Thought we were only going 20???

I was cautiously optimistic after loading up the car with the bike and equipment. This was the first time I was going to ride with a group from "Cog Snobs". I was rather nervous about my abilities; if I could keep up, if I would have an equipment malfunction, if I would have a flat tire could I fix it. All these thoughts and more were flowing through my head. If you know me you know that I don't like to be the cause of a problem (slow down or otherwise).


I left the house early, planning to be the first to arrive. I reviewed the location and confirmed that we were doing a 20 mile flat route. Well both those things were did not end up being accurate!!! I didn't get there first, pulled into the parking-lot and seeing two other individuals already unloaded and waiting to ride. I just shook my head. Put on the "game face" and introduced myself and we started the small talk. Turns out we were all nervous about the pace. Especially when one individuals states that they did a 29 mile per hour pace a few weeks ago (I'm at 16 mph). We all agreed to petition to be part of the B group and pull up the rear.


Luckily it turns out that we were the only group when the head rider turned up. So we all agreed on a 16 mph pace.


Not to bore you with the details but the course was not 20 miles. It ended up being 36 miles and 2.15 hours in the saddle. I did most of the ride in the back, learning the hand signals, vocal signals (a whole host of new things to learn when you are drafting). However on the way back I moved up the line until I was behind the leader and enjoyed pushing hard up the hills. But as a validation of my lack of conditioning at a couple of points I challenged the leader on the hill (by challenged I mean just to keep up as he kicked up the hill) Never once did I hang on long enough to get 1/2 way up the hill. He just kept pulling away.


Total Miles Ridden: 83.42
This Ride: 35.77


At the end of the ride, I felt spent but good. Wanted to go sit in a corner and recover but ended up going to an unexpected 3 hr brunch.


Ascended: 849 Feet
Descended: 994 Feet
Calories Burned: 2152


I think I'm gonna like this biking thing.