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08-24-09, 08:13 PM
I now have a riding partner, an old friend who is about 5 years older than me. I'm 63. He has been riding some, but, now with me, he's riding a lot more.
He used to be an avid rider, with many 150+ mile days --- but that was awhile ago. He really likes to ride, but isn't able to keep up with my normal speed.
And, that's OK with me - it's always easier to go slower than it is to go faster - and I don't mind. It's just nice to have someone to ride 30 or 40 miles a day with.
I just slow down about 3-5 MPH, and pedal faster, in lower gears.. I also take it upon myself to do all of the sprinting, to get out of the way of others. I do all of the pulling, if we are going faster - and he apologizes. I tell him to not worry about it, and to let me know when he wants to slow down or stop for awhile. He does!
Almost all of our riding is on MUPs, which is fine with me, as we are really blessed with fine path systems very close by.
My 30, 36, and 42 mile loops take us much longer to complete, than they did , just me alone.
Now, for the strange happenings......
Jim had something to do today, and couldn't ride. Sooooooo, I went out and rode hard, completing my 42 mile loop much faster than normal (read, like much faster than I used to do, when by myself!!!!)
And, my top speed is down several MPH almost everywhere (when alone), even on the good downhills. And, my average speed is up, when by myself.
Another positive out of this, is that I am increasing my cadence, beyond my normal 80 - I frequently find myself between 90 - 100. My feet used to fly off my legs at 100, and my legs left my body at 110.... LOL..I looked down once today, and saw 119.....
I guess you could say that Jim has jarred me out of my "rut," and forced me to do things differently. But, I don't seem able to push as hard in the BIG gears,,,, hence, my lowered top speed.
Now, if I can just get my top speed up ---- maybe I will see 40 MPH.
Splain that one to me --------
-------------------------
He used to be an avid rider, with many 150+ mile days --- but that was awhile ago. He really likes to ride, but isn't able to keep up with my normal speed.
And, that's OK with me - it's always easier to go slower than it is to go faster - and I don't mind. It's just nice to have someone to ride 30 or 40 miles a day with.
I just slow down about 3-5 MPH, and pedal faster, in lower gears.. I also take it upon myself to do all of the sprinting, to get out of the way of others. I do all of the pulling, if we are going faster - and he apologizes. I tell him to not worry about it, and to let me know when he wants to slow down or stop for awhile. He does!
Almost all of our riding is on MUPs, which is fine with me, as we are really blessed with fine path systems very close by.
My 30, 36, and 42 mile loops take us much longer to complete, than they did , just me alone.
Now, for the strange happenings......
Jim had something to do today, and couldn't ride. Sooooooo, I went out and rode hard, completing my 42 mile loop much faster than normal (read, like much faster than I used to do, when by myself!!!!)
And, my top speed is down several MPH almost everywhere (when alone), even on the good downhills. And, my average speed is up, when by myself.
Another positive out of this, is that I am increasing my cadence, beyond my normal 80 - I frequently find myself between 90 - 100. My feet used to fly off my legs at 100, and my legs left my body at 110.... LOL..I looked down once today, and saw 119.....
I guess you could say that Jim has jarred me out of my "rut," and forced me to do things differently. But, I don't seem able to push as hard in the BIG gears,,,, hence, my lowered top speed.
Now, if I can just get my top speed up ---- maybe I will see 40 MPH.
Splain that one to me --------
-------------------------