What part of your ride seems the most challenging?

[OakLeaf]

Whichever part is into the wind.

[Owlie]

I always seem to find my groove at the last third of the ride. The beginning is usually the hardest, because I have to drag myself out there. After that, I find some kind of a rhythm.

[Lakerider]

Whichever part is into the wind.

Oh yes, the wind!
How come I don't feel it pushing me when it's at my back, but I sure feel it when it's hitting me in the face!

[crazycanuck]

In terms of road riding just when there's a headwind

In terms of dirt time-when my mind is frazzled after 30km & that logover looks way too hard

[RolliePollie]

When I ride my local routes starting at my house, the last 10 miles are definitely the most challenging because I have to climb hills to get home. Actually the last 2.5 miles are the worst...there are two pretty miserable hills and it's not very fun to deal with them at the end of a ride when I'm tired.

Most other longish rides seem to be hardest for me at the end too. Like today, I rode 51 miles and it was cold (not really that cold, I was just under-dressed) and really windy. After about 40 miles, I was counting down the miles til I got back to the car! I was really ready to be off the bike so those last 10 were miles were killer.

[kimikaw]

Usually the first 8-10 miles are the hardest, when I'm playing a mental game with myself trying to talk my ride down, turn back sooner. But once I get past that, get in the groove, those thoughts seem to go away, and I usually can push slightly firther than originally planned.

[Geonz]

anything hot after 30 miles

[smilingcat]

How about none of the above.

Toughest challenge for me these days is "getting out the house part" . It's been about 7 weeks since I've thrown my back out. My back is more or less fine now. Did try to go riding about three weeks ago and had a minor set back. And now I've been coughing and feel like I have a herd of pachyderms sitting on my chest. (actually my cats).

My house doesn't have heat. So when I get cold in bed, I just throw another cat on top of me .

Brendon: a 15 pounder main coon
Morgan: another lunker. a rag doll
lulu: overweight shorthair. Solid as a brick 12 pounder...

We have pride of cats. Far more than just the three cats.

[Lakerider]

Usually the first 8-10 miles are the hardest, when I'm playing a mental game with myself trying to talk my ride down, turn back sooner. But once I get past that, get in the groove, those thoughts seem to go away, and I usually can push slightly firther than originally planned.

Mental games - During the first 10 I tell myself, "You don't have to ride 40 miles today. Fifteen miles might be enough."

Then I toughen up and tell myself, "The first 10 is the hardest. Get that first 10 down and you can do it! Remember how good it feels to ride that last 10!"

I also talk to my bike, "Come on, we can do it!"

Do you talk to your bike? We should talk to all of our best friends, right?

[Crankin]

I voted for the first ten, because no matter what I do, it takes me about 30 minutes to warm up. I always feel like crap in the beginning of a ride, unless I go really slowly.
But, if I ride from my house I have the 10-15% grade hills to contend with, as the last thing I do. Since I consider it my cool down, I just slow down and deal with it. I'm beginning to wonder why I bought this house!
If I do a ride longer than fifty miles, the end can be pretty challenging, too. My quads often start complaining if it's a ride with a lot of climbing at this distance.

[redrhodie]

It's nearly always the end that's hardest for me. My commute ends in hills both ways, and the evening commute is going north, which is the most common headwind direction in these parts. Riding around home, it's less of an issue. I usually feel about the same through the ride.

[7rider]

Whichever part is into the wind.

Murphy's First Law of Cycling is: You shall always have a headwind!

For me, it depends on the route and how hilly it is.
Sometimes, for the last 10 miles, the group is in "cruise" mode through the park, which is relatively flat and easy riding. It's a nice cool-down/come back to earth, after a brutal middle of the ride.