Scotts Cycle hosts some of the funest rides in Salem. Every Tuesday and Thursday night, summer or winter, rain or shine, local cyclists gather in front of Scotts for an evening ride. During the summer, up to 60 riders will split into three groups – fast, medium and slow – for a ride in the farmlands outside of Salem. In the winter, the numbers are down to 30 riders who split into two groups – fast and faster. I have been riding with the slower of the two groups, but if you want to get faster, you must ride with folks who are faster than you.

So I rode with folks who are faster than me tonight.

About thirty of us head east our of Salem on State Street. The pace was quick, but I had no problems keeping up. However, the further east on State St. we went, the faster the pace was. Then we turned south on 62nd Ave and the pace slowed down. This was not good. This can only mean one thing – the group was saving energy for an all out attack on Macleay Hill. This is not good indeed.

Soon, we turned east on Macleay Road and the group attached. I was determined to hang on. I was determined not to be dropped. I dug deep and focused on the wheel in front of me. Do not let the wheel go! I could feel my heart rate climb and my breathing becoming labored, but I fought to stay with the group.

I know the hill well. I know where the incline steepens and where you have a chance to recover. I used this knowledge to the fullest extent possible and found I was able to hang in the back, working very hard, but hanging on.

Then, about half way up the hill, the real attack came and I could do nothing but watch the group ride away from me. Bye, bye.

But I did not let up. I continued to work hard to keep the gap as small as possible and perhaps to close if allowed to. I stayed about 100 feet back, working very hard and even picking up some riders who were being tossed off of the back.

At the top of the hill, at the right turn onto to 74th Ave, the slower group always regroups, but not the faster group. They continued riding hard all of the way to Jordon St. I was one of the last ones there, but not the last one!

The group then turned to the east and rode up to Howell Prairie where they continued east. I had had enough and turned north eventually returning to Salem on Center St.

After retuning home and downloading my ride data, I was suprised to find that my ride up Macleay Hill was the fastest since I started training again and also had the highest average power.

This proves that if you want to get faster, you must ride with those who are faster than you.