substructure

So, I decide to do a 60 mile round trip commute yesterday. This was after a race on Sunday where I was involved in a wreck and where my left leg siezed up when I tried getting back on the bike to catch the peleton. I watched the weather channel and saw that winds were going to pick up to around 20mph that afternoon but for some reason it went in one ear and out the other.

God, I'm bright.

The 30 mile ride in was fine. I took my time, drank and ate well, and pedaled all the steep climbs casually. Plus, the wind was partially to my back.

Then at 5pm I leave work and BOOM! The wind is in my face practically the whole way. It was gusty and whipping me around like a ragdoll. "What am I doing out here?" I inched myself all the way to my car. If I wasn't in the drops I was bent over as far as possible with my elbows in and everything. I was hurting, bad. It felt like both my brakes were engaged and I was pulling a truck behind me.

All this and I had to be home by 7.

I made it to my car by 6:34 and home by 6:55.

This morning I feel run over - twice.

chevy42083

...but it feels good doesn't it

DataJunkie

What does not kill you makes you stronger. At least that is what I tell myself when I overdo it and have to try with all my might to hit 15 mph.

Banzai

As every cyclist knows...winds are your worst enemy. Psychologically it's more frustrating than hills because your brain tells you that this flat road just shouldn't...be...this...difficult...and...slow...

That being said, take it easy with the injuries. You wouldn't want to do anything foolish with that.

substructure

No real injuries. I was sore, but that was about it. Fortunately I went down in the muddy grass. Unfortunately, there were 5 miles left in the race, I was in the lead group and moving up.

skanking biker

When I get really bad winds like that I try to start tacking as much as I can

Ms. Tude

Crikey! High Five to commuting after a race, after a crash. Jaw drops on floor to see you were doing a 60 miler after that!

The 60 mile commute is quite the ride anyway.

You rock!

max-a-mill

i have heard going out the day after a hard effort and putting in some pain (even when your laegs are fried) is a good way to get stronger....

after a 50 mile mtb race on sunday, monday morning i found myself chasing down a group of roadies on my fixed gear on the way to work.... i intended to just take it easy and use the ride to let my legs recover a little but then i saw them. it hurt, but it was fun. kind of like grinding up the final hill of the race with my legs on fire but knowing i was almost done was fun.

the more i get into this biking thing the more strange my ideas of fun seem to get to those i tell about them (except my gf, as a marathon runner i think shes more addicted to the pain than i am ).

i am sure it hurt like hell but if your like me in a week you'll have seemingly forgotten all about how bad it really hurt and just have the feeling you need to go do it again.

pityr

I like to use the windy commutes on the way home to do some low intensity cardio. I figure that I'm going to be out there for a while so I might as well make the best of it and not beat myself up. I just keep my heart rate around 140 and enjoy the 1-1.5 hour ride home. The 13 miles normally takes me 40-50 minutes but Im really moving and the heart rate doesn't drop below 160.

MCODave

If it makes you feel any better, 30 miles started a 5:00 and completed at 6:34 comes out to an average speed of 19.1489 mph. Pretty good for a moderately-fast group ride, and amazing riding solo into headwinds over hilly terrain.

substructure

My clocks must have been off. I averaged a wee bit over 18mph.

My fastest speed so far (all the way home @ 42.5 miles from work) was 21 mph.

substructure

Thanks

I was sore - no doubt - but mostly from being an old man. Cartwheeling over handlebars at 25 mph doesn't do a body good - especially when you're pushing 40.