Addiction to suffering

Tomorrow is a killer weekly group ride that I've been able to sporadically attend. Everytime I ride with these guys--by mile 19 my legs burn, my left foot goes temporarily numb, my water-bottle is yet untouched (we're going too fast to even touch it), and I start praying, begging God to help me finish the last 26 miles (TWENTY SIX more miles :eek: ? My legs scream). I never suffer so much as I do when on this ride. So, why do I feel the need to go whenever I can sneak it in? I mean, there is a slower group, it seems like that would be more enjoyable. Every time I say to myself that I'm going to ride with them--it would be more fun. Yet, when we roll out, I'm with the faster group.

Anyone else suffer from this addiction?

I do I do!!! But it's with my DH. I really do love riding with him becuase we love cycling together and it's a great way to spend time together, BUT....

Often times he pushes me harder than I sometimes want to go, but as a woman, I just keep on trucking (you all know what I'm talking about, never say never:D :D )!!!! I would MUCH rather ride with my girlfriends or bike group and be able to set my speed instead of always pushing faster and faster.

BUT..... I still do it week after week to prove to him (or maybe a little bit to myself) that I can do it.

Maybe for you it's a little bit of both too. I just try to remind myself that the only person I need to "prove" anything to is myself!!!! :D :D

Happy cycling!!!
Roshelle from Milwaukee
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

I recently confided in my male riding partner that he pushes me faster and faster each week. Before, I had always smiled and pretended that I was comfortable riding at his 18 - 20 mph pace. I welcomed every red light we came to as it gave me a breather. I could never drink enough, I was too busy hammering. I was too embarrassed to tell him to slow down.

I now find myself comfortably hanging with the fast group on the club rides and am able to take pulls of 20 on the flats. Guess all that work was good for something!

I'm addicted to pain and suffering!

Oh boy, do I relate to riding with the man in our life thing -- mine pushes me a bit every time we're out too. He's been trying to build me up. Well, something happened to me riding lately and I'm riding better, kind of suddenly, and he's still pushing me, but the funny thing about this is that it means he's busting out of his comfort zone to do it! Last few rides, it seems I've been "beating him up" a bit -- he's been pretty wiped out by the end, and it lasts him all day long!

Karen in Boise (who wants the smoke to blow away now please!)

For me, it's about:

1. Setting a goal and achieving it.
2. The endorphin rush
3. Pushing for a new personal best
4. The endorphin rush
5. Experimenting with nutrition
6. The endorphin rush

Get a camelback or something like it. I rode with a group like that on Tuesday and tried out a new mirror. I never had time to even touch the mirror
but i had plenty of water to drink.. and drank it!

I really recommend that you only use the water bottles when you're off the bike.

You said it, dogmama :) It's pretty much a conditioned response to something that's pleasant in the long run...