General Cycling Discussion - Do you forget how good you are?

What I mean, is do you sometimes forget how your skills have improved? I've been doing a lot of training on my road bike lately and went mountain biking this weekend. I rode with my wife and my father-in-law (now 62). I felt great! I was pushing myself and having a great time. I was leading and hit this trail and thought, "Hey, no problem". Well, my father-in-law couldn't make the climb and fell. He got a little hurt (bruised bum) and maybe a bruised ego as well.

The thing is, I felt horrible. I was comfortable with my ability, and selfishly didn't think about him. I did, but not as much as I should have. I thought he could handle it. He usually (suprisingly) hangs with my wife and I on most trails. Of course there are some he bows out of, but this guy rides tetter-totters and 2x6 bridges and some pretty sick chutes! I've been doing a lot of training and didn't realize how much stronger I've become!

So, have you ever been training a lot and then gone riding with your friends and blown them away? Blowing everyone away would've felt great, if not for the fact that my father-in-law got hurt.

My problem is being a pure climber. A lot of people I ride with have basically the same ability on the flat bits, but as soon we go up, I tend to get in front a bit, and find myself having to stop (or at least, slow down heaps) at the top.

Where in FLorida were you riding? Belleview? I will be in Gville next weekend and most of next week. I just have to decide which bike to bring, the Stinky or my hardtail??

Originally posted by Chris L
My problem is being a pure climber.

That is a problem.

Me, I purely ride west, which makes my commute home rather long, but that's less of a problem that searching for an infinite climb.

Relative to other cyclists, I am far better uphill than against a headwind. I am not a sprinter, but I have pretty good endurance over medium distances. In my case, it's a combination of slow-twitch musculature and a light build.

I'm good at coasting down hill :D

Richard

I too love uphills :love:

and love breaking away from my friends when I'm out on rides...it's just the competitive side of my nature coming through...

I can have a cardiac at the top of the climb when I get there ;)

Rich

Allister,
From your avitar it looks like the cosmetic surgery was a success. :D

Originally posted by RainmanP
Allister,
From your avitar it looks like the cosmetic surgery was a success. :D

Rainman, why do you wear so much make-up? You are starting to look a bit like the Joker. :D

Originally posted by John E

Relative to other cyclists, I am far better uphill than against a headwind. I am not a sprinter, but I have pretty good endurance over medium distances. In my case, it's a combination of slow-twitch musculature and a light build.



I'll second that (except for the light-build part). I love hills, because you get this great feeling when you finally crest them; but fighting a headwind is kind of like boxing with Yoda: You keep getting you arse whooped, but he never seems to throw a punch...

I love headwinds myself. I love that feeling of gradually getting on top of it. The feeling that the wind has thrown everything it's got at you and you are still there sucking it up. :D

I'm a sprinter with a bit of the rouleur. I can ride long rides, metrics, centuries -- and still sprint for beer at the end. I haven't QUITE broken 60 km/h [peak, not maintained -- who d'you think I am, Marty Nothstein?] in a sprint yet... but I will next year. My proudest sprint was a 50 km/h [slightly] UPHILL sprint that I nevertheless lost [the guy I was riding with was just too strong]. I was proud to able to hold the speed for as long as I did.

I have to be honest, though, I'm not a climber, eitjer physiologically or by inclination. I hate climbs; they're work. That's why I seek them out and try to best them whenever I can.

Masochistic? Yes. But I figure that, even though I'll never be a climber [like a former Columbian pro I know], practice will make me a better climber and climbing will make me a better sprinter.

Originally posted by RainmanP
Allister,
From your avitar it looks like the cosmetic surgery was a success. :D

Depends what you mean by 'success'.

Originally posted by Chris L
I love headwinds myself. I love that feeling of gradually getting on top of it. The feeling that the wind has thrown everything it's got at you and you are still there sucking it up. :D
This morning was a bit on the cool side, about 35 degrees F. with a gusty, 15 - 20 mph. headwind. I got on a steep hill, fighting a headwind at the same time. I kept thinking, "Wind and hills build character," just like you told me, Chris. ;)

I never realized you meant both at the same time.

I bet you had an easy ride home!

:D