Saturday, May 2, 2015

Reality Check

This sums up this morning's ride:



I had such high hopes after averaging 18mph on a chunk of my ride two weeks ago.  I envisioned climbing hills with ease, hauling a$$ down the bike lane, commanding Rabbonni (my husband's bike, f.k.a. Teacher, renamed in Aramaic.  Because, well, seminary) with such skill and confidence that I look like someone who actually, I don't know, rides.  So.  Yeah.  That so didn't happen.

There are a number of factors that contributed to the crazy slowness of this ride.  It was a route I'd not ridden before.  The roads were crazy rough.  There were some hills.  My legs were sore from yesterday's intervals and swim.  But, mostly, it was just that I'm still such a newb.

I almost fell over at the first light - started to lean to the left, where I was still clipped in, and had to frantically unclip before I toppled over at the intersection in front of God and everybody.

Things went alright for a few miles after that, until I dropped a chain at another light - it was quite comical, really.  I'd been waiting for what seemed like forever for the light to change.  Low traffic means not very many cars to set off the light sensor.  I was beginning to consider walking over to the crosswalk and pressing the button when a car came up behind me.  Finally!  I clip in and realize that there is no tension - the chain had dropped from the front ring.  I then had to scurry over to the sidewalk - only on the left side of the road, of course - and fix my chain.  As I was doing this, of course, the light changed.  grrr.  So, I used the crosswalk - walking the bike across the road in case I lost the chain in the intersection (terrifying thought!!) and continued.

About three miles from the end of my ride, it happened again.  This time, I fixed it and it dropped again when I was about to take off.  Three strikes and I was out.  I called TriHubby and asked him to come and get me.  Defeat.

As I was waiting for him, I looked at my ride stats on Strava.  11.9 mph Average?!?!?  Then, I felt a little better when I saw I was awarded QOM for one segment.  Cool! Until, I saw that I was the only one to attempt that hill this year.  Looking at all time women - I was DFL.  Insert deflating sound effect here.  Crap.

So, I have a much longer way to go than I thought.  At least as far as today's ride is concerned.  You win some, you lose some, and sometimes, you fall over.