Strava can’t measure Words per Mile.
In this hurry up, get it done faster, go faster, need faster everything world we strive to keep up with I think it’s good to slow down every once in a while. I don’t mean all the time, I just think that on occasion you can slow down enough to enjoy your surroundings a little more. Talk to your friends, your bike mates, about something other than cycling even. Crazy, I know!
Really, I’d love to know how many of you don’t even know the names of all the guys in your weekend peloton.
I rode with a large club in Illinois for years and I only knew half the names of the other riders. We all wore the same jersey, we trusted each other, we rode together – but we never talked. We were too busy trying to stay on a wheel. Not getting dropped was the only priority. Talking happened in the parking lot and if you had coffee after the ride. And even then, it was never everyone.
I love a fast bike ride as much as the next person but there are just some days when slow is better.
Maybe it’s the time of the year that is prompting me in this direction, I’ve peaked for the season and now I’m on the backside.
“BTW, I have a one or two day peak that usually means I had a really good ride in mid to late August where everything went well. Then it’s gone.”
But whatever the reason, slowing down and enjoying the company of your riding mates is a good idea. They say it’s also good for your cycling. Take a slow ride once in awhile to really recover from all that hard work you’ve been doing. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that slow rides mixed with hard interval rides can make you faster. That’s a good enough reason right there.
So next time you’re out, stop in the middle of the ride and take some pictures. Go slow enough to have a conversation with the person next to you. And by all means post it on Strava because if nothing else when you do have a faster ride your friends will be amazed at your progress.
Ride slow. Talk a lot. Be safe.
