Competed in my first road race (but didn't know it!)

[Broughtonblue]

Was out on my normal ride when, as I went round a sharp bend about a dozen people were drinking outside a pub. They began clapping me and shouting words of encouragement, I thought this behaviour was rather odd but lapped it up all the same. As I approached another bend a female in a high viz jacket warned me it was a very sharp one, to which I replied 'I know, I go round here 2 or 3 times a week! Further on a chap in a high viz jacket pointed and said 'turn here' pointing to a road that leads to my house. Again I thought it was odd that someone would know the direction to my house, next thing, whoosh. 3 chaps roared past me on what seemed like turbo charged motor bikes, but on closer study they were just very fast cyclists. On their backs they had numbers pinned to them, turns out I had been leading a race I never knew I was in, luckily my course took me out of the event before I was overtaken by many more super athletes!

 

[Muttley]

It would have been so funny if you had crossed the finish line before them.!

 

[Rapples]

I had a similar experience cycling onto Ickwell Green about a mile from home.

2 guys overtook, me I thought I'd try and nonchalanty hang on to their wheel in a sort of casual, I was going nearly this fast anyway..........

No chance

 

[paulb55]

Was out on my normal ride when, as I went round a sharp bend about a dozen people were drinking outside a pub. They began clapping me and shouting words of encouragement, I thought this behaviour was rather odd but lapped it up all the same. As I approached another bend a female in a high viz jacket warned me it was a very sharp one, to which I replied 'I know, I go round here 2 or 3 times a week! Further on a chap in a high viz jacket pointed and said 'turn here' pointing to a road that leads to my house. Again I thought it was odd that someone would know the direction to my house, next thing, whoosh. 3 chaps roared past me on what seemed like turbo charged motor bikes, but on closer study they were just very fast cyclists. On their backs they had numbers pinned to them, turns out I had been leading a race I never knew I was in, luckily my course took me out of the event before I was overtaken by many more super athletes!

Brilliant story - LOL and fell around laughing

 

[Broughtonblue]

I had a similar experience cycling onto Ickwell Green about a mile from home.

2 guys overtook, me I thought I'd try and nonchalanty hang on to their wheel in a sort of casual, I was going nearly this fast anyway..........

No chance

Yep, my brain had the same thought, but my bloody legs were having none of it!

 

[Rapples]

I've done the same before, except it was a Ironman. There I was with my normal roadbike and backpack, overtaking people on full TT bikes.

I'm not 100% sure it's true, but I did believe a member of our club who is also a member of the VCC.

Cycling along the A1 near Biggleswade (the F1 course) a chap on a 1900 something bike with a basket on, overtook a time trialist and asked "Is this the way to Sainsbury's"