yesterday's lesson about speed

[nscrbug]

hmmm... was looking for inspiration as I turned around on the local trail tonight when two guys went by. Figured I'd see if I could keep up. 17... 18... 19... 20... 21... holding 21 and they were STILL pulling away! I tried to keep them in sight but eventually I lost them. Oh well. I wasn't able to keep going over 20mph for very long but I think I am getting stronger and faster. I did manage to push up a hill at 23mph. That made me happy. But, it was definitely a night of "someone will always be faster."

Damn...I'm impressed!!! I'm lucky if I can maintain 10mph up a hill (and I live in IL where we have NO real hills)...and this is my 3rd year of serious riding.

[TrekTheKaty]

I rode with my sis and brother-in-law today. My sister was in front telling stories, i was next and BIL was trailing behind looking for deer, calling to birds and checking out the flooding. For some reason, today in particular several men (walkers and bikers) pointed out "the girls are getting ahead!"

[Geonz]

This was a rite of passage when I lived in Virginia... you start thinking you're getting stronger and wow! You really are today! and WHAM!!!! (And, of course, you rode *hard* with the wind behind you).

Out here on the prairie, our routes are determined by the winds -- so you're reminded to think about it at the beginning of any given group ride.

[rubysoho]

Damn...I'm impressed!!! I'm lucky if I can maintain 10mph up a hill (and I live in IL where we have NO real hills)...and this is my 3rd year of serious riding.

(it wasn't a huge hill )

[KatzPajamas]

I have been experiencing the wind switch lately too. Was up to 16.8 for quite a stretch the other day. It was amazing and I was having fun until my riding partner, Freedomrider pointed out that I should enjoy it going this way, because on the way back, we gotta pay! I think I bottomed out @ 6mph on the return trip. Hmmm....and still remained upright!

[smilingcat]

Training rides to be afraid of:

on your way out, you find that you are much stronger than usual because your speed is several MPH faster than normal. You feel good so you decide to head out bit further than normal.

then you reach the turnaround point. Turn around and WHAM the headwind hits you HARD!! You also realize your home is further away than usual.

It took me several years to be wary when it seemed so much easier on the way out because of the tailwind. Now if I get into this situation, I turnaround before my regular turnaround point.

And yes I too have been passed by an old GEEZER!! Greybeard was riding a full suspension mountain bike with full on knobby tire making that roaring sound. I was riding my racing bike doing close to 24MPH. This was back in the days... Maybe he was doping

[zoom-zoom]

And yes I too have been passed by an old GEEZER!! Greybeard was riding a full suspension mountain bike with full on knobby tire making that roaring sound. I was riding my racing bike doing close to 24MPH. This was back in the days... Maybe he was doping

Ha, last Summer DH and I were out on a 75 mile ride. About 50 miles in we cut over to a section of quiet, rural MUP for about 10 miles. We started gaining on this middle-aged chunky dude on a mountain bike. He took one look at us on our road bikes and took off...for about 5 miles he held us off (we were comfortably cruising at probably no more than 16mph). We passed him at a turn-around where he was soaked in sweat, guzzling water, and quite obviously cooked.

I don't know if we were just a fun challenge for him or if he had ego issues. But we had a good laugh about it. We were tempted to say "dude, really? We just finished a 50 mile warm-up and have 20 more to go...don't flatter yourself."

[owlice]

Some years ago, I was on my longest ride so far (back then) since buying my bike and despite feeling crappy the first four miles or so and the trail being bad at the beginning, I was feeling pretty proud of myself as I approached the midpoint. On the short incline up to the midpoint, I was passed by a woman probably 20 years or more my senior (so 70+), wearing (I am not making this up) a flowered dress and a straw hat, riding what I think was a 3-speed, and not sweating a bit.

[Crankin]

I have been dropped more than once by grizzled older guys (older than me )wearing jeans, riding mountain bikes, carrying large backpacks.

[KatzPajamas]

On the short incline up to the midpoint, I was passed by a woman probably 20 years or more my senior (so 70+), wearing (I am not making this up) a flowered dress and a straw hat, riding what I think was a 3-speed, and not sweating a bit.

I have a flowered dress and a straw hat...hope that can be me someday!