I was on a 2 hour ride Sunday Went well.Monday felt tired had a sore knee (which is normal for me)played in the garden Anyway I was on a great ride Tuesday, my favorite, along the NJ coast .I rode for about 5 miles, out of no where I had a burst of energy I clicked into the high gear and rode the flat rode road at Sandy Hook as fast as i could.At the sharp turn at the end I slowed to a near stop.Remembering the crash of one of our members.Any way Where does the burst of energy come from ? I eat lunch around 1230pm 100pm.I m riding around 5-6 pm.Some days I just don't feel like eating but I think these days are the poor performance days.This leads me into another question when one is turning these pedals as fast as one can what makes you slow down.With me its not lack of breath,its not pain,I think its lack of competition>

Tailwind?

I had one of those days today with no tailwind. In fact, just a bit of headwind. I went about 2 mph faster than usual on a 30 mile ride. It just seems as if my muscles are all working nicely together, and fully charged. Rest? Nutrition? Simply getting more in shape?

Good question.

Shamrock, you little rascal,
Questions like that are for the masters.
Be patient.
Watch the masters and follow their lead.
You will indeed find the solution to your quest.

Where you riding past Gunnison Beach perhaps?

I wish I knew, been in the same situation many times, and just the opposite too, started out hot and then BAM! Like hitting a wall, felt like I barely had enough strength to pedal back home. The human body cna be a strange thing.

You have tapped into the FORCE. It is given only to the few to be able to do this. For me, I mostly tap into the FARCE.

Have to add, more than a good part is psychological.

A few weeks back I was tired, didn't want to ride but did anyway. Started slow then BAM! Got in the groove, starting pulling hard and making better time up a few hills than I have ever done before. It was then that I realized I was headed the wrong way. I was on a road I had scouted before that terminated in gravel roads. Well it felt like someone threw an anchor around my neck and I was dragging it all over. I drug myself back over the miles barely able to get back to the point where I made a wrong turn. One of th e worst rides of my life.

Could be you became "warmed up" after the 5 miles.

There are no tailwinds, only headwinds and times we are stronger than normal.

Caffeine.

Where does energy come from?

In my case, Mtn. Dew throwback, a banana, M&Ms, some dates and a packet of Gu. After that I'm lit like a fire cracker.

One of my riding partners is falling behind on rides. He knows I am riding more than he and a little stronger at this point.

Sunday during our ride, he went to take something from one of his pockets and and several empty gell packs fell from his pocket. All were the type containing stimulants like caffeine and were marked maximum strength.

I am worried he is going to hurt himself on that stuff trying to use it to replace fitness.

Atp

if you mean adenosine triphosphate.

Sounds like endorphins kicking in to me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin