Patting ourselves on the back

[spazzdog]

O.K. Here's where you can put self serving kudos you have received. You know, something great happened for you... post it here, get applause.

Here's mine:

I went to a local race last weekend, took a bunch of photos. Sent a few of the ones of the womens race to Cycling Made Real, New England branch (https://www.newrs.org (http://) ).

They put them up on the website AND in a message out to the membership gave me credit for shooting them. I'm stoked!


Next?

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by spazzdog
Here's where you can put self serving kudos you have received. You know, something great happened for you... post it here, get applause. I turned down a Krispy Kreme doughnut today. Does that count?:D

Spazz, I couldn't get the link to work.:confused:

[spazzdog]

Applause you shall get on that Krispy Kreme (hoo-rah)... though I don't know how you managed to turn it down. I can't be in the same room with them or POOF - they're gone. My roomate's brother is a policeman and every so often he pulls a detail at the local KK. He always brings me home a dozen... warm. They're gone it 2 days. And yes, I eat 'em all. Nobody else in the house likes them (more for meeeeee!)

As to the link, I checked and it works for me. Here it is again:

http://www.newrs.org/

Try again... oh, duh... I forgot to say the photos are under "Photo Gallery". Sorry :o

[Adventure Girl]

Hmmmm... Am I doing something wrong? The new link takes me to "Cycle Loft New England Women's Race Series 2004", but I don't see a "photo gallery" link on that page. Just: Home, Series Rules/FAQ, Results, Standings and Schedule... No pictures??:confused:

As for the turned down pastry, perhaps I should be rewarded with ummmm, yeah...you know what I'm thinking!:p

[spazzdog]

Adventure Girl:

You may have to scroll the left hand menu side... I see it all cause my screen is set at high resolution. Honest to goddess, it's there.

After Schedule (in 2 formats), comes News, Clinics, Contact Us, Photo Gallery.

[emily_in_nc]

I made the Bike Friday site!

http://www.bikefriday.com/main.cfm?fuseaction=news.article&ID=296&Category=Shop

I was definitely stoked about that! :)

Emily

P.S. But I don't know if I could be strong enough to turn down a KK! :p

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by spazzdog
After Schedule (in 2 formats), comes News, Clinics, Contact Us, Photo Gallery.Whew!! I finally got it! I have my monitor set for a lower resolution because I want BIG type that is easier for these poor old eyes to see :cool: . There's some sort of problem in there web design that just cuts off the bottom of the screen instead of allowing a scroll down.

Anywhoooooo, I finally got there! Nice pictures! It's neat to see your own photo credit on something like this! Applause! Applause! Applause!

[spazzdog]

Woooo-hooo Emily. Nice photo. Watch out Tyra Banks!

[ladyb]

Hello-- well, a little over a week ago, I decided to try and add some more distance to what I had been riding. The most I have ever ridden at one time was 20 1/2 miles and I only did that once. So when an informal group ride sponsered by the local cycling association offered several lengths, I decided to give the 35 miler a shot. I was a little nervous since there were no SAG's or even reststops set up, so we carried our own water and snacks. I managed to finish, but it was getting into the 90's by the time I got back to the start and was having some cramps. Unfortunately, back on one of the county roads they had torn up the road and were getting ready to repave, so we had to back track a little. That made the total distance 36 miles, just what I needed - an extra mile- haha! I was fine after getting back to the start and drinking more water and sitting in my air conditioned car for awhile. I was fine the rest of the day and really stoked! But I think my next distance ride will be 27-30 miles. I had only been riding 9 weeks when I tried this and I decided that maybe it was a little too far too soon for an old lady.
Just goes to show we can do it if we have to-right?

Congrats on the pictures! Thats thrilling!!!

Bye and happy cycling!

[spazzdog]

And LadyB gets very loud applause for a 15 mile increase in long ride milage.

Can I hear a yee-hah! Come on... I can't heeeear you!

[Trek420]

Background: soon after I moved to my current digs I realized there was no safe/easy way for a bike commute. Whatever BART station I chose I had to either cross the Nimitz or Jackson/92 or both. I did much exploring till i found a relatively safe though long'ish route (see thread "my first bike to work").

Then I found there is a cleverly hidden bike/pedestrian only overpass cross the Nimitz. I've used that but it's a mess, graffitti, litter, broken glass (I carry the bike) and one end leads right into a school, it's a shame.

