Humility and Hills

On Wednesday night, I talked to Matt at the Bike Shop about riding. I had got the new rims and wanted to take them for a serious spin. He tells me that he has been riding a year and would like to ride with me. Sure I say, Saturday at 8:30 AM it is. Matt says he knows a good loop to ride. I don't know any better but like the idea of riding with someone since Christine was in Utah. I did not get out to ride on Thursday due to Location Meetings at work that went late. So I couldn't wait another day to ride on those new rims. Yes, they are ... DUBS if I can quote JD. It felt like a different bike. They rolled real nice and felt solid. Not mushy like the rims I took off. Well, my 20/20 hindsight tells me that my other rims have been bad for a long time and I should have changed them long ago. I know better know. Friday night was 21 miles with 3 x 10 of muscle tension with 5 minutes of rest in between. My heart stayed down around 131, as an average. I did the workout and just cruised, trying to get time on the bike. Saturday morning dawned and I was feeling good and oblvious about what was about to hit me. I rode for over 2 and 1/2 hours, almost 40 miles of hills upon hills. These are not the small rises in the road that can be overcome in a matter of seconds. These were the several mile long hills that got into the legs and stayed there for a while. We climbed so many feet of elevation, I felt like we would soon be in the cloud mist. There was some flats that I could loosen up the legs. Matt was kind to me. He even let me get up a hill first. I got dropped twice but stayed close. I was humbled. The other climbs, I am panting and he is talking to me like it is nothing at all. Then he tells me he is a racer. His season starts next Sunday. Wow! He is going to race in the Juniors as well. He is only 17. Double Wow!! I can suffer. I can ride through pain. I just don't have young legs. He didn't eat or drink much. I was sweating like crazy in 50 degree temperatures. I feel pretty good now. I did it and will do it again. The ride was not only difficult was beautiful. It was breath taking in some areas. Thanks to Matt for the ride and introduction to the area. I needed it. Now I know where to find the pain!!