Feeling GRRRREAT after my best ride of the year!
 

Yesterday I took part in Brett's Ride, a local charity ride that raises money/awareness for a rare form of pediatric cancer.. There were several rides to choose from, the longest being a 52 miler that I elected to do. http://brettsride.org/

It was a very cool, windy but beautifully sunny Sunday morning when we set off and I was feeling pretty good. I was with a few cycling buddies and within 5 miles or so we found ourselves with a pack of about 10 riders that were going at a good clip. We were having so much fun riding the paceline, I didn't even notice that we polished off the first 22 miles in just under 1 hour! After blowing by the first rest stop we stopped at the 2nd at about mile 32 to refill water bottles and eat a banana and fig newton.

Then the climbing began with the last 20 miles being a series of toughish climbs into a 15-20mph wind. Before I knew it we crossed the finish line. My time was 2:51:54 at a moving avg of 18.4mph over the 52 miles which featured almost 3,330 ft of climbing. Though I have felt strong riding lately, frankly I was amazed at the pace. This ride has really got me pumped up and ready for another, perhaps the Tour de Pig this Sat. :)

Here is a link to the Garmin data. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118709817

wow. great job!

It was an indulgent post, but i was bursting with pride and wanted to share with this board :o

I started riding almost exactly one year ago and my first ride was a bit over 3 miles at an 11mph pace and I was pooped!! With the help, support, advice and encouragement of the good folks on this board I have developed into a competent rider who loves to ride!!

I look forward to all the two wheeled adventures that are in my future :)

Terrific job! Congrats!

rawk on!! I'd be proud too!

AWESOME!!! You got this type of result only after one year of riding!!! You're my new hero! I just started riding about 6 weeks ago, so maybe this time next year I will have a similar post... :thumb:

whoa. that's fast!

ok, so if i keep training (once i put my bike back together) and lose another 30lbs maybe i can do that...although...you must have a quick little roadie huh?

i can't wait to be part of that *wooOOOSH* that zooms by me instead of the quiet solitude of a lone, slow rider.

Lone slow rider is a wonderful thing. :)

Definitely!!! You just have to get out regularly (i typically ride 3 times a week or so) and challenge yourself to do harder rides. I joind a local bike club and go a lot of their group rides which have really pushed me to get better. Though i have not lost any weight over the last 6 months, I have gotten much, much stronger on my bike. Keep at it and you'll see the change in no time :)

Yes my Cervelo R3 is a speedy little thing :) There's nothing wrong with a nice, long, slow, solitary ride though, sometimes it's nice to do that, smell the roses and have a good think. Of course racing along at 30mph+ in a paceline is pretty cool too ;)

Awesome.

nice work.