I contacted East Bay Bike Coalition and between us we found out who is responsible for clean up. Caltrans said the city, city said Caltrans...it's the city! They've scheduled a cleanup of the overpass.

Meetings and such prevent me checking the next few days but I plan to ride to work this week and see how they're doin':D :rolleyes:

[spazzdog]

You are a beaurocrats nightmare... HIP-HIP-HURRAY!
{many hands clapping}

[Trek420]

hold the applause till I see that they did it ;-)

[Trek420]

I just took a spin by and it's obvious they've done some work. There's
still graffitti and *new*broken glass but much less than before and at least the litter is new, not like the bridge had never been cleaned.

I'm sure my fellow cyclists appreciate it. There's
still too much broken glass to safely walk a dog or ride my bike over the overpass yet it's much better. You can see that they've swept litter up and cleaned much of the glass.

[smurfalicious]

Okay, had to give myself a pat here too. I got all my carbon goodies, and well, new toys make me ride harder because well, I feel like I owe it to the parts. Anyway, I rode some super windy, twisty good fun stuff, I rode some scary downhills, some tough uphills, and woooo it was good. I finally got some more faith in Pony, started flinging my body into it, and we had a blast. I remembered the part of Sally Swift's book, Centered Riding about using "soft eyes" and I thought back to all the riding lessons where I told my young students to look where they wanted to go. Then, I took my own advice and it was fuuuuun.

So the other cool thing I did was my first rear tire skid turn. We were out on my favorite trail but it was miserably sandy, and technically I'm not sposed to be riding, so we headed back and took the short loop by the canal. Water = smoother trail. Anyway, there was this corner that turns left, so you avoid the fencepost on the right. I think the brain just shut off, and the body just did because I only grabbed for my rear brake (probably childhood "don't use the front brake" memories") and I leaned into my turn, felt the bike half lay down, yet feel amazingly solid, and then body said "now pedal" and I pedaled and come right out of it. Ooooooooh my gawd what a rush! Wanna do it again!

love and cookies
-smurf

[KkAllez]

17 GLORIOUS miles. That's all. Just 17. I remember when 12 miles were killer. Then anything under 30 miles for a ride was an easy day. But on Wednesday after three weeks off bike me and my husband rode 17 glorious miles. Totally and completely happy to be on the bike again. First time to ride since new expensive Michelin tires, Bar Phat, and wider handlebars plus a better cyclometer. Three weeks of: Moving a cranky, mean elderly person from assisted living to another, first week of second semester nursing school, a week of oncology and a lady aspirating but was saved (not with my meager nursing school ability, I'll tell ya that), a week of a patient who couldn't speak English and was a survivor of a wreck involving 7 people with 5 fatalities and three of fatalities were her kids and one her boyfriend, one buddy nurse who wouldn't speak to me, and two who were not much better, but best friends in nursing school I'd lay down my life for, a son that keeps me honest, and husband who says YES when I ask WANNA GO RIDE?

Seventeen miles of soul healing, forget the world, race the wind and your ride partner, BICYCLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geez, I hate to wax poetic and sound all maudlin, but THIS is it. THIS is why I ride. To forget the horrors I see that I can't help but go back to and try to fix. And to feel like I am 12 again and be immortal and fearless and totally in love and unjaded and uncynical.....okay, okay, I'll stop now! :)

[smurfalicious]

Oh my, it's amazing how confident we get staring into the ether starting some lame self righteous flame. I'm patiently waiting for my COTA membership, a former member of OET (Oregon Equestrian Trails, they aren't as active here as they are in the valley), a forestry student who has sat through soils classes (it's raining, do you know where you soil is?) and the proud mama of a horse who is learning to drive, so he can skid logs for a low impact logging project on our study forest at school so spare me that lecture. I've pulled myself off trails because I could barely see my tracks in the wet dirt, not ruts. I behave myself, thanks. Sure there were times when I was so scared out of my mind I wanted to lock um up, but I said a little prayer and held on.

Anyway, I think you know what I meant, but hey, way to bring down a self congratulating thread by harshing on someone else's skills. I didn't lay any tracks, though in sand as loose as this, it's inevitable no matter what you do. I just grabbed my rear brake, not both and kinda, I dunno, pivoted. Like doing rollbacks on my horse.

You're right though, I should probably go back to riding dirt bikes with my brothers. There's a whole lot less arrogance, and they have soooo much better beer.

[spazzdog]

Yee-Haaaaa!! Smurf.

