Last Saturday, I finally was able to join my Team in Training buddies on a training ride. What a great workout - and simply awesome riding friends.
The crew consisted of Coach Ed (not Maramarc Ed - a different badass cyclist named Ed), Ryan, Allen, Paul, Sarah (another surgery victim), a friend of Sarah's and me. Our plan was to start at Laurel Park with the RABA ABC ride. I have mainly ridden in Goochland, so this was fairly new territory for me.
We started out at a very relaxed pace, which made me (incorrectly) think I'd need to fit in a swim later to get my heart really pumping.
Foolish, foolish me...
We didn't do the traditional 20 mile ABC ride. Instead, we followed a slightly different loop that added 10 miles to the front of the ride. The different loop had some nice rollers on it that woke my legs up.
Early into the ride, the other two ladies turned around as one of them wasn't feeling well.
That left just me and the boys on the ride. All four of my riding partners either are regular riders (Ed rides for Team Nature's Path) and/or just completed a century ride (Fletcher Flyer or Lake Tahoe) in the past month.
I'm sure for them the pace was a "piece of cake" but for this runner-trying-to-become-a-cyclist, it was a brisk pace - challenging but really fun. They even tried to teach me how to draft. I'm still a little wary of riding so close to someone else's wheel, but I'm willing to give it a try.
I finished the ride completely invigorated - and feeling like my legs & lungs had done some work.
I'm definitely looking forward to riding with these great guys as we all peddle for a cure. One of my buddies - Allen - has a 22-year-old son who is currently in remission from leukemia. We're riding for him - and anyone else affected by cancer.
Did I mention that I love my bike? Yup - I do.
5 comments:
Can't wait to ride more with you - and love the new blog name.
That sounds like a lot of fun. I have save up some money, get a bike, and give it a try. My only experience with biking was a bike as a kid, an old 3 speed I bought as a 20 something, and then renting a bike (one speed, coaster brakes) on beach vacations. I rode that about 12-15 miles one day and couldn't believe how sore my butt felt at the end of it, so 50-100 miles sounds pretty intimidating. :)
I heart this blog so much!
Can we ride together soon before you get so fast I can no longer keep up??? (maybe it is already too late)
Annn-
You are too funny...I am not known as a speedster on the bike. Love to ride (draft off) with you!
SQ! I'm just catching up on my blog reading... it's been awhile! Sounds like you are doing some great rides. Have you met the Three Sisters in Ashland yet? Let's ride some time!
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