130 Miles of Rain and What Doesn't Hurt?

[Veronica]

Knoxville Double Ride Report

It's 4 AM, my usual getting up time. My cat doesn't know I've only had 3 and 1/2 hours of sleep. She'd like her breakfast. I tried to ignore her and go back to sleep, but my own stomach needs something. So I'm sitting here with a cup of hot chocolate and when it's gone, I'm going back to bed.

I'm actually not sure how long it rained. For those of you who know the route, it started on Wooden Valley Rd. It stopped while I was climbing and descending Howell Mountain Rd. It started again, harder on Knoxville Rd and rained until Middleton. All I know for sure is, I spent 18 hours in what was essentially a wet diaper.

Just some random thoughts now...

The ride started at about 4:30 AM and we saw a big crack of lightening. It was far enough away that we didn't hear the thunder.

I wanted to quit at lunch after about 107 miles. I was cold, wet, very tired and hungry. After a grilled chicken sandwich and changing all my clothes, I felt better, so I got back on my bike.

I haven't ridden nearly enough miles this summer and early fall and really began to feel the effects of that towards the end of Knoxville RD - about 90 miles in. I just had no leg strength for the climbs. That's why I wanted to quit, turning the crank with fatigued legs hurt! Oh, and the climb just never seemed to end. Very demoralizing.

Loch Lomond is a good tough, climb, but a BEAR at mile 110 and after lunch. In my smallest gear and at one point I was doing 2.6 mph. My cold, wet knees did not like that.

Back to bed. More later.

All right, it's now 7:30 AM. I've got another cup of hot chocolate. :D

The ride started off really well. This was the staff ride for the actual ride next weekend. Thom was one of the roving SAG drivers so I packed a BIG bag with all the things I thought I might want. Rain had been forecast for Saturday. We had been keeping an eye on the radar and Thom thought it wouldn't be too bad. Well, the storm must have shifted Friday night, because we got A LOT more rain then we thought we would. At one point I listed all the things in my bag and Thom sort of rolled his eyes. I used or lent everything in the bag except my knee warmers.

I'm still really tired and brain dead so I think I'll let this simmer some more.




V.

[maillotpois]

well, good for you for toughing it out. must have been amazing to have dry clothes to change into! when the HUGE thunder clap woke me up friday night/saturday am, I thought "wow, am I glad I am not doing a double tomorrow!" :D

that sounds a lot like the 400k- so much rain and similar route!

I am definitely in the "not enough riding" camp right there with you. oh well.

[Veronica]

I wanted to quit after Guenoc too! My stomach was really bothering me. I think at that point in the ride - 140 miles or so, my stomach really wants real food, but nothing appeals. I end up feeling like I'm going to puke anytime I go uphill. The same thing happened on ESDC.

Anyway...Thom pulled up beside me to give me my battery because he was heading over to the Dam to set up one last stop. I said, "Can't I just get in the car now?" He replied, "It seems a shame to quit now when you have come so far." Damn!

Jesse stayed with me from that point until Hennesey. He was great. He would talk enough that it distracted me from being miserable, but not so much that it was an effort to talk. At Hennesey I had a soup and some hot chocolate and the stomach ickiness went away. I was still VERY tired and sore... but that's to be expected.

Oh and I so needed a bathroom! We stopped at that funky store in Pope Valley. Their bathroom is disgusting under the best conditions. It was truly unusable.

V.

[Trekhawk]

MATE!!!!!
You never cease to amaze me. Enjoy your hot chocolates you truly deserve them after a ride like that.

WELL DONE:) :)

Trek-who would have stayed in bed with that rain-hawk

[jobob]

Well done, V. You're made of very tough stuff.

I had actually signed up for the SFR 200K permanent yesterday, but I wussed out.

I figured I could have managed despite my lack of training and squeaked in under the time limit. But, that combined with the rain was just too much for my delicate psyche. :rolleyes:

[Veronica]

Pretty much everything hurts this morning - hence the title. My toes hurt from being damp. My ankles hurt from my new shoes which aren't broken in yet. I changed into them at lunch, so I could have the illusion of dryness for a while. My knees are the worst. The left one just has the achy, creakiness I usually get after a ride like this. My right one feels like it has been twisted to the right. I'm wondering if the cleat in my new shoes isn't quite right. Quads, very tired. My lower back is a little achy, but not bad.

My fingers hurt. I was on the brakes a lot more than normal since the roads were so wet. The descent of Mt. George was the worst since it was raining and dark. Howell Mt. was wet but the rain had stopped. We did have one guy crash on Howell Mt. He continued on to the rest stop at Berryessa, but he was not able to climb, so he went off to Kaiser. He loaned his rear wheel to guy who had a spoke break on Howell Mt. The descent of Knoxville-Berryessa was pretty bad too. The rain was just pelting me in the face.

My elbows and biceps hurt. There are a lot of rough roads on this ride. My nose hurts because it ran constantly.

