OMG I'm so unfit

So both you boys will be pleased to know that I (Lee), despite hideous rain and wind, made my way this morning to the meeting point for Dulwich Paragon's Saturday morning ride. I got there to only find 3 other riders (these rides usually attract around 50 which gives you some idea how bad the weather was) and they looked like their minds were already made up...there's no way we are going out in that weather........however 3 other riders turned up and just as everyone was looking forward to saying let's not bother.....the clouds temporarily showed a bit of blue.....so we set off. Now what usually happens I'm told is that the group splits into 3 groups, fast, intermediate and steady...but because there were 7 riders only we stayed together.....and therefore an intermediate to fast pace was set.....OMG, how unfit am I. As soon as we hit the first climb I was left behind, really really easily....but they waited for me at the top (good bunch of lads). I kept up on the flats, was a little way behind on steady inclines and left for dead on any climb of note...but they always waited. This continued for the next two and a half hours....them waiting for me to catch up once they reached the top of a climb. Having said all that they did say that for my first time out with a group I'd done well to stay with them. It was a good feeling to be out with other riders and I now understand especially on flats how much easier it is....when I say easier I by no means mean easy, because the ride wasn't that for me. So to conclude I did 7 miles either side of the ride and the ride was about 35 (I forget to set my cateye) It was good fun, despite the weather and I'll be back next week to try and keep up, but it'll be a while before I fly up the hills the way they do. Happy days.

pacey ride

The clocks went forward an hour and I (Steve) seemed to lose an hour on the group today!!! Totally hammered it from the shop to the start of the inclines around Haigh Hall area. Then the group split as the climbs really began. We went through Blackrod, Little Scotland and to the foot of Winter Hill. I hung back, slipped an energy gel from my pocket and straight down my mouth in anticipation of what testing climbs we were about to face. Then we swerved left and also whizzed past the Anglezarke sign. All that psychological build up and Steve Charlton decided to lead us from the foot of major climbs and head for the cafe via Coppul and Charnock Richard etc....
I hung onto the group as the pace quickened, but was feeling really dodgy. I paced Helen back onto the bunch, but was really struggling myself. About 4 miles from the cafe I started a coughing fit and threw up. (Blaming it on my sister’s salmon last night). It was lucky for me that I had decided to wear my overshoes, they saved me getting my new shoes covered in Wheatabix and carrots.
Managed to reach the cafe and sat outside as it was heaving with riders today. Strange thing was that I noticed nobody sat near me. Might have had something to do with the unusual pattern on my tights and the vile smell circulating from them! Still a decent ride and another 50 mile + ride in. Hope to get some decent training done this next few weeks, but won't be calling into our kids for a feed anytime soon! Thanks to Kev (who's flying at the moment) for hanging back for me.