Riding with another group

A perfect day for a ride!!
I joined up with a group from a local touring club for a 35 mile ride up the Hudson river.
The difference between me and them, they were a bit older and they liked to see things, enjoy the route, not eat it up.

Okay, here was a pace line I could keep up with and learn in.

Lesson #1. Know your leader and his limitations. If he seems to run you through the dips for every little water or gas main valve and it's accompanying bone jarring thud, adjust your expectations and your distance behind him.

#2. Know the pace your group plans to ride and keep with it and be happy, or find ways to burn your pent up energy.
I sprinted back to the deli where they planned to get lunch to expend some of my wattage. After lunch, one of the guys said to me, "You're like a real athlete!"







#3. Enjoy the sights. The views were fabulous. We rode under the Tappan Zee to the base of the Palisaides. We stopped to see some special houses. And we stopped to see a wonderful menagerie of statues I termed the Bronze Zoo...(Bronx Zoo-get it?) It was unbelieveable, every corner of the yard in and outside the fences had multiple metal statues. (How do you know when you've got too much damned money? When the Bently and the Rolls and the Lamborgini and three other grills I couldn't identify are jammed as close together as the crowded statues.)

#4. When you're following a really good leader, stick close and let him know how much he's appreciated. The second leader, the guy who led us home, was a real pacer. He had good eyes and only ran me through one avoidable bump that caught him with his eyes off the road, otherwise he was great and steady and I kept on his tail and the other girl(I rode with a girl!) kept on mine. I liked following him and I told him so. We ended up splitting from the slower guys, but this was their home turf and these guys rode together all the time, so all was good. It was a good end to a nice ride with new people and sights.


Wed, Oct 3

While my car was being checked for a squeal in the brakes, I went to face the demons on the hill on my regular route.

I planned it carefully and worked it well marking in my mind where I needed to concentrate.
I hit the first climb well. The second climb, the big one... I climbed it at double my usual pace. I never touched the granny wheel and didn't even hit the lowest gear in the middle set. In fact, as I climbed I started to upshift on the last third of the hill. I very briefly considered a victory lap to the shop just to tell the guys. I don't need no stinkin' granny wheel!!

Yes! We're well on our way. I consciously kept the pace up to the end where my car was ready for me. I finished nearly 2mph above my usual pace. A good day!

I do need to work more on hills and develop my upper legs some more, but I'm pleased at my progress. It's going well and I'm making crazy new plans for myself.

This weekend, I'll be running Sound at a music festival and will be doing some mountain biking in the down time.
It's good preparation for my next challenge to who knows where...

Oh, and did I mention that I intend to compete in at least a biathalon next year?

Go ahead and call me crazy, cause I like it when you think I "can't".
But, it's not as far out of reach as you might think!

So, anyone for a ride? How 'bout a swim?