couple rides from last week.
this was just an after work casual ride with a buddy, 16 mile route around gahanna, nothing fast, like a 14 average, if that.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/80546171
then saturday, i got with some guys i had never ridden with before...showed up, first guy and his g/f start busting out with some higher end bikes full dura-ace, etc, and then more people start showing up, same thing. im thinking "shit, i hope i didnt bite off more than i can chew". talked to the guy organizing it, he said just to keep on someones wheel, catch the slipstream, and i'd be ok....scheduled for 50-55 miles, and he's talking an 18-20mph pace (quicker than i usually ride, especially for that distance)
first 27 or so, everything good. was doing better than i thought i would be. we stop for a minute to re-route as the road was shitty, get back to riding, right away hit a horrible rough road for about a mile. turn onto another road, and a couple miles later, i get a flat. awesome. of course as im pulling up the rear, no one heard me to know i had a flat. pull over, start to pull the tire off, and the lead guy comes back. i get it back together, and tire isn't seating correctly, right at the valve. brand new tube, junk. another couple guys come back, luckily one had a spare tube i could use and a new co2 cartridge. time down is about 10 minutes. i start riding again, and im DEAD. the break from riding to stopping to riding killed. couldnt keep with the group, finally i just said fuck it, i can get back...still tried to push myself, but wasn't able to keep more than about 17mph. one of the guys ended up dropping back and riding the last 6 or so miles with me, i told him he could go ahead, but he stuck back
it was probably the hardest ride i've done in 3 years of riding. 51.74mi, when i checked my cyclometer, my actual ride time was 2:51:16, which comes up to a moving average of like 18.15. i'm super happy with that, especially since that includes slowing for intersections, turns, and of course my ass limping back the last 10 miles or so. i think i'll keep working and wait a while before trying to ride with those guys (and girl) again. or at least wait until they plan to do just a bit slower pace. i'm just not up to their level yet. as hard as it was though, it was a great ride. it was awesome riding in a group with 8 other people. got some useful tips from some of the guys who have been at it for a while.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/81590695