Biking: Today, I Rode with a Legand

[This is from an email that I sent out on June 26, 2008.]

My bike ride is about 5 miles each way, with 1 mile leading me to Lake Harriet, 2 miles around Harriet to Calhoun, and 2 miles around Calhoun to work.

So today right when I get to Lake Harriet this rollerblader approaches me from behind, so I get up to speed (about 18 mph) and he comes up on me, asks if he can draft with me. So I said sure, though I've never had anyone draft me before. He got right behind me (inches off my backside) and held his own. When drafting, you want to bike consistently and not make sudden changes in speed. So I kept my 18 mph clip until I realized after a hill that I picked up the speed to 21 mph. I maintained that to Lake Calhoun, where it turned out we both were turning. We took a draft break between the lakes.

At the stop light I told him he was working me out. He said I made it a lot easier for him. So we continued around Lake Calhoun doing about 20 mph. Now let me explain something, I don't usually bike 18 + when commuting in the morning because I have two bike bags on the sides (not aerodynamic and extra weight), have not warmed up properly, and not for long periods of time as I'm more of a long distance biker than sprinter. Oh, and my tire pressure was a little lower than normal. So it was more like me biking 24 mph in better conditions.

Around Lake Calhoun he asked if I was going to Downtown. I told him I was going to the Lake Calhoun Center and he quickly asked who I worked for. Turns out he knows Mike F., my old supervisor. He told me to tell him hi, from Scotty-O. Right before we parted, I told him that he was the fastest rollerblader I knew, and he said "I'm the only rollerblader you know." And like that, it was over.

Turns out Scotty-O is Scott Olson, the inventor of Rollerblade. From what I've heard, he's a big work out guy and an avid inventor.

Today, I rolled with a legend.