Well, today was my first official ride. It wasn't on my 06 Trek. But it was on my friends... older bike. I must admit that Cycling will be one of the most challenging sports I've ever done. I mean, don't get me wrong, swimming and X Country are pretty hard, but this by far takes the cake. Perhaps it's because I'm so out of shape right now? But for now... I'm thinking that this sport will be the master of all to achieve goodness or greatness in. I plan to cycle until my legs fall of, now.
Anyways.. I started off going down Plainfield up to the Beltline (major streets in Plainfield Township) From there, I went up the Beltline and almost didn't make it up the hill. It's about a mile and a half hill at a steady incline, so it was just annoying and I was slow. I stopped at the top of the hill to get some water but then continued on to the other hills and then back home again. (It only equalled about 5 miles.) I plan to go for another ride later tonight, but it's just amazing. It's so much more different then running, I mean, everyone can do that... but this? Ugh. Dang!
Thanks for listening to my rant. Did you all ever expect cycling to be easy? I'm not saying that I did. But I didn't expect it to be so hard!
I am still considerably out of shape, and last year the only ride I did with any hills was a metric century, all other riding was dead flat. I figured with my weight hills would be impossible until the century (and they DID kick my butt, and after about 60 miles I did push up a few very small hills)
This year, I am in an area where the definition of flat is what I used to call rolling hills... and the hills do get flatter and easier, and the downhills are just as fun.
In fact, I chatted with another rider this past weekend during a ride, and before I even realized it I was on a down hill stretch... it didn't seem like I had to work for it at all. 🙂 Later in the ride I bonked because the bananas I brought with me liquified in my bag, so I was left without carbs, and ended up pushing up a hill I can usually ride but other than that the hills are getting more and more fun...
I'm 230lbs and ride up a 2.25 mile hill almost every time I ride. The first couple of times I rode it I had to stop halfway through for a minute. At this point I'm pretty good at it. I just have to switch between out of saddle and in saddle along the way. It will come after a couple of good shots at it.
😄 It makes me happy to hear all of your stories and encouragement. I tried that same hill last night with MY Trek and I went up it faster and with more ease. But yeah.. tonight I'll be going on ANOTHER ride, a longer ride... with hills! Muhaha!
It's so much more different then running, I mean, everyone can do that...
I dunno, I HATE running. But it's true, hills that were once epic become merely routine after a while. It all seems to work best when you have some friends to ride with who are at, or slightly above, your level.
