new rider with training partner issues

[zoom-zoom]

Attempting to do a century ride on only one ride/week? I don't understand why she would undertake such a lofty goal on such minimal training. It won't be fun for her or her ride partners.

Yes, it's important to make sacrifices for friends, but that goes both ways. What sacrifices is she making to accommodate your needs? Riding just once/week and then expecting friends to plod along for 100 miles isn't really fair, either. Why doesn't she shoot for a half century or metric, instead? Even that will be painful, but not nearly as much so as a full century.

[marni]

based on my own century riding experience, it's more about the tits time than speed so for a metric century, make sure that your friend is capable of spending at least 5 hours in the saddle riding. You can work on this by pushing the "recovery ride" mileage longer and longer before you step down for more than a stop sign or stop light. For a metric century I try and time my first get off the bike /Rest stop for 28-30 miles or two hours whichever comes first.

Admitedly my advice is probably one sided since I am, have been and will probably always be a solitary rider except on cross country stuff, so how to deal with a biking friend other than my sweet SAG guy, is a bit beyond my ken. I will mention that we decide, from the beginning, whether we are riding for speed and distance. If it is for speed, he will drop off at the halfway point, and if it is for distance, he ususally breaks off between 40 and 50 miles.

Good luck however you decide to ride.

[tulip]

Yes, it's important to make sacrifices for friends, but that goes both ways. What sacrifices is she making to accommodate your needs?

My thoughts exactly.

Marni--Dare I ask what in the world is "tits time?"

[redrhodie]

My thoughts exactly.

Marni--Dare I ask what in the world is "tits time?"

Oh, I know this one. Sadly, it's just Time In The Saddle, and not something more risque.

[tulip]

Oh, I know this one. Sadly, it's just Time In The Saddle, and not something more risque.

Ah, don't know how, after nearly 30 years of cycling, I managed to miss that one.

[andiewest]

Thanks for explaining "tits" to me. I do agree that sacrifices go both ways in a friendship. If I felt that she was moving out of her comfort zone a little bit and committed to regular training I would be much more accepting of her slower pace. I believe that she agreed to do the ride out of fear of being left out rather than out of any interest in cycling. She admits to hating every moment that she is on the bike.

[tulip]

Maybe she could be your crew. That way she could be involved and have a role, but she wouldn't have to ride. Or maybe she should just drop the whole thing since she obviously isn't into it. There's no reason she should poop on your party.

[indysteel]

I feel kind of sorry for your friend. Maybe it's time to talk to her about it. Maybe she just needs some assurance from her that it's okay for her to back out and that you can try to find a joint goal that's more appealing to both of you. I don't know what the dynamic is between the three of you, but it is hard to feel left out in a threesome. I've been in those shoes before.

[andiewest]

I know I sound a little hard nosed. She is truly a good friend and this cycling has created a difficult dynamic between the three of us. I have tried to talk to her about this and have apologized to her for not being clear about my expectations. I guess I just wanted an apology from her, for expecting me to put her goals ahead of my own. I have let her know that she is my friend regardless of whether she cycles or not. Anyway, waiting for the weather to warm up a bit so I can get back out on my bike. I will go to a spin class tonight just to keep my legs moving.

Andie