A Thousand Times No

After being off my road bike for nearly two years, I’ve slowly been trying to get my distance riding legs back. In addition to not quite having my full pistons, I have more junk in the trunk nowadays than what is, er, aerodynamically desirable. Now that Fatty at FatCyclist.com has somehow melted into Svelty, I think it’s time for me to redouble my efforts, even as I embrace my inner cream puff.

To that end, on Monday night I tried joining Sturdy Girl Cycling group ride. Long story short — I got dropped, totally dropped, within the opening five miles. My great downfall, as always, was in the hills. I’ve been riding mostly on flat road so far this seasons, and climbing takes its own set of gears, both on the bike and in your legs. You will feel every extra ounce of booty when you match yourself against a steep grade. The Sturdy Girls also ride in a double paceline — a Procrustean bed for weightier riders, who tend to compensate for a slower uphill pace with steady, and sometimes blistering, downhill momentum.

The season is young, and I’ve got all summer to train. Maybe by Labor Day I’ll be able to ride like a (sturdy) girl.