Training alone is difficult and often causes riders to become "flat" or able to do very well within a narrow band, but have trouble stepping it up.
This happens to everybody, and can be very discouraging. Back in the days when I took training seriously, I found that the easiest way to get better without being discouraged was to find others just slightly better (faster, better hill climbers, or able to ride longer before crapping out) than I was. It was easy to dig down in the well and come up with just that little bit extra to hang on for my dear life.
The near match is critical because once they drop you all the desire to chase goes away.
Something else you can do if training alone is to make a bit of a game of it, and if you see another rider up ahead, turn on the afterburners and chase him down as fast as you can.
What I'm trying to tell you is don't get discouraged, and find some motivation through mind games. Whatever you do don't get discouraged if you cannot keep up with folks that a re materially better than you are, but at the same time don't get flat by riding with folks that aren't faster and who don't force you to step up your game.
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FB
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