Originally Posted by
solveg
on any individual ride, how much is for fun, how much of it is to push onself?
I'd say 1/4 of each ride is spent being pushed for me.
I need a long warm up, sometimes as much as 20 miles, but usually 10 or 12.
Then I'm in a good place for the next 20 miles or so -- warmed up but not tired -- and I go as hard as I can...which is usually about 18 MPH at 80% HR if it's flat and not too windy.
Then I back off and just spin through the rest of the ride, be it a 60 miler or a 100 miler.