Good to meet you! I should have had many more pancakes. Rode back along the Charles, blowing past the other commuters until about four miles to go, when a woman on a hybrid decided she wanted to race. At first I thought it was a bit funny as she eked out 19 mph on a -2% grade. I passed her easily just by hopping into the drops. At every cross street, though, she tried something new. By the time we reached Arsenault, by which time I had built a significant lead, she blew past me into traffic onto the street and zoomed toward the mall while I was diligently waiting for a light to cross with. Funny, but a bit dangerous, so I backed off a bit. Then she got stuck at a light. Once again, I passed her and didn't see her again until she blew through one of the lights at Watertown Square. I was off my bike by this point, but victory was hers: she parked her bike first. Good on her. She kept coming back, even when I was putting space between us at 23 mph. It was actually a lot of fun.

The winds, though. Easily my least favorite part of cycling. I'd rather ride in the cold. :-) I had a good chuckle when the winds picked up on the bridge. They weren't very forgiving on the way out to Watertown either.

Hope to get to ride with you again soon.

you're on. Harvard Square Breakfast between 8/8:30, then we can go down to the Esplanade and take the long (but hopefully less windy) way in.