Epiphany - I don't have to ride

[gabriellesca]

Thanks guys. You know, Crankin' you're spot on. I think, because my introduction to cycling was such an intense and focused effort with people who are really into their team and speed, etc. that it did make me feel like I couldn't really ride unless I trained for something. I know that I do everything better if there is a goal at the end - like training, even for a 30 mile ride. And I did LOVE the experience of the ride itself so much. But the guilt I've been having about not riding longer than an hour or 15 miles is just silly.

I would like to do the Seacoast Century as well ... but I'd like to do one of the shorter distances.

Anyway - nice to realize that even with my fancy gear, new pedals, new shoes, etc. - I can still tool around at 12 mph for an hour 2 times a week and enjoy myself!

[nscrbug]

Last season (and for a short while at the start of this season), I felt the exact same way as you, Gabriellesca. I logged about 5,500 miles last riding season...2 rides were centuries, but the remaining were mostly in the 70+ mile range. I had gotten SO neurotic about mileage, that if we didn't do AT LEAST 65 miles every ride...I felt like I was "slacking", and that it wasn't even worth riding. Yeah, that messed my head up pretty good.

At the start of this year's riding season (early March for me), I had to build up gradually after not riding for most of the winter months. We started out with 30-mile rides for a few weeks, then slowly built up to 50 or so. But my neurotic self started getting frustrated. I looked back on my ride logs from last year, and seeing that we had already been riding 70+ mile rides by this time last year...once again, made me feel like I was "slacking off" for not yet reaching those distances this year. But something has changed in the last few weeks (for the better) and suddenly, I find myself not obsessing about how far we have or haven't ridden. Today, I rode with my cycling buddy like I normally do on Mondays...it was drizzly and cool out, so we shortened the ride up a bit (38 miles)...and I was okay with that. I didn't freak out like I normally would. I hope I can get through the rest of this riding season NOT focusing so much on mileage, and instead just enjoying the ride.

Linda