After riding in the Alps on the weekend, I was able to ride in Paris twice. On Tuesday, I went to the Hippodrome in the southwest corner of the city and rode in the daily training race. The two-mile circular road around the horse racing track is closed to car traffic every day at 10am and open to bicyclists. I have been riding at L'Hippodrome since 1999. This link has a map.
Groups of bicycles form peletons of every speed and ride the circle. I joined a group of twenty and did seven laps at 22-23mph before dropping off. The circle is roughly one km flat, one km slightly uphill and one km slightly downhill. On my sixth lap I dropped off the group on the uphill, then caught up on the downhill. On the seventh lap, I was done.
I rode to a local village, ate lunch. Rode back and joined a slower group before returning the bicycle.
On Thursday, I rode back circle. I rode four laps with a group riding a little slower than the Tuesday group. The group dissolved after four laps so I rode to Chatou, a lovely village on the Seine about five miles west of Paris. Between Paris and Chatou is short, steep Mont Valerien. I could barely climb the 3km hill.
Before that ride I was thinking I might ride on the weekend. As I rode at walking speed up Mont Valerien, it was clear that the ride in the Alps and the Tuesday speed workout had left me deeply tired. One of the difficulties riding, or any kind of training, as we get older is that we need more rest. And it was clear that the huge effort of the weekend before was not a great idea as far as my body was concerned.
I decided to listen to my body and visit museums in Normandy rather than ride. I am sure it was the best plan. It seems strange to be sensible.
