March 6 Rides

[7rider]

I think I'm going to write "STOP WHINING!" along my top tube in a Sharpie.

DH and I went out for a 27 mile loop through Howard County, north of us, today. It was cool (36F/~3C) and, per usual, I was having difficulty breathing for the first 10 miles or so. My lower back was aching, too. I wanted to just head out to Route 108 and turn around, turn it into a 18 mile ride. But I said nothing when DH took the right that was the loop route, and I followed. I hung off the back so I could better see all the winter's new pot holes. Wah, wah, wah. Hills. Cold. Headwind. Not happy at all.

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home!

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour () pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?

[kmehrzad]

He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around.


What's the training camp you're referring to? Cycling related or Boot Camp? How to get the whiner off your shoulder? Hmmm, I always tend to focus on my surroundings during a ride and that puts me in a better mood (the trees, the birds darting back and forth, the cloud formations against a blue sky, etc.) - it's simple but works for me.

[Fredwina]

Not quite as bad as limewave, but still puts an end to your day:

and the weather didn't look good:

But got in 45 out of 50 (went home and switched bikes!)

[7rider]

He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around.


What's the training camp you're referring to? Cycling related or Boot Camp? How to get the whiner off your shoulder? Hmmm, I always tend to focus on my surroundings during a ride and that puts me in a better mood (the trees, the birds darting back and forth, the cloud formations against a blue sky, etc.) - it's simple but works for me.

It's a Spring Training Camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA. Fortunately, it appears to be full, not that we could afford it anyway (and I don't think I could handle a full week with that coach w/o going absolutely Postal on someone. ).

I've actually thrown out my back watching birds from my bike (and ridden my bike completely off the road!). Birdwatching + bike riding = very bad for my health! My main problem is I am faster than the slow riders and slower than the fast riders, so I'm forever stuck in no-man's land on each group ride.

[kmehrzad]

It's a Spring Training Camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA. (and I don't think I could handle a full week with that coach w/o going absolutely Postal on someone. ).

I've actually thrown out my back watching birds from my bike (and ridden my bike completely off the road!). Birdwatching + bike riding = very bad for my health! My main problem is I am faster than the slow riders and slower than the fast riders, so I'm forever stuck in no-man's land on each group ride.

LOL --- So there's a possibility you'd go Postal on Coach Josh, eh? I agree, you've got to be in the right frame of mind to ride a week's worth of "90 - 100 mile days, and finish feeling like you did all you could do. And then get up the next day and do another 50 just to make sure."

[Crankin]

7rider, I have the same monkey on my back. I have got to get rid of the negativity. I am actually getting weird anxiety things before riding, although it doesn't stop me... some of it is my total lack of mechanical ability, still after almost 10 years of riding. I'm trying to give myself a dose of my own medicine: deep breathing and positive self talk.
I have always been too fast for the slow group and too slow for the fast group. Of course, this depends who you ride with, but it seems like I peaked in 2006 and it's been downhill since then.

[redrhodie]

I did a 29 mile RT commute. Gorgeous day, and not much traffic since it was Sat. I did 92 miles this week.

[pfunk12]

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home!

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour () pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?

Okay...first of all, we like playing with you even if you don't want to play with us anymore . And we miss you out there! From what I know (and I'm very familiar with what's going on with you), your riding has been extremely inconsistent and almost non-existent recently - mostly because of the weather (snowstorms, black ice, cold and your infamous iceberg). And also, you and Tom were taking advantage of all the snow and skiing a lot and that's cool. Hopefully, you can start commuting again soon and then you'll eventually start doing the group rides because you will regain your confidence and your riding will get stronger. Wait a minute. Who am I to give you advice about cycing?! You're my mentor! But seriously, you know that if you were riding consistently, you can hang with the Saturday and Sunday group on any day.

I think the training camp sounds like a great idea.

