Thom and I did the local club ride today. The weather was just about perfect, low 60s when we left the house at 7 and about 75 when we got home a little after 10.

The group broke into two separate rides - one doing a 30 mile ride with an expected pace of 18 - 20 mph. The other doing about 25 miles with a pace of 15 - 16 mph. At this point Thom and I split up and I went with the fast group. There were 4 of us and I was able to stay right with the three guys for the first 12.5 miles, at an average pace of 19 mph. Then we got to the rolly section and I couldn't hang on. It's a section of road that I ride pretty often by myself, so I knew when I would have some downhills. I usually just coast on the downhills, but today I used them to stay with the group. I was able to keep them in sight, but couldn't ride their pace. Okay, being on long, flat roads helped me to keep them in sight.

It was nice to have some really fast rabbits to chase, because I pushed myself a lot harder than I normally do on a ride and that was the point. I ended up averaging 17 mph with them and an average HR of 173. I don't think I held them too much since we got back in time for the ride leader to shower before he had to open the shop at 10.

We'd like to do this ride every week that I don't have an event. I'll probably alternate which group I go with though. It is a No Drop ride, but I don't like making people wait too much for me.

I didn't look at the scenery too much. I did ogle the nice calves on the guys in the early part of the ride when I was drafting them. The terrain was a lot flatter than my usual rides. I ended up with 42.4 miles total. Thom and I just sort of moseyed on home after. My legs were pretty fried.

Veronica