disheartening dilemma

[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]

OK... I tried to give my buddy the Garmin math. Didn't work. The math is that at his planned pace, my HR is 89-90% of my max. At 75-80% of my HR, is my lesser pace. I told him I didn't want to ride in the sag wagon and we would part ways, and re-meet up at the parking lot.

Thought I was golden on that. But, NOOO...

Gheez, typical... he says, "oh, you have a lot of time to train and improve, etc.".

OK, this is true. But, we're missing the point here. Which is...

*MY* improvement plan is increasing my miles at a pace that is comfortable for my HR. Not the speed focus. Have we not been over this already?

I think here is the thing... he does not want to ride it alone himself. After my pep talk on TE I am not worried about doing that anymore.

How I am gonna convince Mr. Fasty pants to ride on? If all goes as planned, we will do a training ride this w/e.

Maybe I can work on delivering my point some more then...

[Biciclista]

wow, he's stubborn, isn't he. You might put it in terms that imply that he might be AFRAID to ride by himself? That might motivate him to prove you wrong.
Bring him over here, I'll thwack him on the head.

[kenyonchris]

wow, he's stubborn, isn't he. You might put it in terms that imply that he might be AFRAID to ride by himself? That might motivate him to prove you wrong.
Bring him over here, I'll thwack him on the head.

I second that. That would drive me CRAZY. Too much togetherness. I feel claustrophobic just listening. YOU might have to whack him over the head, go on strike, or something. Reasoning does not seem to be working, does it?