Re: Unusual Ride Today

The classy lady Ori references was on his wheel, then crossed his wheel as she edged into him, coming thisclose to hitting him at the red light. The light turns green, she accelerates away, the smell of pork rinds and grape soda emanating from the sunroof.

Now she gets brave, honking and yelling at us from the cockpit (ouch) of her 1998 Nissan Maxima.

Ori misunderstood the constructive critique I offered her, with profanities. I merely suggested things she could do while alone in her spare time.

Anyway, back to the ride.... I was doing bursts that took the bike from 18 to 27mph. But no matter how hard I tried, and I tried about 10 times, Ori immediately closed and kept on my wheel. He eventually wore me out, broke my spirit and passed me. It was an intense series of adrenaline pumping intervals.

By the way, I'd ride with Ori just to get his recap. He's a cycling poet.

Barry

On Aug 29, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Oriel Mor <oriel61@gmail.com> wrote:

> Sunday, August 29. Great Neck.
>
> 7:00 AM. My wake-up radio comes on.
>
> 7:18 AM. I finally wake up. I feel like crap. No other Renegade has confirmed for today. I had previously resolved to join the 8:00 triangle group, but at this moment I really don't feel up to it. I say to myself that I need more sleep and I'll ride later... maybe. I put my head down and close my eyes.
>
> 7:19 AM. My phone rings with an incoming text message. I know exactly what it's about, though I don't yet know who it's from. Turnes out it's Barry. Wants to confirm today's ride. I "reluctantly" agree. Best decision of my day. Interesting ride. (Thanks, Barry.)
>
> We're both still feeling tired. He's prepared to do any route I might feel up for. I want to avoid steep climbs today, so we make a beeline for the LIE. The 8:00 group already has more than 10 minutes on us and I don't even consider chasing them down. So it's out to West Hills and 108. As we cross Jericho Turnpike a procession of about a dozen Mustangs goes roaring by. Obviously a Mustang fan club out for a joy ride. Hey, that looks like fun too.
>
> As I get onto 108 I spot a large group of riders just ahead of us and I try to chase (just can't help myself, sue me), but before I can reach them Barry calls out that he needs to stop for a break, so we reach the deli by the Cold Spring firehouse. Barry is bonking and needs to recover. After our break we make a right onto Turkey Hill and a left at the end toward Huntington, then a right onto Woodbury Road. Quite a shortcut from our usual route.
>
> Then it's back to 108 and Stillwell, Muttontown Road (with a pee break interrupted by a mounted horseman), skipped the campus and back via Wheatley. Then I make the mistake of mentioning to Barry that he's looking at the last climb before we reach the LIE (actually I was wrong, there were a few more, blame it on my oxygen-starved brain), at which point he suddenly starts attacking, repeatedly. I do my best to stay on his wheel. Between vicious attacks we discuss his tactics, so I explain to him the finer points, as best as I know them. The attacks continue on the LIE, where I give him a taste of his own medicine, but I can't shake him off either.
>
> We're nearing the end of the ride and I'm slowing down to the red light at Shelter Rock Road. I hear Barry yelling to watch out for the car, even though there are none before me, though there's one close behind me. We pull away. After we cross the intersection I ask him what that warning was about. He tells me that the car in question was riding my bumper, getting too close for comfort. As we proceed he launches one last attack from behind while screeching in my ear. He had warned me he was going to try one last trick. I wonder if a "trick" like that would ever fly in the pro peloton.
>
> I'm quite startled by the sudden unexpected sound and in the first instant think that it's just someone in an approaching car being an asshole. It happened to me many times before. As Barry tries to pull away from me and I give chase he inadvertently drifts from the right lane into the middle lane and suddenly the same car that had just gotten uncomfortably close to my wheel at the light starts blaring its horn at us from behind and keeps blaring as it speeds by.
>
> I have already experienced so many much more aggressive drivers myself that this time I simply raise my middle finger. Barry, on the other hand, goes somewhat bezerk, starts yelling profanities at the bitch (yup, it was a bitch, not a shmuck) and actually shaking his fist at her. Gee, I thought I was the one with the anger issues. Join the club, Barry. Perhaps we really CAN both be The Beast.
>
> Total mileage: 50. My average: 17.1 (just because we skipped the steep stuff).
>
> Still waiting to hear about Isaac's results from today's Oyster Bay Tri.
>
>