In front of people...

After all these years of riding a bike, it finally happened to me. Those clips on the bottom of the shoes that are always necessary and beneficial backfired in front of a group of people.

I have started training on the bike with the guys on Sunday mornings. This group has been riding a long time and the only time I can keep up with them is on their warm-up. How embarrassing! But I am getting better and better. On the downhills and mostly on the flats, I can keep up. It's the hills that generally separate them from me.

A few days ago was out 70km ride up to the top of Al-Hajb and back. I definitely had the paddy wagon covered. No one was going to get behind me. Once we got to the top, I noticed half the group fully rested and waiting for me. But they were there cheering for me. On the ride back down, I was able to keep up with them (with a few pushes on the back from someone.) It wasn't until about 5km out that I just couldn't keep up anymore. So I let them finish their race as I slowly came hobbling into town.

As I was pulling in, I noticed the group of guys sitting under a tree waiting for everyone (ME) to finish up. As I came up to stop alongside, they were cheering again, but I didn't notice too much cuz at that moment, I unclipped my left shoe, but was too exhausted to get the right one out. In front of the group of 12, I then proceeded to lean to far to my right and fall onto my side and back with the bike on top of me.

I think I heard the roar of laughter come up, but was way too beat to care. I am sure they have done that once or twice. But it sure is a healthy feeling to be humbled in front of a group of people from time to time. That keeps your head down in reality.

But I am getting faster and faster as the days go by. Hoping to keep the bike time on October 2nd down to around 6 hours vs. 7-8 hours. I think that 18.6 mph over 112 miles is very doable if I can just let these guys train me well.