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@HatBeard
I had someone nearly give themselves a coronary trying to keep up with me. something he only achieved because we hit every 3rd set of lights and I was slowing well in advance of the lights to try and hit them on the change. every time I unclipped and got a foot down he'd catch up a few seconds later, panting for breath and push in front of me into the junction. as soon as the lights change I'd give it a few out of the saddle turns on my new gearing (48x17) to get moving, pass him by the other side of the junction and then i'd hear his gears go click clack and he'd try to jump on my rear wheel. by this time I'm starting to spin up, 100 yards down the road he's nowhere near me again. hit the next set of lights, wait for him to catch up, repeat.
thing is he was getting so annoyed about the whole thing. from colliers wood to oval he was at it, eventually having passed him again just past stockwell he actually muttered "oh for FUCKSAKE! mumble cunt" as he climbed out of the saddle the second I pass him so he can take chase again. he just refused to let me pass without trying to regain the lead. something he only managed when I came to a complete stop.
whatever race was going on in his head it must have been maddening for him.
he "won" in the end by overtaking me as I slowed for the traffic pulling away from oval tube junction by riding at ~18mph between two lines of moving cars subsequently forcing all the cars he passed him to tap their brakes and then he continued to hold up both lanes of traffic as he pootled towards kennington just squeezing through the lights as they went red, his fragile ego intact.