Three seasons ago I got back to cycling after a long absense, I was very overweight and out of shape. I started riding my crappy Wal-Mart bike and started loosing weight.

Then I started hanging out here. I found and old road bike, then I bought some bike shorts. Then I bought some parts for my old bike, well you all know how the rest of story goes, everybody does the same thing. I became a poseur.

Last season I started showing for some group rides, some slow ones, some fast ones. I would get my hat handed to me everytime on the fast rides, but I kept coming back.

The Thursday night ride is about 30 miles, it starts off hilly thens has a flat section through the middle and ends with a section that is tougher than the beginning. The ride attracts a good mix of really fast guys and recreational riders. I'm usually OTB on the first climb. I suck at climbing, there is still way too much of me to drag up the hills, but I keep trying.

Last night after the first climb, I was not way off the back like normal. I keep digging. When I got to the middle section my ride partner and I caught up with two riders who had lost the lead group in the rollers. We started working together and were making some great time. We started getting glimpes of the lead group. I had never been this close to the lead group this far out. I was jazzed and keep pedaling. Then with a couple miles to go before the hills started again I got a boost from the great equalizer, a traffic light. I got back on the tail of the lead pack. I started working up the line, soon I was number two in line. There was a slight decline in the road and I really leaned into my pedals and there I was, on the front. Finally after three years and thousands of miles I was on the front of a fast group deep into a ride, that was my Zen moment. It was glorious. It only another mile or so until a long climb. I keep digging and stayed at or near the front. I got a couple of "nice pulls" as the pack came around on the hill. It was most acknowledgement I've ever gotten on this ride.

I can't wait for next week.

And yeah I know if they wouldn't have caught the light it wouldn't have happened either, but it did and then I hung with them.

I don't have a powertap chart to post for WR, so he'll be more than bored at this point.

Congratulations!

Keep digging and you'll be in the lead group all the time.
Cheers!

T.J.

Great job! Just keep thinking "Attack the hills, Attack the hills"

I'm not giving up, and I know my weakness. Getting rid of another 25 pounds will help a lot.

As I learned from here, to ride faster, ride with faster people.

OP - I had a similar breakthrough this past weekend. I was in a local Charity Ride - one that I've participated in on and off for 15 years. They run two loops - one is the 9-mile fun ride, the other is a 20-mile "long" ride. It's NOT a race, it's charity event... anyhow...

We push off behind the lead vehicle (some VW from a local radio station) and there are about 20 people who opt for the longer route; me included. I force myself to take it easy out of the block - I'm warmed up, but my heart rate always spikes in group events like this. So I'm taking it easy, but I find myself in the front of the group, trading pulls with one or two other guys. I know it's just a matter of time before something gets organized behind me and I get blown away by the pack. After a short while, I let the lead guy go on ahead; we're all cranking into a pretty stiff wind and going up and down short rollers on the way out of town. The leader has a couple hundred yards on me for the next 8-9 miles until we finally turn out of the wind. I still haven't seen the pack - I keep looking behind me, but they aren't in sight.

After 10+ miles into the headwind, we (leader and me) finally get the wind at our backs. I notice ONE other rider catching up behind me. We're all moving pretty fast with the wind and near-flat terrain. When I get caught, I hook up with the chaser. The course puts us into the wind again for a couple of minutes and the fellow who has been leading looks like he's cooked. The two of us have no problem catching him with 5-6 miles to go. He hops on our wheels and the three of us trade pulls as we get closer to the finish. With about a mile to go, I take my turn at the front. I'm feeling good and the two guys I'm towing don't seem to have much left, so I stay out there.

Before I know it, we're turning off the road into the parking lot of the local High School for the finish line. Both of the guys I'm with do just what I expected - they put some muscle to the pedals and kick it into high gear. I figure it's dumb NOT to give them a little competition, so I crank it up too. For some unknown and unexpected reason, I cross the line first.

I didn't "win" - It's a Charity Ride, for gosh-sakes... but I did come in first. Never happened before; will probably never happen again - but I'll remember it, that's for sure!

Good job, those are fun days.

And another good thing was that I didn't yelled at!!!

Wonderful story - great for you!

In the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal - but, I bet you will never forget this ride. In other words, it is a big deal! It is really great to see the results of your work and effort payoff.

Cool for you.

Doesn't kick arse feel good.

This is main point of the story and the part to take away. I ride alone most of the time, especially during the winter months. You can see an increase in speed based on average times and the computer, but the visual result is very rewarding. And then it provides the reinforcement to go out and try it again.

Nice going! This is how it works: join the fast ride, and keep coming back until you don't get dropped. If you want, you can move the same game plan to racing...

...oh, and I'm totally not bored. 16 years w/out a power meter, and five months with one. I still remember

Excellent poster, would read again AAAA+++++++++++

They run Tuesday night crits about 3 blocks from my house. They have a masters division. Right now my daughter plays softball on Tuesday nights, so I have an excuse for not showing up. I might try one later in the summer. I'll really get my a** handed to me then.

You have inspired me, but I still hate hills, how can come to love them?

You have inspired me, but I still hate hills, how can I come to love them?

lol comment.

+1

Enjoy the pain.

Mind over matter, if you don't mind, they don't matter.

It is one things that we as cyclists just have to embrace. As written on here many times, to get better at climbing you just have to climb more.

The reward for better climbing is less time spent on hill, that's all I can think of?

I can't believe I've never heard this. I'll remember this in the race in three hours!

Thanks, good luck in your race.

Great story! Way to stick with it!

Having lived in central KS for a few years and knowing how dead the cycling scene there is, I am really encouraged to hear that people are riding!

Keep pushing on - considering how far you have come, I expect that you can improve a little here and there, you will be up there all the time soon enough.

Great story, and a great feeling yes?

Here's the best part, when you DO drop 25lbs, you will still have the same motor, essentially,
how are the others gonna overcome that advantage, by dropping weight from their <19lbs frames?

Keep it up, when age starts creeping in, don't give an inch! It's damn hard to get back!