Ride 'em cowgirl!

[spazzdog]

Hi gang! I need some help and was wondering if y'all could lend a hand. No need to post responses here... don't want to clog the airwaves. Would much rather see everyone's "yee-hah's" here.

My request: I've got my website up as a few of you know. I know it works fine under IE 6, and Irulan was kind enough to check it out under Mozilla.

If anyone is running some other browser (or if you're simply curious :D ) please go to http://www.spazzdog.com. Please leave a comment in the guestbook (part of the test) that includes the browser you used to get there. You don't have to leave your name... maybe sign it with your TE handle, just so I know who stopped by.

I would appreciate it if you'd go to each page and note what loads well, too slow, whatever. It's my first site and I want to get it right. All criticism accepted. Just leave it in the guestbook.

As always, thank you for your time. Spazz

[Pedal Wench]

Originally posted by spazzdog
Hi gang! I need some help and was wondering if y'all could lend a hand. No need to post responses here... don't want to clog the airwaves. Would much rather see everyone's "yee-hah's" here.

I would appreciate it if you'd go to each page and note what loads well, too slow, whatever. It's my first site and I want to get it right. All criticism accepted. Just leave it in the guestbook.

As always, thank you for your time. Spazz

I hate to say that I wasn't able to leave a message on the site. I use AOL. Everything looks good - the pages loaded quickly, and some of the images loaded, some others had that little red 'x' icon. The big problem was when I tried to leave a comment. I kept getting an error message that only letters and numbers are permitted in the comment field. I removed everything that was suspect. I was about to remove all punctuation, and realized that you wouldn't be able to make sense of my comments, so I'm posting here!

[spazzdog]

hmmm... the red ex's would be the gif's and jpg's. I'm not sure how AOL treats those. Some are animated. Perhaps you have/or AOL has some of that type content blocked. I just don't know.

Thanks Audio... I'll check it out. I appreciate you taking the time.

[spazzdog]

Hey Audio... I fixed the 'characters accepted' issue.

[Twice Daily]

I started and finished my first race yesterday! (My goal was to just finish the locally held cyclocross race).
I was the only participant in the Woman's B group, so I guess I "technically" won...but I feel like a winner in other ways:

1. I was the only girl with enough guts to come out and race in the B division!

2. I have been battling asthma as long as I can remember, which had seriously hindered any strenuous exercise (and at times, any exercise at all)...over the past few years I have been able to use medications that have helped in getting my asthma under control, and so I have been able to exercise regularly and more intensely that I ever imagined...

3. Last summer I started cycling and I haven't looked back...cycling has been great for me and hasn't seemed to aggravate my asthma (perhaps because the forward leaning position causes my diaphragm to stay relaxed and my lungs to inflate fully)...

4. I can now ride a 30 mile round trip commute to work, which ends with a climb only Satan could have designed...but I do it and I love it and I'm not wasted when I'm finished!

5. My boyfriend used to race MTB professionally and so I can share this amazing sport with the man I love. He keeps challenging me and is eternally supportive and cheerful.

6. Cycling has been the biggest self-esteem booster I have ever experienced and I'm more fit than I ever thought I could be…

7. And I love my shapely musclely thighs!

[fultzie]

from one asthmatic to another:

ROCK ON!!!!!!! :D :D :D

that is soooo awesome!!

[spazzdog]

BIG tail waggin' for you Twice Daily http://www.spazzdog.com/images/smilingdog.gif



On my testing request; thanks to all of you that have visited so far and to Kathy, whomever you are :D I took care of the IP thing.

[admiral finch]

I did 110 grueling, cow smelling, hot and delsolate miles in the Cheese and Wine Century Sunday with a friend. I've done centuries before, but this was by far the hardest thing I've ever done.
But, I did it! RARRRRRRRGH.

And Sunday, the 24th, I'm participating in Bike Against the Odds, the Breast Cancer Fund's ride in Oakland, CA. 6000+ feet of climbing. hooey. Bring it on.

If any of you live in the Bay Area, you should come out for this if you haven't already and if you need a team, join the one I'm on--In Line Cycling Team.

Hope to see you there!

a.f.

[Trek420]

Hey Admiral, I'm doing BATO too, am riding with the Velo Girls.

I've signed up for the metric century but will give myself permission to "wimp out" and take a shortcut. But I'll try to do the whole thing.

