Average Speeds -getting Downhearted!

There really is no reason that this young woman could not have done what she did. We all seem to think that things are harder than they really are.

Last year, I went to do the Bicycle Tour of Colorado, lots of climbing, mountain passes, approx. 480 miles in six days of riding with one rest day. I really thought it was going to be hard and I have been riding bikes for almost 20 years. But, some of that feeling is because I don't really like to ride for more than 4 hours at a time, 6 at the most. Well, I trained quite a bit, mostly just rode lots of hills before we went and that worked for me. I was able to ride the route without being miserable and without taking all day!

But, to my surprise, there were a ton of people that ride those rides that don't look like they could ever finish them. They are overweight, riding junker bikes, underweight, riding junker bikes, people with cancer, and other diseases who are just heroic, and they finish those rides. They may get up really, really early, before light and ride till dark, but they finish! So, it is really incredible what people can do, and who those people are too.

So, I think it is really in what kind of riding you are willing to do, what speeds, and how much determination you have. It is amazing what any one person can do physically.

I surprised myself on that ride - and I think that a lot of TE'ers would surprise themselves as well if they push their limits! We have wonderful surprises and abilities that we really don't know are there until we try them out.

Liz, I think that's just awesome!!!! As some of you know from my own thread about my upcoming ride in TN, I've had some moments of weakness--including a bad one yesterday--when I have really doubted whether doing the tour is a good idea. Reading Liz and Spokewench's stories have really given me a renewed sense of determination. Thank you ever so much. :)

K-

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Originally Posted by spokewench

I surprised myself on that ride - and I think that a lot of TE'ers would surprise themselves as well if they push their limits! We have wonderful surprises and abilities that we really don't know are there until we try them out.

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I think that is generally true- people tend to think they "cannot" do something they have not tried yet.
Good for you doing that huge tour!

I've ridden over 4,500 miles over the past year- far more than I ever would have dreamed possible. :) Yet sometimes I start out on a really long ride, full of strength and confidence and towards the end I am really exhausted. I think it will take me many more months to increase my strength and stamina. I like to think my age (53) is not going to hold me back too much.

And I look forward to seeing a few of Liz's pictures.

I think the key phrase is that if you push yourself, you can do it. The problem is that after a certain point, i don't want to push myself. Now, I'm not saying that I haven't done things on the bike that I thought I'd never do and I know what seems normal to me astounds my non-cycling friends. But, sometimes I am just as happy doing my 16 mile loop. In fact, most of the time, I am. I've done a century, done 50 mile rides with 5,000 feet of climbing, and I can climb 18% grades (slowly). But the thought of doing those things most of the time, when I sit here and think about it, doesn't thrill me. I keep wondering if I am just a wimp, when I see those people on beater bikes finishing long rides. I mean, I am always happy when I finish doing one of those challenging rides, but in my head, I am never very happy in the beginning of a ride that is challenging. It definitely is in my head, because I always finish, but I guess I will never be one of those people training for a double!