disheartening dilemma

[ttaylor508]

You might want to mention the century you are planning on doing (if it is an organized century). You never know, you might find a riding partner right here!

[OakLeaf]

Here.

[Miranda]

Here.

Thanks, Oakleaf. I didn't search quite back far enough in "advance search". I'll be going back to the link to read the tips.

[Loraura]

Any chance it's the Katy Flatlands century in July?

[Miranda]

Any chance it's the Katy Flatlands century in July?

Nope. But a nice idea.

The club I joined puts on a tour in August. That one is pushin it too on mileage. Following TE guideline articles. My last training ride was a hillier 34mi. My next step is 40mi.

I decided to volunteer at my club's tour. I will ride part of the mileage. They are always desperate for free workers. I thought it would be a good way to see how an organized ride set up works. Plus, meet some peeps.

Think I will keep asking around about my picked event. I asked at the one club ride. They knew of it. No takers att.

I chose a Fall event. Figured cooler would be better for me. I don't do well in the humidity. And make sure I didn't rush my mileage goals (like the TE article tip says).

My guy pal has ridden this event before. He suggested it to me as good 1st century. Some rollers, but not really hilly. "Realistic" was my criteria. He really liked the ride. Thus why he wants to do it again.

Maybe the "meet you in the parking lot" idea might be a good compromise. He did say part of doing it with ME was that "he would not have the motivation alone"... hmm. I'm the opposite. Once I set my mind to it, there is no stopping me. I might fail serveral times along the way... but, I keep trying until I get it.

[Biciclista]

If guy buddy won't slow down to your pace, don't ride with him on this important ride.
Last weekend i found a great compromise with my guy buddy. I rode the 55 mile loop and he rode the 80. He rode with me for 25 miles AT MY SPEED and then we kissed goodbye and did the rest of our rides at our own rates.
YOU MUST COMMUNICATE THIS with your bike buddy. HE can ride any speed he wants but if he wants to ride with you, he has to let YOU be in charge of the speed. Good luck.

[Miranda]

If guy buddy won't slow down to your pace, don't ride with him on this important ride.
Last weekend i found a great compromise with my guy buddy. I rode the 55 mile loop and he rode the 80. He rode with me for 25 miles AT MY SPEED and then we kissed goodbye and did the rest of our rides at our own rates.
YOU MUST COMMUNICATE THIS with your bike buddy. HE can ride any speed he wants but if he wants to ride with you, he has to let YOU be in charge of the speed. Good luck.

That's a good compromise. My recent training rides are a pace that's easy for him. And one he said he'd still be happy with riding that far at. Looking back on my heartrate in my Garmin stats, the heart rate is high. Meaning my body was working really hard to hold that pace. I don't see me holding that for the whole century. Maybe if I give him the math that will help get it through... meet you in the parking lot post ride. Thx.

[Miranda]

OH... on the fasty peeps coming back, that is sorta funny. In an interesting way. That is my guy buddy to a degree.

At first it's all about the performance. That's a good goal. But, it's not everything. Thus, they come back. Or, like my guy pal, they cave when they are lonely and had enough. Soooo... that's my point... why can't you just hammer your brains out on the "alone ride" and scale it back for the "company ride"?

Makes sense to me. I do a bit of that with my new ride pal GF.

Seasons past she tried a group ride w/speedy guys. None waited. Totally left her. She got lost. Was just miserable experience.

Well, she wanted to re-try the group. Only if I agreed to meet up. We did. The leader was eggin me on to take the lead. I wanted to. Could have held it for a bit. But, my GF was struggling with the heat. I was not going to leave her. I was on a "company ride". Not a contest. Thus, I hung back. We rode our own thing. I know she was discouraged. We got to chat... I didn't care.