OK, so here I was on the way to Balmain and cruising at my usual pace
thru the back of Darling Harbour and then on towards the Fish Markets to
that little cutaway in the road which leads to the ramp up to ANZAC Bridge.

As I approached the turnoff to get onto the ANZAC Bridge ramp, I noticed
this fellow cyclist about 25m-30m in front of me. He was in the middle
of the lane, on the left, than on the right, than all over the place,
standing on his pedals, etc etc. He didn't look wobbly, so I assumed he
was just enjoying himself on the quiet roads of Pyrmont at 1900.

As I got nearer, I noticed, yes, he had Lycra on but unusually he was
also carrying a backpack. I could not really see what bike he was riding
but I did notice that he had BIG calf muscles - suggesting that this
fellow knew a bit about riding a bike.

He cuts in front of me and slows down to turn right - exactly at the
same time that I was going to turn right. So I thinks to meself, this
fellow wants to play games. I slowed down to allow him to do what he
wants, and after the right hand turn, I politely took my place behind
him to allow him to take the lead. It was starting to look like he
intended to be going up the ramp onto ANZAC Bridge as well.

What does he do? He slows right down and I had no choice but to go past
him. I nodded me head and said g'day and he gives me a dirty look. I
mentally shrugged my shoulders and picked up my speed slightly as I was
getting close to the ramp.

A thought struck me. Maybe he DOES wants to play! So if I hit that ramp
really really fast (I've been across ANZAC Bridge a few times), I could
make it up that ramp pretty quick and we'll see how much this fellow
really wants to play

So, as soon as I hit that spiral ramp, I just stood on my pedals and
went for it. After the first two turns, I could now see that, yes, he
intended to play He was pushing hard up that ramp as well. The
chase was on. I just kept pumping hard all the way to the top of the
ramp and he seemed to be falling a bit behind (30m?).

At the top of the ramp, most folks slow down to take a breather and than
start the ride over the ANZAC Bridge proper. This is a fatal mistake,
I've learnt in the past - slow down at the top of the ramp and you are
gonna suffer. You see, the uphill climb from the ramp does not really
finish at the top of the ramp. It is still uphill along the bridge for
another 300m or so.

So, as soon as I hit the top of the ramp, I dropped back into my saddle
(I had been standing on my pedals all the way to the top of the ramp),
dropped one gear ratio, invoked the names of my cycling gods - Indurain,
Armstrong and for good measure, Hushovd, and upped my cadence.

I stole a quick look over my right shoulder and that Lycra-clad fellow
was way behind now - 50m(? hard to tell in the fading light).

I just put me head down and kept a high cadence over the top of the rise
and pumped hard downhill, going thru my gears, towards the chicane at
the feet of the Aussie soldier. Took the chicane gently, grabbed another
quick geek behind me (nobody as far as I could see but hard to tell -
poor light) and hit the second downhill hard. Got up to the footpath at
Victoria Road, turned right and got up to the traffic lights at Mullens
Street. The lights were red, so I reckon it was a good idea to stop

30secs(?) later, who turns up at the lights? You guessed it, Mr
Lycra-clad-wanna-play-cyclist He looks at me, I looks at him and says
g'day again to him and this time, he gives me a nod and a smile and he
promptly jumps the red light!!

I just waited for the lights to change and went on my way up along
Victoria Road towards Darling Street. Yes, I did feel a bit smug and I
still do I love it when I can outrun a Lycra-clad cyclist who clearly
wants to play