Remind me why I'm doing this??

[shootingstar]

Thanks guys. I needed some moral support. Yeah, I think I'm overtraining a smidge (or at least not getting enough me time recently). This past weekend we literally got up Sat morning, biked 45 miles (which took us about 4 hrs), I showered in 5 secs then went to cover the toy store for 4 hrs as a favor, then Sunday got up and biked 60 miles which took about 7 hrs including stopping at an open house, a lunch stop, and a few snack stops. And a 5 mile wrong turn that took us over a nasty hill that we then had to return over! I did discover my new favorite thing on Sunday tho- Gatorade X factor. It's just what I needed. My appetite tends to go south after about an hour, so I think I do need to make sure I have a drink with carbs in it.

I feel like I *have* to get at least 120 miles in this weekend, then was going to do an easy weekend next week, then the week after is the MS150. At least the good news is the climbing we did sunday in 60 miles is equal to the climbing in day one's 75 miles, so I know I can climb that far and survive! I'm pondering taking the train in tomorrow then biking a long route home (it's 30 miles normally) after a half day so I can have Sunday back as a rest day.

Sounds like by now you've figured out some solutions for yourself. Do you tend to be more a group rider to stay motivated and remain a fit rider? The most important thing to aim for long-term, is trying different mechanisms to keep your love of cycling so that you will stay on the bike for many years ahead.

I go in group rides only a handful times annually. Other times for regular cycling throughout the year, I'm riding solo or with 1 other person (usually my partner, who also rides solo other times).

I've been cycling regularily for over past 17 yrs. since it is part of our lifestyle. I'm not a great fit cyclist and am not working towards being even a wow-she-elder-superstar on bike. Yes, I absolutely can claim some cycling years of 6,000 kms. annual mileage, other years abit lower totals. (This yr. will easily put in 7,000+ kms. because I have more personal time now for abit more cycling.) I can look back to several long cycling self-loaded trips as real accomplishments. So for me, cycling achievement is not measured on keeping up with the cycling pack. For my age bracket, my health is diagnosed by the doctor as excellent and my weight during all the cycling years has ranged 93-100 lbs.

And I eat well.

If I did group riding regularily which would have led me to inadvertedly benchmarking my performance against others alot, my ego (or patience with conforming to a group) would have shattered a long time ago and most likely I wouldn't have continued to do as much cycling as I have up to now. It does help to cycle with at least 1 other cyclist who is better so that one doesn't totally slack off in cycling style.

i feel no guilt for not being more cycling-competitive, not pushing myself to the ultimate limit...I've already demonstrated competitiveness in other areas of my life where the struggles are far greater.

[jobob]

If you find the right group of people, group rides are great fun, but if you don't, then notsomuch.

I hope you can find a good group (or friend or two) to ride with.

[MartianDestiny]

I'm sorry your having some bad days with your group.

Perhaps it's time to find a group more suited for you?

The group I ride with has a standing policy "hills are fair game, on your mark, get set, GO!" They wait at the top or bottom by soft pedaling (not actually stopping and waiting). When I ride with them I have to be of the mindset that it's OK to get dropped and ride alone, especially when they do big hills.

But that was made clear from the get go. I'd be really frustrated too if that wasn't supposed to be the policy and they kept leaving me in the dust.

And every time I ride with them I become a better rider, but I have to be in the right mindset for it or I too end up in grrrrr mode.

[ttaylor508]

I think at some point we have all been dropped on a ride and it ALWAYS SUCKS. Nothing zaps my energy more than trying to play catch-up the whole ride. You are probably putting so much pressure on yourself because of this upcoming ride that you are actually wasting a lot of your energy trying to keep up with the group and worrying if you are going to be ready or not.

From the mileage you have talked about doing so far, I think you will be plenty prepared. Try to just relax and think of what comes after the MS150, what cycling things can you do JUST FOR FUN without the pressure of an upcoming event. You might try doing some training rides alone so you can hone in on your exertion levels, find a good pace and focus on your refueling. I find cycling alone makes me stronger when I do ride in a group.

[arielmoon]

I agree with ttaylor. Sounds to me like you are very prepared for the MS ride. It is not a race. It is a charity ride!

It is possible you didnt have the best ride with the best group that night but I wouldnt let one experience set the tone for the fantastic things you are doing.

Personally I like to ride with stronger riders on the weekly group ride because my riding partner is not as strong as me. I can push more when I ride solo but the group can really make me push that little bit more. I can really see and feel a difference afterward in my speed and endurance.

[mayanorange]

tt and ariel- thanks guys. I haven't done a big ride before. All I have to go on is a couple suggested training things I found online who insist you should do about 80% of the final distance before the big ride, so that's why I have been aiming there. I'd like to keep up a decent pace although I tend to be a stop and smell the roses cyclist. DH isn't, so we both kinda compromise on speed. We've been joining this wed night group as a shorter let's go fast ride, but it alternates between like last night where the boys dust one or both of us and the leader asking us to take the slow group who usually didn't start training as early as us, so it's a pleasant ride, but not a speed workout.

[ttaylor508]

Seriously, you are going to do just fine if you find a good pace and just keep it. Make sure to drink, eat and rest before you think you need to. If you wait until you are actually feeling thirsty or hungry or tired, it takes you a lot longer to recover and you'll be heading straight for BONK. Try to enjoy the event, like Ariel said, it isn't a race and you will feel a lot better if you finish strong than if you trudge through the finish line with your last bit of energy. Since this is a big group ride, it should be fairly easy to find a nice group that is going your pace.

My GF just finished her first century and she had major doubts about whether she had trained enough. I kept telling her she was way more prepared than she thought. She finished and felt great at the end.

[fidlfreek]

Mayanorange! I totally know how you feel! I too have been at a place in my life when I took anti-anxiety meds and being late taking one always put me in a bad place!

Nobody mentioned that sometimes riding w/ guys just sucks. Pretty much I enjoy riding w/ guys only if its MY ride and they ride at MY pace. My rule w/ my BF is he can either ride only in his little ring or bring his mountain bike. My regular group rides are with women who never let anyone crash and burn. In fact I have been pushed up hills in that ride and I have also pushed a gal up a hill. You just need to find the right group! Don't let some silly boys kill your passion for the bike!

Also, maybe you want to pack an emergency gu *just in case*? It never hurts to have a little extra...

[arielmoon]

I did my first century last fall and my longest ride going into it was 65 miles. Riding strong on shorter rides, I think, allowed me to do the century at a decent pace even with the additional miles. Also, the first 30 miles were a breeze due to the size and speed of the group like a big peleton just pulling us along. I think we averages 22+mph for that first 30 miles!

Riding with guys can suck but on the other hand, the guys I ride with regularly think riding with me sucks They dont like getting beat by a girl.