saturday’s ride.

there’s definitely a big running event tomorrow.  crissy fields has at least 50 porto-pottys lined up, and people were setting up tents even out in sausalito, along the bike path.  I’m not completely sure what event it is…there were a few groups of runners ‘practicing’ on the bridge as I was heading out in the morning.  it wasn’t too big of a hassle, since the headwind was horrible anyway.  I saw connor (metromint) making his way out of sausalito as I was dropping in – probably the most exciting part of today’s ride (“wow, it’s someone I know!”).  after somehow missing the next few lights, I made it onto the bike path and was on my way.  I must’ve overstretched my left groin muscle yesterday, because it was sore like crazy through the whole ride.  it felt as if the muscle would seize up if it was pushed too hard, and I was barely pedaling with my left leg at some points.  oh well.

I did have a funny incident with some random road cyclist wearing mountain bike shorts, full leg warmers, a jacket, and a look with a huge saddle bag.  he was dressed in all black, and I started catching up to him at the tail-end of paradise drive.  by mistake, I coasted for a second, which cued his weekend warrior instincts – he proceeded to turn a ridiculous gear at what appeared to be 50rpm.  he won the sprint prime into tiburon.  I pulled off to refill my bottle, thinking his ‘aggressive’ riding style would place him way up the road, much farther ahead of me.  well, as saturday’s luck would have it, I saw his black silhouette up ahead, riding in the middle of a road that runs parallel to the highway.  there was a car trying to pass behind him, but he was riding so close to the double yellow line, for a second, the car almost passed from his right side.  I was watching from afar, knowing the light would either be red, or turn green instantly as soon as the weight from the car rode over the sensors.  and of course, by time the sensors kicked, I was back behind him.  I refrained from coasting to see if his gearing or effort would change.  he seemed to be taking it ‘easy’ now.  so I passed him, and not 5 seconds later, heard him tear through a series of gears, pass me, go back to 50rpm, while yanking his legs around like he was trying to swim off the bike.  ha, made you try hard!

he was way far ahead at this point, speeding towards a mountain biker at a red light.  I couldn’t see much since I was so far behind, but he appeared to have slammed on his brakes, and then as soon as the light turned green, he was still in his crazy hard gear, trying to turn it over to get the bike going again.  by that time, I was closer behind, passing the mountain biker, but this time, coasting to alert his inner warrior that I was coming up.  unfortunately, he turned down a side street, and I never saw him.  I really did love the blend of loose mountain bike shorts (borderline cargo shorts) with full leg leg warmers, all black on a road bike.  that’s a keeper.