Good thing I embraced Bike Month, because RAGBRAI is basically almost here.
Of course I exaggerate — slightly. But I did just download the training plan and do a double-take at how few weeks remain on it.
I do have a couple long rides under my belt and more of the medium-length rides that the plan incorporates. The longest of those even involved heat, humidity and a few hills.
So I think it's fair to assume I at least managed to develop a base before the real training.
One good development: the fact that a team member spoke ominously about the hilliness of this year's route, causing me to panic every time I had to work hard going uphill.
How is that good? It means that I've at least vowed to hit the horrific Neal Smith Trail hill once a week, and that when my options for traveling by bike are short-and-hilly or twice-as-long-but-flat, I feel obliged to pick the former.
Another good development: Training for Dam to Dam kept me from burning myself out on biking. (Granted, the fact that I did both meant I felt like I mastered neither, but that's another story.)
I remember last year, when I dutifully followed the weeklong rider plan for four days of RAGBRAI, I found myself tiring of riding.
I have no intention of ramping up the training plan to "make up" for the lost month, so I should be much mentally fresher this time around.
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