"That Guy"
Funny how any given ride can turn out to be so very different from what your intentions were as you clicked into the pedals at the start.
I wasn't even planning on a ride today. The forecast was for cloudy conditions and cooler temps. Plus, I was a little sore and stiff from a day full of yard work on Saturday. Trouble was, what to do with my time and nervous energy waiting for an afternoon Game 7 for the Bucks and Celtics in Boston?
Adding to the restlessness was the fact that the forecast was wrong. It was sunny outside and actually quite a nice temp of 71 degrees. Why not use up some time before the game with a little ride to just get out and enjoy the Sunday sunshine. I was just getting started, going up a hill on the way out when I heard a familiar noise behind. It was the sound that a fat tire bike makes.
"That Guy" passed me. I think I have mentioned him here before. He's tall and slender and looks every bit the part of a cyclist. I believe he is from my neighborhood. In fact, I think I know the house he lives in, and I pass it on every lap of my neighborhood crit course that I do. So I know he has seen me plenty of times. And I have seen him whiz past my house on his road bike on many occasions.
I have tried in the past to give him a nod of the head or a wave or a little grunt of a hello, but he has never acknowledged me. Ever. I took to quietly calling him the unfriendly guy. Lately he has been riding a fat tire bike in full kit.
As he passed me on my left today I said, "Hey" to him. Nothing. back. Not a word. Odd, no?
Well, this was no time to hang with him since I was just warming up.
I have seen him on my Conservancy Park route before so I figured he was heading the same direction as me today. I couldn't help but hang about a quarter of a block back from him, and in fact would at times have to coast so as not to catch him. After all, he IS on a fat tire and I am on a road bike.
Finally I calculated that staying behind would be just too slow for me, so once I felt warmed up a bit I went around him on the left. I said nothing.
Now, with a slight tailwind, I rode pretty hard, wondering if he was now going to boldly pass me back on a FAT TIRE BIKE!
He did not.
When I got to the path at the park where I turn around, as I the saw the road I had come up on, THERE HE WAS.
In other words, 'That Guy' was not all that far behind me all the way to the park.
And every time I looked down at my computer I was going 19's with a little tailwind, so he had to be moving on that thing.
Guy is a stud on a bike.
Not the friendliest stud on a bike, but much respect to him.
After that little fun bit I did a lap in the neighborhood and was just pooped and didn't feel like doing more so I called it quits early.
Now...onto the Bucks!
2022 Riding Season
The Ride: Conservancy Park
Miles: 12
Weather: Sunny, 71, Wind, 10 mph
Total Outdoor Miles: 215.3
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