My friend rides faster and Dh got the frame I wanted ... Boo hoo for me!!!

[Jiffer]

I'm probably riding better than I ever have lately, having improved greatly in the past year. However, my joy in riding well is being tainted by the fact that my riding buddy seems to have escalated in her riding considerably all of a sudden. I know I'm not supposed to compare myself to others, but sometimes that's easier said than done. We have pretty much been at the same level on the flat from the beginning and I think we still are. She has always climbed faster, though, and I have worked hard to improve my climbing so I can maybe some day keep up with her, yet it seems her climbing has skyrocketed lately while me, not so much. Way better than a year ago, but every time I improve, she improves more.

She is shorter than me and, though we are both thin, she's a little thinner and weighs about 20 pounds less, which is a big reason why she climbs faster. We just did the Cool Breeze century. I was so mentally frustrated every time she so rapidly lost me on even an easy hill, that it's possible my frustration is going to help me lose weight. I'm 5'9 and have been hovering around 147-148. Just before Cool Breeze, I crept up to 150, yet lost 2 pounds doing the century and have been able to keep it off this week and lose one more. I declared after the century that I was going to lose 10 pounds in five weeks and told my friend she can take the credit for inspiring me if I succeed.

I did a club ride with her yesterday and she did it again. Killed the climb and got a super fast time, then dropped me on the way back as she barely hung on to a fast rider's wheel on a slight upgrade in headwind. Again, all very mentally depressing ... and yet motivating for weight loss. I have worked off and on this year at losing those ten pounds, but I think I'm depressed enough to maybe actually do it now. Or just stop riding!

My depression sunk in deeper tonight, however, when our bike shop owner dropped off my husband's bike, which miraculously appeared with a beautiful new Cannondale SuperSix frame. I wanted that frame. Can't afford that frame. Can't afford much of anything these days and was all excited about the $3 coupon I found for dog food earlier. Yet, somehow he gets this great new frame, a step up from his already greater than mine frame. He had the SystemSix, the predecessor to the SuperSix and I have a Caad9. I have a great frame, but being the weight weanie I am, with the difficulty I have climbing, I want the lightest bike I can get.

So, how is it he got this new frame? Well, he crashed on Cool Breeze and dented his frame. He immediately started talking about getting the SuperSix, which he knew our bike shop had a crazy great deal on and only had a couple left. I kept telling him to find out if his dent was cosmetic or not and then I thought, "We'd talk about it". Well, he totally thought I knew he was doing this and now it's done. He said the LBS said his dent was "questionable". Could cause problems down the road. So, I'm left to feel both mad and jealous, even though it was probably smart for him to replace his frame. Yet when "other" people are having financial hardship, they just don't "get" to have the best of the best, even if it's on sale. Yet, if I was the one with the bent frame, I'd probably be trying to do the same thing.

BLEH!!! Okay, so this is me venting and now I'm done.

[redrhodie]

((((jiffer)))).

I know you're feeling bad, but here's what I think you need to remember about the climbing....where did Mark Cavendish finish on Mont Ventoux? What, you don't remember? I don't remember, either. That's because he is sooooo far back on every climb that they never even show him.

So, maybe you're a sprinter.

[jobob]

get a coach so you can improve faster than your friend.

[redrhodie]

I still can't think of how I feel about your DH getting the new bike. You're obviously bothered by it, so it's an issue you need to deal with.

I would first ask myself if it's really worth adding strife to my relationship. Most likely, being mad and jealous wouldn't be worth it to me, and I'd let it go (then buy myself the bike I want!--who am I kidding! ).

Is there any way you can get the frame you want?

[Trek420]

((((Jiffer)))) Have her tested. The rapid unexplainable performance gain sounds suspicious.

But seriously do what jobob said. Get and keep on a training program. Cycling is a multi-year sport of off season recovery, early season base miles, working towards a goal, then repeat. Keep training and ride your rides.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of dusting a rider who's supposedly on a "better" bike.

[Cataboo]

Jiffer, just concentrate on your riding & training... I wouldn't compare yourself to your friends - especially from the point of view of weight loss. Did she suddenly lose 10 lbs before she considerably improved recently? I doubt it - so I wouldn't make weight loss your goal for riding better - on your bike or you. Train more, do intervals, and the weight loss will probably come on its own.

As for your husband's bike, I'd be pretty furious if this is going to put you guys furhter into financial hardship, but I couldn't quite tell if you guys are a couple that keeps your money separate, and that you're having some issues, and he's not or if you're jointly having issues.

[Aggie_Ama]

((Hugs)) It feels stupid to be jealous of such things but I am one who will be so you are not alone.

I think finding a training program may give you the push or maybe you just aren't a climber. I find a lot of my frustration mountain biking because I am not a good climber, then I realize I can descend but others walk because they are scared. Find your niche and you will feel better.

About your husband, we share finances so I would be livid if such a frame showed up. I really think you shouldn't bottle that frustration but I am guessing you have or will discuss it with your husband.

And I admit I was pretty dang happy when I was able to get a mountain bike slightly better than DH's because my roadie component group is not as good. Our frames are comparable but I wanted a triple and got 105 he has Dura Ace. My mountain bike has the same gruppo but is lighter and has carbon seat stays, therefore DH declared it "better". Trivial but I sure was happy.

[maillotpois]

There will always be someone faster than you. I'm sorry it's your friend, and this may sound harsh, but there are worse things.

[Trek420]

There will always be someone faster than you.

And someone who descends better than you, and rides further and has better bike handling skills and .... has what they think is a better bike

The competition must be with yourself. Am I riding better today?

A very wise TE member, I believe it was Velogirl told me when it comes to cycling performance I could:
lose weight
gain muscle strength
or both

I'll admit I'm not training as I could now but when I am really in a mode I drop inches (I've gone down 6 pants sizes cycling and probably will do more soon) and not weight. I just keep getting a bigger engine. I'd love to drop 30 lbs and should and could and will. But I know my body and the inches will come off first in any regime.

Ride your ride, enjoy it and most important have fun.

[kenyonchris]

So sorry you had a crappy day!
I am 115 lbs and a good climber...but everyone assumes it is because I am light!! I am sure that this fact helps, but I did NOT start out that way. Pound for pound, I am not as strong as a bigger, stronger rider. And while I may billy goat my way up a hill, *everyone* descends faster than me, and THAT, when you have run out of gear and are just coasting, is frustrating.
Lose the weight if it makes you stronger and better, and think about riding with your friend as training! Don't let her drop you! My guy friends drop me on every hill I climb (and they all out weigh me by 50 lbs)....because they are stronger, better, faster riders. But I constantly chase them, so when I ride with a *normal* group of riders (as in not supermen) I easily lead the group up the hill.
I also keep my ipod on while I climb. I know, I know, I know...but being in your zone and spinning up the hill is important. My ipod helps me do that.