RAIN Anyone?

[Rhonda]

Just wondering if anyone will be participating in RAIN (Ride Across Indiana), Saturday, July 16th? I hope to participate some day (just started riding summer 2004, 30 miles is my farthest so far), but until then I will continue to run sag support for my husband and some of his riding buddies.

[Barb]

Funny, that is the same weekend that I will be ridng across Michigan. I know some people from my club do the Indaina Ride and say it is really nice. Maybe next year.

[susan.wells]

I'm doing it. Great ride. Last year was my first attempt. I made 131/158 and I intend to conquer this year. ;)

[pedalfaster]

I've done the RAIN ride for the past 3 (4?) years.
Not sure if I'll do it in '05...I'd kind of like to try something new! :)

[Sparky]

Myself and a friend are going to try it this year. Have you ever looked at the finish times? Pretty impressive.

[Rhonda]

Some of the times are very impressive! To me just attempting it is impressive!

Like I said, hopefully someday, but for now I just enjoy going and cheering everyone else on while running sag support for my husband and his friends. What hotel will some of you's be staying at? We will be staying at the Fairfield Inn again, it's right behind the Drury Inn where registration is held.

[susan.wells]

Anyone else doing this ride? I would love to meet up with other TE people if possible prior to the ride! I'll be arriving on Friday early afternoon.

Susan

[Rhonda]

Not participating in the ride, as stated earlier, I am running SAG support. We plan on arriving Friday afternoon as well and taking in some of the Friday night entertainment, the bike expo in downtown and the Twilight Criterium race. Sounds like fun!

[susan.wells]

There's a bike expo downtown? ... I just rechecked the site. I totally didn't realize this was happening. I'm glad you mentioned it because I would've missed it.

Thanks,
Susan

[betagirl]

I'm doing RAIN also, it's my first year. I've done RAGBRAI twice and am doing that again this year. I want to do STP (seattle to portland) next year if I survive RAIN. I did a 124 mile training ride a couple weekends ago, so I think I'm ready. We're arriving Friday, probably early evening. Going to watch the crits and have a nice carb-laden dinner!

[Rhonda]

I so admire all of you that are doing RAIN, to even attempt is awesome! I hope one day to attempt it, until then I will enjoy watching the ride and providing sag support. I will be in a 2000 Ford Explorer, lic # FAX237, if you see me please stop and say HI, or if you need anything I would be more than happy to help out. I wish all of you a happy and safe ride Saturday and may the wind be at your back!

[Rhonda]

I so admire all of you that are doing RAIN, to even attempt is awesome! I hope one day to attempt it, until then I will enjoy watching the ride and providing sag support. I will be in a red/burgundy 2000 Ford Explorer, lic # FAX237, if you see me please stop and say HI, or if you need anything I would be more than happy to help out. I wish all of you a happy and safe ride Saturday and may the wind be at your back!

[susan.wells]

Rhonda - DH's are providing sag support for us. They will be in my friend's vehicle (white Pontiac Aztek). I'll post the license when she arrives at my house Thursday night. We will arrive sometime Friday midday. I hope to check out the expo. Thanks for the well wishes.

betagirl - I think a 124 mile training ride is awesome. You should be well prepared.

We will also offer support to anyone and especially anyone from TE!

Susan

[susan.wells]

Well I survived! It took us 10 hours 40 minutes ride time which was an average pace of 14.8 mph. I was quite surprised. We were very fortunate...not a drop of rain on us. The storms were either ahead or behind so we were always between the rain. I hope other RAIN riders did as well!

Susan

[betagirl]

Way to go Susan!

I finished #249 at 9:38. My total time in the saddle was 8:35. I didn't stay long at the rest stops, lunch was probably the longest so I could scarf down a turkey sandwich :)

I got rained on about mile 125 - 135. It was actually a welcome relief considering how soupy it was out there. I don't know if you saw me out on the road, but I was the woman in the Google jersey :D I was able to hang onto the front group about 20 miles before getting dropped at 30mph. I was like you all are nuts. I averaged about 18.5mph over the whole ride. It was a great ride.

[susan.wells]

betagirl... Awesome ride and I did see a Google Jersey! I was #990. I had on the Terry Sun Goddess Jersey (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=14039) (bought right here on te). I ride an Airborne W.A.S.P. I can't believe the speed some of the riders do especially for that distance! We only stopped to exchange beverage bottles & restroom.

[betagirl]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if I saw you or not. That jersey does look familiar. I was on a blue Lemond Zurich. I couldn't believe how fast those guys took off. My friend went with them and I didn't see him until the end. We were at the front of the start line at the beginning. He finished in 7 hours and 50 minutes, #60 overall. I was like you're CRAZY. He's certainly a talented rider and I knew he'd take off. A couple other guys I went with finhed about half an hour before me. I was able to make some friends along the way. Basically I rode with groups til I got spit out the back, then took a break to recover. Repeat. I kept passing and getting passed by the same group of like 30 guys. The jersey certainly was a hit :) There was one stretch after lunch when I ran out of gatorade 5 miles out of the rest stop. I was like eh I can make it, then I saw that climb. I was like oh that's flippin great :D I didn't see a ton of women on the ride. Seemed like about 10% of the riders. Did you have the same impression?

[susan.wells]

Not many women indeed! My fanny flag number was #990 I don't have clue what finisher number I was! I didn't ask and they didn't say. I posted some photos on Yahoo! (http://photos.yahoo.com/sqbd) I hope that link works! I shared to the world so there should be no restrictions.

[Rhonda]

Betagirl & Susan - Congrats to both of you, GREAT job!!!! Don't recall seeing either of the jerseys, apparently one of the guys in my husbands group did though, this is a line from his re-cap of the RAIN "Our stop for lunch break was way longer than I cared for, and I continued to see people pass or leave that we as a group had passed at least twice now. I’ve seen the girl with the cool Google jersey 3 times now." I couldn't believe it when I read that line!! Again, congrats to both of you, you should both be very proud of yourselves!

[betagirl]

LOL! That's hilarious. There were several guys I saw all day. I probably rode with your husband's group for a period of time. Too funny. I didn't stop long at the stops, so I think it was a matter of them passing me on the road, me catching up on the stop and getting moving before they did. Repeat. I had 1 guy say to me "ya know we've gone back and forth all day...what's your name?" Wonder if that was your hubby's friend. He was wearing a plain blue jersey.

[anichols]

Just thought I'd chip in...I decided to join my rabid-cyclist hubby on next year's RAIN ride after seeing a very large lady cross the finish line. I weigh 200lbs and was afraid to mount a bike for fear that lil ole seat would disappear up my crack. But if she could do it, I can at least try. So far haven't gone more than 30 miles, but if I manage to get back from Louisiana in time (I'm a nurse, they need help) I hope to complete my first organized ride with the Indy Zoo this month. 62 miles...wish me luck!

[Rhonda]

anichols:

GOOD LUCK!!!

I know I was surprised with all the different shapes and sizes I saw a long the ride, it is great inspiration! I too am not a small gal so I'm a little self conscious when I go the organized rides. I just keep thinking if I keep this up I will get smaller slowly!

Congrats on the 30 miles, that's an accomplishment, 33.5 is the farthest I've gone so far. And again GOOD LUCK on the 62 mile ride, you can do it!!

It's awesome your going to Louisiana to help out, God Bless and safe travels.