[pfunk12]

Should have posted this in my last e-mail but I'm tired and I forgot. I did the N2 group ride this morning. It was a good turnout because the weather was nice but still chilly - 33 degrees when we started. I couldn't add on and do the Poolesville route because I had to be somewhere early in the afternoon. Only 4 of us did the shorter route but me and one of the guys added on mileage in the end. So I ended up with 55 miles. It was a gorgeous day.

[Catrin]

I am looking forward so much to being able to get out and do a "real" ride instead of going around a drive circling a campground - however I did enough laps today to rack up 12 miles on my odometer Hey, small steps first and I am most persistent when I have a goal

[HillSlugger]

I was really excited to get out and a ride with some people from my tri club. I fell behind before we had even gone a mile. There was no way I could hang with them and they left me in the dust. I did only 20 of the planned 32 miles. It wasn't any fun at all.

My legs have felt terrible for several months now, always tight, no spring. I wish I had a clue how to turn this around.

[HillSlugger]

I was really excited to get out and a ride with some people from my tri club. I fell behind before we had even gone a mile. There was no way I could hang with them and they left me in the dust. I did only 20 of the planned 32 miles. It wasn't any fun at all.

My legs have felt terrible for several months now, always tight, no spring. I wish I had a clue how to turn this around.

When I posted this yesterday I didn't spell out the fact after I fell off the group nobody came back to check up on me. Later in the afternoon I got an email from one of the other gals on the ride. She said that they didn't realize that they had lost me and that when they realized, they thought I was with someone and that all was OK, and only much later realized I was alone. She concluded by saying she felt bad about this, a rather weak apology. I responded by saying that I had a terrible ride, wouldn't have wanted to hold the group back, but that it would have been nice to have someone check on me.

Today, people are posting on the group email list that they enjoyed the ride, etc, but are not mentioning what happened to me. I'm thinking about posting:

Hmm, it wasn't much fun for me when I got left behind. I wouldn't have wanted to hold the group back but it would have been really nice for someone to have checked up on me. I'm an experienced rider, quite able to take care of myself on a solo ride, but I didn't think I was out on a solo ride. What if I had been a beginner out on a ride with you all? What if something HAD happened to me? Not cool!

Should I post it?

Thanks for letting me vent a bit here.

[shootingstar]

Might be useful just to post a message to the group ride members in friendly tone, Hi there, I missed some of you folks...kind of tone. Hope to see you on next ride...etc. Then mention 1-2 enjoyable things you saw that you wished to share with another rider if someone was around at that time.

Does this happen often to you with this group? If it's a one-off, then keep it low-key.

[Red Rock]

Well I think I did somewhere around 20-25 miles today. It was very blustery with rain clouds moving in. I was a ble to catch the ride before the real clouds moved in. There were periods where I was facing a head on wind. I think I did enough in the wind to burn extra calories, as well as, getting an extra good workout.

I did my "normal" route that goes through neighborhoods. Went to a park area ate a Mojo bar and drank water. Then I got back on the bike and was thinking to perhaps end my ride where I normally do. By this time the wind had really picked up, so I had second thoughts. My knee tendon, on the kneecap, was acting up also in both knees so that added to the decision. At the rest stop, I lowered my saddle some to see if that would help.

Then I headed for home. There is an area where you come in towards a major intersection that has always bothered me, so I was thinking of ways to avoid the whole thing. I went around through another section of town, going south, and was able to connect to a bike path. This ended up being much better.

It also got me thinking how I might be able to do my normal route but then add on this southern route for more miles. It was like wow, I could do a major cyle tour all around town. I just need to get my mileage up along with better condioning to before I even venture to think about doing something like the two routes combined.

P.S. I have also seen more Ironmen out riding different areas of the bike section. I was even wondering I might see Fatty and the Runner out riding. The other day, I saw someone in the whole Mellow Jonny's bike shop kit too. I thought , gee is that Lance?

Red Rock

[andtckrtoo]

Met up with my boss and his wife and did 25 miles over to Santa Cruz. Their daughter SAG'd for us, and drove us back. Gorgeous day, a great climb and an awesome descent, and some wonderful scenery. I really enjoyed it. I was also thrilled that my first climb of the season was so easy.