Why must I ride hard?

[HLaB]

Thats one good thing about a short commute I can choose to ride hard or not and still arrive in a similar time

 

[BlackPanther]

I take it steady on the way to work so as to arrive sweat free so it takes me 45 mins (11.5 miles). On the way home it's time for a proper workout, usually around 35 mins. I'd break the 30 barrier if it weren't for those pesky red lights.

Yes it's perfectly normal. As is the 10% effort boost you give when you see another bike in front/behind!

 

[bobcat]

That is the joy in cycling, pushing your self where you can. I enjoy overtaking other cyclist's I will admit, but the most pleasure I get is through taking corners better, hills etc. etc. It's about what does it for you!

 

[Thomk]

Everyone has their own DLOCK (Default Level of Cycling Knackeredness) - it's where the joy is, don't fight it.

 

[defy-one]

I take it steady on the way to work so as to arrive sweat free so it takes me 45 mins (11.5 miles). On the way home it's time for a proper workout, usually around 35 mins. I'd break the 30 barrier if it weren't for those pesky red lights.

Yes it's perfectly normal. As is the 10% effort boost you give when you see another bike in front/behind!

I see 10 sometimes 20 bikes in front of me, coming from all angles when I come up Grays Inn Road !!!

 

[mcshroom]

I have two real modes of riding. In touring mode I ride slowly and sedately looking around and not really worrying about the cycling too much. Commuting I tend to push hard with only the last bit inside site slowed up so I'm not totally wrecked when i get to work.

One way I've found I can slow myself down a bit is to ban myself from the big ring at the front. It lets me practice spinning and as I'm not comfortable over a certain cadence it seems to allow me to take a bit of effort out of the ride without thinking about it too much

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Anything short of full effort feels slow and wrong. I only pootle if running errands or riding with the kids.

I only pootle because I am old.