Riding with Dale Stetina

This past Sunday I really felt like riding in a social setting, so I went to the popular roadie gathering spot in North Boulder, Amante coffee shop. Saturday or Sunday anyone can show up at 9 AM or 10 AM, and pick any number of group rides--from novice to professional groups. I waited about 10 minutes for a group to leave, and most looked like they were more interested in talking or drinking coffee, despite nearly 40 bikers gathered just outside the shop. Finally, I decided to take off on my own, but soon realized I would need a hat under my bike helmet, as it was quite chilly. I took my time putting the cap on, only a mile from the coffee shop, in hopes that a group would come along. A group of 11 rode by, and I quickly joined in. Throughout the ride we rotated pulling at the front of the pack. The last half of the ride I was at the front and got talking with my co-puller and found out he had won 2 of the Coors Classic bicycle races (1979 & 1983). His name was Dale Stetina, and was the only person beside the famous Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, to win the race multiple times. Among other names that won this race was Bernard Hinault (LeMond's former team mate). Dale was obviously overdressed with his fleece jacket, and thermal jacket, booties, neoprene gloves, skull cap under the helmet, and thermal bib tights. I had knee warmers & just a base layer with jersey on top...Dale was sweating like he was in a sauna. He used to be on the US National Team, and was invited to the Tour de France, but eventually declined due to the timing of the race and being tired from racing all spring. I learned a lot in that you don't "half-wheel" a former world class bike racer. If you don't know what "half-wheeling" a biker is, it is when you slightly pull ahead of someone and it basically means you are challenging them. Dale picked it up, then me, then him, eventually we briefly hit 29 miles per hour on Airport Rd. in Longmont, looking back--we had exploded the entire group that was with us. Someone yelled up to us and asked what had gotten into us...Dale replied, "Oh, he was half-wheeling me and I got irritated..." To which I explained to him I thought he picked it up because I was going too slow. Heck, I didn't even know what "half-wheeling" was, so this was news to me. Triathlon is a different culture, have a different way of riding. Unless you spend some time riding with groups (which I very seldom do), especially with roadies, you may not ever know what half-wheeling is. He calmed down after I explained I really had know idea why he kept picking it up, and that I was just trying to keep up with him. It was a great learning experience, and fun to ride with such a superstar of cycling from the old days...even if I never heard of him before, or knew of his accomplishments--until I Googled him. It looks like he was quite the world beater back when I about 10 years old. Maybe we'll ride again...only this time I won't half wheel him.