[admiral finch]

Trek! Very nice. Somehow, I had a feeling. You guys are doing so well in your fundraising, too. Nice job. So far, I'm carrying my team. Woo!
Any chance you'll do the Yellowjackets training ride tomorrow?

I hear ya on the wimpin out thing. I'm really going to try to do the full metric, but you know, it won't be the end of the world if I can't. No sense in hurting myself!

A.F.

[Trek420]

I plan to be on the Velogirls ride in the East Bay Saturday, also might ride on Sunday (if the rain does not show up). Of course it's not about taking the option out or sagging, one always plans/trains to finish. Whatever distance I do I'll feel good about doing a hard ride this late in the season, normally pretty "washed up" by now....and of course it's a great cause.

see you out there?

[Veronica]

A couple of Thom's SpeedBlend photos were used by Rivendell on the Velo News site. :)

V.

Velo News (http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/7098.0.html)

[CorsairMac]

Woohoo I WANT those rims! wonder if they could make a jersey to match?? maybe one that changes colour with heat? coz I sure wouldn't ever get enough speed! :-D

[spazzdog]

For you "jersey-a-holics" around here;

I just added a new page (link on Photos page) to my growing collection of jerseys. I just put my nice ones, not any of the plain ones.


Also, I'm working with a domain reseller I know out in Austin. He wants to put together a Tour of Texas (http://www.touroftexas.com) vacation ride in the Hill Country. We are looking for folks to help organize (and attend if desired) the inaugural for fall 2005. He has a large house on his land that will be the lodging. He says it will house about 30.

I'm the contact, but being on the east coast is a bit difficult for 'on-site' project management, so I'm relegating myself to handling web updates and what-not.

If you are in the Austin area and would like to volunteer your time, please email me off list.

[caligurl]

Originally posted by Adventure Girl
I turned down a Krispy Kreme doughnut today. Does that count?:D

it sure does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[trekin']

After an exhausting week culminating in a successful fundraising event for our local Salvation Army, my 2 girlfriends dragged me out on a 30 mile ride today, which was the last thing I wanted to do following 2 nights with a total of 6 hours sleep and 2 days of standing on my feet for hours.

After grumbling to myself for the first couple of miles, I was glad they did! It was a gorgeous day, with temps in the 70's. We rode through the back roads of four towns, and ended up at the local Dunkin' Donuts for ice coffee and a few laughs. I had my highest average speed since buying the bike a couple of weeks ago (nearly 14 mph), and although I'm still the slowest of the group, I feel really great.

Great biking and great friends...it doesn't get any better than this!

[spazzdog]

OK grrls... the remodel is done. Photos (if you're interested) are on my site.

Here's a link directly to the page:

http://www.spazzdog.com/creations1.htm

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by spazzdog
OK grrls... the remodel is done. Photos (if you're interested) are on my site.Spaz... It looks very, very nice! I particularly like the tile splash and the cabinet door handles! It looks like the end result was worth the sweat and stress! I would love to have my kitchen remodeled, but I just don't want to live through the remodeling! I just want to go to sleep one night and wake up to a kitchen that looks like yours!:p

[Trek420]

that's why spazz is getting her own home makeover show on Fox. "Extreme Sports Makeover". They send you away for a week of cycling, you come bck to a new kitchen. Sound good? Since everyone is getting their own reality tv show....:p ;) :D

[jobob]

That kitchen is gorgeous ! :cool:

[spazzdog]

We'd need Ty Pennington and his gang for the 1 week timeline.

I think we started (broke ground on the little addition) in August.

But my partner is now berry berry happy with her new kitchen (important since she's the good cooker). The design part and hanging with the builder was fun for me. The mess was not fun for anybody.

[Veronica]

Very nice! What are the countertops?

V.

[spazzdog]

Countertops are Brazilian granite - "emerald pearl". whoops... just got a correction on that. Italian granite.

[spazzdog]

Hi gang! Me again.

The dinnerware is up on my site - see link above (same as remodel stuff).

Be gentle... I did this stuff as therapy ;)

[Trek420]

It's good spazz! Nice sense of color.

[CorsairMac]

wow spazz - I Love the dishes! You should consider going into that professionally! Awesome sense of colour and design! Kudos to you hun!

[spazzdog]

Thanks Corsair!

I've done several large platters for gifts... very abstract.

Thought about doing some custom order stuff... but I do stick to the kind of "southwestern primative" or "abstract" styles.

If you or anybody else is interested email me off-list and we can discuss.

