Tour de "Oh my God, my back hurts!"

[Veronica]

Davis 200 K
131. 9 miles
4800 feet of climbing
4 pounds lost :eek:

Bad mix of Sustain and Gatorade, too much Gatorade, lead to stomach issues early on.

Andy, the fireman from Seattle, pulled me all the way to the base of Cardiac. Thank you Andy! Andy looked really familiar to me. I've never been to Seattle, but he's been to Walnut Creek and was at the last Rivendell camp out. It really is a small world. He was in Davis to apply for a position at the university. Talking with him kept my mind off my stomach. Andy left me in the dust at Cardiac, and I rode essentially by myself, into a headwind, to the turnaround at the Pope Valley Grange. I did have a little chat with Lisa and Alfie as they passed me on their fixed gears. Towards the end I was having to conserve my water as my ice hadn't melted yet. At the turnaround, I ate half a banana, drank the Red Bull I had been carrying with me and 2/3 of a Sprite, called Thom, refilled my bottles and headed out.

I had a pretty good tailwind back to Cardiac. I played leapfrog with Andy. He caught up to me after lunch. I passed him while he was stopped at a store. He caught up to me again on Cardiac, scared the bejeesus out of me that time. I was in my own little world, climbing, when he he said hello. I think I jumped six inches! It's a a good thing I have helium in my tires. :p I passed him when he stopped at a picnic area. He caught me for the last time when I stopped at a little store. The store did not have any regular Red Bull. :( I made do with a lemonade and bought some peanut M&Ms. I was still having stomach issues and was hoping non "funny food" would sit a little better.

After my stop at the store, I had 30 miles to go and I was pretty miserable for many of them. The roads were flat, but twisted in different directions going around farms, sometimes I had a headwind, sometimes a tailwind. But my upper back was killing me! I felt like my vertebrae were being squashed into each other.

My strategy to get through this section was every time a car passed me I would stretch out my back as best I could. It wrecked havoc on my average speed to coast so much. The last ten miles I could not find a position on the bike that didn't hurt my back. I eventually undid the zipper fully on my vest and that helped a bit. I've come to the conclusion that my AV vest constricts my shoulders too much. I had the same problem, although not quite so painfully, on last week's ride.

I don't usually lose any weight when I ride. I'm pretty good about staying hydrated and I definitely drank more than normal yesterday. I didn't get a dehydration headache, so I'm not sure what's up with my weight. But I wouldn't mind if they stayed gone. Oh, and that was 4 pounds AFTER getting dinner at Jack in the Box!

V.

[Starfish]

How did the knee hold up, and how's the back this morning?

[Veronica]

The knee was bothering me a little on the way out. But was fine on the way back. My back is better, I no longer feel like my vertebrae are being squashed together, but it is still very tight.

I will live. :p

V.

[Starfish]

I will live. :p

V.

Any rides on the horizon that you actually expect to enjoy? ;) :p :D

[sundial]

Veronica, glad you finished your epic ride on a somewhat happy note.

No guts, no glory. ;)

[Veronica]

Any rides on the horizon that you actually expect to enjoy? ;) :p :D

I enjoyed the ride from the turnaround to the store yesterday. :D The descent off Cardiac on the way back was killer. The last two times I've descended it, it was dark. I think I was faster in the dark. :p But it was nice to be warm while I was descending it.

Funny, I was telling Thom about all the little mind games I was playing to get to the finish and he said, "Tell me again why you do this?"

V.

[Geonz]

You made it!! Here's to rides that feel *good* in your future ... but here's also to getting over whatever obstacles arise, even if it hurts! You go girl :D

[maillotpois]

Good job. When's your bike fit? :cool:

[gnat23]

Funny, I was telling Thom about all the little mind games I was playing to get to the finish and he said, "Tell me again why you do this?"

Hahah! I remember peddling up a huge hill with my boyfriend, it was cold and windy, I was having a rough time with the grade and manged to huff out "This sport is stupid!"

Glad you survived to see another day, er, ride!

-- gnat!

[jobob]

Herein lies the difference between V & me. :cool:

I was on the same ride. I thought I was ready & I was really looking forward to it.

My back & shoulders started hurting at about mile 30, and over time my neck and legs joined in, and then my head started pounding. By the time I reached mile 45 (Moskovite Corners) I decided there was no way I could gut this one out, and I wanted off my bike NOW.

(As an aside, my back almost never hurts on a ride, especially after only 30 miles. There was definitely something else going on.)

So, I got off my bike, called Lee (who had driven me up & was in the area but was currently on a ride and wouldn't be there for over 2 hours), laid back in a sunny spot on the decking at the side of store, and alternately watched the world go by & dozed.

