As I pulled out of the Veloway parking lot to ride home this evening after my weekly three-times-around-the-Veloway ride, I was passed by a familiar-looking bike. It was orange. The rider was tall. Unbelievable. It couldn’t be HIM!
But when I caught up to him at the stoplight at the top of the hill, I saw that it was. Orange Novara Stradas are just not all that common around here. We chatted briefly, although with a bit more substance this time, and once again, I took off first when the light changed.
This time, I was aware of him behind me. He followed me again all the way to the intersection by the supermarket, when we were stopped at another red light. “Man, it’s a hot one today,” he said. It was about 92° F. We were both bathed in sweat. We chatted some more, and it turns out he lives just one neighborhood over from me.
When the light changed, I was ready. I had kept the chain in the large chainring, but my cleat missed the pedal when I jumped forward. He must have seen my trouble and held back, wary of the heavy traffic at that intersection. I finally clicked in, stood on the pedals, and charged up the notorious Mild Suburban Incline.
No cars were turning into the supermarket lot, so I was able to keep accelerating up the grade. This time, he didn’t pass me. When I got to the top of the grade, I looked back to check on traffic, since I have to cross two lanes to make a left turn. He was a good 50 yards behind. I signaled my left, crossed the lanes, and gave him a wave as I turned towards home.
Dang! I smoked the old guy, just three weeks after he got me. Yeah, baby! There’s life in this old dog yet!
What’s that? Huh? Well…I guess you’re right. For there to be a race, both guys need to know they’re racing.
Cool. Your last line is hillarious.
Here’s a question for you. I also have trouble sometimes getting clicked back into a pedal while trying to cross an intersection from a stop. Is there an easy way, or trick, to pull this off everytime the first time? I have some old look-style pedals that are very heavy on the back end and tend to point up when let go. Do they make look-style pedals that are balanced to sit up correctly for a quick snap-in?
Bryan, I’m still trying to be able to pull it off the first time everytime. I’m getting better, but I’m not there yet. Look-style pedals are designed to point up at rest. What you have to do is push forward gently on pedal with your toe, to get it toward a flatter position, and then slide the cleat into it. It’s probably worth the effort to balance yourself against something solid, and click in and out several times before each ride. The goal is to be able to do it without looking down. I’m not there yet.
“I guess you’re right. For there to be a race, both guys need to know they’re racing.” Nah, that’s the joy of commute-racing. If you win – you were racing, if you lose – you were just pushing to see what the other guy could do.
I find that the weight on the bottom/back of the pedals allows for much easier access. I’ve gotten so I get into them better by feel without looking. If I look down I always mess up. I have another pair of Look style pedals but they aren’t as heavily weighted and they spin easier and harder to get in. Keep practicing! You’ll get it. If you can manage it by feel and not “look” you might be faster clipping in. Good luck!