Today I joined an ALC training ride facilitated by The Positive Pedalers across the Golden Gate Bridge and around the bay to Tiburon.  We followed the CAT Series Tiburon 30 mile route (39 miles from my apartment.)

Unlike the crazy rainy days we’ve been experiencing all week, today was gorgeous.  Our ride pulled in a few riders from yesterday’s rained out event which made this the largest group of people I’ve ridden with so far (at least 30 people).  Bicycle traffic was a little hard to negotiate throughout the ride, especially at the beginning.

Though we all heard the safety speech and guidelines about riding in big groups, other groups on the rode didn’t follow similar etiquette.  I’m used to riding in small groups (5 or less) and in my experience, the more people involved the larger role ego and competition play.

I definitely felt pushed to keep up my speed today.  I was determined to stay with the front group.  Since there were so many of us, we were riding in a single file line.  I don’t get caught up on placement in that line since we’re all essentially going the same speed.  Many times on this ride, someone would struggle to advance a place in the line only to cut off the person in front of them.

I can’t decide if it’s more annoying than when the people who make it to the stop light last cut in front of the line of cyclists waiting for the light. The person who cuts to the front usually holds everyone up when we get rolling again.  We’re all forced to pass them until the next light comes. The only time this doesn’t bother me is when the person is really faster than everyone waiting.

At first, I was a little disappointed about how short the ride was.  I decided to ride hard and fast to make up for the lack of distance.  (I even think I rode the fastest I’ve ever ridden, down the Sausalito Lateral at 33.4 mph!)

At the halfway point, Shark’s Deli, I tried to convince a few people to do an extra climb with me up the Marin Headlands or Twin Peaks.  No takers, so I decided to keep the break short (less than 10 minutes) swallow a Clif Bar and head out with the guy who was the fastest to get to the halfway point.  He really helped me keep up my pace (though he did wait up for me a few times at lights).  I had the easiest (though not easy) time of the Sausalito Lateral.

I stretched on every break during the ride and I spent about 10 minutes stretching at the end.  I think I want to do at least 20 minutes next time.  When I was done with that, I bought some cycling socks at Sports Basement.  I can’t wait to try them out!

During the ride, I fantasized about riding up Twin Peaks at least twice a week.  Then started playing with numbers.

• 17 weeks till the ride
• 34 rides up Twin Peaks
• $2000 more to raise

If I could only get people to sponsor me for 60 dollars for each ride I do up Twin Peaks to Train for the ride, not only will it encourage me to keep up my training, I’ll make my minimum fundraising goal.

I think I’ll update my AIDS/Lifecycle donation page to put it that way.  I might even tweet it right now!

I guess it’s worth a try!