A humbling cycle ride

[Jon in Sweden]

I had a great 101km ride yesterday morning with a chap from our village who has competed internationally in triathlon and recently did a full Ironman in SE Sweden in just under 10hrs.

I planned a route for us that took us through most of the larger climbs in the area. It's not particularly hilly where we are, but some of the climbs are over 100m bottom to top.

I'm not so long back in the saddle after many years off, but it was amusing and humbling to get dropped on each and every climb and for me to be on my limit and for him just to be pootling along!

Up to now, I've only really been out with guys who I'm faster than, but it was brilliant to have a morning of full on effort and to be reminded that I still have a long way to go

This was my route and I got round an average 29.1kph.

[peetee]

Ah, welcome to my world. I’m of the age when most would just cycle for leisure but I still have a competitive spirit.
My regular fast ride partners are dynamos with more genetically-gifted power than I could ever hope to work my sorry frame up to. Riding single speed with them is a lesson in wheel following that doesn’t seem to get any easier - but hard as it is, I get a real buzz from it. I do know that there is no better way to improve. Riding solo just can’t achieve the same results.

[Jon in Sweden]

Ah, welcome to my world. I’m of the age when most would just cycle for leisure but I still have a competitive spirit.
My regular fast ride partners are dynamos with more genetically-gifted power than I could ever hope to work my sorry frame up to. Riding single speed with them is a lesson in wheel following that doesn’t seem to get any easier - but hard as it is, I get a real buzz from it. I do know that there is no better way to improve. Riding solo just can’t achieve the same results.

It's definitely a great way to get faster. There is no way I'd be pushing quite that hard by myself. My Garmin has only once before suggested a 4 day recovery time. It did again yesterday.

I just wish I wasn't quite so far out of his league - it'd be nice to be able to push him a bit harder, but hopefully I can improve enough to do that.

[mumbojumbo]

Without contours hard to assess terrain.

[PedallingSquares]

Without contours hard to assess terrain.

The profile under the map goes some way to showing the overall terrain.

OP keep at it.It's the only way and as demoralising as it can be,riding with stronger/faster riders is the best way to improve!

[mumbojumbo]

You can see it is uneven ,but could be Mendips ,Massif Central or Matterhorn.-who can tell?

[foxyrider]

You can see it is uneven ,but could be Mendips ,Massif Central or Matterhorn.-who can tell?

Its south Sweden, think Norfolk but with more trees!

[Jon in Sweden]

You can see it is uneven ,but could be Mendips ,Massif Central or Matterhorn.-who can tell?

Its south Sweden, think Norfolk but with more trees!

You're thinking Skåne. We're in Småland (Kalmar specifically) and it's actually very lumpy around here. Not quite as much climbing as Devon (which is where we moved from), but 150m/10km is easy to find on the hillier routes. The lowest points on my local rides are about 90m asl and the highest points just over 300m asl.

When on the mountain bike, the climb rates are much higher. The roads tend to avoid unnecessary climbing, but the forest tracks/roads don't. 200m/10km is normal, but you can find more than that.

[foxyrider]

You can see it is uneven ,but could be Mendips ,Massif Central or Matterhorn.-who can tell?

Its south Sweden, think Norfolk but with more trees!

You're thinking Skåne. We're in Småland (Kalmar specifically) and it's actually very lumpy around here. Not quite as much climbing as Devon (which is where we moved from), but 150m/10km is easy to find on the hillier routes. The lowest points on my local rides are about 90m asl and the highest points just over 300m asl.

When on the mountain bike, the climb rates are much higher. The roads tend to avoid unnecessary climbing, but the forest tracks/roads don't. 200m/10km is normal, but you can find more than that.

I was in Kalmar summer of 2019, compared to my usual stomping ground of the Pennines, its flat, i hardly changed gear! Skane is flatter i'll agree, the Wolds maybe?

[Jon in Sweden]

Its south Sweden, think Norfolk but with more trees!

You're thinking Skåne. We're in Småland (Kalmar specifically) and it's actually very lumpy around here. Not quite as much climbing as Devon (which is where we moved from), but 150m/10km is easy to find on the hillier routes. The lowest points on my local rides are about 90m asl and the highest points just over 300m asl.

When on the mountain bike, the climb rates are much higher. The roads tend to avoid unnecessary climbing, but the forest tracks/roads don't. 200m/10km is normal, but you can find more than that.

I was in Kalmar summer of 2019, compared to my usual stomping ground of the Pennines, its flat, i hardly changed gear! Skane is flatter i'll agree, the Wolds maybe?

Southern Kalmar is super flat, I agree. We're right in the north of the county - it's pretty hilly here. We even have a ski slope in our village

[mumbojumbo]

What a relief to have my query answered.