Once a year I ride on a group ride with our local bicycling club. Today was the day. We went on a 40 mile ride and I was pleasantly surprised: Although I was getting a good workout, I had no trouble keeping up with the group. In fact on flats and downhills, I was coasting or braking.
On the way back with 9 miles to go, my speed plummeted. There were a few hills, and then a mild upward grade. My pulse went to 100 percent of my max (using that 220 less your age formula), and stayed within 10 beats of it. When the grade flattened, I still could not go above 16 mph, so I figured I either burned myself out or the grade was steeper than it looked. (Hey, that does happen, ordinarily, I judge a grade by how fast I am able to go.) The leader had to come back to me and rode with me so I would not get lost. How embarrassing! Not only that, I was so exhausted at the end of the ride that my hands were trembling. I would not think of driving home until after I rested 15 minutes. When I got home I found that the rear brake had broken and was pressing pretty hard against the rim. If only I had paid a little more attention to the dragging when I put the bike in the mini van, I would have been a little less embarrassed. I was just too tired and I certainly did not expect that.
I rested 15 minutes. When I got home I found that the rear brake had broken and was pressing pretty hard against the rim. If only I had paid a little more attention to the dragging when I put the bike in the mini van, I would have been a little less embarrassed. I was just too tired and I certainly did not expect that.
Oh well, there is always next year.
Still, you did manage to finish your 40 mile trek with the rear brake nearly locked and slowing your progress. I'd say that's a pretty darn good ride and finish....
Scoot ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Trying to save someone from their own stupidity is like trying to teach a pig how to dance: it wastes your time, and annoys the pig."
