We Be Jamming

Tonight after work I headed over to Hains Point to get in some extra miles on the bike. I had planned to get in a good ride the night before, but I got wrapped up talking on the phone and as a result was only able to get in part of my ride before the sun went down. I didn't want that to happen again tonight.

I hauled out of work and to Hains Point just in time to experience life in the last lane --- or riding with the DC peloton! My goodness they are a big group and fast. It was just like a scene out of Breaking Away. I could hear them buzzing behind me; they swarmed all around me; then they dropped me. For a solid five seconds when I was riding with them I felt wickedly cool.

Overall, the 32.20 mile ride was good. I added some speed work again on the backside of the loop.

I was feeling a little off tonight. My right upper arm is still very sore (from what...I have no idea) and I was feeling a bit drained. I realized mid-ride that I have not been eating enough and it was obvious when my calf muscles started to cramp up.

A couple stories related to drafting.

First, during one of the sprints I linked up with three riders who were speeding along the backside of the loop. I got on the last riders tire and was amazing by how much pull that created.

Second, during my last "work lap" I decided to stop being lame and just jam down on the pedals. As I was rolling I felt off and thought maybe there was something wrong with my bike. As I took a peek over my shoulder I saw that a chick had tucked into a spot right behind me.

Now that pissed me off because I have to expend enough energy to haul my own ass around the loop and now I was pulling her around. I whipped my head forward and just starting jamming on the pedals to see if I could drop her. We ended up racing around the loop in this tight formation. It was awesome!

After the loop I slowed, she rode along side me and thanked me for the pacing. I found out that her husband races with a team and she gets out whenever she can to ride. She encouraged me to check out the Greenbelt Race Series on Wednesday nights. She said I was fast enough to hang. That was good to hear and an interesting event to check out. She said it's mostly dudes, but there are a handful of chicks.

She was fun and pushed me...no surprise that I got her contact info and plan to include her on ride meet-ups in the future.
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