Welcome back to more riding. Last week I participated in my 1st weekly club ride in my neighborhood (missed the season opener the preceeding week due to a flu bug). I ride pretty much every day to work so I get plenty of activity. I rode to work, went home for a short break. I Made sure before leaving work to have a proper food snack so that I would not bonk. I then rode the 2 miles to the start of the ride. I rode with my usual group of riders. We are the "reasonably fast group." There is no way I can hang with the racer wannebees, but this group keeps up a pretty mean speed. It was windy, but the terrain was flat. I was out front for a about 1/4 of the ride in the early streach, but we had the wind at our back, so it was easy to lead. Later we had to ride into the wind, and also perpendicular. By the end of the 20 mile ride my posterior was sore. I actually had a hard time lifting my leg to get off the bike. Its amazing how riding on a commuter bike vs. a road bike can put a different load on your muscles! We managed to average 18.5 MPH, but that was only because we were riding together. Heading into the wind some riders were barely lasting more than a minute or two at the front. Alone I would have been MUCH slower. Thankfully I didn't feel it too much the next day. I am looking forward to this week's ride and see how my body starts adjusting to road riding again. I definitely need to get my "long distance" and fast riding legs back.

Happy riding,
André