May 21st Ride Report

[Geonz]

I rode 12 miles. I didn't feel too great. Averaged around 19 to 20 on the way out to the lake and 17-18 on the way back. For some reason, I seemed really strong a month or so ago, but I haven't improved at all. At the group rides back in April, I was doing all the pulling and passing on the climbs. But now I get dropped every week! Ack! I have a lot of work to do.

... or maybe less work? Overtraining stymies improvements. Has your speed gone down - or has theirs just gone up faster? In which case you **have** improved; they've just improved more, which doesn't change your improvement.
I got in 36 miles in the middle of the moderate group on BigXtra, which I figured I'd ratther ride than the Aluminum Thing 'cause after 91 mileson it yesterday my butt wanted something different. It was the right choice 'cause Ihad to push a *little* (tho' mainly the group was horribly inconsistent - for two or three times for a little while I was working hard but the rest of the time... working a little).
I ordered a computer so I have *some* idea whether I"m going 11 or 15 on it I got passed by a guy on a hybrid going home and my ego wanted to say "but my bike is STILL heavier and I rode a hundred miles yesterday!" but I laughed at my ego and said "either catch up to him or shut up," and noticed I *was* gaining on him (figure he sprinted by and then couldn't keepup that pace) ... and backed off and cruised home. Besides, I'm pretty sure he was riding hard into the wind, went my me and then turned around right away to sprint by, and I had sped up like a mad woman because that's one of the "intervals" I do when riding alone (say "SPRINT! until that person has gone past") and I prob'ly activated *his* interval activator... "it's all good"