I was tired after my trainer session, real tired.

But the sun had come out and it was very warm for a February Sunday Afternoon. The weather was just plain too good not to ride. So I got on my Colnago and headed down to the Red Lot to join the Salem Bicycle Club for their afternoon ride. I promised my legs that it would be an easy recovery ride, nothing intense.

I kept my promised as I rode southward toward Salem. As I approached the School for the Deaf, Joanne joined me. Her work meeting had just ended and she will be able to ride with us.

The route was a short loop back up toward our home, and we took it easy. That is until Jim, Mike and I took a wrong turn and found ourselves off route. We were not that far off route, but we now found ourselves behind the rest of the group. This was fine with me, but Jim and Mike took off at a very fast pace to close the gap. I followed.

Soon, I was putting out 500 watts and my legs were not happy. They reminded me that I promised them that I would take it easy and not work them hard, but I was not listening. I could only see Jim and Mike ahead of me and I had to catch them. My legs fought me, but after several minutes in the “cave of pain”, I pulled up into their draft where I was happy to be.

The rest of the ride was easy, and my legs were grateful.