Pace Line

Ideal biking conditions for my commute home. The City of Chicago keeps tearing up parts of Roosevelt Road leaving sharp indentations in the pavement. They will likely be filled within the week but they are a bit of a surprise sometimes.

While crossing Grand Avenue I saw a bicyclist in racing attire from one of the local teams at the ENH Grand Prix over the past weekend. Once in normal bike traffic I came abreast and asked if he was participated. He said he was new to the team so he hadn't. I wasn't going to bother him further so I just slipped back and followed him for a while expecting he'd cruise off. Well he must have been taking a light day because I was in danger of running up his back wheel. After Oak Street Beach I cruised past him and some other roadies and went on my way.

The other roadies fell in behind me and I lead them in a pretty rapid pace line until around Addison. My GPS bike mount must have cracked because after a major bump the thing popped loose and dangled from my handlebars. I slowed to put it back in and one of the roadies offered to let me draft for a while. I gladly fell in behind two gentleman and one trailing me all the way up to Foster. After the crossing, the lead guy fell back and the number two man took the lead and sped off like a shot. He wasn't burdened with a pack or bags like the rest of us but I don't think I could have hanged with him anyway. Speed demon was waiting at the turnaround and I limply waved as I continued on my way to the city streets.

Distance Traveled: 24.3 miles
Distance to date: 3399.1 miles
Price of gas: $3.46