I hate it when...

[bluebug32]

I sit on the trainer for long hours all winter and endure endless intervals and boring basework only to STILL be smoked on the trails and the road by all the guys I ride with!

That's all. Just had to vent.

[LBTC]

Blue. We're girls. Sorry. Men are generally bigger and faster. So far, it doesn't matter who I ride with, someone is always faster than me on at least part of the ride. Or all of it on the time trial races.

Here's the thing: you're riding. That's what's important. Enjoy the ride! And if you want to train smarter, get some info on heart rate training. And make sure your bike fits perfectly. And have fun!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Flybye]

I sit on the trainer for long hours all winter and endure endless intervals and boring basework only to STILL be smoked on the trails and the road by all the guys I ride with!

That's all. Just had to vent.

I hate that, too. My hubby is stronger and faster BUT I have more endurance, for certain. Don't let him read this, though, or he'll work on that as a goal and smoke me there, too!

I admire your trainer stamina - that is one evil way to spend time on a bike. I gave up and went to a spin class. Good going!

[Andrea]

Don't be discouraged. You have admirable amounts of self-discipline to sit on a trainer all winter. One by one, you'll start picking them off.

Don't forget, though- it never gets easier. You only get faster.

[bluebug32]

Thanks! I've learned that training is a tricky thing, especially when you're just trying to follow your own guidelines or a book's training plan. I guess I just have to give it time and keep getting out there.

[SheFly]

I agree with LBTC - they're MEN and we're NOT. I could train and train and train, and I STILL wouldn't be able to keep up with DH and my male friends/teammates.

You need to compare yourself against - yourself! Where was your training this time last year? How do you feel?

I also echo the kudos on riding the trainer all winter - I hate that but do it because I have to .

Keep at it - all the training WILL pay off.

SheFly

[Geonz]

There will always be somebody older and faster than you

Each individual effort has its own value.

Heck, the slowest guy that smoked you feels better, eh? I often figured my role in sports was to encourage other folks to get out because "at least I'm better than Geonz!" (which didn't turn out to be true in cycling... but I haven't forgotten my roots our routes!)

[RoadRaven]

Oh, I do understand Blue...
Very frustrating... and as the others say, boys are boys, and girls are girls, and as a rule they have the potential to always be stronger than us just because of our respective physiologies.

So... what I do is I set my sights on someone who is similar ability to me and try to beat/stay ahead of them over certain courses. We may not be riding at the same time, so beating them may be "asynchronous".

And i measure myself against them, and try to ignore those who fly by me...