[eghammer]

Spazz, if you're not marketing that stuff, you should be! It's beautiful! The gecko spoke to me, I swear.

[spazzdog]

thanks eg!

I might could be corn-vinced to do a commissioned piece. email me off-list to discuss... to anybody else the same applies.

[Veronica]

I like the turtles. They remind me of Hawaii.

V.

[CorsairMac]

I've wanted to post here several times but the posts just didn't seem right enough until now! Well or rather last Wed when the site was down! I started riding right after Labor Day as a commuter biker and last Wed night my cyclometer rolled over 1000 miles. I was about a mile from home and saw that I only had 3 miles to go to roll over so even with rain and 8 mph head winds - I tooled around the neighbourhood until that sweet little number rolled over on my screen! I wanted to do the TdF double arm pump, I wanted to scream, I wanted to just keep right on riding rain, wind, no food so what! But instead I came home and very proudly recorded my miles in my journal! It was Such a day!

[MightyMitre]

1000 mile! This calls for a special message.


Chapeaux CorsaiMac!! as they say in France.

This literally translates as ' Hats Off '. Used loads in the French world of cycling as an all round Bravo!

OR....

Complimenti ..

...as they say in Italy. Means the same thing but more conversational. Used to congratulate someone or compliment their quality as a rider. :)

[annie]

Congratulations, Corsair !!!! :D :D :D :D
You must have had one HUGE smile on your face when you finished that
ride! Just an awesome milestone number of miles.
And it only keeps on getting better............. :)

annie

[spazzdog]

Way to go Corsair! I just might have to build a snowgrrl in your honor :D

[CorsairMac]

Thought I'da revive this coz I was sooo stoked today and had to share it with my cycling friends!

So I'm climbing the last big (icky) hill to come back to work and I decided to watch the inclines. As I start the climb I keep gearing down until I ran outta gears. I even looked back and sure enough the chain was on the biggest gear I had in the back!. So I just sucked it up and watched the inclinometer. The grade was 6% for the most part with one section of 7% and the last climb at 8%. oh...and 19 mph crosswinds. (total gain of 357') Whew.....am I glad That's over with. As I turn for the final long flat stretch to work I reach over to shift to the big chainring in front and OMG???!!!! :eek: I just climbed that bugger of a hill IN the BIG Chainring!! Man did that change my whole persceptive about that hill!!

[spazzdog]

GOooooooooo Corsair, you animal you! :D

[spazzdog]

Hey gang!

I finally got around to updating my site.

Cindy photos that were sent to me, and a few edits here and there.

Come on grrls... drive that hit counter up! And please leave me a note in the guestbook. Sign with your TE name so's I know who you are :D

It's lots of photos, so you dial up folks beware.

spazz

p.s. If anyone else would like their ride photos (from any organized ride) put up, send them off-line. I'm not labeling with "real" names, just TE names so your privacy is safe. Include your TE handle and the name/date of the ride in your email.

[CorsairMac]

ahhh Spazz hunny??...I tried to sign your guestbook but it kept telling it would only take letter and digit characters. Since I was only using letters - I got confused and got outta Dodge! What am I doing wrong? :o

[Bike Goddess]

Hey SD- I'm with Corsair here- same thing happened- we used two types of browers= IE and Mozilla Firefox. The message box didn't like us! :(

Dave says the page loaded OK so wuz up smokey bear????

[AutumnBreez]

Love the kitchen, very nice!!
Someday we will have our own house!
The dishes were great too!
I also love being creative, making jewelry, egg deco/painting, and face painting for parties. Learning Henna too.
Pottery and the such would be alot of fun, but have not the kiln to heat/dry it.

Of course last but NOT least....the bike portion- COOL!

[nuthatch]

Me too, Spazz! I even took out all the punctuation but it still didn't like my entry (and I said only nice stuff!!). I loved your photos (so much fun to see the Cindy ride girls) and your jerseys - I've been wanting one of those wishlist jerseys!

So, now that we've upped your counter, when are you sending us our freebies (you are giving us something, aren't you?) ;)

[spazzdog]

Hmmm... jeez I didn't even do anything to that page.

Sounds like a load boo-boo. I'll get on it and report back.

OK... give aways. Gosh! What do I do????



Everybody..... gets..... a.......

[nuthatch]

WooHoo!!! I want yellow....

[Biking Chick]

Everybody..... gets..... a.......

