"The Offer"

Season Miles: 1,631

They say things happen when you least expect them. Such was the case today in Whitnall Park. The great experiment of the 2011 riding season continued today as I headed into familiar turf, the Whitnall Park crit course where I completed five laps in wonderful summer weather today.

Sunny
83 degrees
Light wind
Whitnall Crit, 5 laps, 30 miles

After 10 years of riding it finally happened, and when I least expected it to happen...on a weekday afternoon. You see for years when I have ridden laps in the park on the weekend I always stop at the same picnic area bubbler for water, an area that, on weekends, is usually buzzing with people gathered at some sort of family party. Not once has anyone offered me something cold to drink as I pull up to get warm water from the bubbler there. But that all changed today.

There was a large kids' blow-up bounce house set up on the grass and what looked like quite a bit of food and some coolers up under the shelter where two women were sitting. They were obviously waiting for the others to arrive....and checking out the dude on the bike who just pulled up.

After glancing over at me a few times one of the women offered me a cold water. I could hardly believe it. At first I said no thanks, that I had the bubbler. But then I thought better of it and told them what the heck...that bubbler water is kinda warm. One of them reached into a cooler and grabbed me an ice-cold bottle of water that tasted great after five laps in there.

They started asking me all about my fancy shoes (no more info on that...it's all part of my experiment....you'll see soon) and I was happy to chat them up while sipping my water.

Finally...someone offered me a cold drink. Mark this date down!

Then on the way back I have a story too...
I heard a noise behind me in the parkway and sure enough there was a rider back there. Not for long. Some guy who looked like a pro racer just blew past me in a flash. As he started to distance me it occurred to me that I should pick his brain about the bike he was riding. (the mystery deepens)

It took a really hard effort on my part to bridge the gap. But I managed to get up alongside of him and asked him straight out about his rig. He was more than happy to sit up and answer all my questions. Really nice guy. After about a mile or so I told him, "Thanks for the info. I don't want to hold you up. Have a good ride."

Away he went. There was no grand effort on his part to leave me in the dust either. No rocking shoulders. No hammering out the saddle. Just a smooth-as-silk acceleration away from me and within minutes I couldn't even see him ahead. Wow. That guy has to be a local racer.

All in all a really good ride today.

I need to point out here that this entire experiment I am in the middle of has rejuvenated me like I can not tell you. It has put the fire back in my belly to not only ride, but ride better and faster again. It has been fun. And as much as I would like to tell the story right now, I fear it may be delayed. Based on the info I received from the rider today, I may be extending this experiment into next week.

Stay tuned!