Romulus

I did my first group ride today. 75miles in nice weather with great terrain. Now, I have never ridden with a group before, and the experience has been great. The ride was not too fast, I averaged about 14 mph over the distance, but very hilly. Going out I was fine, not a good climber, but had fun up the hills. Good thing I have a triple front. The stupid thing was that I set the low on the FD too far out, considering I'll never had to really ride the small-large combination. Wow, was I wrong.

The last 10 miles were painful, going up the hills was slow, 8 mph or so, and required much mental discipline (my brain said get off and walk...). The guys were great, and pushed me over the distance, rode really good I think. I burned a lot initially and led over some distance. I can take flats or small incline, being a bigger guy, but the hills are a completely different game.

I usually commute for about 10 miles in, and rode a couple 35 mile rides. This was my first 75 miler, and darn, I am excited about it. Tomorrow though, I have a feeling that I'm going to be very very stiff. It's worth it, so I thought I'd share.

Nightsky565

Congrats, I am glad to hear you have enjoyed for first group ride! I am hoping to ride in a group pretty soon here too Romulus.

samp02

Being sore means you have made progress. Take a nice easy ride and stretch out hose tired muscles.

gapowermike

Sounds like a great ride. I'm still trying to squeeze in my first group ride but you know how schedules can be. The longest distance that my local bike club rides is in the neighborhood of 50 miles so I'd have to tack on a few extra miles to get to 75.

So tell me, how was it after the initial 2 hours? I've heard that after the first two hours or so it all feels the same. I seem to suffer more in the first 45 minutes than in the rest of the ride. Kind of like the bod falls into a rhythm or gets used to the punishment. I spent an hour and a half in the saddle the other morning (long ride for me) and I felt better at the end than I do 3 miles in. Did ya'll stop for stretch/rest breaks, what about food, and how numb did your hands and butt get?

Post some pics if you took any.

Boogs

Nice going! I've never done 75 before, but I'm a bit stiff after 60 usually. 75 is where you have to gauge your carb intake carefully... sounds like you did a nice job.

I prepared myself for my long ride today by drinking beer last night... ... so I'm sure your performance will have eclipsed mine this weekend.

Romulus

We got to hook up for a ride. The Manyank wall is well known from the US Pro, and you seem to be flying over that incline. You rock...

The first hour is getting used to it, trying to figure out where you stand and how to pace the distance. The group splits in half most of the time. 3-4 riders take the front, and then at major intersections we regroup. I usually was with the front group going in, we took one pee break, one Wawa water break, and then the mid break at a bakery. The bakery was great, we were the first there, but then like 4 other groups rolled in, and by the time we were leaving, over 50 riders were packing on the porch. Those rocking chairs are great after a long ride. After the bakery the group decided to keep exploring the area, so we went on. I was feeling great after the bakery, and with the idea in mind that this is the return, I pushed pretty well for a good part. I led for about 4 miles or so, up and down, feeling great. My neck was getting stiff and slight soreness in the groins, but I was enjoying myself. The area was rolling, but not bad, short hills. But then we hit a really long hill which seemed as going forever, and it took all out of me. After about mile 55, I entered another realm... The last 20 miles were just a mental focus... The soreness was no longer in my head, just forcing and focusing on my legs pushing hard in the small-large combination, and going slowly up the hills that followed. It was me, another lady (she was fast, but also had trouble with the hills), and the "yellow jersey" (we called him that, he was really good, but ran out of all too early, so just paced himself behind). At the last hill they waited for us, and was like "common, you got it, this is the last hill, just take this, and then we are rolling home)... It was hard... Now the interesting thing is that the flats I was still flying at 23-24 mph without problem, the hard thing was the hills. Sorry no pictures, but beautiful areas, fountains, water, and deep woods.

I'm going to try to get back on today for a couple miles just to see how bad I feel. right now it's good, my neck still a bit stiff, but not bad at all.

Romulus

wow, nothing compared to the stp i'm reading around here...