But I'm glad I did it. It gives me my Triple Crown for this year. And a little (A LOT!) of adversity is good for your character. :D

V.

[aka_kim]

It gives me my Triple Crown for this year. And a little (A LOT!) of adversity is good for your character. :D

Congratulations!

I seriously think everyone out there yesterday was nuts, but obviously of very strong character :).

Jesse said Thom saved the day (as usual). And he gets to do it again next week!

[Starfish]

And a little (A LOT!) of adversity is good for your character. :D V.

Hey, I've been kinda off the grid with my work hours...haven't been checking in on TE and forgot about your ride. You are truly made of tough stuff.

I believe I would have quit. I have come to truly, truly hate riding in the cold wet rain. Surely, sometimes it is OK to simply say, you know, this isn't fun anymore, and quit on a rainy day?

[Tri Girl]

bows down repeatedly I'm not worthy to post to such a riding goddess...

I'm SOOOO proud of you for toughing it out and staying strong. Wow- just don't know what to say except: congratulations and you're one tough cookie. Wow, wow, wow...

[maillotpois]

I can't wait for the full report!

Where's Tom going to be next week??

[Veronica]

Thom is doing motorcycle SAG on Howell Mt and Knoxville-Berryessa Rd.

It should be more fun for him than yesterday and not such a long day. :p He managed to catch a little bit of a nap in between riders at the dam.

V.

[maillotpois]

So I can bring a tow rope for Howell Mtn...? :D

[Veronica]

You'll be fine. :D

V

[jobob]

Surely, sometimes it is OK to simply say, you know, this isn't fun anymore, and quit on a rainy day? Heh, I said that after 200K of my 300K ride last April, and it was nice out. :o

I figure, if it's not fun, then what's the point?

But, some people's idea of fun differs from mine. :D

Or to put it another way, there are people made of stronger stuff and are way more tenacious and goal-oriented than I.

[Veronica]

I believe I would have quit. I have come to truly, truly hate riding in the cold wet rain. Surely, sometimes it is OK to simply say, you know, this isn't fun anymore, and quit on a rainy day?

There are good reasons to quit. I DNF'ed on Devil Mountain Double last year because my back hurt so much. I just couldn't come up with a good enough reason to quit yesterday. At lunch I was uncomfortable and tired. Good reasons to quit when you are riding by yourself and training. I've done that. But I knew how few SAG drivers we had. What if someone else got hurt? I'd be taking a space in a vehicle just because I was uncomfortable and tired? I'd already seen how much pain the one guy who crashed was in. I thought it would be selfish of me to SAG in with so much of the ride left. Plus I really wanted to do the downhill after the Loch Lomond climb. It has a section of 11% downhill. Wheeee!!!

When I had 55 miles left to go and my stomach was bothering me, I really wanted to get in the car. But Thom is really good at reading me and where my pain is. He knew I was unhappy, but not in serious distress and that I'd be really mad at myself today if I gave up. What was left of the ride at that point wasn't hard stuff, no more really hard climbs. And he knew I could do it.

I think it helps that I have a high pain threshold. Oh and I'm sure being stubborn plays into too. And the insanity. :D

V.

[kelownagirl]

Wow Veronica, like the others, I am SO impressed! I did a very hilly 100 mile ride in great weather this summer and was totally wiped by the end. I cannot fathom doing 200 hilly miles when I'm cold and wet. I hope you tell your kids all about it at school tomorrow. They will be very proud of you too!

[DirtDiva]

Yay V! Nice work, nutter. :p ;) :D

I'll mountain bike in pretty much anything, but am a completely unashamed fair-weather road rider. :rolleyes: (Not that I'd try and ride two hundred miles in one go on any kind of bike.)

[sgtiger]

You done good girl! And you totally rock the cycle trash look. :D :cool:

[indigoiis]

Heya! CONGRATULATIONS!

[Starfish]

But Thom is really good at reading me and where my pain is. He knew I was unhappy, but not in serious distress and that I'd be really mad at myself today if I gave up. I think it helps that I have a high pain threshold. Oh and I'm sure being stubborn plays into too. And the insanity. :D V.

You know, someone who knows you like that and can encourage you in the way that will bring you the most satisfaction is really worth their weight in gold. You are a tough lady.

As for pain threshold...I am the biggest baby!! My dentist knows I get an extra shot of novacain without asking...my surgeon learned I needed a whole different class of pain relief than her other patients with the same operation...I am truly a sensitive baby! I am now officially terrified to ever ride with you!! LOL

[jobob]

eh, she's not that bad. :cool: :D

[BikeDutchess]

Wow, V., impressive! Congrats!

[michelem]

Very impressive! I chickened out of the Tahoe-Sierra Century ride. I hear it rained the entire time, sometimes zero visibility, and it was so cold that people were shaking and going numb.They finally closed Hwy 40 at Donner Lake, due to snow. Not sure if anyone completed the entire Century.

You are one tough chickie! :p