Swanton Hill Bike Ride

This morning, I rode the Swanton Road ride up over Swanton Hill to Greyhound State Park and back for a total of a 40 mile ride. I have documented the ride in some previous posts (here, here and here). It is one of the harder rides that I have made this year. Looking back through my blog, this is the toughest ride that I have taken since late April. I knew that I had been taking easier rides, but I did not realize that it had been that long since I took one of my tougher rides. Even though I have been taking easier rides, I did really well today. I don't feel very tired and I am not sore at all. Over the next few weeks, I would like to try some longer rides and some more hills.

The Swanton Road hill seemed easier than usual, yet it is always tough for me. I have known people who actually like riding up hills, but I have never gotten to that point. Hills are always painful to me. About 10 years ago, I had two friends who are very good bike riders. Both of them relished riding hills. I have always suspected that they were in such good shape that they needed to ride hills to get a good workout. On the other hand, I remember reading a quote from Lance Armstrong who said that no matter what shape he is in, riding up hills are always painful to him. That makes me feel better.