0 to 65 in 9 months - Kind of long
Well - I did it! First metric century! Not bad considering I just started riding last August - and really didn't ride from November thru April.
It was a really nice ride for an organization - Cycling For Life - raising money to help kids with cancer. Lots of back country roads and not a lot of traffic. They didn't post the route ahead of time - so I was not mentally prepared for all of the hills there were. They killed me! Way too many I just had to walk up. I hated to do it, but I just couldn't turn the pedals any more.
The first 40 wasn't too bad - then the killer wind kicked in! I was ready to give up at 50, but my DH told me to just try to do 5 more - and then after that it would just be silly to call them to get us - so I did 5 more. And then it ended up being 5 more after that. The last 2 I really didn't think I was going to do it. There was one last hill to do and the wind was just so awful I nearly broke. But I did it. It wasn't pretty, graceful, or quick - but I did it!
My legs really weren't too bad. A little tired, but not really sore. My neck, shoulders, back, and arms and BUTT were a totally different story! My arms could barely hold my weight by the end. My sit bones were killing me! Don't think I could have ridden another inch. Everything wasn't too bad by the next day though.
Was also my first ride really using my clipless pedals. I didn't fall once! Very happy about that. I am kind of thinking I wasn't doing it entirely right though since my hamstrings didn't hurt. But I'll get there!
Averaging only 10 mph is not going to do it though! No way we'll be able to do the full 100 at the Livestrong ride if I don't pick up the pace! Went to the LBS the next day to talk to them. We flipped the stem on my bike - I had started out with it "positive" because I was nervous about the road bike and wanted to be sitting up straighter. They flipped it to the "negative" so it is the way a road bike is supposed to be. I also had them put a 27 gear thing on the back (I had a 25) to give me 2 more granny gears for the hills. Just to help me a little bit until I have more strength in my legs. Once I can start doing those better - I'll put the 25 back on.
My DH actually came up with a really good way to explain to me why the stem position will make a difference. He told me to picture trying to push a refrigerator. If you stand straight up and down - you can't move it. But if you stretch your legs out behind you and push - you have more power and can move it. He said it's the same thing on the bike. With the stem in the negative position - it bends you over more and gives you more power in your legs. Now I just have to work on strengthening my back and arms. Getting there! Slowly but surely - getting there!