Originally Posted by 50PlusCycling

I don't feel wiped out after a 20 or 30 mile ride, it usually takes me about that long to get warmed up. I enjoy cycling enough that I am always in the mood to ride, and, even when I've ridden a long way, to keep going. Cycling is kind of a drug to me, besides keeping me fit, it helps maintain my sanity. I don't listen to music or other stuff when I ride, I just enjoy the scenery and the physical effort.

The old advice is that to ride farther and faster, you have to ride farther and faster. It helps to have an interesting place to ride, or to ride to, but what is important is to just get on the bike and go. Today I headed out early in the morning for a 126km ride. The first 50km wasn't physically difficult. The second 50km was tough, I was trying to get a good time for 100km, and knew that if I pushed a little, I could beat it. Which I did. When I got past 100km, I felt wiped out, so stopped and had a big lunch at McDonald's. After getting back on my bike, I got a second wind, and knocked off the last 20-something kilometers quickly.

At the moment I'm a little achey and tired, but a good sleep will take care of that, and hopefully the weather will allow another good ride tomorrow, and a longer ride on Friday.