had a great ride yesterday - had to share

[kiwi girl]

Just had to share - I had a great ride yesterday

I had my first ever group ride (outside of actual events ) - it wasn't planned and it was great.

The portents for a good after work ride weren't that good - indeed I probably shouldn't have gone out at all - I had been in meetings out of town, had got a hard 5 km run in at lunchtime, my nutrition and hydration had been poor and then I had a couple of beers at the airport when my flight was delayed. By the time I got home it was a couple of hours since the beer and I felt OK so I decided to head out anyway.

About 3 or 4 km into my ride I was coming up to an intersection and had to stop for cars. While I was waiting I saw a bunch of about 8 riders swing around the corner and head the way I was going. Now, I have never joined a bunch ride because I had been worried that I would be too slow. But as I am riding along, I think "I can catch these guys". As I approach I see it is a group of 4 guys and 3 women. When I catch up I ask if I can hang on the back for a while and they say 'of course', and I ride with them for the next 28 km. It turns out that it is a weekly Thursday night ride organised by a local bike shop that at least yesterday was doing pretty much my normal training route.

So I got in a nice fast ride, some bunch riding practice, met some cyclists of about my own ability - and got an invitation to come back next week.

There was another woman on the ride for who it was her first time as well. She had only had her bike a couple of months and was asking me a few questions about how often and far I ride. I think next week I might ask her if she wants to ride together some other time.

I was so pumped from the great ride - I was babbling on about it when I got home. Fortunately BF rides (a little) so understood when I said I was excited about a great ride.

One of my aims for this year was to average over 27. 5 km/hr for a ride over 30 km (I normally average about 25 - 26.5 km/hr). My average speed for the whole 35 km yesterday (including before I met up with the bunch and the 3km ride home from the shop) was 27.8 km/hr. So I have met one of my goals but I almost feel like I was cheating by doing it in a group.

I am feeling a bit tired today though - I think I'll shorten and slow my lunchtime swim to make it a recovery session rather than the planned endurance session.

[heliotropenz]

Was it from Scotty Browns? I called in there on Tues to enquire about womens rides and Kim? rang me and told me about a group that leaves from PMH on Wednesdays at 7 pm.

I need the old ladies group tho.

[kiwi girl]

yesterday's ride was with Papanui Cycles and was a mixed ride.

I was talking to somebody (on a triathlon bulletin board) about the Wednesday ride (the Wednesday ride is women only) - yeah apparantly it is 7pm from opposite PMH. I didn't go this week because of the dodgy weather on Wednesday (I don't have a car and would in the event have got caught in the rain riding home). I might give it a go next week though - how about you? What kind of speed do you normally ride?

[Lise]

What a great experience! I'm so happy for you. L.

[Embellina]

What a fantastic surprise!

[DirtDiva]

Hey! Stop talking about places I know about! You're making me homesick...

[mary9761]

Isn't it great when things work out that way for you. I've not had the opportunity to ride with others unless it was planned, I'm glad you got the chance.