How humbling

[cydewaze]

I was reading the Tour De France stage results for stage 15 today, and I noticed that Lance's average speed for the stage was just over 25mph. And that's for a 112 mile ride in the Alps. Last week I was quite pleased with myself for finishing my 68 mile ride with an average speed of 17.5mph, and that only had a few short climbs.

I've been cycling for years, yet these guys wouldn't break a sweat on my hardest ride. The level at which these guys ride will never cease to amaze me.

 

[RC2]

Humbling yes, inspiring definitely. Then again these guys train full time all year round, have professional trainers monitoring their performance, micro-analyzing and tweaking their diets, optimizing every last freaking detail of their biking position/frame/etc. It's insane what they do these days...

 

[RichK]

Did you have the advantage of a pack to ride in on the flat parts and up some climbs? That makes a big difference!

 

[cydewaze]

Did you have the advantage of a pack to ride in on the flat parts and up some climbs? That makes a big difference!

No I don't. I'm out there swingin' in the breeze with pickup trucks zipping past a few inches away.

 

[Brunswick_kate]

Humbling yes, inspiring definitely. Then again these guys train full time all year round, have professional trainers monitoring their performance, micro-analyzing and tweaking their diets, optimizing every last freaking detail of their biking position/frame/etc. It's insane what they do these days...

Yes, I think cyclists are sometimes thier own worst enemy....We have a tendency to look at the pros and compare ourselves negatively and diminish our own accomplishments. I think we demoralize ourselves a bit. Looking back on training diaries over the past few years, I just noticed I ride less in July ...part because I'm watching the Tour but part because I'm subconsciously beating the **** out of myself.

Time to switch the tape inside my head!