I've Seen Better Days

[sandy]

I hate it when you come back from a ride and its taken its toll out on you. Like the road won, you lost. I guess you can tell what I did today. Just thought I'd put it out there :cry: Lizard, I need to know do you ever feel like that? And lets not even talk miles.

[like2bike]

Oh Sandy I assure you, you are not alone. Some days I am just "off." And I know there are lots of us out there who have felt this same way. But think about this: if we did a kick A$$ ride every time, where would the challenge be? Next time you ride you will push yourself to do better than today, right? So, there's the challenge. Where would we be in life without challenge? Here's another good opportunity to read the Sameul Beckett quote below. :D

[Pink]

Ugh, some days are just like that for no reason you'll ever figure out. Just grab a chocolate bar, shrug your shoulders & chalk it up to "oh well." The weekend will be here before you know it.

[megale3]

Even when I have felt like this (AND I HAVE) its still been a better day then at work or inside a cycling room. Freedom Baby! Own your ride be there as if it were going to be the last ride that you have done.
Meg

[lizardbiker]

I hate it when you come back from a ride and its taken its toll out on you. Like the road won, you lost. I guess you can tell what I did today. Just thought I'd put it out there :cry: Lizard, I need to know do you ever feel like that? And lets not even talk miles.

Just take those rides and use them as an experience to dig in and get to know how much you can take. The road didn't win - you survived and you're stronger for the effort. Take it as a challenge to go back and dare the road try to take another piece of you.

Probably the most frustrating rides I've done were in Lancaster County -
On The Nightmare Tour one year, it rained the entire 200 miles. A link in my chain broke 1/2 way up Swamp Church Road (18% grade) and had to go the next 20 miles with the rear derailleur constantly shifting gears before I could get a tool to remove the damaged link. Every time the chain jumped gears it felt like a hammer was hitting the bottom of my feet. I swore at my bike and vowed to drag it across the finish line if I had to. Needless to say I now always carry a chain tool and a couple spare links. Crossing the finish line I had to use my feet to stop as my brake pads were worn out due to the gritty water eating the pads on the mountain descents.

A couple years later on the 1st Longest Day Challenge (402 miles) the temperature stayed in the upper 90's and my choice of nutrition didn't seem to do well in that weather, so for probably the last half of the race I had really bad gastrointestinal issues. Thanks to a crew with one heckuva strange sense of humor, we ended up being the only soloist to finish. Hopefully no golfers hit their ball into the ditch I had to visit during the night portion of the ride :shock:

The second Longest Day Challenge the race coordinator decided not to mark the hard to find turns, which happened to occur during the night portion of the race, and the cue sheets that he provided were off by up to several miles. Needless to say we ended up majorly lost in the boondocks of Lancaster county and added lots of extra time and miles to the race. After that race I've stopped participating in his events - $100 entry fee and the only thing that he gave you was an inaccurate cue sheet. It didn't help that some of the road signs were missing at the turns, so you couldn't even look for the next turn very effectively. The nearest soloist quit before he got 1/2 through due to being lost.

Experiences that kick your butt help build strength and character. You have started your own personal collection of experiences that you can look back on and see how much you've developed as a cyclist! One day you'll hammer that very same ride and think back on the ride you just completed and smile. :D

Oh yeah - it also helps to give yourself a big motivator to keep yourself going when you feel beat up. Mine is that if I ever fail to finish a ride due to quitting, I have to tattoo a big DNF on me to remind myself. So far the only tattoo I have is my Perseverence Lizard :D

[lizardbiker]

Guess I should add my last big ride - the pilgrimage to the Cannondale plant. The last 2 1/2 hours in the dark it rained and blew and got real cold. Visibility was really bad and I couldn't stop shaking for about 1/2 hour after getting home. But I completed my pilgrimage and it was worth it :D
Ok - so maybe I have an issue with pushing the envelope. Stay tuned for my report after the 620 miler on Memorial Day weekend :twisted:

[RaffCycles]

Like the road won, you lost.

It is kind of like the road is talking smack. Look at it as a challenge for you to go out the next time and ride your heart out and defeat the deamon road. I bet your next ride will be fantastic.

[BFSpin]

Probably one of your brake pads was rubbing against the rim. . . yeah, that's it :wink:

Seriously, a couple of thoughts: were you well-hydrated/well-nourished going out? That's key for me . . .

Also, remember that for every "bad" ride, you're going to have dozens of great rides . . . and every now and then a No Chain kind of day. Makes the "bad", character-building rides all worth it.

