For years I always did the Tour Of Mercer County century ride.  This year I haven't been riding much and I haven't been working out at the gym, two things I always did.  I have been hanging around the house when I'm not at work and taking care of my wife after her surgery.  Anyhow I figure out last night as I was sitting around the campfire in our yard with my wife that I could do the short 35.5 mile ride and be back home by lunch time.  I got up at six am and got my stuff together, we had a light rain.  I got to registration about 7:10 am. got signed up and went back and unloaded my bike.  I noticed the guy parked next to me had a pink cue sheet (35 mile ride).  I struck up a conversation with him and found out this was his very first organized ride.  He was a bit unsure of himself but wanted to try it.  He said he has been doing 20 mile rides from his house and has lost 40 lbs since he got his bike last year.  I told him I could ride with him if he didn't mind an old slow guy tagging along.  He had no clue the amount of climbing he had in store for him.  I warned him that we were basically going to be climbing and descending for the entire ride. He climbed at a faster speed than I did but I had lower gears.  One third of the way through the ride he said he was really glad I was slowing him down.  He said if he would have rode it like he rides his normal rides he would have been calling for someone to come get him by the time we made it to Mercer.  He had to get off and walk on a couple of the climbs.  He has lived in Mercer County for a long time and had no idea we had hills like this.  On the return part of the ride he had trouble with leg cramps.  He said he had been drinking Gatoraide and lots of water. I know he drank a lot of water because I was behind him watching him.  

We had a pretty steady rain on the return half of the ride.  It took a different route and he was excited to not have to ride back over those hills we just rode.  I told him not to celebrate too much, the return route isn't much better.  We kept seeing a skinny lady and a young man looking at their map and then we wouldn't see them for awhile.  It turned out they were looking for shortcuts because they were beat and just wanted to get back to their car. They took at least three shortcuts off route but we still got back before them. It was a good ride, I'm glad I went.  I have been feeling cooped up during my wife's recuperation.  The noob said he enjoyed the ride and plans to start training on hills so he can do the fall ride the same group puts on.

I don't know why I enjoy coaching noobs so much but it give me a good feeling to help people out while they are learning the ropes and encourage them.  This guy is serious about getting in shape and losing weight.  I didn't ask him how much he weighs but probably not too much more than me.  He is a lot shorter than me. There were a couple Strava segments on the ride and even as slow as I am I placed well in the over 65 age group on each segment.