Got smashed today by a Lycra-clad cyclist Absolutely annihilated, I was.

What's going on here? Is this newsgroup being monitored by Lycra-clad
cyclists AS WELL AS the AFP?

Was on Garderners Road, just after the overpass at Southern Cross Drive,
headed East.

On the downhill dip between the overpass and Eastern Ave, with the sun
on my back (it was about 1700) I was admiring my shadow in front of me
and thinking how I looked just like that SBS ad during the 2010 Vuelta
Espana when I noticed a second shadow come up behind me.

In the 2 or 3 secs it took for my brain to register that it was another
cyclist, he had gone past me at some speed - yes, it was slightly
downhill and yes, it was a he - the beard was a dead giveaway

In additiona to Lycra, he also had on the mandatory sunnies.

Anyway, he was about 5m in front when I organised myself to give chase.
He simply kept pulling ahead effortlessly

BUT, the lights at Eastern Avenue got him and he came to a full stop -
obviously not interested in the bonus points available for not having
one's feet touch the ground. I was by now 15m behind so I slowed down
hoping to get a rolling start.

The lights changed and off I went. I got about 2 bike lengths in front
when I heard his gears change. On the long downhill after Eastern
Avenue, he just sailed past me casually like he was on a Sunday arvo
ride. No way I could catch him at all.

I tried to read the name on the bike but it was in fancy script and the
front forks had "De G????" (I think) on them. His rear gear cluster
looked very impressive - 11 gears? I dunno.

Anyway, I had to turn off right at Doncaster Avenue so that was the end
of that for me.

My only consolation was that I am 5ft 10in and 71kgs and he looked 5ft
6" and 85 kgs OK OK OK, so most of his 85kgs looked like muscle.