Route 77 x 2

Today I took RPM instructor T outdoors on route 77.  It wasn't the best introduction to the route given the weather conditions.   In a word the weather was "crap".  It rained most of the way to Martinborough and was extremely cold, even for someone who doesn't feel the cold.  Lesson there for me is if I ride again on a day like today I will definitely be wearing my "long johns", especially as I know they are super warm.  I probably wouldn't have gone for a ride today given the weather if we hadn't scheduled the ride.  That's the gift of having someone to ride with. In RPM terms they help you give the dial a bit of a "nudge". I also like to think it is part of the conversion process to becoming a "real" cyclist.    I'd garden in the rain, because real gardeners don't just garden on sunny days, like real trampers tramp in the rain.  Now the same applies to cycling! It's all good training, and should it rain for the Taupo challenge, we will be "rain fit". 

It was great to have the company of a real person, T, rather than have to rely on the i-pod in my ears.  I had to cope with that whole holding a semi conversation while cycling thing, which one doesn't have to worry about when cycling solo.  So while I didn't talk that much, it was a lot more than I usually talk when riding solo! It's that general principle that you should be able to walk and talk.


I was reminded today that if you are fitter and leaner you will get up a hill faster.  Its a basic principle I do need to be reminded of re the focus and wider goals.  When I'm travelling solo, well I just go slowly so I get up and over the hill when I do.  I stalled on one of the hills today, which was unexpected.  I felt like a car that just wouldn't get into the right gear - and not a Toyota!  It wasn't helped that the bike foot holds were a little wet and slippery. I don't think I'm riding in the right gears for the hills, but I think the "wrong" gear helps me re carrying the extra weight.  I'll try and experiment a little more to get the gear thing right.  It was actually good to be reminded a big advantage of being fitter and leaner is you can go faster, among other things:-)


We had coffee at the Wine Centre.  T was worried about people commenting on her "tap" shoes.  I was too wet to worry about people noticing me in my lycra shorts, so didn't change at the Straw House as I have previously.


So, crap conditions to ride in, but compensated for by having good company to ride with.