Charming commuters

(alternative title -- healthy "competition")

I was riding home from the club ride/ work and saw a panniered bike turn onto my rode at the upcoming intersection... I cruised through and went by him. He said something unintelligible and I was confused... his tone of voice to be expressing dissatisfaction, disappointment (something like "hey, that's not right...") Had he said something funny?
He was also chugging along not too far behind me... obviously I'd inspired him to put on some speed. So I put on a little more. The gap did some undulations but dang, I just couldn't lose him, even after over two minutes of "not a sprint, but no, you can't sustain this forever" which is my magic endurance speed that I can usually hold ... long enough ;)
Then he calls out "there's a car behind us" and I said thanks and moved over... and he gets close enough to say in a European accent, "I am looking over to see if there's a motor."
"no, but it's lighter than it looks.... you've got a nice rig." (the bike was European, too.)
He said that he didn't usually ride fast so this was a challenge, and asked if I was riding a long distance; I explained I'd done a ride with the bike club and he said he just commuted... I said it was still nice to have a good hard mile or two... and then I had to turn. "See you!"
I digested the conversation ... okay, I suppose he mightg have really wanted to see if my long bike had a motor and rode himself into a lather for that, but naw, I think we were just having a mutual-endorphin moment :)

This is a sweet commuter story!! I never get anyone to speak to me when I ride to work. I am lucky to get a wave, after I initiate it. How cool that you interacted with someone and in a positive way.

Oh, good one!

Ooooh, he sounds cute.

Oh, definitely cute... but almost certainly a married professor...

love it!!! :)
Something like that would make my day!

That's a really sweet story.