Racing

I Haven't lost a race yet. I have beaten the best and the most "kitted out" riders there are on the streets of Tokyo and I have done it with poise. While they crush along through the city streets weaving and huffing I calmly keep my cadence and barrel past them. The benefit of this being that they don't know that we are racing. Sure some riders may pass me but they don't do it on race days. We are only racing when I pass them. That being said there are a number of grails to be chased and I have two. The BMC rider and the other guy who killed me last summer. Fortunately my pride and record remain intact because those weren't race days. Yesterday was a race day and I am proud to say that good prevailed and I won. The whole commute home started off strange because, even though it was a Wednesday, the streets were packed with taxis and goofs crossing between cars. I call them goofs because they have one pant leg rolled up, a SAG messenger bag and janitor's keys on their belt yet they throw dirty looks at you when you holler at them to watch out. I went past a screaming crowd and caught the face of none other thanAnna herself in an intoxicated state screaming "Fxxk you" in a joking manner. I knew I was in for a strange ride after that. On my way to work there is a long downhill followed by a short, but steep uphill which is opposite on the way home natch. On the dreaded long and crowded uphill I past the newly spawned road bikers who have left their "fixies" locked up at home for week. Louis Garneux and Giant must be so happy with the new trend while the messenger bag producers are worried that panniers are the next to be rocked. The victims fell one after but one of them wouldn't lie down. As I scooted by I could here him frantically changing gears whilst coasting. I knew he would try and contend but I could see he didn't have the legs or hands. One of his was busy fumbling with his phone and his heels were firmly on the pedals. After 1km I forgot about him and started slowing as I made my way through tight traffic and drunken jeopardy walkers. As I stood over my frame at a crowded crosswalk that reminded me of that overpopulated planet on Start Trek. As I grew complacent in mybuffalo stance the guy that I had blown away clipped through the crosswalk and took off down the crowded oncoming lane. CHRIST, how did he know that today was a racing day? I waited for the light because killing a pedestrian isn't worth winning a race no matter what the prize money. As I accelerated I could feel that it was a done deal since the gear my bike had chosen was the big wheel whether I wanted it or not. Just when I was getting ready to pass there was a hood and lit cigarette. In my mind I flew off my bike, backpack dragging me down and my helmet scraping the ground. In actuality I had bought new brake cables and pads last week so I stopped on a dime, I was shocked, and only bumped the door. The driver was shocked and dismayed because he probably thought to his little self the my hulking self was gonna go all wolvy berserk style on him. I remembered that I still had karma to pay back flipped him the peace sign and I was out on the road again. The thing kind of ended a .disappointingly as it started because the guy, other than being reckless, was just plain slow. And I caught and past him. Pretty weird night