3 year update with Photo

Holy cow look at you!! Here is to your health! You look fantastic!

Tom, you are such an inspiration.  And those calves and biceps aren't bad either  

Congratulations on your success and your deep passion for cycling.  You da man.

My legs are definitely my best attribute right now :)

Your legs are amaze balls:)!!!  You look marvelous!

:) [blush]

Wow, totally amazing! That must've been some hill! Hell my face changes on a little itty bitty hill & I sure as hell didn't ride as far as you!, but I'm working on it! 

You're a true inspiration & I so look forward to your posts & bike riding achievements!, lets me know there's hope for me too! Congratulations!

Hill profile from the last race... Last hill was actually 3.5 miles long, 800 foot climb... ouch - hurts to look at it...

My calves hurt just LOOKING at that! You're a total badass!!

The Science of Suffering

Cyclists are known for being made of tough stuff. Riders endure burning legs and searing lungs on a regular basis. Pro rider Jens Voigt famously coined the phrase “shut up legs”, which is a good insight into a rider’s mind as they continue to push through the pain barrier.

Despite leg muscles burning with lactic acid build-up, cyclists constantly carry on. Many believe it’s the rider that is willing to suffer more than everyone else who is the eventual winner of the most epic and challenging races.

Going into the red and pressing on when your body is screaming at you to stop is just part of riding, whether you are tackling a hill in a sportive or trying to keep up with the bunch in a race.

So, what singles out athletes and makes them able to suffer? Are they born with the ability to ride through the pain or are they trained to deal with it?

Link

Oh wow, this is really fascinating stuff! I don't have a whole lot of hills to climb, but I HAVE ridden on screwed-up knees like it was nothing, maybe I'm on to something :)