Southern California - I let the BikeForums jersey down yesterday...

I went on a little 15 mile ride on my lunch break with a guy I work with and a few local cyclists but I just didn't have the lungs or legs to keep up with them on the climbs...and we had some good but short climbs. We did a few loops near where I work and it's very hilly there. Still, I fell back on every hill. It sucked. I need to work on my climbing big time!!! :mad:

Anyway, they were really cool about it and very positive, which I sometimes am not.

Yeah, I was wearing my SoCal BF jersey...sorry everyone. :o

Yeah, I was wearing my SoCal BF jersey...sorry everyone. :o

Why are you apologizing, silly! :rolleyes: ;) You were out riding and climbing up hills. Just wearing the jersey is great! Who cares if you didn't stay up with them THIS time. You will eventually be right up in the front. Just keep riding. :)

Why are you apologizing, silly! :rolleyes: ;) You were out riding and climbing up hills. Just wearing the jersey is great! Who cares if you didn't stay up with them THIS time. You will eventually be right up in the front. Just keep riding. :)

Well, the thing is, this was just a little spin ride for these guys. I've ridden with two of them prior and been able to keep up for the most part. These are short rides for them to just get in some miles, although certainly not a long ride for me either, but they spin up the hills at a pace I can barely match at 100% effort and they are carrying on a casual conversation. Then again, one of them competes at the CAT1 level...I don't know about the rest of them but I do know that a couple others race...not sure at what level. Anyway, I'll ride with them again and I intend to improve. Not trying to prove anything to anyone but myself.

I went on a little 15 mile ride on my lunch break with a guy I work with and a few local cyclists but I just didn't have the lungs or legs to keep up with them on the climbs...and we had some good but short climbs. We did a few loops near where I work and it's very hilly there. Still, I fell back on every hill. It sucked. I need to work on my climbing big time!!! :mad:

Anyway, they were really cool about it and very positive, which I sometimes am not.

Yeah, I was wearing my SoCal BF jersey...sorry everyone. :o
for shame....I kid, I kid.

I'm sure you're a lot stronger than you think you are. When I'm feeling weak I just try to keep in mind that everything is relative and compared to most couch creatures in this country I am friggin he-man.

Besides, as long as you're having fun, who cares?

Well, the thing is, this was just a little spin ride for these guys. I've ridden with two of them prior and been able to keep up for the most part. These are short rides for them to just get in some miles, although certainly not a long ride for me either, but they spin up the hills at a pace I can barely match at 100% effort and they are carrying on a casual conversation. Then again, one of them competes at the CAT1 level...I don't know about the rest of them but I do know that a couple others race...not sure at what level. Anyway, I'll ride with them again and I intend to improve. Not trying to prove anything to anyone but myself.


Join a club, join on the group rides and youll be rippin in no time. But cat 1 good luck with that guy.;)

When I'm feeling weak I just try to keep in mind that everything is relative and compared to most couch creatures in this country I am friggin he-man.

Besides, as long as you're having fun, who cares?+1

Getting out there and doing it says a lot about a person. I'm never winning any races, but compared to everyone I work with, I'd wipe the floor with them.

Join a club, join on the group rides and youll be rippin in no time. But cat 1 good luck with that guy.;)

Thing is, he's the nicest guy you'd ever meet. Very encouraging...hell, he keeps trying to get me to join the Swami's group and to compete. :lol:

You'll get better with that guy!
He knows that you could mop the floor with all your co-workers so he is happy that He-Man decided to ride

Don't worry about it! I know lots of people that can smoke me in 20-30 miles. But after 50 or 60, I just may smoke 'em back!:D

Depends on type of rider!...I'm the kind that rides in a tye-dye cotton t-shirt. So when I get smoked, Nobody knows what forum I hang with!:p

I let down the BF jersey everytime I ride, my slow little self... :(

Someone told me - Enjoy the ride! - As long as we are enjoying what we are doing, disgrace could never come to the jersey - or ourselves!

Mandy

Yeah, I was wearing my SoCal BF jersey...sorry everyone. :o

Wearing the SoCal BikeForums jersey is the equivalent of some tool wearing the TDF Yellow Jersey. The Cat 1 guy took it as a major slight and shot you the look on each ascent I imagine...

:)

I always get dropped by my group, they always wait. It's not a problem to them, if it was, they would just keep going. The best riders are usually the coolest ones about it. They know what it took them to get where they are and they understand a recreational rider isn't doing the same thing. Besides, you've got that cool LeMond.

I always get dropped by my group, they always wait. It's not a problem to them, if it was, they would just keep going. The best riders are usually the coolest ones about it. They know what it took them to get where they are and they understand a recreational rider isn't doing the same thing. Besides, you've got that cool LeMond.

Yeah, John, but are you ever wearing the BF jersey when you're dropped? Because if so...;) Wait a minute, I've ridden with you several times - you're always dropping (and then waiting) for me!

I was an original member of Swamis back in 87 and can only say they are a good club and have some very good riders. Like with with most things athletic, when you ride with people who are better then you, your skills and fitness will get much better, faster. You should take your friends advice and join their club, or SDBC, or any race focused club. You'll pick up a lot of information that would take you longer to learn being a non-club rider. Don't worry about the racing part as many club members are never seen at the starting line (not just Swamis).

Also, San Deigo has very very few places that are not hilly. It's one reason there are so many good riders down there. The SDBC club ride on Saturdays is good place to get familiar with pack riding and they provide three different rides for the varing levels of riders who show up.

Anyway keep at it, it only gets better.

What area were you riding in SDRider?

Join a club, join on the group rides and youll be rippin in no time. But cat 1 good luck with that guy.;)

You're right about the group rides. I just started riding with a group and even though I was in the back of the pack.. I rode faster and harder than I've ever have in my life..

What area were you riding in SDRider?

East of Palomar airport area between there and Business Park.

Like I said, there was no pressure at all from the group I was riding with. Good group of guys, it was just a casual ride to get in some miles. I was just a little unhappy with myself is all. This has in no way put me off group rides. I've done them before and I'll do them again.