[*BCM*] blame your fixed gear?

[Jon Ramos]

an anecdote. (a non-political email for a change)
 
I ride my bike both as a means of transportation as well as a way to get exercise.  I am a bit overweight, most of it gained since working a desk job.  I try to ride to and from work as hard and as fast as I can because it is only 6 miles and I aim to get my heart rate up.  Maybe it is the way I ride, but every once in a while I find myself in an impromptu race with another bike commuter.  Does this ever happen to anyone else?  I LOVE when it happens.  Sometimes I "win" and sometimes I don't.  Either way, I enjoy the competition... helps me try harder and thus get closer to my weight goal.
 
On my way home from work toady, it happened.  I am pushing along when came up behind another rider, I was getting ready to pass him.  I stated "on your left", he turned and looked at me so I know he heard me, and with the momentum in my favor I began to pass.  I got about even with him, when he got up off his seat and started a sprint to keep me from passing.  I backed off and let him keep the lead and to establish a safe place in traffic for both of us.  I notice that he is riding a fixed gear (or single speed) road bike, and I am riding my everyday 21 speed commuter which is a sporty steel framed hybrid with nothing fancy.  I don't have any trouble keeping up with him, but I couldn't get around him... or at least I couldn't get a big enough gap in the car traffic to get around him safely.  I am a slightly annoyed because I wanted to go faster, but for the most part I was enjoying the competition.  Finally I get around him and go into my sprint up a
 long, steady incline.  When I get to the top of the hill there is a red light that I have to wait for because I am headed left, and about 60 seconds later the guy with the fixed gear catches up to me.  Just when he is about to take his right on red, he aggressively shouted at me "You only won because I am riding my fixed gear!"
 
I am not going to share my opinion on his statement (at least not yet), because I want to read what others have to say.
 
- Jon
 
btw: I had to miss the Dec, Jan, and Feb CM rides due to my broken wrist, and multiple hand surgeries.  I can grip the brake and put some weight on it now, so I should be at the next ride.  The broken wrist was compliments of a white mini van on Tremont St... but that is another anecdote.


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