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04-24-04, 08:27 AM
Well today I went off on my first group ride. I was a bit apprehensive, because I don't have:
A good bike
Bike shorts
Bike jersey
Pedal clips
Fast tires
and on and on and on...
So I wasn't sure what they were going to think of me or what was going to happen. I learned quite a lot about riding in a paceline (which is darn fun and sure makes it easier on you in the wind), shifting a bit more efficiently, and etc. I kept with them through what I considered to be a pretty tough pace through 11 miles or so, but then I dropped off the back of the pack. I managed to muster up the guts to spin up to 24mph trying to reconnect, and one guy dropped back and pulled me back on once I got close, so that was cool. But shortly after that, about a mile, we started up a short climb and everyone stood up for it, including me, and my calf just completely locked up in a cramp. So I just died right there, because calf cramp or no calf cramp, I just couldn't hack it. The sense of impending doom had been creeping up on me for about 5 miles, so the cramp was just a convenient out.
Overall it was a fun experience, and next Saturday I am going to make them work just a little bit harder to drop me.
Stats:
25.5 Miles
1 hour, 43 minutes
Top Speed 37.4mph
Cheers!
A good bike
Bike shorts
Bike jersey
Pedal clips
Fast tires
and on and on and on...
So I wasn't sure what they were going to think of me or what was going to happen. I learned quite a lot about riding in a paceline (which is darn fun and sure makes it easier on you in the wind), shifting a bit more efficiently, and etc. I kept with them through what I considered to be a pretty tough pace through 11 miles or so, but then I dropped off the back of the pack. I managed to muster up the guts to spin up to 24mph trying to reconnect, and one guy dropped back and pulled me back on once I got close, so that was cool. But shortly after that, about a mile, we started up a short climb and everyone stood up for it, including me, and my calf just completely locked up in a cramp. So I just died right there, because calf cramp or no calf cramp, I just couldn't hack it. The sense of impending doom had been creeping up on me for about 5 miles, so the cramp was just a convenient out.
Overall it was a fun experience, and next Saturday I am going to make them work just a little bit harder to drop me.
Stats:
25.5 Miles
1 hour, 43 minutes
Top Speed 37.4mph
Cheers!