Originally Posted by cyclezen

So.... not every ride is an accomplishment, many these days are sufferfests and 'make it back, alive'. Today, I'm glad to 'make it back alive'...
I knew, when I started, that today needed some judicious application of power vs sucking a wheel. It was/is the day for a group ride. And the ride I often Join has a varied rider group, which usually sub-divides into those 'On the rivet', those who try to hang on (which is where I hang out these days) and those who are happy with a comfortable pace. And it's a ride which has a number of routes - all of which focus on frequent , shorter but seriously steep climbs, one after the other...
I did 'hang in' for the early miles, but really straggled behind for the early climbs. Thankfully, I could suck wheels after the uphills and have just a bit of recovery. But once we got to 22 miles and hit the 'Hill to NoWhere', I was done... cooked... shelled... It (as many of the climbs are) starts and continues really steep 12% to 17% for the whole climb... About 1/2 way up I just blew up, not aerobically, the legs were done.... spent. Banged a 'U' and called me 'done'... Not something I had ever done, in a very long time...
3 straight days of hard solo rides seems to be my max these days... add a 4th in a strong group pace, and that may be a day/ride too far.
I decided, today, needed to be one of resignation, not assertive riding... and did some more miles, in the gentler terrains, max 5-6% grades and steady pace, with the idea to not completely bury myself...
Yeah, it was 38 miles and an OK average, which in no way indicated the major extremes of what I could do and actually did...
Disappointment is something we all experience, but it still is a great day, with happiness in doing (even if it was with some disappointment).
... I'll ride again tomorrow, and make sure the expectation level is more suitable to the current 'me'...
Ride On
Yuri