nielsp03

Hi everyone. Soon to be 49 year old. I've been riding on and off since 2004. After a five year hiatus, I resumed again last year and did a little over 4,000 miles to lose the weight that I gained during the "break". Dropped about 45, but gained back 12 during this hell called winter (in extreme SE Wisconsin). I would like to drop about 35 to get back under 200 which is about right for my height, and frame. I have three rides, and 60 miles on a 2014 Domane 5.2. I decided to buy it one day after I realized that I'm never going to take a break again, I'm hooked. The roads suck here, and I'm old, therefore an endurance bike. I've been lurking around BF looking for ways to get faster. It used to happen naturally, around 18 mph just putting in miles, but now I'm around 16.5, and want to bump that up to 17+. I'm scouring the forums for good info on intervals, and possibly some people to ride with. I typically do a few charity rides like the Trek 100, and Scenic Shore 150. Instead of doing just one century this year, I'm gunning for three. Hope to see some of you out there.

Lacumo

Welcome to BF!

MRT2

Welcome. I am also in SE Wisconsin. You might want to consider joining one of several excellent cycling clubs in the area. I rode with Cream City a few times last year, but also hear good things about Bay View Cycling club.

nielsp03

Thanks!

nielsp03

My LBS, Racine Cyclery, has been encouraging me to join the KR (Kenosha-Racine) Bike Club, I may do that this year.

MRT2

Charity rides are great, but the fundraising part is what keeps me from doing more of those. If you fail to get pledges, you have to come up with the entire amount. So I keep it to one or at most two a year. It is fine if you work in an office, but I am self employed, and my clients are mostly poor or working class(and whatever extra money they have usually goes to paying my fee), so I cannot ask them. I know a lot of people, but don't feel comfortable hitting them up for money too often.

But if you want to do a supported century, there are a lot of inexpensive options. KR bike club is sponsoring a Century on May 17. And rides every Saturday. Second, there is the Miller UPAF ride for the arts June 1 in Milwaukee. I haven't done that ride in years, but as I recall, a lot of people show up for it. Bay View Cycling Club has a century in Oconomowoc July 26, though they have 30, 45 and 60 mile options as well. I did that ride with my family last year and we enjoyed it. Cream City's Century is August 26.

If you want to do a multi day ride in Wisconsin, you could always do SAGBRAW, one of three state wide tours of Wisconsin. bikewisconsin.com: SAGBRAW

Anyhow, check out the Cream City ride calendar. I rode with them last year without joining. They do group rides leaving from different places every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The Wednesday rides are advertised as more relaxed no drop rides, but I rode a couple of Saturday rides with them as well. The rides they advertised as easy to moderate and they were, indeed, easy to moderate. I chickened out of the rides they advertised as difficult or extremely hilly, but maybe something to work up to.