On one hand, I feel like a wimp and a total loser for not sticking it out and bailing so early into the ride. Especially seeing how V stuck it out. It's becoming pretty obvious that I just don't have the right kind of tenacity for these long distance rides.

On the other hand, this is supposed to be fun. I was most definitely not having fun. I didn't even want to attempt the last 20 miles to the control at Pope Valley, even though I knew I would have been able to score a Haagen-Dasz bar at the Pope Valley store for my effort (the store & restaurant at Moscovike were closed for renovations). That's how much fun I wasn't having. :p

(fwiw, I think I am coming down with something, I don't feel horrible today but I'm still achey and I definitely don't feel good.)

I'll give it a few days and re-evaluate. :p

[Veronica]

You cannot compare yourself to other people Jo! You have to listen to your own body. And it is suppose to be fun!

You know how much I am questioning whether or not I want to keep doing these long rides. Part of that is because I am not sure they are all that much fun anymore. Time limits and rides that go through less interesting places just to get mileage that ends in a zero, having to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the start...

I only truly felt like crap the last thirty miles or so - the flat ones! Yeah, I had issues before that, but they would come and go. I know in any long ride there will be times when I am just going to feel yucky. Sometimes I just know the yuck is going to go away... when I get the tailwind, when I get off this climb... And sometimes your body just says, "Get me off this damn bike now!" Three miles from the end, riding into a headwind, knowing I was not going to break 10 hours, I had this urge to throw my bike to my ground and just stop. But I knew a good chunk of that urge came from knowing I was not going to have the finishing time I wanted...

Anyway... stop beating yourself up. It sounds like your body was telling you something and it is good that you listened.

V.

[jobob]

Okey-doke.

I think I'm more just frustrated that once again I didn't get that 200K in. I may just need to give up on the R12 concept, for now.

[shootingstar]

On one hand, I feel like a wimp and a total loser for not sticking it out and bailing so early into the ride. Especially seeing how V stuck it out. It's becoming pretty obvious that I just don't have the right kind of tenacity for these long distance rides.

On the other hand, this is supposed to be fun. I was most definitely not having fun. I didn't even want to attempt the last 20 miles to the control at Pope Valley, even though I knew I would have been able to score a Haagen-Dasz bar at the Pope Valley store for my effort (the store & restaurant at Moscovike were closed for renovations). That's how much fun I wasn't having. :p

(fwiw, I think I am coming down with something, I don't feel horrible today but I'm still achey and I definitely don't feel good.)

I'll give it a few days and re-evaluate. :p

Would you feel more relaxed, less pain if you did the same ride and distance by yourself with an approx. time goal finish in your head? There is some hard work on a long bike ride..but abit more enjoyment could be there if the ride was configured differently.

At least 1-3 difficult long hard rides in a season/year, helps you master and enjoy the other rides even more! I tell myself as a motivator...

And I always tell myself, I may not be as strong in cycling ...as in other areas /skills...I know that I have weathered some difficult life challenges....and other people just have a way tougher time than I.

The first cycling race I ever saw live....was a national wheelchair race. Paraplegics that were at the top of their game. I talked to one of the competitors...who had big bulging biceps..he told me how on the odd occasion he did have to be pushed up a long very steep hill..and the surgery he had done on his arm muscles from the strain of pulling on his wheelchair wheels forward.

I try to remember this...whenever I start feeling sorry/disgusted at myself.

In the end, cycling has to be pleasurable....so that you keep on wanting to do it for many decades ahead.

[Bike Goddess]

V & Jo- We were all trying to figure out what the heck ride you all were on! We were doing our annual Spring Moxie- a version of the Fall Foxy. We started out from the Rockville cafe and came around Berryessa clockwise (the easy way). I saw you Jo, and I think I waved, but I didn't know it was you until we got to Lake Solano and one of the SAG guys (Kimball) gave me the message from you.

I had left Moskowitz corner ahead of the "big dawgs" as I wanted to get to Lake Solano park and bathrooms sooner than later. Had you said something, our guys would have been happy to SAG you! At least it was nice out yesterday, but not much going on over there where you ended up. :(:( We would have loved your company at the Solano park. :D:D

I agree with both of you-if the ride ceases to be fun, it's not worth it. Back aches on a bike are absolutely no fun. Been there, know that horrible feeling.

We all enjoyed our ride- I especially loved the wildflowers that are coming into bloom and (of course) that fun climb up Cantelow.:p:p Then again, we only did slightly over 100KMs so who am I to complain.

Yes, Veronica, it is good to have someone to talk with-does help us when we're feeling miserable. Congrats on finishing in spite of it all.

Since I've retired this year, I seem to have less and less interest in doing long rides. I"m happy with my metrics twice a week and my climb up Diablo once a week. Seems like I don't have prove anything to myself anymore. Perhaps this is what you are also saying.

