after an hour or so of non-shop top i remembered that i had rode my bike in, and it was getting late… and i had two awesome beers. it had been a very active day that included a ride to work and a lunch race/ride. i didn’t have much to eat except for some “munchies” and a vitamin water. so these two beers were sitting pretty well inside me when i started my journey back to the car. i set up my lights, and stuffed my bags, and put in my buds and rode off into the dark. now that i think about it, i had my vest with me, but completely forgot about it…hmm. i wasn’t drunk or anything, but i could feel the beer’s effect as i pedaled harder and harder.
the trail was dark and cool with the after glow of a recently full moon, and lights reflecting on the calm polluted river water. kind of eerie but cool. the first time i rode home on the denver bike path in the dark i was a little afraid, but tonight i was much more relaxed. it was really nice tonight, there was a slight breeze, just enough to keep the bugs out of the air, and not enough to slow me down. i was spinning lightly and the legs were good and the music was so appropriate. psychedelic sounds of the dandy warhols was just unbelievable. i was in my own world for a brief memorable moment.
i wasn’t really thinking about anything, but i was observing everything. that’s usually what hapens at night, the senses are higher and not too many things go unnoticed. i could tell that my headlight were shining backwards…wait what? that wasn’t my headlight, someone was behind me. i turned back to look and could only see one really bright light. for a moment i thought it might be the trail police [if there is such a thing] trying to catch me because i wasn’t supposed to ride the path at night. i kind of slowed down a moved to the left to let him pass. as he passed i could see that it was in fact someone training for a triathlon, or something because they had aero bars. this is not right i hate getting passed by anyone, especially someone with aero bars. so i switched into a bigger gear and started my chase.
it wasn’t difficult to catch him, but after a short time at maximum lactic threshold, my beer began to work its way back out. i had to really step it up to keep it down. but to get dropped by aero bars? i couldn’t let myself get dropped, and after a couple of times of nearly loosing it, i finally managed to stop thinking about my stomach and focus on the light in front of me. i could see in the dark distance that he was looking back and trying to accelerate. each time he looked back i would get a little further behind. i decided to turn off my head light and ride in the pale moon light. it worked. in just a minute or two he looked back and then started cruising. ha ha my evil paln worked to a tee! with one little exception. now i was sprinting and i couldn’t exactly see where i was going. nothing new for me, i often ride with faulty lighting.
finally i got close enough to him that he could see my tail lights. by then he knew wasn’t messing with a normal person. at the next junction, he turned off and never looked back at me. i kept going for another mile or so at this super fast about to throw up pace. when i finally let up, i no longer felt the effects from my beers, except for the fact that i was super thirsty.
i love riding :)
LMAO!!! Dude…you’re crazy! And what’s wrong with aero bars and triathletes!?! :-P
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I wonder if that person has a blog (as interesting) about how he was being chased. :)