Riding Lesson 2:

I am still a slow poke. Dan persuaded me to join their Sunday morning informal group ride, which has been going on for 25 years! He said the group usually splits into about three groups with one quite speedy and going down to a social, relaxed group. So, today I rode with the group. For seven miles I kept up with the slow riders and then lagged a mile or so behind to the first stop, about 20 miles in. Some had turned at the first stop and passed me going back. Others were going on to do a really long ride. Dan set me up with a couple who were going to do a few more miles and then turn around. I said I was slow and could not keep up with them coming into Brighton, the first stop, but they said they would ride with me anyway. Nice people! The guy also ran interference with a dog that went snarling after us about 8 miles into our return trip.

My average speed was crap-12.5mph. I did my best on the hills, standing usually for 20 paces to keep up some inertia, but I still was the slowest on the hills. Both going up and down.

I am exhausted. If I had been riding alone I would have bailed and had my spouse pick me up. We stopped and rested a few times on the way back. The last rest stop had me almost unable to clip into my pedal. My brain wasn't working right. Even though I kept up with eating and drinking the whole route.

I think part of the problem was doing the ride right on the tail of a fairly hard ride yesterday. The other part of the problem is that they were all much better riders than me, even the slow riders.

Everyone I rode with commented on how fast I spin the pedals. I said I have to spin, I have no power to push!