Riding over Tunitas yesterday evening, I was wondering how I was going to feel this morning. But I got out there and realized, pretty quickly, that what my body wants to do most, is ride. Was it easy going up Kings? No. I did start out faster than I expected, keeping up with fast-guys Kevin (pilot; my son’s kidney stent kept him off his bike again) and Karl. Behind me, Eric was taking it easy, leaving me in that place I know all-too-well, that vast “middle” land where you’re alone, with no hope of catching those in front, and a fear of being caught from behind.
Once I got to the open area (1.41 miles to the top) and realized there was absolutely zero chance of getting under 27 minutes, I circled for a bit and waited for Eric. Funny thing about doing that though. If you just keep going, you maintain a good speed and rhythm. If you stop and wait for someone, even if they’re riding a bit slower, you find yourself struggling. Go figure.
Up on top we met up with Millo, doing his usual thing, leaving a bit earlier and waiting for us at Skeggs Point on Skyline. Not sure why he doesn’t leave just a bit later and meet us near the top of Kings… maybe he doesn’t like the feeling of being the fox in a chase?
There really isn’t any good reason to dread a bike ride. It’s usually going to be a lot nicer and more fun than you thought it would be, and even if not, I’ve yet to do a ride where, later that day, I wasn’t glad I’d done it.
Mike,
We 200+ lbs guys NEVER ride up even the smallest hill with skinny climbers that get up Kings in under 30 minutes. That “gentle” climb from the top of Kings to the water tank would be enough to get me in the red, shelled off the back, and cross-eyed from chasing back on all the way down to Sky Londa. So that is why you will never see me waiting at the top of Kings!
Were you not a skinny climber the above would be obvious………
Millo
“Skinny” climber? Me? Don’t think so! I struggle to keep my weight below the 173 that it says on my driver’s license. As I’ve gotten older, the only thing that’s kept me from getting (much) slower is losing weight.
A while back I was pushing maybe 185, could have been even higher than that, after adding maybe 1 or 2 pounds/year since 35 or so. That had to stop; the solution was to switch to salads for lunch every work day. So every day it’s an Asian Chicken Salad at Togos next door to the shop. Every day. And every day I see all sorts of sandwiches that I’d really rather have, but know that I can’t. It just becomes a routine after a bit, something you do. –Mike–