Back on the bike (for an hour anyway)

I rode for an hour or so today, an out and back to redfire farm. I had tempo intervals. On the way out I saw another cyclist in the distance (fortunately I was warmed up). I put the juice on a little to catch him, which was right at the Granby cafe. We crossed 202 at the same time, he spun up and I was thinking "Do I just stay out of out of his draft and do my thing, or go by?" I'm in my team kit so if I walk by him I've got to represent. If you pass you need to be ready to throw down to stay up. I might get blown away because sometimes it's really hard to tell. He looks pretty fit, but not shaved, seat a little low on a CF Cannondale that costs some good $$.

Screw it, I need to work hard today and the bike feels good (Madone with D/A, how can it not?) so I pull up and we small talk for a sec. I say have a good ride and move into the drops. I started applying pressure and rocked the 3.2 miles to RF farm @ 174 BPM. Quads were well engaged and working hard, but it was something I could maintain for a long - long time if need be; little bit of a cross wind. I really thought that he jumped on my wheel as I heard him bump through a couple rings when I got down to business. So I was pointing out road hazards on the way, etc and definitely not checking back. I sit up at RF farm about to do the turn around and Mr. Cannondale is gone. Must have turned off. I start back home....there he is, about 2 minutes behind. I averaged 23.1 for the section. Felt cool man!!

I'm riding back home, what happened to the sun? Man its getting dark, and the thunder starts rumbling and the wind picks up, almost blows me off the bike a couple times. When I got to Bay road the sky opened up with a cold rain, so I got home as quick as I could, but know that I slowed down. Passed Jill in the van, the storm came up very fast and she thought that I had been out longer than I had so started looking for me (it was raining that hard). A gesture that was greatly appreciated.

Distance: 19.7 miles Pace: 18.6 MPH Average HR: 158