S...O....L....O....

Maybe Jason Derulo was onto something here....

....riding solo.

Now, the meaning of the song is referring to his relationship status, but this post is in regards to riding Solo versus riding in a group or with a few friends. Arguments can be made for both sides and each has it benefits as well as drawbacks. After my "stranglehold" post I really started to think about what it like for me to ride alone versus getting dumped out of a group.

Early on in my riding career I always rode with someone. Whether is was one person or a group of friends we were always together. All of us were about the same speed and skill level so it wasn't a big deal to ride 15-20 miles and see minimal separation. As time wore on I was on the stronger end of the group, before most of us stopped riding altogether. Each of us had our own reasons, but we were not riding solo...we were not riding at all.

Then I started a new job and started talking with Hoppe about riding again. Yes, that is his real name. We started riding together and tried to make it a weekly thing. Then we added a person or two to the group before eventually I changed jobs and the riding again slowed down.

I kept riding when I could. Mostly alone, because I wasn't a strong rider. I then got a job where I could join the SWMMBA group ride every week at Custer. It is entirely different riding with 20 people versus riding with one or two. The pace changes and surges and it can be hard to find a rhythm. I wasn't a strong rider. I would head out with the "medium" paced group and get dropped like a bad habit. No worries, as most of the time they would regroup. But I did have those days where I would get dropped, and simply finish riding alone.

A few years later I was still pretty gun shy about joining a group ride. C.D. talked me into joining a road group out of Holland from Velo City before they moved to River. I was nervous because I did have an understanding that riding in a group on the road is entirely different than a group in the woods. Speeds are higher and you are just generally closer to other riders. I tried it one week and rode towards the back of the pack for the most part. I was cutting my teeth and getting a feel for how things worked. It didn't take long to realize that being at the back is a bad idea because you get caught in the rubber band effect. Of course, being at the front is calmer. On the second week I went to the front and it was a totally different type of ride. I still got dropped.

In 2015 I was training pretty hard for LJ100. My mindset was way different and there was no such thing as a casual ride. Each ride I was on had intent. Whether solo or in a group....I made the pace mine. We did a group ride at Yankee where a handful of people joined. I wasn't the fastest but I was riding multiple laps, controlling my speed. We did a Kal-Haven ride where Jay asked what the pace should be. He is stronger than me and he knew how to push my limits for a better training ride. There were people though, that I didn't really want to ride with during this time. I was stronger and faster and riding with intent. They wanted to have casual group rides and chat. I had to ride solo most of the time mainly for scheduling, but also because I had a different purpose.

These days, I am the weakest link. No reason to sugar coat it. I am heavy and slower than I would like to be. The guys I ride with now easily leave me behind. I got split for a group a few weeks ago and never saw any of them again. My team had to wait for me at the tops of hills last weekend. A few weeks ago before Holland 100 I was doing my best to hang on in the gravel ride out of Zeeland. Time after time I get crushed and it just starts to wear on me mentally.  Every time I see people disappear over a hill it just demoralizes me. So much in fact that I tell them to just go, and I will fend for myself. What starts as a group turns into a group with me chasing. It isn't fun for them to wait, and it isn't fun for me to get dumped.

So will I still ride with people and get dumped out of the group like a purge from Dave Matthews tour bus....probably. I know eventually riding with them will help me get faster. But right now, in this moment I actually prefer riding alone. Mentally it gives me a break from everything going on. Physically, I can just ride for the enjoyment of riding instead of trying to turn myself inside out to keep up. In time, I will be back where I was when I was waiting for the group to catch up. Until then, you will probably see me 'riding solo'

Getting a stranglehold on the "weakest link"

Sunday I had a change of pace and slept in a bit before going to ride. A team meeting was scheduled for 9:30 with a ride to follow. The air that morning was heavy with fog and a soaking mist. The drive to Fort Custer was uneventful but very slow as the good citizens of this State were driving well under the speed limit even with solid visibility. Anyway, I got there on time, and snapped the pic above from on top of Eagle Lake. As you can see...or not see....the fog was dreary. 

Now on to the ride. There was only 5 of us. We started off innocently enough, but Jay was at the lead. The pace proved to be too much for me. I was hitting the corners a little hotter than I wanted, and was learning how my tires handle "wet" conditions. The trail had seem some rain and it was tacky. The top layer wasn't quite seated back to the rest of the surface and I could feel my tires peeling thru a a layer in some corners. The sand was packed and wet still, but my tires were grabbing and it was throwing the tracking of the bike off. I have noticed this handling difference before, but it still caught me off guard a few times, and I slowed down. But, that was just an excuse.

I got dumped. Hard. Again. Not too surprising considering who I was riding with, but frustrating to say the least. I would round a corner and they were stopped waiting for me. They would roll on when I came into view. I was essentially riding alone. No worries....as the weakest link I am frankly used to this situation. It sucks...but it is a position that I have firmly in my grasp. 

After our loop I filled my bottle and headed out again. I rode the green to the red and a full red loop. Jay was going to chase me after he got his bottle refilled, so I knew he would be coming eventually. I just rode my pace. Comfortable, not fast. I settled in and the miles kept slipping by. I say slipping because the rocks and roots were very slick still with the water in the air from the fog. It made for an interesting mix of sounds as the tires rolled over and slipped off the rocks.

Overall, it was a good ride. Slow or not, I was out there.

Whoops, been a while

In typical SC fashion I have let life get the best of me. Things have been busy and hectic as always. 

July ended as a solid month of riding for me. About 180 miles for the month. Not spectacular, but with all the chaos I am happy with that distance. Even headed to TK Lawless and rode a few solid laps down there. Love that trail.

This month has been fairly quiet. I did take my youngest to Luton Park for the first time. She had fun, but it was super hot and she faded pretty quick. Fun to watch her tackle new things and try things she never tried before. I will tell you this much, if I can keep her riding she will be a fast little bugger. She started to pull away from me on a climb when she really put her mind to it. I can teach her how to descend, but climbing is where she will thrive.

Otherwise, not a whole lot of riding going on. Plan on heading out tonight and getting my legs functioning again. Just hope my lungs can keep up. We have had some smokey days from the wild fires out west. Yes, we are seeing effects of the wild fires burning out in California here in SW Michigan. Crazy huh. 

Need to get some solid base miles because I will be headed North to Marquette in a few weeks. There, I will surely be the weakest link. I don't think I will care much, as I can just ride my pace and get back when I get back. Watching videos and chatting to people have me pretty stoked to head up there. Haven't ridden up there since Ore To Shore many many years ago. 

So....here I am....still turning the pedals slowly.