Each spring I ask my legs the same question as I climb the smallest hill at a snail’s pace: “What is wrong with you?? This is merely a small mound.” Even the smallest hill seems like a mountain. Cycling is one of those sports where you have to ride frequently in order to keep your endurance. Taking the shortest amount of time off such as a week can cause you to work harder when you return. I know what you are saying: “Well, what do you expect since you did not spin all winter long!” But spinning is boring and I don’t like gyms. And what about all that cross-country skiing and running that I did throughout the winter, shouldn’t that have helped me? I think that the answer is yes. Sure riding up the hills is painful and I am slow, but I can still climb them. That was not the case a few years ago. Also at the same time, I can still go 25 to 30 miles per hour on the flats without feeling like my legs are going to fall off. Without all the activities that I did during the winter, I am sure that I would not have been able to pick it back up so quickly.
My frustration is that it is only April and some of my fellow riders are riding as if it was the middle of August. Serves me right for not spinning all winter long! Some of you might say to stop riding with these folks. But they are my friends! :) Also, in my opinion, riding with strong people will make you stronger. They can be very motivating. I think that I am a stronger rider because I do ride with them. I have realized a long time ago that I will never be as strong as them because I do not want to spend all my free time riding. That to me is too much work. I ride because it’s fun. Riding is also my exercise so feeling some pain once in a while is not such a bad thing. :) So as I ride up the hill at a snail’s pace, I look forward to the ride where that hill will seem merely as a mound.
ride.hike.eat. 