Yesterday was my second group ride with The Hammerin' Wheels Road Bike Club. This time we went from Rancho Cordova to Folsom and back via surface streets and the American River Parkway bike trail.

The climb of the day was Iron Point Road, otherwise known as "Costco Hill" by local cyclists. It is a popular climb, with plenty of 10% and 11% to keep the suffer levels high.

Like my first ride with this club, this was an "intermediate beginner+" ride. I'm not fast enough for the hammerhead rides, so this kind of ride is perfect for me.

On the way up Iron Point Road, I was passed by a woman who said this was her first climb. At the top, I found out it was her first road bike climb. She does mtb rides, which are excellent strength training for hills.

Near the top of the climb the ride leader was taking video of us climbing. He said he would post it tomorrow, so there will be some third-person footage of my suffering soon.

Near the end of the ride, I ended up in the lead somehow. I wasn't trying to be a "MUP racer" or anything. I was just having fun.

Maybe by summer I'll be strong enough to ride some of the tougher rides, but for now this will do.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/157202316

As with all my videos, this one is 100% natural sound. This means plenty of suffer sounds on the one climb in the video, so be forewarned!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvuTvW2CibQ