a new accomplishment

Today I did a lap of Prospect Park without dropping to my small chainring! I can't believe I was actually able to stay in the big ring (50t) all the way around including the hill! Maybe it's the cool weather...

Just for perspective: when I started riding in the spring on my flatbar, I had to go to my easiest gear to spin up that hill at about 6mph. That gear was a 30/26 or 31 gear inches. Today I never dropped lower than my 50/24 or 55 gear inches, and I maintained a speed on the hill of about 11mph! :eek:

Just thought I'd share my little milestone. It has been an incredible feeling to improve so drastically over the 6 months I've been riding. It really boosts the self esteem!

WoooooHooooooo! That's awesome! :cool: :D Remember that no milestone is little. They all add up to show you how far you've come and open up the possibilities to where you can go. :)

~Soo

Thanks Tiger!

Totally awesome!!!!! So great that you are getting noticeably stronger! :p :p :p

I was riding with DH this morning and as we went up a bunch of rolling hills, I was struggling a bit and said "Gee, these hills are getting worse or I'm getting older". Dh then said "Sweetie, you're in your big ring!". I totally thought I was in my middle ring the whole time and wondered why I was struggling. :D :D :D
Now he keeps calling me "Big Ring Sweetie" all day. :rolleyes: ;) :D

Thanks Lisa! That's so funny that happened to you! :D

Great job Rachel! That hill in a big gear is not easy:).

That's so great. :D

A couple of weeks ago I was riding home from my piano lesson with all of my books (I pretty much suck, but you are an *AMAZING* pianist by the way!) and a hill that I've been getting better at all summer pretty much killed me. I was feeling discouraged until my sister came up behind me and said "way to ride that in the big ring!" I felt a lot better! :)

It's a great measure of how far you've come, you're right to be proud.

Anne

Thanks! I know you know what I'm talking about, Bklynmom! :p

Thanks for checking out my website, Anne... That's nice of you. And good for you for taking lessons. I love teaching adults!

That's a great milestone:cool:

Only about 20-some-odd miles yesterday, and about 9 miles today almost all urban, but it was the road tests and night ride for the LAB's League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certification course, and I managed to squeak through... They derned sure make you work for that blue polo shirt and fancy jersey ;-)

Thanks, Mr. Silver! Aren't we all just doing awesome? :p