Good days/Off days
09-22-06, 07:52 AM
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Good days/Off days
I guess there are good days and then there are off-days. Due to work considerations combined with a poor attitude, I hadn’t been on my bike for nearly a week. Yesterday afternoon I joined our Club for our weekly Thursday afternoon ride. We generally meet three times a week for rides. Tuesday’s are the “hammer” days when everyone rides as fast as they can along a set 25 mile loop. Thursdays are usually more of a group ride at a more reasonable pace. Saturdays are longer, more endurance-type rides.
At any rate, yesterday I broke free of work and joined everyone for the ride. Apparently, the Tuesday ride got fouled up and several of the group decided they would do a “hammer-fest”. Always up for a challenge (as well as being a bit irrational), I decided to join them. In the back of my mind, I didn’t feel prepared. I hadn’t had much to eat all day, didn’t bring any energy gel, and just didn’t have that fired-up attitude. I should have listened to my body.
Within the first quarter-mile we were hitting 24 mph. I stayed within striking distance, just waiting for them to burn off a little of their energy. I wasn’t really warmed up and I also knew that shortly we would be hitting a series of hills that would slow things down a bit. Sure enough, I rejoined the group halfway up the first hill. I stayed in for the next 7 miles or so hitting a wind assisted 27-28 mph. When we turned north, it was my turn to pull. Against a steady cross wind, I was doing a decent 22mph up a long grade. I was struggling as we topped the grade and I pulled over to rotate back to the back. (Out of consideration, I don’t like to end my turn at the front at the base of a climb). By this time, I’m really digging deep and wishing I had brought some gel. It was at that point that the pace picked up and I got dropped.
Try as I might, I just couldn’t close the gap. I did manage to keep them in sight for the next 4 miles or so, but eventually they were gone. The next time I saw them was in the parking lot for the post-ride for the post-mortem. Even with being dropped, I still managed a respectable 19 mph average. A year ago, I would have been delighted with that number, but somehow I felt disappointed in my performance. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time. I was tired, but I felt like the cobwebs had been cleared. I hadn’t been dropped in quite awhile, but it was probably the best thing that could have happened. It re-lit that fire that makes you want to get back in the game. A little better pre-ride prep (as in food and attitude), as well as a bit more riding-time and I’ll be better than ever.
As they say, even an off-day on a bike is better that not riding at all.
At any rate, yesterday I broke free of work and joined everyone for the ride. Apparently, the Tuesday ride got fouled up and several of the group decided they would do a “hammer-fest”. Always up for a challenge (as well as being a bit irrational), I decided to join them. In the back of my mind, I didn’t feel prepared. I hadn’t had much to eat all day, didn’t bring any energy gel, and just didn’t have that fired-up attitude. I should have listened to my body.
Within the first quarter-mile we were hitting 24 mph. I stayed within striking distance, just waiting for them to burn off a little of their energy. I wasn’t really warmed up and I also knew that shortly we would be hitting a series of hills that would slow things down a bit. Sure enough, I rejoined the group halfway up the first hill. I stayed in for the next 7 miles or so hitting a wind assisted 27-28 mph. When we turned north, it was my turn to pull. Against a steady cross wind, I was doing a decent 22mph up a long grade. I was struggling as we topped the grade and I pulled over to rotate back to the back. (Out of consideration, I don’t like to end my turn at the front at the base of a climb). By this time, I’m really digging deep and wishing I had brought some gel. It was at that point that the pace picked up and I got dropped.
Try as I might, I just couldn’t close the gap. I did manage to keep them in sight for the next 4 miles or so, but eventually they were gone. The next time I saw them was in the parking lot for the post-ride for the post-mortem. Even with being dropped, I still managed a respectable 19 mph average. A year ago, I would have been delighted with that number, but somehow I felt disappointed in my performance. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time. I was tired, but I felt like the cobwebs had been cleared. I hadn’t been dropped in quite awhile, but it was probably the best thing that could have happened. It re-lit that fire that makes you want to get back in the game. A little better pre-ride prep (as in food and attitude), as well as a bit more riding-time and I’ll be better than ever.
As they say, even an off-day on a bike is better that not riding at all.
09-22-06, 08:43 AM
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Im with ya on that story. I will work much much harder to avoid getting dropped than I can in any other situation. But if I do get dropped, it doesnt disappoint me too much....I just figure now I've got a goal, to keep up with those guys. And then on the day you dont get dropped it is a great feeling, and more than makes up for the other days. I prefer to ride with groups that are a little faster than I am for that very reason.