And I tell myself - no matter what - every day on the bike is a GOOD day :D

Oh, and also - if you've never ridden with your brake pad rubbing, even very slightly, try it sometime. I've done it, and thought for the first 10 miles of the ride that there was something wrong with me, like maybe I was getting sick or something. The legs just felt dead and sluggish, couldn't get over the hump. Finally I stopped and checked the bike over - oops! The rear brake had gotten bumped at some point. Amazing how free I felt when I cleared it :roll:

Beth

[sandy]

Thanks Guys, I know we all have those days, but it helps to hear it. Your stories and anecdotes help. I know I tend to suffer a little in the early season rides and the buddies I generally ride with are stronger and YOUNGER ( I love that excuse) but the good days are coming I know it.
By the way BFspin, usually I am looking for a bike malfunction to explain my lameness. I would love it if just once that was the cause. And just as a sidenote: I know I'm in trouble when I look down just to check, because I "think" I'm riding in the big chain ring. :?

[Mark M]

I hate it when you come back from a ride and its taken its toll out on you. Like the road won, you lost. I guess you can tell what I did today. Just thought I'd put it out there :cry: Lizard, I need to know do you ever feel like that? And lets not even talk miles.

I know what you mean. All my Tuesday and Thursday rides are like that. Yesterday, we were pedaling at a fairly fast pace. I fumbled my water bottle and it dropped to the ground. I stopped. Went back to get my bottle, it was smushed. Put it back into my cage. It fell out again. Then, I had to play major catch-up. It took me several minutes of hitting it at 24 mph to finally catch a friendly wheel. It was 90 degrees out and left with no hydration. While still with the lead pack, I ran out of gas and was slowing down to allow another group to catch-up with me. Miraclously, they slow just a tad. I was able to recoup and managed to "hang on for dear life" the rest of the way.

Then, someone in front of me makes an unanticipated move and I get barked at from the "hammerhead" in back of me.

When got back to house, I grabbed a beer, sat outside with my basset hound, tired as hell, knowing that guys 20 to 25 years younger are as tired as me.

[cfoam4me]

Great insights Lizard and as with all things, tomorrow's another day to feel empowered and successful.

[love2spin]

BFspin:
Probably one of your brake pads was rubbing against the rim. . . yeah, that's it

I LOVE that! It has really happened to me on several occassions. I just chalk it up to, I worked harder and burned more calories. But dang while you are riding it sucks. :roll:

I have learned my lesson. That is the first thing I check when I am having a bad day. I secretly cuss when it isn't rubbing. :evil:

[BFSpin]

Last evening I was convinced I had the brake pad syndrome going on again. . . went out solo for the first time in a while, and everything just HURT. I got mad. But, I was by myself (just me and the cows out there), so I cursed and growled and pushed through.

And ended with a solo 16.7 avg over 30 rolling hill miles :D

B

[lizardbiker]

Last evening I was convinced I had the brake pad syndrome going on again. . . went out solo for the first time in a while, and everything just HURT. I got mad. But, I was by myself (just me and the cows out there), so I cursed and growled and pushed through.

And ended with a solo 16.7 avg over 30 rolling hill miles :D

B

I've also made that discovery that yelling improves performance. Doesn't even matter what you're yelling at - the hills, the wind, the road, cars, cows, squirrels, groundhogs....

Good job! I'm starting to get intimidated at the thought of actually encountering you on the road Beth!

[BFSpin]

Last evening I was convinced I had the brake pad syndrome going on again. . . went out solo for the first time in a while, and everything just HURT. I got mad. But, I was by myself (just me and the cows out there), so I cursed and growled and pushed through.

And ended with a solo 16.7 avg over 30 rolling hill miles :D

B

I've also made that discovery that yelling improves performance. Doesn't even matter what you're yelling at - the hills, the wind, the road, cars, cows, squirrels, groundhogs....

Good job! I'm starting to get intimidated at the thought of actually encountering you on the road Beth!

Don't worry, I only yell and growl and curse at the cows (and the wind, any my legs, and the chain) :wink:

Beth

[like2bike]

Good job! I'm starting to get intimidated at the thought of actually encountering you on the road Beth!

Man you ain't freakin' kidding Lizard! I'm not posting my average speed from last week's 1/2 Century here--NO WAY. :oops: Nice goin' Beth!

[BFSpin]

Thanks, like2bike - but know that every mile of that ride hurt!

B