Keep the snow ... hope I can find enough change under couch cushions to fill it up :D

Way to go on the miles ... that is such a great feeling!

Cindy

[spazzdog]

Fixed it.

Just wish I knew how it got "un-fixed"

Thanks!

spazz

[annerol]

Ok, so here is my moment of self-pride: last weekend I rode 180 miles from Sanata Monica to Santa Barbara on an AIDSlifecycle training ride. Had a blast!!! Previous longest ride was 73 on a Saturday and 35 on a Sunday. I think the trick was a team of masseuses (spelling?) and "stretchers" (professionals who contorted your body into great stretches) at each pitstop. I didn't think about the total anticipated mileage for the day, just rode from stop to stop. So I'd like to say to everyone out there that it really is true- once your body gets used to being in the saddle for 50-75 miles, you can go on forever- IT IS YOUR MIND THAT STOPS YOU, NOT YOUR BODY. I'm now going to walk around offering / asking for massages from ride- mates if professionals aren't available....

Let's all get out there and have some fun....
Anne

[spazzdog]

Way to go annerol! Good job grrl!



And to those of you who visited my site earlier this week, thank you for the sweet compliments. Sorry abt the technical difficulties.

a grateful spazzdog

[Dogmama]

Annerol - good on ya!! Yup, after 50-75 miles, we just get that half crazed look on our faces & keep on pedalin' :p

Last Sunday I went on a club ride. I rarely do club rides but decided to break out of my hermit state. It was about 30 men - the 2% body fat, whippet crowd and 2 other women - one really fast & one really slow. The ride was 50 miles and advertised at around 16 mph...mmm, would you believe 18 to 20? There were several regroupings, but generally I could hang for about 5 miles & then they'd slowly creep away.

Here's the fun part.

The end of the ride had several uphill components and the rabbits (the 2% body fat crowd) were spent. So, the tortoise (yours truly) started passing them. I'm really good at hills because that's what I ride during the week.

The moral of the story: Ride YOUR ride, no matter what others are doing. The majority of the ride was in beautiful, quiet desert areas where the flowers were blooming and the wildlife was roaming around. Who wants to grind out miles 2" behind somebody's wheel when you can enjoy this nature? At one of the regroupings, I remarked, "Isn't it beautiful out here?" and the guys looked at me like I had two heads.

Signed - She Who Has Two Heads

[nuthatch]

The moral of the story: Ride YOUR ride, no matter what others are doing. The majority of the ride was in beautiful, quiet desert areas where the flowers were blooming and the wildlife was roaming around. Who wants to grind out miles 2" behind somebody's wheel when you can enjoy this nature?

Now I like that story! It's so easy to slip over to the dark side. I resolve to slow down and smell the road kill, er, flowers this weekend!

[jobob]

Here's the fun part.
The end of the ride had several uphill components and the rabbits (the 2% body fat crowd) were spent. So, the tortoise (yours truly) started passing them. I'm really good at hills because that's what I ride during the week.

great story !!! :D :D :D :D

[annerol]

Dear She Who Has Two Heads
I LOVE IT!!!
Anne

[spazzdog]

spazz sez

"Aarf! Aarf!"

That's doggie yee-hah! for each of your heads.

[profàvélo]

I'm posting this because I need to focus on what I accomplished, not on what I didn't.

I rode in the 30th Assault on Mount Mitchell on Friday, 115 miles from Spartanburg, SC, to the top of Mt. Mitchell, NC, the highest point east of the Mississippi. We started at 6:30 a.m. in pouring rain. It rained steadily until about noon, I think. This year's route had 11,588 feet of climbing. The final 40 miles or so were nearly all climbing, on the Blue Ridge Parkway. One thousand of us started; 663 finished. Finishing times ranged from 6:11 to 12:42. While I cannot keep up with my husband, who finished in 7:41, or even my training partner, who finished 25 minutes ahead of me (hey, she has 8 years on me), at least I finished, bawling as I crossed the finish line, after 10 hours and 13 minutes. That was the hardest thing I have ever done.

By the way, I highly recommend riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway; it's gorgeous. I just don't recommend riding 70 miles in order to get there.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I rode in the 30th Assault on Mount Mitchell on Friday, 115 miles from Spartanburg, SC, to the top of Mt. Mitchell, NC, the highest point east of the Mississippi.

Hey - congratulations! 115 miles is a long, long way - and that's without climbing a mountain to finish, and without doing it in the lousy weather that you had. You should be more than happy with your accomplishment!