[jobob]

Hey Nancy -

Yep, you & I did the generic smile & wave at each other - I tend to do that with every woman I see on rides. And most guys as well.

But it didn't dawn on me that it was you until the second after we passed by each other !

By then I was feeling so crummy that I couldn't get the gumption to turn around and try to follow you up the very shallow climb to try to reach you to say hi good & proper.

I did get to chat with some of your clubmates at Manechevitz corner :D ;) :D - sounds like you guys were all having a great ride.

And thanks for the belated SAG offer, but honestly, I was very content hanging out streched out on my back in the sunshine. If I really needed a ride someplace, Lee Mitchell, aka LeeBikeVan (you must have seen his red van pass by over the course of your ride, being driven a cycling version of Santa Claus :D) could have given me a lift, he had offered do do so when he pulled into Maraschino corner soon after the Benecia gang all left.

[jobob]

Seems like I don't have prove anything to myself anymore. Perhaps this is what you are also saying. Well, I can't speak for V, but I'd still like to get in a few of the longish rides this year - probably not a double century, but I'd still like to try for a few centuries and double metrics.

I just have to be patient with myself and not rush the process. :cool:

[jobob]

Would you feel more relaxed, less pain if you did the same ride and distance by yourself with an approx. time goal finish in your head? Oh, most likely!

Once the negative thoughts start popping up ("good grief, you suck!" - this was at around mile 20 when the rest of the field was completely out of view and I figured were already in the next county :D) it's really hard for me to blot them out & everything else tends to go downhill from there.

[Veronica]

Jo, there is nothing wrong with being last. I had the longest or second longest time on Mt Tam. I wasn't last, but it's only because some people started after me. :D It's okay. You have to ride your ride. And you are way better off than those folks who think riding a mile is onerous.

I've been thinking about maybe going for the R-12. I like starting riding at a civilized time. I like sleep.

I've really decided that I don't care for organized rides. Too many people who don't realize that they are sharing the road with other cyclists, cars, etc. Plus I'm selfish and don't like having to wait in long lines for food, water, the bathrooms...

I think I'm turning into a curmudgeon. :p

V.

[jobob]

I've been thinking about maybe going for the R-12. I like starting riding at a civilized time. I like sleep.

Willy Nevin's 200K permanent route looks pretty nice. It goes through Marin but doesn't hit the really big climbs and doesn't go out to the lighthouse. I'm kinda-sorta still planning to do it on April 5 as a prep for the Mt Ham Challenge on the 26th. Just sayin' ... :cool:


I think I'm turning into a curmudgeon. :p Hee hee, no comment. :D

[maillotpois]

... Manechevitz corner .....
Maraschino corner

SNORT!
:D

[Veronica]

Where does Willy's route go? Does it start at the Golden Gate? Do you have to write down what color the third farmhouse on the left that used to belong to Bob Jones is? Are you already signed up?

What about the bent in the burbs route?

I wish the RUSA site would give a little more description about the routes.

V.

[Trek420]

Jobob, you trained, you were ready to do this. You would not have started the ride if you could not do it. Congrats on knowing when to stop (and where! In a sunny spot :)) As far as I'm concerned you did the double.

V, congrats once again on an epic ride.

I'm in awe .... of both of you.

[SadieKate]

And thanks for the belated SAG offer, but honestly, I was very content hanging out streched out on my back in the sunshine . . [at] . . Maraschino corner . . .

So that's what you were doing during our nice long chat where I threatened you with bodily harm if you didn't stop beating yourself up.


SNORT!
:DDitto. :rolleyes:

[Veronica]

So that's what you were doing during our nice long chat where I threatened you with bodily harm if you didn't stop meating yourself up.


Was Jo trying to turn herself into hamburger?

V.

[SadieKate]

It was darn close. Just grinding away.

[jobob]

Where does Willy's route go? Does it start at the Golden Gate? Do you have to write down what color the third farmhouse on the left that used to belong to Bob Jones is? Are you already signed up?

1. Unless the route changed since last October: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Jittery-Jaunt-200K-Permanent-Unofficial

2. Starts at the Safeway on Marina Blvd, then it goes over the GGB.

3. I think you have to stop at lots of coffee shops & bakeries, buy stuff & get receipts to prove you were there. :cool:

4. Nope, not yet. But I could easily be talked into it. You're so good at that.


What about the bent in the burbs route?

Kind of a boring route, imho. http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/b-n-b
The last part of it goes from Livermore back to Alamo in a northwest direction, just in time for the brunt of the afternoon winds. :p

[Fredwina]

Congrats both of you!
V for sticking it out.
JoBob for common sense
JB, You still thinking about coming down for the Hemet Brevet in may? you should be with the Santa Anas by then:o

[aka_kim]

... Manechevitz corner .....
Maraschino corner
Why are you wasting your time on these uber long rides? Embrace your inner comedian! I see standup in your future. :p

[maillotpois]

Good one, Kim.

