Um, yeah, Gunnar has turned the house upside down. Here we are blogging together and then taking a nap, all that typing is hard work. Thank gawd it was a recovery week or I might have freaked out. I’m freaking out just a little that I have a puppy that can’t hold his pee more than 2.5 hours yet and I have 9000 swim/120mi bike/30 mi run and some other stuff like work to fit in this week. I am getting accustomed to getting up but now I know why mothers eat their young. Sheesh! He’s lucky he’s so dang cute.
Group Rides, love em or hate em?
It’s a mixed bag for me. I am very wary of unknown riders – basically, I don’t trust most people on a bike so I keep my distance, won’t draft or just generally like to give space. I showed up at a Saturday morning group ride to discover a testosterone festival, save for one sweet girl who introduced herself with the caveat – I hope I can keep up, I don’t know my way around here and I just got my bike. Yes, ladies and gents, her bike had a kickstand on it. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be able to keep up the pace. I was certain these men were going to out do one another in their – who has the biggest penis contest…and I’m going to prove it by riding my bike real fast. Besides the kickstand, she was as sweet as could be and was just happy to have another girl around. It’s hard, I know we all have to start somewhere. I just started out alone or in very small groups before I would even dare bite of this little number. Hell, I was dropped like a bad habit within 8 miles. Oh well, maybe I’ll make it 10 next time. Yeah, I probably won’t be going back either. It’s all good. Everyone needs to get THEIR workouts in. I totally understand it. …and me going redline for 50 miles isn’t going to set me up for this first hell week. Good Gawd help me…
23 comments:
I go thru phases with riding in groups but for the most part I don't care for it and rather just ride w/hub's only. the thing with group riding is that it's really hard to find one with closely matched abilities. either you end up getting dropped or you have to constantly stop or slow down for the weakest link. the more people in a group, the higher the maintenance. I could probably write you a novel on this subject but I'll stop now and just say that for me the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to group rides. oh yeah, and my definition of a group ride is 5 or
more riders. I love Gunnar! just wanna eat him up! you getting ready for 3s3m?
I hear you on the groups...running in groups. There are times I don't mind it...actually enjoy it ...and there are times I don't want to run with you, listen to you...be around you...let me run by myself...and some guys just don't understand that...
Yeah, groups can be hard. I only had this with the running seminar and yeah I was left behind practically immediately. We have to get over it and do our own thing.
And gawd this puppy is so darn cute. But every 2,5 hrs. tuff. Have a great week nonetheless.
I am mixed on the group rides as well. The team I am on, the first team training ride of the year, people were dropped almost right away. Didnt make sense to me till I read your post, yep. boys cant do anything without their ego getting in the way.
Never did a group ride and I guess I'm pretty happy with that!
I like to do my own thing......ya know, like sing ABBA songs to the cows and such!!!
Puppy is a cutie pie. I remember having to get up 1.5-2 hours when breast feeding.......UGH! No sleep and sore boobs!
Not a fan of group rides. I like to get ready and when I'm ready I start. No waiting for someone stuck in traffic, or lost, or whatever. I ride at my pace, depending on how I feel. I stop to pee when needed.
Thankfully I ride with the same people (give or take a few) and know what I'm getting into. We work together and get a great workout in But again, I do like riding alone. I'm always leary getting into a ride with people that I don't know.
I get totally freked out when someone in a pace line decides to go down into aero. Ugh. That really stresses me out.
I know what you mean.... I think KC is avoiding me in Tampa (on rides) since I am "old" and she doesn't want to put up with waiting for me. I see her post confirms that.. but hey, I AM the two time IM finisher... :)
Nice dog... can we send you our Australian Shepherd to re pottie train??
+2 on the group rides/ Only nice thing is it gets you butt out of bed early knowing people are waiting for you. Other than that I prefer being by myself. Gunner, come here Gunner!!
Good luck this week. I like group rides if you know everyone, but I am not sure about riding with strange men. Cute doggie!
Man, I thought my 88 Trek was ancient and it didn't even have a kickstand!
Played w/ a 3 year old boxer named Winston this past weekend. Seriously ready to trade in the cat.
Keep the pics of that sweet pup coming, please!!!
I am with you on the groups. I have often been the lone female and then usually dropped after a few miles... Although I do like to ride with those that are a bit faster occasionally since it challenges, but again we all have to train our pace just like we have to race our race.
I LOVE group rides...when I want to be pushed. If it's a recovery ride, I prefer to be alone.
Wow. You have your hands full with that cutie!
I only do group rides once in a while for the same reason, a mixed bag. Good for speed work, though, and they always get me to push harder than I would on my own or with my usual riding partner.
Hope the puppy pee situation improves soon!
I don't mind riding in groups as I find it motivating to push if someone is a bit better than me. But you are right, redlining for 50 miles isn't going to do you any good. Poor girl, I hope she hasn't been scared away from riding! My ideal group size is probably 3-4 people. Small and manageable.
I started potty training my son around the same time you got to bring home Gunnar. My bet on who will learn the fastest goes to the dog. ;)
Group rides are good for pushing you to the next level, but the problem is that they are mostly just cyclists. They don't have a 10 mile run the next day!
Please don't eat Gunnar!!
You know why puppies are so cute?
Otherwise there would be no grown dogs.
I am so jealous. I have baby fever in the WORST way. (furry baby, the naked, talking, expensive kid freak me out)
Congratulations on the new baby!
dont you love guys with big dicks! riding with idiots like that is so counterproductive! I dont bother any more, if I go out on a group ride and they need to show their stuff, I let them go and have the testosterone fest! After all, I have smaller feet than all of them, so I know who wins! LOL
Dog is looking cute(and mischievious), have fun and a great training week. I experienced training pain for the first time in a while last week, I know why they have rest days now! Cheers
Not a fan of groups, because I don't want to talk to people while I'm working out. Also I know I'm slow so I'm holding someone back.
There are two types of group rides I like:
1) Recovery
2) We have a morning interval ride on a 4m hilly loop. We ride to the loop together as a warmup, every ones does their own intervals at their own power numbers, and then we ride together back as a cool down.
Finding a group is difficult as it is a three bears type of deal (too hard, too easy, just right)
I'm surprised that little guy is letting you blog. The look in his eyes is that it is just a matter of time until he rules the house. Oh wait, he probably already does.
My first "group ride" wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped either. Although, for me, it was because they were too slow for my taste. Whatever!
I remember when Boomer was that little and didn't sleep through the night. You've never had a non-furry baby but it's just like this. Except real babies take longer to finally be able to sleep all night. Enjoy him while he's small. Of course, you're no stranger to puppies, I know. ;)
He's adorable, but man I could not deal with a new baby/puppy at this point in my life!
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