"You're fast! Do you race?", they asked after I pulled them and then dropped them :)

[Jiffer]

Okay, so I'm the one who posted about needing to get my mojo back recently after not feeling so good about my riding. Well, on Saturday I did a club ride I often do. I was hoping to get myself to do the slightly longer and much more climbing intensive route ... but after snowboarding two days before, my legs started really burning as soon as the group picked up the pace. So I decided the easier route was the better choice.

This route is always a good ego boost for me, cause even when I'm not feeling so strong, I'm usually one of the faster riders. Near the end of the ride, on a long flat section, I got out ahead and pulled for a while. I actually dropped them. When we stopped at a red light, one of them says, "You're fast! Do you race?"

Talk about pouring on the mojo! Made my day ... my week ... my year! That quote goes right up there with the one I heard on a long hard 8 mile climb one day last year when I passed someone who, referring to me, said to her riding partner, "How do you GO that fast?!"

I never thought I'd hear those words come out of anyone's mouth in reference to me climbing. ME! So even while I was, once again, the last one of my particular group to the top of the climb that day .... I did pass many people and heard the quote of a lifetime!!!

[lph]

Terrific what a great couple of lines to take home!

I'll try to remember that, if I see someone who looks fast, to say so, and not just sit there and admire in silence

[sundial]

I like stories like this. What a wonderful feeling to know that you are capable of leaving others in the dust. Good job!

[WindingRoad]

Get 'em Jiffer! Good job!

[arielmoon]

Woo hoo Jiffer! Got your Mojo on!

[Tri Girl]

Now THAT'S the way to get back your mojo!!!

and congrats!

[luv2climb]

I love stories like these. Great job

I had something similar happen a little over 2 weeks ago. I was on one of my usual solo rides and another female cyclist caught up to me at a red light. When the light turned green we both started up a climb. We were talking about training, climbing, and weight loss. I told her about my Athena weight (162 lbs at that time, on my 5'4" frame), and that I wanted to drop to 120 lbs. She told me that when I reach that weight I would "fly up this thing". I told her I could hardly wait to see what that feels like. Then she said "you're a strong climber". I just happened to have the camera rolling like I always do on climbs, so when I got home and played it back I noticed that I was going almost as fast as I normally do on that climb, minus the heavy breathing. Something about riding with another person must have made that climb easier, because on the next climb when I left her behind the heavy breathing and pain returned.

Do any of you find it easier to go faster when riding with others?