new route

I haven't been ride-blogging much, because I haven't been happy with my performance and condition. Since fall, when I've been on the bike, I've been slower than I hoped, and I'm tired out in shorter distances than in the past. I know that, starting about a year ago, I didn't ride as much as I had prior to that... but I've also realized recently that, even three and four years ago, when I was leading rides out of Franklin, I was often falling off the back of the group by the end of the ride.

 The Excellent Wife (TEW) has been steadfast in her belief that all I need to do is get back to riding regularly and frequently to get up to my former level of fitness. I don't think that's all it will take (I've put on about 15lbs in the past two or three years), but I do agree that I want to ride more. I've set myself a goal of 25 ride leads for the club for 2026, and, while it's not a goal, two or three rides of at least 20 miles per week through October of 2026 sounds like a good idea.

As part of the "lead 25" proposition, I listed a club ride for yesterday. I've moved from near that Franklin start I used to use, to Monroe, and this start was at the Thompson park, just down the hill from my house. I was pleasantly surprised to get thirteen signups. At the start:

You can see the route on the ride page (you can also see that the route is only about 1000' of climb, and that I definitely rode within the C+ pace). The riders generally appeared satisfied with it.

I had a couple of bits of drama: the road surface was rough in places, and on Davidson's Mill Road (I think), I hit a pothole so hard that I flatted the front tire. I changed out the tube as quickly as I could (which is quick; I'm a good mechanic)... when a fellow rider pointed out that the rear was ALSO flat. I'd popped both tires on that hit! I've been riding for decades, and I don't think I've ever seen an incident where both tires got pinch flats at the same time. I used both of the tubes I carry, and both of my CO2 cartridges. (And I made sure to replace them in my kit when I got back. How frustrating would it be to have a flat, and find that the only tire supplies I had, were the ones I'd destroyed on a previous ride?!)

We proceeded without incident to a stop at the Bagel Bazaar in Dayton.

 After the stop, though, I was tired, and I began slowing and falling off the back of the group. Several had the route loaded in their various devices, so they continued. I wound up falling off the back entirely. 

At a few points, individuals waited to see if I was OK (for which I'm grateful). I got back without much energy, but also without a problem. Just before the end of the route is a drop of about 70' in about a half-mile. I decided NOT to do that, because I would have had to climb back up to go home.

I'm sure the other riders will forgive me. 

I'll plan to lead this route again, along with my no-pace rides. Maybe some of you club members will come out!