June rides....hopefully a pleasant month of weather and rides for all

[Crankin]

Colorisnt, I am the same way. It's harder for me to maintain speed on the flats. This is why I was surprised I could stay up front on my ride Wednesday. I did pass almost everyone on the 3 hills, but as usual, I start feeling better, near the end of a ride, and that had a lot to do with my ability to stay with the faster group. I need a long time to "settle in."

[colorisnt]

Yeah. I need some hills to get my legs responding, I think. It's weird. Most people look at me like I have two heads. The group leader was like, "You hung back and seemed rather timid until you passed us all on EVERY HILL. Where the f*ck did you learned to climb like that?" And I was like, "I'm living in a VERY hilly place currently and my commute has some serious grading to it". They all were dumbfounded but the leader says next time she's going to force me to stay in front and pace with her. I'll take it. It will be good for me, Ithink.

[ny biker]

Re: hills vs flats -- is it that your legs get tired on the flats, or could it be that you don't have a gear that works well for you?

[colorisnt]

I have a perfect gear for the flats. I don't think I get tired as much as distracted/bored. I can't focus well. It's really not my body being tired or sore just not really being told what to do by my brain more than anything. I myself forget I am capable of a faster pace on the flat.

[Jolt]

Yeah. I need some hills to get my legs responding, I think. It's weird. Most people look at me like I have two heads. The group leader was like, "You hung back and seemed rather timid until you passed us all on EVERY HILL. Where the f*ck did you learned to climb like that?" And I was like, "I'm living in a VERY hilly place currently and my commute has some serious grading to it". They all were dumbfounded but the leader says next time she's going to force me to stay in front and pace with her. I'll take it. It will be good for me, Ithink.

I think I am the opposite...I can get into a rhythm and cruise along pretty well on the flat but when I hit a hill (unless it is a very gradual incline without any steeper segments) I just can't seem to maintain any speed. It's frustrating.

[ny biker]

I slow down a lot on hills but it doesn't bother me. Though in my case, it's because I have to shift down and slow my cadence to prevent the asthma from kicking in.

I had a great ride today. I led a 47-mile club ride in rural southern Maryland, in the area between the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay. The day started cloudy and cool with light rain early in the morning, but the clouds thinned out and the roads dried and we ended up with a nice day.

[colorisnt]

Ny biker,

That sounds lovely. Yeah, I have to also be careful of breathing - very mindful of that. My asthma isn't technically "exercised induced" but rather "allergy induced" these days. However, allergens are all over the place here right now and I have been steadily battling allergies since I am outdoors at least a few hours a day right now every day. So, I have to realize my allergies have lowered my lung capacity as it already stands.

It's a miracle to some that I can do this with my lungs. They used to be in terrible, terrible shape and I had a peds allergist who never thought I would be able to exercise normally but I found one my jr. year of HS who was really receptive to my need to be outside and we slowly built up my lung capacity so that by the time I got to college, I was rather "normal". I also had sinus surgery that year which has helped A LOT in my life. I hated to believe that asthma was a death sentence. And, while meds have never been a silver bullet and it can still knock me back when I'm sick for quite a bit, I just pace a little slower when I need it and focus on the good.

[Crankin]

I'm the same way. Allergies can knock me down in a flash.
I am a decent climber, but not fast. I can get up just about anything.

[colorisnt]

Getting up is the point. That's what makes me feel awesome.

I gained on EVERY climb last night on the Monday fast ride. Averaged about 15.5 mph for over 30 miles. Take that, lungs. Of course, today not only am I suffering pollen, I am also suffering chills and wetness because of the torrential downpour today. I'm in my 3rd change of clothes. I gave up on getting to the uni once I had to climb through standing water and made it about halfway there and was SOAKING despite my rain jacket and rainproofed footwear. Nothing could keep up with the standing water. Had to walk to get lunch and came back soaked AGAIN. Everything is now in the washer. GRRR. Bad time to be in need of laundry.