Today I rode an organized ride sort of nearby that is, well, very hilly.
Last year, my first year cycling, it was my first long organized ride. I did 50 miles of hills and had to walk my bike up many of them. I felt like death at the end of the ride, and this was after riding for a few months 2-3 times a week with some hills thrown into the mix.
This year, I haven't been able to ride as much. I've been doing a 14-mile (each way) commute which is for the most part flat, about 1-2 times a week, with another day of riding, recently hills (~23 miles) once a week. I haven't done anything longer than 30 miles of flat at a very slow pace earlier in the year.
The ride today went extremely well. The temps started off cool, verging on a light rain around 9 a.m. and then warming up in the afternoon. Last year it was H O T. That could have been some of the problems I had last year, but I choose to believe otherwise.
This year I rode by myself (well, started with some others) but met up with a girl about mile 20 that was about my pace, who is going to IM Couer D'Alene (cool!) and she talked me into going on the 63-mile ride instead of the 50. I had been planning on doing 63 until the morning, when I got cold feet, along with the fact that I lost temporary peripheral vision in one of my eyes which really freaked me out and almost caused me to cancel out of the ride period (it came back, and I felt fine the rest of the day, weird).
So last year, I did the 50-miles, took a heck of a long time (no idea my average, perhaps 10 mph with the hills?) and had to walk up a bunch of hills.
This year, I did 63, took a moderate amount of time (averaged 15ish) and walked up NONE.
This is huge.
I can't believe the progression in one year. I am so psyched!
K.

