Ugh, why did I sign up for this?

[TrekTheKaty]

WOW! Good job--century, no problem

[ny biker]

Here's the elevation profile. As you can see, there were few breaks to be found.

FWIW, this will probably change your definition of "a hilly ride." There are rides that I thought had killer hills when I first did them. Then I did a ride with seriously killer hills, and now I enjoy the old rides and realize they're not all that hilly after all.

Also when I do encounter hills now, I just think: I can handle it, I've done worse.

BTW NoNo, is the trolley museum in Branford still open? We visited it when I was very young.

[Zen]

I just can't believe that first wall. I would have had a nice walk there for sure.

[sundial]

Yeah, no kidding! No wonder you were dreading this ride! But you were tenacious enough to finish it and now you will look back and think,'That wasn't so bad.'

[NoNo]

FWIW, this will probably change your definition of "a hilly ride." There are rides that I thought had killer hills when I first did them. Then I did a ride with seriously killer hills, and now I enjoy the old rides and realize they're not all that hilly after all.

Also when I do encounter hills now, I just think: I can handle it, I've done worse.

True. I was rather pleased with myself for actually being able to ride up all the hills, even if I was only doing 5mph. And to be able to keep climbing throughout the whole ride. It made me aware of how far I've progressed as a rider, even if I'm not as fast or good as the people that were breezing past me.

BTW NoNo, is the trolley museum in Branford still open? We visited it when I was very young.

It's in East Haven, which is the town next to us, and yes, it's open in the summer. Oddly, I've never been there, despite growing up in this area.

Trolley Museum

Yeah, no kidding! No wonder you were dreading this ride! But you were tenacious enough to finish it and now you will look back and think,'That wasn't so bad.'

It made it all the more maddening because my brother, who's a good climber, kept saying "Oh, it won't be as bad as you think!" Easy for him to say! Part of the reason I actually signed up was because last week my dad came to ride with us, stipulating that there be no hills. I live on the shore, it's about as flat as you'll find around here, and there's nothing major on the route I take him on. But he still complained and whined about how he hasn't gotten better. I told him he wouldn't if he a) barely bikes in the first place, and b) never rides on hills. Then I realized the hypocrisy of me telling him that and telling my brother I refuse to do this ride because of the hills.

I feel pretty good today, just sore in the neck and shoulders, and a bit in the elbows. Legs feel surprisingly good. Oddly, my appetite is off, and I'm normally ravenous after big rides.