I’ve Still Got It…At Least Some Of It
Saturday I took a ride with a different bike club. It has been some time since I have really pushed myself with a fast group of riders. By some time I mean a few years. I have been anxious to do it.
On Saturday, I decided to leave with the fastest group and then drop back if I couldn’t keep up. This group included a woman who was lithe, lean and had skin like leather from too much time in the sun training for triathlons. Hard to guess a woman’s age when she looks like that but I would have put her and much older than me.
After about five miles of warming up she announced she was going to pick up the pace for a bit. Four or five of us took off with her. She led out over the next 15 or so plus miles at a pretty good pace. She never let anyone else lead the pace line.
When we stopped she said we had average over 20 MPH for that interval. Whew! It has been sometime since I have ridden like that. I’ve still got some of what I had a few years ago. I am still one of the strongest on the hills.
The ride was 46 miles. I ended with another older gentleman who was also very strong and put the lead group to the test more than once. I found out that he had his birthday just a few days before. He turned 62 and the woman who was leading that crazy interval is also 62.
They are my idols.
We rode a total of 46 miles. The pace was moving right along most of the time. For the last few miles I just had to tell myself I knew I could last until the end.
When it was done my average speed was 18.4 MPH. That is the best I have done in a few years. Now for the downside. I can remember about 6 years and 20 pounds ago when I could easily have ridden a hundred miles with an average speed of 19 MPH.
When I got back home I saw the couple who live in the unit below me moving out. What to do? My legs are shot but I really should offer to help.
A half dozen oreo cookies and a cold glass of milk later I was ready to offer. I helped them load the last half of the truck. I then left with them in the truck to their new home. We pulled up to one of those older homes that is on a hill. We had several steps from the street to the front door.
I wonder why they didn’t mention that before?
The thing that really surprised me was after that was all done I really didn’t feel all that bad. On Sunday I couldn’t feel any effects from the ride or the move.
Maybe I really do deserve this:
This was gift from a work friend who recently took a trip to Austin, TX.