My Best Rides Recently
Have you ever gone for a ride and the only thing you do is to chase and chase until there is no strength left for even a 27kph (Kilometer Per Hour). This was my fastest ride ever. According to Strava it is my First Fastest 30k Lifetime. i.e fastest 30kilometer ride for the first time. This doesn't mean that I have never ridden for 30k before but that this was the fastest I have ever gone within that distance (30 kilometers).
Why So?
Naturally, everyone rides a bike, but not everyone can ride fast enough on a bike 🚲. In Velotrybe. the riding team I associate with, there are a set of three riders:
- The Pros: Professionals who go for Competitions within and outside the country.
- Veterans: Bike enthusiasts who engage in community rides within the state
- Newbies: Joy riders Who are interested in riding.
I am among the Veterans but wish to Improve my riding game. Pro riders, especially competitive periods like this one do well to train at least twice a week and also ride with the Veterans Every Saturdays too.
Due to the poor weather conditions, some rides did not hold on so i reached out to one of Pros and enquired when they're going on their training to join them on their training. When I first rode with them on the 1st of March this year, the Coast to Coast ride to Ibeno Beach, I was really impressed by their speeds, endurance, cycling techniques among many others things. And now with a road bike, it would be taking a closer look and observing them even more.
The Ride
Best rides are in the morning and outdoors. On the day of the ride, I contacted them and I was shared a location. A starting point which was a different from that of Veterans. I woke up early and took a light breakfast. I'm not clipping yet, so I fastened my shoes and my helmet.
I reached there earlier than they did. Few minutes later, they arrived, a route was decided and it is time to go. As if I knew how it would go, I drafted behind them, Mary (a female) and Simple (a male). I don't know if it was because of this that they didn't tell me the pace they were going to ride at (drafting behind them).
Stats
This guy called simple is like the "Podgacar" of velotrybe. His legs are so muscular, it looks like he has a yam in front of his thigh. Always leading the line. I am not going to lie, I screamed to them a few times to slow a bit to do two things. catch my breath and and rest my legs. The aim was to go for a 35km/hr Avg but dropped me at the last 3km and did 33kph Avg.
I persisted and didn't lose sight of them even if it was just their back till I got Back to the start averaging 32.2km/hr. For a first time ride with them, they said I did great. I felt so fulfilled.
Going back home to tell all my mates about this ride, felt more Accomplishing. I knew I could do better. She, Mary told me to get clipping shoes and pedals as it would help me better perform on climbs and have better grip. I thought it nice but this needs some funding too.
What do you think about this ride?
Was it worth it?
What was your best and fastest ride like?
Will clipping shoes and pedals really improve my cycling performance?
See you in the comments!
[20hp Delegation]