My DH is 10-20% faster and stronger than I am on a good day, and I don't have as many good days as he does!

One thing that has worked for us is attending the weekly time trial event. We each do our all out effort for the 13km track and compare our experiences at the end. This racing has greatly helped us both in speed and power. It's very cool!

We also have each had to find other riding partners. I think it is very important for each rider to train with riders who are better (stronger, faster, more skilled), and riders who are about the same skill level and speed, and with riders who are slower or who are learning. If you're not training for something specific, I think it should be a pretty even split between the three types of rides (this is not based on any science or training knowledge, just personal experience / opinion). So, when DH and I ride together, I'm getting my faster rider experience and he's getting his slower rider experience. It works.

He does "vulture" (go on ahead, then double back), but rarely does he keep going after we ride together, or start sooner then come get me, but we're thinking about those options.

We act competetive with each other, and have high expectations of each other, so I'm really glad that we use heart rate based training. The system we use is that 80% of our riding should be below the lactic balance point, and only 20% should be above. When I ride with him, most of my ride is above, most of his ride is below. And the cool thing is, I can prove that I'm working harder than he is. This is made expecially easy since our LBP is the same BPM.

At the beginning of each ride, we usually try to discuss what the pace and type of ride it will be so we both can have realistic expectations. It seems to be working.

I'll send you lots of butterflies so your rides together are always a pleasure and always accomplish what you want them to!

Hugs, too,
~T~