What part of your ride seems the most challenging?

[Lakerider]

When I go on a long ride, the first 10 miles seems the most challenging. It's always so good to get that first 10 miles completed. What about your rides?

[Tri Girl]

The first is always the hardest because most of the time I have to drag myself out to do it. Once I'm out there, it's gravy.

[Trekhawk]

Yep I would agree the beginning is always the hardest for me. I find the first hour is yuck and then my body seems to get into a rhythm and its ok.

[nscrbug]

I guess I'm the exception here...as the most challenging for me is in the middle. The first 10 miles, I'm still warming up...but somewhere in the middle, like around the 40 or 50 mile mark, is when most of my pain issues start to rear their ugly heads. The last 10, is when I'm on my way back home...so mentally, it feels easier to me because I know it's almost over. :D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Totally depends on which direction I'm going on my ride. Lots of rolling hills around here, every ride is quite different as to where the hardest climbs are for me.

[OakLeaf]

Whichever part is into the wind.

[Owlie]

I always seem to find my groove at the last third of the ride. The beginning is usually the hardest, because I have to drag myself out there. After that, I find some kind of a rhythm.

[Lakerider]

Whichever part is into the wind.

Oh yes, the wind! :eek:
How come I don't feel it pushing me when it's at my back, but I sure feel it when it's hitting me in the face!

[crazycanuck]

In terms of road riding just when there's a headwind

In terms of dirt time-when my mind is frazzled after 30km & that logover looks way too hard

[RolliePollie]

When I ride my local routes starting at my house, the last 10 miles are definitely the most challenging because I have to climb hills to get home. Actually the last 2.5 miles are the worst...there are two pretty miserable hills and it's not very fun to deal with them at the end of a ride when I'm tired.

Most other longish rides seem to be hardest for me at the end too. Like today, I rode 51 miles and it was cold (not really that cold, I was just under-dressed) and really windy. After about 40 miles, I was counting down the miles til I got back to the car! I was really ready to be off the bike so those last 10 were miles were killer.

[kimikaw]

Usually the first 8-10 miles are the hardest, when I'm playing a mental game with myself trying to talk my ride down, turn back sooner. But once I get past that, get in the groove, those thoughts seem to go away, and I usually can push slightly firther than originally planned.

[Geonz]

anything hot after 30 miles

[smilingcat]

How about none of the above.

Toughest challenge for me these days is "getting out the house part" . It's been about 7 weeks since I've thrown my back out. My back is more or less fine now. Did try to go riding about three weeks ago and had a minor set back. And now I've been coughing and feel like I have a herd of pachyderms sitting on my chest. (actually my cats).

My house doesn't have heat. :eek: So when I get cold in bed, I just throw another cat on top of me . :D

Brendon: a 15 pounder main coon
Morgan: another lunker. a rag doll
lulu: overweight shorthair. Solid as a brick 12 pounder...

We have pride of cats. Far more than just the three cats.

[lph]

I agree with nscrbug (you couldn't have chosen a slightly harder-to-remember username? ;) ) - the first part I'm warming up and enjoying being out and about, the last part I'm looking forward to getting there, the middle part is when I'm most likely to find it challenging.

[Lakerider]

Usually the first 8-10 miles are the hardest, when I'm playing a mental game with myself trying to talk my ride down, turn back sooner. But once I get past that, get in the groove, those thoughts seem to go away, and I usually can push slightly firther than originally planned.

Mental games - During the first 10 I tell myself, "You don't have to ride 40 miles today. Fifteen miles might be enough." :confused:

Then I toughen up and tell myself, "The first 10 is the hardest. Get that first 10 down and you can do it! Remember how good it feels to ride that last 10!":)

I also talk to my bike, "Come on, we can do it!":D

Do you talk to your bike? We should talk to all of our best friends, right?;)

[Crankin]

I voted for the first ten, because no matter what I do, it takes me about 30 minutes to warm up. I always feel like crap in the beginning of a ride, unless I go really slowly.
But, if I ride from my house I have the 10-15% grade hills to contend with, as the last thing I do. Since I consider it my cool down, I just slow down and deal with it. I'm beginning to wonder why I bought this house!
If I do a ride longer than fifty miles, the end can be pretty challenging, too. My quads often start complaining if it's a ride with a lot of climbing at this distance.

[redrhodie]

It's nearly always the end that's hardest for me. My commute ends in hills both ways, and the evening commute is going north, which is the most common headwind direction in these parts. Riding around home, it's less of an issue. I usually feel about the same through the ride.

[kimikaw]

I also talk to my bike, "Come on, we can do it!":D

Do you talk to your bike? We should talk to all of our best friends, right?;)

But of course, and often with a very similar message about how *we* can do it. In the short time I have had this bike (6-ish weeks) I continue to be amazed at how I have personified her. I just started a Tues-Thurs indoor class at a LBS. I knew both the weather and my schedule would prevent me from riding on Wednesday, so I left her hanging at the shop. It was odd how much it bothered me when I got in my car to go to work that she wasn’t standing proud in the garage. Silly or what?


I voted for the first ten, because no matter what I do, it takes me about 30 minutes to warm up. I always feel like crap in the beginning of a ride, unless I go really slowly.
But, if I ride from my house I have the 10-15% grade hills to contend with, as the last thing I do. Since I consider it my cool down, I just slow down and deal with it. I'm beginning to wonder why I bought this house!
If I do a ride longer than fifty miles, the end can be pretty challenging, too. My quads often start complaining if it's a ride with a lot of climbing at this distance.

That brought a smile. Since starting riding, I’ve realized that we seem to live at the highest point for miles. Our area (suburban Milwaukee) has plenty of rolling hills, so most rides are a nice mix of climbs and fast descents. But I know no matter which way I go from the house there will be a significant ascent at the end. Some routes are just more gradual than others – and I’ve been known to go several miles out of my way just to avoid the tough one. There is one particular hill that I haven’t attempted. It’s on my 2010 goals. At this point I’m afraid to even try. Have visions of running out of steam, being clicked in and crashing violently along a rather busy road (thankfully, with a separate bike path on this hill)

[Norse]

I have hills both coming and going, no way to get to or from my house w/out hills. First 10 I always seem a bit sluggish, have not found my rhythm and mentally am not quite in the zone. After the first 10 or so, my legs start cooperating and I find my rhythm.

I talk to my bike too.:)

[kenyonchris]

Ugh. The beginning. I hate the first 10-15 miles. My BF is patient with me, he will pull, but even with him pulling, I am slooooow, and hold him to 15-16 mph and am dropped on the hills. Once I warm up, I can work and climb, and by the time we are on the way home, I am (sometimes) waiting on him.

[7rider]

Whichever part is into the wind.

Murphy's First Law of Cycling is: You shall always have a headwind! :D

For me, it depends on the route and how hilly it is.
Sometimes, for the last 10 miles, the group is in "cruise" mode through the park, which is relatively flat and easy riding. It's a nice cool-down/come back to earth, after a brutal middle of the ride.