Pushing the Pedals

Quad Cycles in Arlington has group rides both Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9.30am.  My friend Nils told me that he’s gone on the ride a few times and it’s well done.  Just Nils and me cycled the route two Saturdays ago and I was pretty slow (he was home late and Melanie — his wife — wasn’t happy with us).  This time I told Nils — go at your own pace, I don’t want to get you in trouble again.  ha ha

 So, I confirm with Nils that I am going to ride this Saturday and then I also mention it to my friend Michelle — we bought our road bikes together last summer and enjoy riding together.  Her mom’s sick with Leukemia, so she’s never 100% sure of her schedule.  (and, yes, her mom is the one I am doing Team in Training for)  Michelle agrees to come do the ride with us and we all met at the bike shop last Saturday around 9.15am.

 The warm-up section of the ride is easy and with the drafting it just feels TOO easy.  The first check point is the end of the Minute Man trail and we split into fast, moderate and slower groups.  Off we go … again the first bit of riding is nice and easy.  Then we hit the hilly sections and I am slow.  Hmm. 

After a few conversations with ppl — most importantly my friend Rich who used to race — I have come the conclusion that I have two challenges:

1.  weight to strength ratio:  I am an average-sized woman (not a skinny biker type) and I just need to be stronger.  It’s to the weights with me.

2.  recovery:  I wear a HRM and my actual BPM recovery is good, but my anaerobic and lactic recoveries are not where they need to be.  Rich’s advice:  wind sprints.  Yeah, that should be mucho fun.  (blergh)

I managed to complete the 36 mile ride in 2h20 which is not pathetic, but I did feel like I was pushing between 70 and 95% at all times.  I need for a ride like that to become easier to I can move onto bigger challenges.

Well, thank god I have a six month training period before Nevada!! 

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