Podagrower

Yesterday I lead a test/training ride. In training the C2C team this year, I was riding below my abilities to make sure the weakest rider finished. Part of that was 100% anti clyde nature, having to brake downhill and then muscle uphill. Between the riding style, weekly intervals, riding the classic steel and weight loss I'm possibly in the best cycling shape I've ever been in. But I had no idea what shape that really was, and century season is here in Florida. I set up a 70 mile route that is most of the same terrain of the next upcoming century to see how I could do, who I could hang with. Saturday I put the best wheelset I have on the light bike to give myself the best chance.

I purposely started the ride on a trail to force a mile of warm up before speed took over. Had a big group of 17 riders and we were moving pretty good. There was a little headwind, we were 2 wide, I was pulling at 19 and my heartrate was 80% of max. That was a very good sign. Riding at the back afterwards, I could see that about 1/2 the group was good at 18+, the other 1/2 was not, so at the first rest stop we dropped it back to 16. At the second rest stop, the couple of riders who were struggling said not to wait anymore (it was advertised at a drop pace) and we took off, holding a pretty steady 18 pace until we go to the gooooodddd tailwind. We got about 6 miles of 24mph rolling done with no stop lights, no stop signs, a bike lane that was almost clean-it was the magic that everyone looks for.

I had a really good day on the bike, set some PRs, confirmed that I am strong this year. I felt almost dangerously good late in the ride, very tempted to pick up the speed and see what would happen.

jsigone

PRs are PR, wind or drafting counts. Driving a car or running does not count unless running with the bike next to you

sdmc530

a PR is a PR....gives you a reason to train harder to beat it again and again and again......