That 200k looks really nice. Would you consider April 6? :cool:

[Veronica]

Good one, Kim.

That 200k looks really nice. Would you consider April 6? :cool:

Sure!

V.

[jobob]

April 6 would be fine.

[maillotpois]

Only issue is I need at least a couple weeks to decide if it is stupid to try this. Things feel better each week, but there's still quite a bit of pain when I ride (not much after, which I take as a good sign). So I can't commit til I get through the next couple of team rides and see how they go. But it's right in my back yard. Even if I just met you here, on the bike path, which would lop off 20 miles (probably smart anyway), it would be a lot of fun.

[jobob]

I was wondering about that, mp! But Sunday works as well as Saturday for me so it's no biggie if you decide not to do it.

[maillotpois]

Ok - I wouldn't want anyone changing any plans or going to any trouble in case it doesn't work. But I will have had a tough 60 miler the week before (and for that matter another one the day before), so those will really be the test. Heck, I'm worried about making it through the 50 miler this weekend. Even though those are tougher rides climbing-wise, it's more about time in the saddle than anything else.

I'll see how it goes. Another alternative is to meet in Fairfax and do the loop part with you.

[Veronica]

That would be fun. :-)

I'm thinking a later start - you know that whole sleeping thing, I've been whining about. Somewhere between 7 & 8?

V.

[jobob]

8 would work. I might even finish by sunset. :D

[Veronica]

Well... I've e mailed the owner asking if I can do the ride April 6, start time 8 AM.

I'll probably be falling asleep in my classroom the next day, so you HAVE to ride part of it with me MP. :D

V.

[jobob]

Yeeks, a committment! OK, I'll email him too.

[maillotpois]

Oh I am definitely in for part - it's just WHAT part and how long that's up in the air. :D

[maillotpois]

Okay, now I have had to move Em's birthday party to the night of the 5th because of her zoo training being set the morning she WAS going to have her party. Oy! :rolleyes: So I have to do some serious juggling and/or bribing here to go do that. I need to at least get the waffles going before I go, so I will probably be meeting you en route higher up the line.

On a good note, I think I'll be able to physically do the ride. The shoulder was worlds better this weekend than last (at more than double the mileage.) I'm just (1) fat and (2) slow (well, ok, only actually slow on the long climbs, and there aren't any on this route). :D

[Veronica]

You just want to go to to the bakeries!

You do know Bovine Bakery is one of the controls right?

Although, I'll be going to the grocery store across the street.

V.

[maillotpois]

You nailed it. :D

what I REALLY love about Bovine is the soup. (I'll get your card stamped when I buy my soup.)

(My 300k last year had a potential for FOUR bakery stops (2 at Tomales and 2 at Bovine). I did go to bovine for one of them, and of course got the soup...

[snapdragen]

/thread hijack

mp - what's Em going to do at the zoo? Which zoo?

[maillotpois]

SF Zoo; tiger bait.

:cool:

She was accepted into this pre-internship program ("Nature trail") where kids work with animals (small at first, like geckos, snakes, etc.) and talk to the public about them. It's basically a full time job, 2 days week during the summer. They work up to working with raptors and larger animals and doing more conservation advocacy type stuff - once they're in the program, they're in for as long as they continue to perform adequately (in other words, as long as their family continues to drive them to work). It's a pretty amazing program.

She wants to be a vet and all she watches is Animal Planet. I'm really proud she got in (she had to do a written application and interview and in pre-tiger years it was a very competitive program), but honestly, I can't imagine a kid better suited for this. She loves animals and she loves to talk.

I'm very proud of her. :)

(thanks for asking!)

[Blueberry]

MP -

Very cool! That's a neat program - what fun!! (and what a great way to learn the "ways of the world").

CA

[Tuckervill]

I always wanted my kids to want to do that kind of stuff. One of them was a docent at a science museum for a little while when he was 14. (He worked in the Lego lab--perfect for him!) My youngest only wanted paying jobs...so he starts his Bat Boy stint for the new AAA team on next week! He's 14, too. It was very cute to watch him go through the application process. He said to the interviewer..."This is my first interview. Can my mom come in with me?" He answered the standard interview questions very well, as if they were literal questions, without trying to slant his answer to what they wanted to hear. I'm very proud of him.

Congratulations to Em!

Karen

[Veronica]

Wow! Congratulations Em!

You're a great mom MP, nurturing her in the direction she wants her life to go... Very cool!

Now off to my own 33... I don't remember giving birth to so many...:rolleyes:

V.

[maillotpois]

Hey thanks guys. And good job smaller tuckervill! :D

V your litter is 32 more than I could ever handle! :p