"Quick Answer: Every cyclist has bad rides-but some hit harder than others. I use a blunt 3-level "Suck Factor" rating to describe how far off the rails things went: from tough-but-manageable rides... all the way to the ones that end with a walk home or a rescue truck. If you've been riding long enough-especially as a 70-year-old senior cyclist-then you already know this truth: not every ride is magical. Some are fine, some are irritating, and a few are so miserable"
"This is where the ride goes way off the rails, and you switch into "just get home" mode. Common signs of a Suck Factor 2 ride: You shorten your route You instantly turn toward home Your pace drops way below normal You're focused only on survival, not performance Before I had my knee replaced, I was riding one day when the pain exploded without warning. It instantly became a slow, painful coast home."
Every cyclist experiences rides that range from mildly off to deeply miserable. A blunt three-level Suck Factor categorizes those bad rides for clarity. Suck Factor 1 describes rides where legs feel weak, motivation collapses, and the ride finishes poorly but without disaster. Suck Factor 2 signals survival mode: routes are shortened, the rider turns home, pace drops drastically, and focus narrows to getting home. Medical or medication issues, such as knee pain or beta blockers, can trigger severe collapses and forced slow returns. The highest level encompasses rides that end with a walk home or a rescue truck.
Read at Theoldguybicycleblog
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