Doggone it -- Thought I was Getting "More Fit" than my Dad

My Dad has been cycling for probably four years now, and he does the MS150s and kicks butt on hills, and all that stuff. Not to mention he is retired now and has nothing better to do than ride his bike all he wants to. I just started riding at the beginning of July, and he kicked my butt the last two times I rode with him.

This morning, we decided to ride together. I thought the pace was a little slow and kept wanting to pull ahead of him to maybe get him to go faster. I was faster up the hills. I'm thinking to myself, "Boy, I must be getting fit! I'm hanging in there so much better than he is today!" and patting myself on the back, and all that.

Then we stop at the halfway point for a PowerBar and a Gatorade. And he mentions to me that he had several beers last night and wasn't feeling too well today.

So that totally burst my bubble. :(

Well, I thought I was a stronger rider than DH the first few times we went out.

He always went first cause he's a man and so he wants to be the leader. I'd watch him pedal and pedal in front of me and think to myself, why is he pedaling so much? I only have to pedal half as much as him to keep up. What a slow poke he is, said my ego. :)

I couldn't figure it out - cause I know he's stronger than me. I thought maybe it was his bike. Maybe he had a brake rubbing. I mentioned it when we got home - hey, is your bike okay? Cause I was almost on your wheel the whole time and I'm not pedaling near as much as you. He checks his brakes and says - no, no rubbing.

The next time we went out, I went first. And he said - this is cool!! I barely have to pedal to keep up with you. Drafting is great.

So much for my ego but at least that mystery is solved.

LOL! Drafting *is* amazing.

But... as far as "oh, I had a few beers..." hey, that's the *male* ego! THey all say that :) Until he proves otherwise, you might just be getting stronger...

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Originally Posted by Geonz

LOL! Drafting *is* amazing.

hey, that's the *male* ego! THey all say that :) Until he proves otherwise, you might just be getting stronger...

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yes, i agree. your father is a guy... that was a totally guy thing.
He'd try to beat you even if it was killing him
(sneak up to him the next day and watch him groan walking down the stairs)

Ha - love it - blame it on the beers. I'll have to remember that one. Of course I'm always bringing up the rear w/DH - who is quite a speed demon on the bike so...I feel your pain.

I just don't get it. It feels to me like I'm working so much harder than him. Inevitably I always fall behind though and have to work like a maniac to keep up. It's kind of a drag. I will say though that it's really helped my training.

Methinks you are catching up to him! :)