an energy boost in the middle of nowhere with nothing on me.
So rather than risk that, I chose today to sightsee along the lake loop. I'd see who was out and about while doing a few laps, turning around on that path in the prairie of Conservancy Park that I like so much. The plants are in full bloom, many of them slapping my legs as I coast through there on the narrow path.
Ironic that on the first Lake Loop lap I was wishing that someone would be up ahead of me riding, or perhaps someone would pass me on their bike. I was looking for something to chase...something to inspire me to push a little.
Ironic because I kept seeing riders, but every single one of them was going the opposite way. I had nothing to chase.
I looped around and started lap #2. What? Same thing/different direction. More riders on the OTHER side of the road. Where were they when I was just over there going the other way? No one to chase. All quiet in the hood.
Then I heard it. Finally.
There was a bike coming up behind me.
Sure enough, a guy on a flat-bar bike wearing a Corona jersey (interesting choice) went past me on my left without a word. He seemed to be pushing himself to do so.
I smiled to myself as I let him go...let him go....let him go....until he was about 3/4 of a block or so up from me. That's when I said to myself, "afterburners" as I grabbed a gear, dropped into the drops and picked it up to a hard tempo.
The chase was on. But I had only a short time to try to get him before I hit the park where I turn around on the path.
I was closing.
Quickly.
Huffing and puffing I could see I was about to come back on this guy and pass him, so I gathered my breath so as not to allow him to think I was even trying to catch him, and I flew by him while we were both on a hard right-hander just before the park. He must have been shocked to see me again.
"That's right pal, daddy's got legs today. Not so fast on passing me back there."
I turned onto the path to loop around the pond and never saw him again.
I liked it.
I dusted the guy.
I liked the idea of using someone as a carrot to push myself. That was it! I'd head back and then see if I could stumble into this situation again with some other rider. I was out on the hunt for another battle.
As I was riding back on Lap 2 I was thinking about how awesome I was to pull that off. I was feeling pretty good about myself....when I heard it. A bike was coming up from behind my left. No, it wasn't Corona guy again. It wasn't even a guy.
The first thing I saw was tri bars on a nice bike. Then I saw it was a lady roadie in obviously great shape who looked up, flashed me a big smile and said hi as she passed me.
I answered with a quick hey.
Well, that was nice and friendly I thought to myself.
Yeah, in a silent assassin kind of way.
She was barely 50 feet in front of me when I could could hear her shift into a tougher gear. Then as she pulled away even farther I heard her shift again. It was clear to me that she had no intention of letting me use her butt as a carrot. There would be no sucking her wheel if she could help it.
She put the hammer down. All business right from her pass.
I tried to play the same game I had played and won against Corona guy, but this time there was no catch. I was the one who just got dusted! No matter how I tried she was getting smaller and smaller farther and farther ahead of me in a flash. I had to laugh to myself.
Moral of the story-- Just when you think you're something, you are reminded you're not. Classic.
AND THERE"S MORE!
On Lap 4 suddenly on the way out she passed me out of nowhere. Not the tri bike girl. No, this was the same beauty with the great body and curves glistening in the sun that I had seen topless and wrote about a few rides back. And she was topless again. That same '67 blue Corvette convertible roared past me.
No way was I going to catch the guy driving, but I saw him make a left turn into the parking lot of a park way up ahead. When I got up there I saw the car parked all by itself in the lot. I decided to turn in myself to see if I could get a photo of this beauty for you.
Wouldn't you know it? Just as I was getting close the guy pulled out and flew down the road. I never got the chance at saying hello or taking a picture.
I DID stop on the way home for a breath of fresh lake air and a picture for you.
On hot, sunny Sunday afternoons, passing by the lake and/or riding along it for a bit as I do in this route sure is a nice sight...and the lake breeze feels good too!
RIDE ROUTE
Lake Loop, 4 laps
28.3 miles
Average Speed= 13.3 mph
Sunny, 82
Wind 5-10 mph
2020 SEASON MILES
Indoor: 125.6
Outdoor: 1,300