Ok so my goal was to go for an easy ride averaging about 25km/hr for 3 hours. I started off exhausted, so I thought this would be a pleasant ride. I warmed up with 20minutes at 20km/hr, then I did 3 1 minute spin-ups (speed went up to 30km/hr), by then I was sweating. I slipped into the big ring and tried to tap out an easy 25km/hr. The old right knee immediately starting hurting, I said good, this one will hurt 30 minutes and already pain. Then my left knee started, the pain from the hip to the ankle, excruciating pain.
I should have guessed that something was seriously wrong, but I thought I was just being a wuss, and maybe the new asthma meds were screwing with me a bit. Gone was the high of riding to Niagra Falls averaging over 32km/hr! Now I felt like a 400lb, 65 year old man. But you have to be tough!!! RIGHT!!
After the 70 year old guy on the the mountain bike passed me, I stopped! I had to check if my brakes were on or something. (This is now 1 hour 30 into the ride) Damn! It was fine, I phone my friend (he did not know but I wanted to beg for a ride home). After talking to him (he said I should modify my goals, and maybe not try to qualify for RAAM). That reverse psychology crap really worked.
I check my saddle, for some reason it was too low (i have been averaging at this point 20.7km/hr), so I raised it and then my legs felt great!!! Yeah! It then started to rain, and the wind blew like a monsoon, but I had new life, I pictured myself like Jure Robic, in 2009 when they asked him how he does it and he said "I just do my job!".
I went into the drops, and started tapping out 35 km/hr into a head wind. My legs started burning, not hurting, but the old cyclist pain that I love, that fire that warms up the whole body. I started counting (1-2-3-4), keeping a CAD of 95, I kept it up and saved the ride.
3 hours/average 25km/hr/75km. I am still not sure what caused the initial suffering! I think I have to reset, and start building again.
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