OK – Ride number 9 (Edited - this was ride 9 not 10) was a Bike Group Ride from Ansley Mall through the neighborhoods of Atlanta. It was quite a tour! The riders went at a pretty quick pace. I was dead last, but was very proud I did the whole loop. Someone guessed the elevation total gain of 1500 feet…probably more like 1200. Not all at one time – cumulative. In any case – many, many hills. Did I say there were hills? 17.5 miles about 1hr 29 minutes. At times I was crawling up the hills at 6-7.5 mph….Other times whoooosh we rode down the hills!

What I really love about these rides is that they are with people who ride all the time and I get to meet them all and learn about biking. I am very much a newbie (2 weeks ago Saturday I started) and have a hard time of course keeping up with all these hills etc. There was a catch up point where they said they waited for maybe 5 minutes. So yesterday was my turn to wait – today was their turn. They were all very kind….and rode at their own pace. The group leader stayed behind with me and said that he expected with my little experience I would be a lot slower. I think I will try and learn the route so I can go at my own pace and not have to keep anyone back.

Anyway – I also met the other girl in the group (Maybe we had 15-20 riders). She was very nice and wants to fix me up with a nice man who she has met on rides.

Now some of you may be thinking that this was my time to be dead last on a ride…and that I was not too patient on ride number 9. You’d be correct. I will definitely work on my patience.

All in all this was a fabulous ride – and I am very proud. As we started out – up hills, etc it was extremely hard – but then as we kept going it got easier – but there were some long climbs. YAY for all those gears – I think I used almost all of them. And the tour of Atlanta was awesome! Here’s a before the ride picture taken by the woman I met before we took off.(Not too flattering…but I am definitely heading in the right direction weigh –loss wise. 73900

I have yet to be able to carry camera with me (Need a bike pack for front of bike – may buy a bento bag) but even so _ I do not think I had time to snap photos with this crew!

Wow! You're having honest to goodness bicycle adventures! I love it! You have discovered that bicycling is far more than simply a form of exercise. Great job!

Cool Missy B! Don't worry about being dead last or even 30 minutes after the second to the last rider. It's all about getting there! Hills take time so you will find that you will improve little by little. Soon you'll be first. So what if you aren't, you're up there. So many rider won't even attempt any type of hills.

The downhillls are fun aren't they? I've done pleny of hills. 5,000 -12,000 ft climbs into the mtns with descents over 45 mph. How fast were your speeds going down? Descending also gets better with experience. If you continue to climb in the hills. Expect some fasties!

Did i miss ride 9? I did not see one after number eight..the date. Good job on the hills. I still suck at them.

UH oh - this is ride number 9...OK Moderator -TOM - can you PLEASE edit the thread title to Ride 9???

The downhillls are fun aren't they? I've done pleny of hills. 5,000 -12,000 ft climbs into the mtns with descents over 45 mph. How fast were your speeds going down? Descending also gets better with experience. If you continue to climb in the hills. Expect some fasties! (Beanz)

My fastest was about 30ish... maybe a bit more or less... But on the streets - I am worried a bit cause I do not know what is ahead. tried on some hills to get my speed up to make it up the next hill -peadling like a maniac with the steam form the down hill so it was easy to get up. Some hills (most) that did not work - as some were very long and I went down to gear 2.... Yowza! others I tried to power up but mostly I kept shifting to an easier gear so I colud continue to spin up the da%n hills.

"I kept shifting to an easier gear so I coudl continue to spin up the da%n hills."

That's WHY you have ALL those gears! You're riding SMART! Down shift a bit before you have to and keep spinning. It takes energy to get the crank & legs spinning again after slowing down.
Personally, I rest on the down hill because, I either just wore myself out and/or will be doing so shortly!
Do pedal some. It helps pump out the lactic acid. Out goes the tired blood, in comes the good....

(Beanz)

My fastest was about 30ish... maybe a bit more or less... But on the streets - I am worried a bit cause I do not know what is ahead. tried on some hills to get my speed up to make it up the next hill -peadling like a maniac with the steam form the down hill so it was easy to get up. Some hills (most) that did not work - as some were very long and I went down to gear 2.... Yowza! others I tried to power up but mostly I kept shifting to an easier gear so I colud continue to spin up the da%n hills.


Believe it or not, the 45 mph speeds were met without pedaling, only a tuck. Honestly I don't try to increase speed on downhills. A couple of tips for you:

While descending, keep the legs moving so that the lactic acid continues to circulate. If you don't keeop the legs moving, you will freeze up. Really helps on long downhills. On some rides, the downhills are 40 miles long. In this 40 miles, there are a couple of one mile climbs. You need to keep the legs ready for the climb or you'll freeze, maybe cramp.

A big mistake many new riders make. Many think that blowing down the hills will help them make up time. Pedal like a maniac on the dh and you're wasting good energy. Try the tuck for build speed. Save teh energy for the climbs.

I've read many atricles about riders making up more time on climbs than downhills. Pedal like a freak on the dh, you may gain 15 seconds on the 'tucker'. Save your energy and apply towards the climbs. You can gain way more time climbing than descending!;)

I've had guys blow by me on the dowhills laughing and giddy for a 15 second lead. But usually with a frown when you blow by on a climb setting them back minutes:D