Mark B
Zen MBB Master
This past Saturday, we had our monthly SoCal bent ride. This month, we rode on the SART, which is an excellent opportunity to literally fly. We had a nice mix of bikes including a few Carbents and a Carbon Aero 1.0. I usually thrive on being one of the stronger riders and don't worry too much about being able to ride from the back of the group to the front. Well, I got a bit of a lesson in humility this day. We had some regular double century riders along for the ride... Strong guys.
We started out from Yorba Regioal Park and I was on the back, not worried about not being able to bridge to the front. That was erroneous thinking. I took off and reeled in everybody but the two Carbents and the Carbon Aero. I finally arrived at the regroup spot and the CA guy was there waiting. The two Carbents had apparently kept rolling. I didn't think too much about it, but as we took off again,we encountered the two Carbents waiting for us elsewhere. I waited with them as everybody else passed and I took off as they did. Well, I kept pace for awhile, but they soon boosted it up to 23-27 mph and I decided to hang back with a lone rider and visit with them, as opposed to trying to hang with these monsters. Seriously, I'm pretty good at the 20-22 mph pace, averageing 18-19 mph. These guys were running 23-25 and averaging 20 mph plus. :shock: As we stopped for brunch I reflected on this and looked at these monstrous riders a little closer.
They were all lean and mean. They ate like it, too. In reflection, another 30 pounds cut off my frame would probably help a lot. I think my fitness is comparable and I know I have more leg than they do.. I decided on the way back I would try and stay with the big boys as we went upsteam on the way back. I led out part of the way and relinquished the pull thinking we would paceline back. We were a party of three by this time, out of some 16 riders. Relinquishing the pull was a mistake, as there was no change-offs and I found myself struggling to hang on. Really struggling and this isn't something I'm accustomed to, at all! I say this because these guys were cruising..... I was working my butt off!
Now, this is no reflection on the bike. The Carbent and the CA are both fine bikes, but I kept them in range and gained on the climbs.... I'd like to ride with them through some hills, but I think their obvious fitness would take over at some point in time. Still, being an overweight rider and project in process, I could see a lot of potential. I wasn't totally out of my league..... But I did get beat up some. I realized I need to rethink a few things in my personal life if I want to run with the big boys. Biggest thing is to rid myself of the last thirty pounds of lard. Secondly, i need to change the way I train on my commute ride More intervals at higher paces will get those averages up.
I still think riding must be fun. i love to be competetive.... I'm good to go slow on beginnerand intermediate rides, but when the pace accelerates like it did Saturday, I want to be right there.
Mark
We started out from Yorba Regioal Park and I was on the back, not worried about not being able to bridge to the front. That was erroneous thinking. I took off and reeled in everybody but the two Carbents and the Carbon Aero. I finally arrived at the regroup spot and the CA guy was there waiting. The two Carbents had apparently kept rolling. I didn't think too much about it, but as we took off again,we encountered the two Carbents waiting for us elsewhere. I waited with them as everybody else passed and I took off as they did. Well, I kept pace for awhile, but they soon boosted it up to 23-27 mph and I decided to hang back with a lone rider and visit with them, as opposed to trying to hang with these monsters. Seriously, I'm pretty good at the 20-22 mph pace, averageing 18-19 mph. These guys were running 23-25 and averaging 20 mph plus. :shock: As we stopped for brunch I reflected on this and looked at these monstrous riders a little closer.
They were all lean and mean. They ate like it, too. In reflection, another 30 pounds cut off my frame would probably help a lot. I think my fitness is comparable and I know I have more leg than they do.. I decided on the way back I would try and stay with the big boys as we went upsteam on the way back. I led out part of the way and relinquished the pull thinking we would paceline back. We were a party of three by this time, out of some 16 riders. Relinquishing the pull was a mistake, as there was no change-offs and I found myself struggling to hang on. Really struggling and this isn't something I'm accustomed to, at all! I say this because these guys were cruising..... I was working my butt off!
Now, this is no reflection on the bike. The Carbent and the CA are both fine bikes, but I kept them in range and gained on the climbs.... I'd like to ride with them through some hills, but I think their obvious fitness would take over at some point in time. Still, being an overweight rider and project in process, I could see a lot of potential. I wasn't totally out of my league..... But I did get beat up some. I realized I need to rethink a few things in my personal life if I want to run with the big boys. Biggest thing is to rid myself of the last thirty pounds of lard. Secondly, i need to change the way I train on my commute ride More intervals at higher paces will get those averages up.
I still think riding must be fun. i love to be competetive.... I'm good to go slow on beginnerand intermediate rides, but when the pace accelerates like it did Saturday, I want to be right there.
Mark
