Thurdsay Group Ride Report

Yesterday was the usual Thursday group ride with CGC. It started out as usual, everyone staying together until the big hill on Larry Walker Pkwy. I couldn't hang with them & kept a steady pace for myself. I did feel better climbing this week. I saw a rider ahead of me on Ellis Rd. & that was my incentive to catch. The wind this week was worse than last week making the catch even harder. I managed to catch him in Elko & rode his wheel for a bit. Once on Elko Rd. I decided it was my turn to pull him for a bit, but he must have been feeling worse than me because he couldn't stay with me. I didn't put in a big acceleration, just rode steady. As we went along Elko Rd. I noticed that he was falling further & further behind. I saw the group a ways up the road, but knew that there was no way I was going to be able to catch them. I just rode a steady pace that was just a bit of a push for me. I caught Kim & another girl riding together on Kings Chapel Rd. They did the shorter route. On days like yesterday with the wind, I think the shorter route is actually harder than the longer route, due to the fact that the short cut takes you into a head wind when the wind is out of the west as it was yesterday. I had to ride back home after the group ride so I did a total of about 43 miles with an average speed of 19.8 mph. It was a bit slower than last week, but with the conditions, I'm not complaining about it. I feel as if I'm getting stronger, just have to keep riding & watching what I eat. The weight will come down & I'll get better. I'm hoping to ride the metric century they are planning from Perry tomorrow, but we'll just have to wait & see. Stay tuned.....