--- Denise

[skibum]

I have heard of this ride. It has a reputation of being very tough. It is a badge of honor just to finish it, regardless of your time. Throw in rain for the first couple of hours; that just makes it harder. You definitely need to focus on the positive here. That was a fantastic accomplishment!

[Jo-n-NY]

I add pats on your back and congratulations. profavilo. Something has to be said for riding in rain and hills.

I also rode my first organized ride yesterday other than the NYC 5 borough a couple of years ago. Yesterdays ride was the Bloomin Metric in CT. They described the ride I think as some rolling hills. Well, these were NOT rolling hills and for 40miles of the ride the downhill did not warrent the uphill. And yes, it also rained and I pretty much never ride in the rain. But I was with a girlfriend and that made it fun. We had 3 different rides to choose from and we went for the gusto of a metric which clocked us in at 62.15 miles.

I am now happy to ride the flat lands on the south shore of Long Island.

All in all, good for you, congratulations and yes, I also pat you on the back.

~JoAnn

[DeniseGoldberg]

...They described the ride I think as some rolling hills. Well, these were NOT rolling hills and for 40miles of the ride the downhill did not warrent the uphill.

Ah, another person surprised by the nasty hills in Connecticut! I had a similar experience many years ago - I went to a LAB (League of American Bicyclists) rally in CT, and was unpleasantly surprised by the rolling hills. I'm not a great hill climber, and those short steep hills in the northeast really get me good!

Congrats on completing your ride.

--- Denise

[SadieKate]

I'm posting this because I need to focus on what I accomplished, not on what I didn't . . . I finished, bawling as I crossed the finish line, after 10 hours and 13 minutes. That was the hardest thing I have ever done.Bravo for you! That's the attitude that got you up there. I'm impressed with all the riders that just start this ride. I'd heard the weather was awful this year. Great accomplishment to finish let along in the miserable conditions. So, did you get your own bankie at the end?

SK

[Jo-n-NY]

Ah, another person surprised by the nasty hills in Connecticut! I had a similar experience many years ago - I went to a LAB (League of American Bicyclists) rally in CT, and was unpleasantly surprised by the rolling hills. I'm not a great hill climber, and those short steep hills in the northeast really get me good!

Congrats on completing your ride.

--- Denise
Thanks Denise, I will convey this message to my friend. I will be honest in saying that we will probably ride this one again next year as we will be more mentally prepared and hopefully the sun will be shinning.

I am sure riding a Hampton ride in August, (hopefully my husband can join us) and then the Pumpkin Patch Centure in NJ in Oct will be piece of cake after this as both those rides we are sure are flat or close to it. My friend Chris tode them before.

~JoAnn

[CorsairMac]

COngrats on finishing in Pro - it sounds like a She-Ra Princess of Power kinda ride and you should get a tiara for doing it!! You go girl!

[shewhobikes]

Drove 2 hours east to Carrollton, Ga., on Saturday to do the West Georgia 100 on Sunday, my 2nd charity ride. I did my first continuous 50 miles. Yeeha! I certainly could have done a few more to get my first metric century but it was getting VERY hot and I knew I was already getting sunburned, despite precautions. Anyhoo, I know I'll get my first metric century this summer, and that makes me happy, considering I got my road bike in February.

Next March (06) I'll celebrate my 50th birthday. I plan to do a 100-mile century before then. Can you say...

MIDDLE AGED CRAZY!!! :D in all the right ways. This board is such a fun, supportive group of friends. Thanks so much for all you're teaching me!

[nuthatch]

Go, Shew, go!!! This is going to be a fun summer!

[CorsairMac]

Drove 2 hours east to Carrollton, Ga., on Saturday to do the West Georgia 100 on Sunday, my 2nd charity ride. I did my first continuous 50 miles. Yeeha! I certainly could have done a few more to get my first metric century but it was getting VERY hot and I knew I was already getting sunburned, despite precautions. Anyhoo, I know I'll get my first metric century this summer, and that makes me happy, considering I got my road bike in February.

Next March (06) I'll celebrate my 50th birthday. I plan to do a 100-mile century before then. Can you say...

MIDDLE AGED CRAZY!!! :D in all the right ways. This board is such a fun, supportive group of friends. Thanks so much for all you're teaching me!

heckie dern I have no doubts you'll get that century in. and let me tell ya, once you do one - it becomes not IF I can, but do I have the time??! LOL