It's true, road miles and gym miles are very different. In the gym, you build muscle and cardiovascular endurance. On the road, you build patience and a tolerance for an ungodly amount of ass pain, in addition to developing an adversarial relationship with headwind , a condition that cannot be simulated in the gym. As soon as the ride was under way, I began plotting to rid the world of headwinds. Not only does headwind slow down a cyclist, it also makes her sweaty cotton clothing freeze against her skin.
Cotton absorbs moisture.
The other cyclists soon sped past me. Physically, I think I was prepared for the ride. My bike wasn't as up to the task. All bikes are not created equal. As I trudged over the East Bay hills, I could feel each one of the knobs making contact with the pavement.