Now I am not fast. My 5 mile or so commute takes around 22 or 17 minutes depending on the direction, and all over Edinburgh there will be riders scoffing at such pace. But on my route I am never passed. Well, maybe once this year, but the guy had obviously put everything into it and I sailed past again when we started going uphill and I heard the unmistakeable sound of a lung being coughed up.
And the RLJers, but amost without exception they're caught again.
So this morning I rode the first mile or so to join up with the (very good) off road cyclepath that runs for a good 2 miles or so towards the centre of town. As I join I notice a guy on a road bike to my left, but there's space so I swing right. About 100 yards on he sails past. Trek road bike, lycra longs against the cold, backpack covered in a bright yellow waterproof cover.
Bloody-mindedness kicks in and I accelerate to match his pace. I'm going 2, maybe 3, mph quicker than I normally would, but holding the gap around 10 yards until we reach the one (light controlled) road crossing. He glances round just after stopping and our eyes meet. The gauntlet is laid down.
He powers over the road, swings round a jogger and clicks up through the gears. My acceleration is more gradual, but where I'd normally be happy to cruise at 17mph I'm now spinning at 21mph, holding a steady gap of about 20 yards that he opened up in the leap from the lights. But I know the uphill is coming. Half a mile steady climb through a tunnel. I've lost count of the number of people I've picked off here.
But not this time. Bugger he's quick! At the top end the opening is narrowed by a railing and he pops round a slower rider just before reaching that point. I slow, courtesy overhauling testosterone with my legs thankful. Out of the tunnel and on the flat it's clear he's maintained the rate and suddenly has about 60 yards on me as we head through an estate to come out on the main road. And then I have him in my sights again, traffic lights my friends.
There's another glance as I roll up behind, but for now a truce is called as we both see the next lights are red as well. The roll away is sedate. At those lights both he and another cyclist take an early green. This forces me to pull away quicker than normal, but into stride immediately and again I have a gap I can hold. And here it becomes clear that in traffic I might have a slight edge. He does move out of the cycle lane to pass other cyclists, and does so confidently, but incrementaly I am catching.
But then disaster! He puts another cyclist between us just as the cycle lane disappears and the traffic builds up. I'm stuck behind and gaps aren't opening up for me to take my usual spot on the right of the traffic. When it does finally happen and I leap out I get 100 yards down the road and an ambulance siren sounds from far behind. Making as much distance as I can I pull in so as not to cause an obstruction (unlike the car now in front of me) but by the time I'm up to speed again the hare is nowhere to be seen.
I catch another red at a juction where he could have gone any one of four ways.
Damn you Trek-boy. We will meet again.
