CAT Series

Ride #11 Recap

Hi Everybody–

We had an extremely early start Sunday because they were closing the bridge bike lane for a race.  Nevertheless a bunch of people showed up at 5:45 to ride up to Lucas Valley.  The weather was cool and breezy but gorgeous.  Training this season has pretty much been a disaster because of all of the rain and the route was very challenging for a number of the riders.  If the ride just about killed you, don’t panic.  There’s still two months until the Lifecycle and you have a lot of time to train but you really need to be spending as much time on the bike as you can.  For the training rides, keep these things in mind:

•  Be Prepared for the weather.  A couple of our riders were cold pretty much all day.  That isn’t fun.  Make sure that you are prepared for cool weather and rain if it’s in the forecast.  Don’t forget sunscreen even if it’s overcast.  You should always wear sunscreen.
• Keep eating and drinking.  You’re going to make a tough day even tougher if you aren’t eating and drinking enough.  Take time at the rest stops to make sure that you are hydrated and fed.  Don’t worry about keeping the ride leaders waiting.  We don’t mind.
• Know your limits.  There’s no shame in opting for a shorter ride if it means that you’ll be able to complete it comfortably and safely.  There’s no point in pushing yourself to the point of possible injury to complete a route you aren’t prepared for.  It isn’t fun and you could end up with an injury that could sideline you for weeks.  Ask a ride leader if you think you want a shorter day and we can help you pick one.

Next week we’re off to Point Reyes Station.  It’s another gorgeous ride and there’s quite a bit of climbing.  See you on the road!