I have been down the gym more than usual this week and after yesterdays session -today was time for rest. My Son-in-Law (Ross) and my neighbour (Mick) were round to me at 9 this morning for a ride but I decided that rather than ruin their ride- I would take a rest day and recover. Ross and Mick are far faster than me and although I have improved greatly in the last month-I would "Allow" them to do a decent ride on their own. They would not have to wait for me at the top of hills and they could do their sprints along the straight sections to their hearts content. So I wimp'd out.

3 hours later and I saw Mick. He had just got back- showered and was out to pick up one of his kids. His first words were-"That was one hard Ride". Both of them are competitive and they had a 3 hour blast session. Other than a break for coffee- they had gone at 20mph on the flats- sprinted up the slopes and really went for the hills. Mick said that Ross is not as fast on the flats as he thought he was but obviously the Gym has paid off for the hills as Ross was just that two bike lengths in front of him and he could not pull Ross back. Mick was shattered and he wished I had gone out with them to calm Ross down a bit.

Later on Ross came round to sort a couple of bits on his bike and he remarked that Mick has really got fit in the last 6 months. He struggled to catch Mick's wheel on the flat bits and to stay in front on the hills he had to push into his last reserves once he got ahead. Mick was chasing him up every hill and he was shattered. Final remark was that I have to keep next weekend free and no Gym next Friday. He needs me to keep the pace down to something sensible so that he can finish a ride with something left.

So for the good of these two rider- I am not allowed to miss next weekends ride.

See? You're the most important part of that outing! You're gonna keep those two competative fools from killing themselves!

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din, but don't overdo it!

The cycling pack doesn't abandon its dogs! You have a good pack to ride with!

That's the best rationalization I have ever seen to set aside ride time !! This might work on friends and family if needed.
In the past I have been the one to hold The pace down for slower riders. But I never used it to set aside ride time.

I'm going to try it some day! Well done stapfam!

+1

This morning I was still feeling it in the thighs from Friday. Saw Mick this morning and he is regretting yesterdays ride. Today and the weather is better and he is completely dead. He might try and get out for a recovery ride tomorrow as at present he can't get his legs to work walking upstairs.