Reassessing Expectations

This one's also about Pelotonia. But I'm not fundraising. I'm writing as a rider.

First, some history...

Pelotonia 2009

I rode with Lance. I felt great! I was thrilled to be there! As a rider, it was a wonderful experience.

Pelotonia 2010

I never blogged about the ride...for a number of reasons (though I'm not sure which reason was my tipping point...long story...even for me).

The Pelotonia Cycling Team led us out of town,
setting a paces that (eventually) caused a selection.

I rode with the lead group. The Pelotonia Cycling Team led us out of town. Once into farmland, the bunch began to dwindle. Sketchy group riders fell by the wayside. There was one crash I saw—a rider got bumped to the side of the road into a culvert, with a spectacular cartwheel the result.

When we got into the rolling hills, riders were dropped with each passing kilometer. The steady group pace was around 26 mph, and a lot of riders simply couldn't stay with it.

I was fortunate to have hooked up with one of the strongest of the strong, and a leader among the group. My friends, Sloane "I'm Big, I'm Army strong, I'm kinder than you can imagine" Spalding and Robert "I Ride BMC and can suffer like a bastard" Collier connected me to Dave "sure I'm skinny, but I'm stronger than YOU" Chesrow.

Dave particularly helped me to be accepted by a peloton that—at this point—was locals-only.

While local surfers are a floating gang that protects its favorite break, a local peloton is a rolling gang. It has its own character, pecking order, and mores. Make no mistake, I was an outsider. And I knew it.

And this makes sense. A fast-moving peloton demands a level of commitment and trust from its riders that few "normal people" can grok. We're traveling at 26+ mph on the flats and 40+ downhill. We're on twitchy, high-performance vehicles that have less than 3 square inches of road contact. We're drafting within inches of each other's wheels. And we occasionally bump—elbows, knees, hips—as we react to an ever-changing road flow, including debris, holes, animals, and vehicles.

"Neither a borrower no wheelsucker be..."

So, there I am, an out-of-town guy. Am I a strong rider? How am I in a bunch? Will I take my turns on the front? Will I wheelsuck? Can I climb? I had to prove myself, but having a "sponsor" made it a lot easier.

My goal was a sub-five hour time. This translates into a 20 mph average—including any stops along the way. When you consider the liquid necessaries (input AND output), that average speed needs to be even higher.

This group could do it.

I could do it.

Could we do it together?

The short answer is: yes. I came across the line in 4:56. This included necessaries. We were fast and well-supported. In fact, several of the crew had their own SAG support, which made all the difference in the world.

I was one of the first two cancer survivors across the line. I was one of the first three Limited Brands finishers.

But that's not the point of this post. I could write a detailed report, but (really) who cares. This is a post about now. Today. And one week from today.

Pelotonia 2011

Starner Hill. One leg. I'm thinking the lead group will
drop me like...something unpleasant...

I have written before that my goal for 2011 is to finish in the top 10.

Um...Er...Well...

I tore a muscle in my calf last week. I am writing this 11 days after the injury.

It's not healed.

Not even close.

I visited my physical-therapy guru. He was blunt. I need to re-set my expectations.

I went on my team's Wednesday night sufferfest. Sawtooth profile. Oh. My.

Imagine pedaling with one leg. Now add just 75% of the downstroke of the other leg.

The result? A 2.5 mile-per-hour drop in my average speed for that ride.

Wednesday's ride taught me a few things. I learned that at steady-state, I am still strong. What I can't do is surge, handling attacks or the accordion-like behavior of a competitive group. If left on the front, I can pull. But the dynamic aspect of a competitive ride is beyond me.

I learned that I can climb. In the saddle. Even on an 18% grade. I can even get out of the saddle. But I also learned that I can't so it for long.

I also learned that if I'm out of the saddle, I'm down to one and a quarter legs. I cannot pull up with my right, and I can't flex down with any power (driving through my calf).

Oh, did I mention that I'm right-dominant?

Shite.

Reassessing Expectations

I'm not ready to give up on the lead group just yet. I'm stubborn that way.

I need to test it.

The route to Thurmont...60+ miles one way.

Most of me believes that I can stay with the group over Starner Hill. But at what cost? Will I blow myself out on one-and-a-half legs? Will I be able to hang on (for dear life, by my fingernails) the whole 102? Will I tear the fibers more, rendering me useless?

So, Sunday morning I will be on the road at 0530. I will head for Thurmont, in a variation on my Father's Day ride. I will come home. I will ride for as long as necessary to complete the mileage. I won't care a whit about speed.

I'll come home, eat, shower, self-massage, and decide. I will answer the question: what are my expectations of myself for this ride.

And I will let you know on Monday.