"I thought you needed company," said the cyclist at the red light

I was riding badly down a bike lane in Pilsen on a summer evening when another cyclist matched my slow speed for ten blocks without saying anything. When we reached the red light he said, I thought you needed company. We have ridden together every Thursday since. He is much faster than me and slows down on purpose. I think that is called friendship. Last Thursday I rode a block faster, to see what would happen. He sped up to match me. I think we both lost.