karlfitt

Yesterday I had my @$$ handed to me by a woman. I think for my humbling to be complete, I must also share here. But lets back up a week first.

Last week as I was starting a ride, just as I left a stop light a woman came up from behind and asked me about my bike, an Orbea. She had never heard of one, but saw one for sale and wondered how the frames were. We chatted a little, she mentioned that she can not find people to ride with mid week, if I want I should call her. She usually does around 33 miles, that’s fine, my routes vary from 30 to 40 miles. We stop at the turn to her house and I get her number.

Yesterday we arranged to ride together after I got off work. I showed up at her house, she said she had a route she did that was 35 miles. I said that sounded OK. I told her I was not used to riding with others, I also said I hoped I wouldn’t hold her back too much on the climbs (I am WELL into the Clydesdale class) and we set off.

The first couple of miles were easy warm up, we were conversing. The road starts slightly up, I maintained speed. After a couple of miles (we were going to turn) she says “ You can slow it down a little if you want. I can tell you are pushing a little.” Fine, yes. Sometimes I push a little harder when I am riding with others.

Most of the way out is just fine, nice conversation, good road. Then the turn around.
We turn North to head back toward home. A section of nice rollers greets us. She mentions on the first that “These are kind of fun, your momentum takes you to the top of the next. But as we get down this road there will be a couple where that won’t happen.
We get to those, and she starts dropping me. I catch her on the second downhill, it was longer, and what gravity takes away, it also gives back.
She passes me again on the next roller and says “I just want to get these over with” as she passes.
It was only two more little rollers and we come to a Stop sign. She waited less that 30 seconds for me, but now we turn east.
She is in the lead, it is easier than telling me where the next turn will be. We are now on the flat, but she is moving. Yes I am keeping up with her, but I am glad she is not trying to continue the conversation right now, because I am really working to keep her pace (about 22 into the very tiniest of breezes). I am not full on panting, but I am breathing heavily.
We get to the turn North and again we can be side by side, and the conversation starts again. She notices my fatigue and asks about it. Yes I am a little tired. “We can make a turn up here and cut a couple miles off the way home.” Hey, I’m not that proud, yes let’s cut a couple miles off.
Warning: Excuses follow…. At this point my left calf was hurting me. I had taken my first ever Spin class on Tuesday, and about a half hour after class it tightened up on me. Now, at about the 25 mile mark in the ride, if I coast at all it tightens right up, and the first few spins after hurt. But that goes to just tightness quickly.
The next few miles are easy. Again the conversation goes, but she is obviously waiting for me. Now one of the things I have learned about her is her age, she is 59. I learn this because she tells me she wants to go for a Hot Air Balloon ride on her 60th Birthday. I am only 45.
I have gotten my steam back and am again feeling spry, so when the road narrows again to single file I take the lead and pick it up a little again. This goes well until the last little rise before the turn to her neighborhood. Gravity (and fatigue) again take their toll on my speed and she cruises by easily to the turn to her street.
Check our computers at her house and they are exactly on each other, 35 miles today. But she could have done another 35 by her looks, my day was done.
As I sit here now typing this, I am limping due to that tight calf muscle. I was going to try that spin class again today, but I think a rest day is in order. She had a group ride this morning at 8:00, I am sure it went well for her.
I find myself thinking, man I hope I can ride like that when I am 60. Because, well, it’s not that far off.
But I also say, another year on the bike, another year of weight loss, I hope I can ride like that next year.

bbattle

I was at the LBS once and overheard a man saying he thought he needed a triple because at age 72 it was getting a bit tough for him to get up Keel Mt. with his double.

Keel Mt. has a 10.8% overall grade for about two miles. The "Got Epo?" right turn of death near the top seems to me to be ~20% and that's what has killed me on my two pathetic attempts to get over that mt. 100-200 meters past the turn, I fall over and just lay there in the road, ready to die.


I hope to get into the shape these people are in at 30+ past my age. More power to them.

webist

For a time my LBS rented space in the shop to a spinning class. They brought their machines in and both expected to profit from the bleed over between cyclists and spinners. Seems it never happened. Around here, spinners seldom ride and cyclists seldom spin. Maybe it's the cramps or tightness you mention in your post. I've never been able to get a machine to set up like my bike, either in a spinning class or a gym. While spinning gives a good cardio workout, it seems to me it just doesn't use the same muscles. Your thoughts?

bbattle

"I got hammered yesterday"



This guy needs a good recovery drink.

merlinextraligh

climbing is about power to weight ratio. The hill knows neither gender nor age.
Fast on the flats is power to surface area. The wind knows neither gender nor age.

karlfitt

I got picked on (light heartedly) from the instructor for being an "outside" rider.
I was surprized at how well I got the bike to fit. I was most worried about the saddle, I was fine, but just a tiny bit too nose up.

It was kind of like riding a fixie (I assume) because you can never coast, the flywheel always moves the pedals. I found standing to be really unnatural. It just felt way different. Also when I stand, my cadence would change imeddiatly, maybe this is where my sore calf comes in.

karlfitt

Yes, climbing I am sure I had more power than her, but at minimum twice the weight.
Flats, she was on a Cannondale R1000 Aero with tri bar, she was more aero too.
But she is comming up on 4000 miles this year. I had a bad early season and I'm just comming up on 1500 Miles.

Doggus

If it's any consolation, you have good writ'in skills.

karlfitt

Thanks, That's one reason I posted this. To help work on the writ'n skills.

mooglinux

Owch!! thats a real bummer. well, the only thing to do now is to prepare now so you can do the same to another 45er when your 60.

Avalanche325

I went out of town last weekend and rode with a group in my home town. A little short of halfway there is a county line sine coming up. One guy goes. I wait a few seconds to see who else is going (mistake). No one else does, so I go for it. I beat this same guy the last time I rode with them. When I go, another guy goes with me. I start to reel him in. He had a huge lead. I got within about 20ft and started to fade. The guy buried me. I found out later that he is 62. I am 41.

No waiting next time.....