What a fun ride in, nobody to play with till Dagenham then I went past a guy probably my age on a hybrid . He was not impressed and then tried to move heaven and earth to get past me. He eventually overtook me whilst I was stopped at a red light. He then tried to increase his lead by going straight down the A13 and mixing it in traffic whilst I went on the cycleway/shared use path. It did him no good I overtook him again in Barking where I now had another quarry in sight, a young man on a road bike in West Ham colours. I overtook but he seemed not too impressed by being overtaken by a MAMIL and pushed off in front at the next lights. So for his temerity I decided to make him suffer and sat on his wheel, psychologically forcing him to try harder, he pushed on but but could not shake me, I then dropped him up the hill out of Barking, he stayed in contact till I got to a long open stretch and nailed it to 25 mph into the crosswind. I thought I was doing really well as I left him behind until a guy on a Planet x bike appeared from nowhere actually on the A13 and went past at around 28mph , he then strangely slowed, then pulled onto the cycleway at the next opportunity , I thought aha he blew his doors off. However it was a guy who recognized me from years ago who I had not seen for at least 2 years. He was a newbie probably 5 years ago and I used to batter him, he used to be able to stay with me just, but used to nearly throw up at the end of the rides ( so he told me) as he had to try so hard. He is quicker now though.
Got to Canning town and due to our chatting the West Ham guy had got in front, he then jumped 2 red lights in front of 5 stationary cyclists, who we then joined. Then it was a drag race off the lights to the top of the Canning Town hill, I got to the top first with my old comrade a close second, his excuse being I caught him unawares and was not expecting a full blown sprint.
what a cutie - Unless he was buying alcohol or cigs for his mates.......
