Finally starting to feel stronger

[DDH]

I don't know why but it has seemed to take forever for me to feel like I am starting to gain strength or stamina on my bike. Maybe it's because I don't get enough consistent riding in, or maybe I have but just am to hard on myself, not sure. Anyway, FINALLY I am starting to feel like I am actually getting somewhere.

I have only been able to get a couple rides a week in this whole spring and summer, becuase the weather here in TX has just been so bad with all the rain and floods, and just generally weather that isn't condusive to good bike rides. I have decided that I am going to have to just start riding in the rain as long as there is no lightening so if it isn't raining but threatening then I will go on a ride. I am up to riding about 15 miles or so, yesterday was 16.
Last week, I got a 20 mile ride in with a group of guys that are trying to start a bike club but right now have no women, and then later that week I rode 15 miles. This week I have only had a couple days to ride but the week isn't over yet. I'm still not very fast, but speed I am not worried about right now. I live in an area where it is very hilly, there just isn't hardly any place around that you don't hit some pretty good hills. Anyway, I have started taking a route that has a pretty good hill on it that last year I don't think I would have ever been able to make it all the way up. Last week and Yesterday I made that hill, all the way up, without stopping and wasn't half dead when I got to the top. I was so hyped, I was yelling and hooping and hollering. Thank goodness it's in the country where no one was around to here me acting like a crazy woman. LOL
I measured yesterday when I went up it, it's not real steep, but it is 1/2 mile long. It just goes up and up and up it seems like forever.

I know it's not much for some of you and I know it's problem small compared to some of the hills that some of you girls climb that live in the mountainess area's but it is a huge accomplishment for me, on my hybrid with my weight.
Okay, I am rambling now I think. Here is a couple of pictures I took yesterday one view before I started up the hill and another view after I got to the top.

Notice how green TX is right now, at the end of July, when we are usually dry and brown. LOL

These are before I started up.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/ddhines_2006/bikerides003.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/ddhines_2006/bikerides002.jpg

This one is after I got to the top. WOO!! HOO!!!!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/ddhines_2006/bikerides004.jpg

[mimitabby]

gosh, you weren't kidding. there really are some hills in Texas!

i'm so glad to see you're making progress and that you are more pleased with
yourself.

[Ninabike]

That really is quite a hill and you have a right to be proud of yourself!! Congratulations, and Tx. does look beautiful and green. I guess that is the upside of the rain.

[denda]

Where do you live in Texas? I am from Dumas, TX. We have not had a wet summer, but we have had a very mild summer. We have not even reached 100 degrees yet!!
My husband and I are getting ready to do the HHH in Wichita Falls on Aug. 25th.

[DDH]

I live in Central TX, Killeen to be exact, about an hour north of Austin and an hour south of Waco.
All of our lakes around here are about to go over their spillways with all the rain. The parks are all closed down because they are flooded, so the summer lake time is null and void this year.
I'm glad someone in TX isn't being flooded. LOL

[margo49]

Well done!
Results do come with constant efforts!

Btw that Killeen is marked on my atlas!! When I pm'd you awhile ago you said it would prob'ly not show and how you were between Austin and Waco (which do show on my atlas); but I guess there was a bit of unprinted space and they put on Killeen, lol

[DDH]

Oh, it's on the map I guess, most people have just never heard of it and have no idea where it is until I say Austin or Waco. LOL

Yes we definitaly have some hills around here. In fact there is no where to ride in this area that doesn't have hills unless I go smack in the middle of town to ride which I really don't want to do. Copperas Cove has some really big hills in it too.

[teawoman]

That *is* a big deal. Congrats! :D I'm overweight and have been struggling on the bike too, and those hills are hard!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That hill would be difficult for me too, and I'm not even overweight and I ride a lot. It would prolly take me a couple days to get to the top, but I'd get there eventually! ;) I've got some daunting hills I battle with too.
Way to go, girl. It's a great feeling when you can actually measure a difference in your fitness and ability.

[Mr. Bloom]

Great Job. :D

And remember, when you're in a mountainless area, you never get a chance to rest on a downhill...so it has its advantages in building stamina.

I do hills well, Silver does flats...she has the better stamina that offsets my stronger legs. So, you're building endurance!

[Aggie_Ama]

Congrats Donna!! I have had that hill where I was giddy at the top, isn't that the best feeling? And the floods stink but the greenness is magnificent. :)

I noticed when we ride up near Lampsas and Florence (closer to Donna) the hills get less steep but longer. Down here they are short and almost violently steep. I still haven't found one to be easier than the other. Right now I think oh the longer hills are easy because you can pace yourself, then I ride them and I think where are the steep guys that are over and done quick??

OKay that was a threadjack. I can't wait to hear you report on how much easier that hill gets.

[makbike]

Way to go! Keep plugging away and soon those nasty hills will seem like little bumps in the road. Congrats.

[latelatebloomer]

Actually, DDH, it sounds like you are doing very, very well!! I think we have some similarities body-wise, ride-wise, and head-wise. Ambition is great, but don't use it as a stick to beat yourself for not being "there" yet! Some days I have to tell myself this, oh, at least 90,000 time a ride. Ya can't open the rose by pulling the petals open - keep riding, and our "pedals" will blossom - er - help me, Captain Metaphor! Anyway, DH, besting that hill is a great accomplishment, I toast you with my water bottle!

[Aggie_Ama]

Looking at the pictures again I noticed something else.... That is chip seal! Doesn't look too smooth to me, which is a beast to climb. Pat yourself on the back one more time. :D