The weekly "Retiree Ride" was truly epic yesterday. 25+ guys showed up. Temperatures barely hit 40 degrees. 55 miles of rural roads. Average speed above 19 mph. All in under three hours.
And I only got dropped once, on the last hill. Not bad for January.
I've been a Flickr member for a while now and ever since I joined I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of great cycling photos that people post. Periodically I think I'll share a few here and help promote the few and the proud that actually care enough about bike racing to take pictures of it.
This past weekend I developed a head cold that completely replaced my brain cavity with snot. Luckily it lasted only a couple of days and passed with little fanfare. There were no parades. Unfortunately, two days after feeling better, I've managed to develop a nagging cough that makes my chest hurt and my throat burn. It's more or less the most annoying thing that could happen right now.
So instead of joining the weekly "Retiree" group ride (3 hours, base tempo, good crowd), I'll be sitting at home hacking away and trying to get better.
This shouldn't affect my developing fitness levels too much since it's only one missed base ride, but lord knows I'll probably be coughing for a week. I almost never get sick, but when I do, it's always annoying and drawn out. At least I got some riding in yesterday.
"Road racing requires stamina, strength, mental focus and fortitude. But the rewards are huge and grow the more effort you put into it.
More and more men are discovering that riding a road bike can be the perfect counterpoint to our cosseted and quick-fix modern lives. We’ve become so used to instant gratification and sanitised pleasure that we have forgotten that the greatest highs come from the deepest lows, that there is a unique satisfaction from applying yourself totally, then seeing the results. From pain comes pleasure."
