Bike riding

Last night was the first Wednesday bike ride for the summer. I have been going out to these for over 20 years and probably will for 20 more years. Some years I am ready and some years I am absolutely not ready. This year I was somewhere in the middle.

Riding from home to do the ride and back again give about 50 miles so it is a long ride. The group part of the ride is very fast.  Several of the guys last night who have been racing the last 6 or 8 weeks said they have not gone this fast in a race all year.  I was glad to hear it because it sure felt fast to me.  I have been riding but just alone so hitting the group speed was going to be a shock to the system no matter what.  Fortunately for me I can feel the progress on a single ride. My body relaxes, I get comfortable pedaling faster and by the end of the ride I am a better rider.

The only thing I think I was lacking last night was top end speed. I could do the hills just fine, I had the endurance and I was fine going fast. It was just when we hit 30 or more I was short on high end speed/power.  No worries that comes from going fast and doing this ride you always go fast. 

It was nice seeing some of the kids from last year who would get dropped each week have now grown and are doing the whole ride in the group and riding up front.  Next year they will be super heroes.

 

I plan to run today, after last nights ride and the fact that I am just coming back it will be a pretty easy run.

 

Can’t remember if I wrote about it but I ran Tuesday for 45 minutes and it felt good. I have not been sore since the run so my hopes are up.  I would like to get back into the groove asap. I need it mentally and physicall.