Say...WHAT?

Wednesday was going to be one of my regular 100km a week days... (just starting the program).  So, I go out... 8:15am, in the midst of rush hour.  For whatever reason, its particularly bad this morning.  I go up the Nguyen Van Linh, but in the scooter lane.  Traffic was so thick and frustrating, it was quite a while before I could actually pedal. 

Enough of that!  So, over the bridge... again...  motorcycle after motorcycle after motorcycle.  Yes, there is typically a lot of traffic, but not this much at this time.

Fine...forget the long ride!  Just stay on the bike for 3 hours.  I'll be happy.  Sometimes, I am just amazed I don't quit cycling for good.  Today, it just plain sucked!  If you don't get it, click on the links in the prior article to understand HCMC traffic....

So, to the Industrial Park... its quiet, but I always feel it is a failure spot.  Gjermund can do the traffic and do  his 42km loop in 1:18... why can't I?

Oh, look....it's me... and who took the picture... me!  Yup, the joys of riding solo...you get to be your own photographer!

So, I do a few laps.... negotiating with myself... 3 laps, no 4 laps, okay, just 3 hours on the bike... I am so bored...frustrated... and realize this is a complete JOKE.  Hopefully, I am burning a bit of fat.

and another bummer... the head wind.... 

I see this group of guys riding mountain bike being escorted by guys on a scooter and they are all wearing white and blue striped jerseys.

They take a smaller loop within the big loop.

Finally, they motion for me to turn around and join them.

I do... they check my speed... 30kph and the scooter guy gives me a thumbs up indicating faster... okay 35.... faster... 40... faster... 45... faster... I top out at about 48... completely dropped them and then notice that I missed the turn... oops! 

The scooter guys chase me down and I go back with those boys.  I pull them for a while.

check it out:

street shoes

mountin bikes

street clothes

most were leaning over their bars with their hands on the tops of the shocks... 

and that's when I got off their line....  my skinny tires... their big fat tires... nope!

They held a very tight line at 35kph!

I guess the bikes are Taiwanese?  I tried to speak chinese, but no one understood me. 

Just gotta say, sometimes you never know what you will see out there!