Ugh, why did I sign up for this?

[NoNo]

Have you ever regretted signing up for a ride? I'm riding the Bloomin Metric today and kind of wish I wasn't. I know I can do the distance normally, but this is a hilly ride. I'm not a climber by any stretch of the imagination. I hear there's over 3000' climbing, but can't be certain since they don't post the route. The last time I did a metric in this part of the state it was miserable, everything hurt, and I was literally the last person in. All the food was gone, the other riders were gone, and the guys that were putting all the folding chairs away clapped for me. I envision this ride to be the same way, even though it's been 3 years, that ride was a month after I gotten my first (and only) road bike, and I'm in better shape now. But I want to do it to prove to myself that I can. Its just that memory and the thought of riding uphill for the first 30mi that makes me shudder.

Anyone else sign up for something and then wished they hadn't? How did it work out in the end? I'll post a report when it's over. I can tell you it won't be including sunshine :mad:

[Maxxxie]

Yes, the 2010 Ipswich 100. I got cajoled/browbeaten into it by my mate, who in turn pulled out before the ride due to injury. I did the ride with my mum and her mate. By that, I mean, they dropped me at the earliest opportunity and I was left to ride the whole thing pretty much on my own (except the last 20Km when my mum took pity on me and rode with me).

It was easily the toughest ride I've ever done, and by the end, every part of me hurt. I was absolutely shattered. I knew going in that it would be tough, but I didn't know it would be that tough. If I'd known, I probably wouldn't have done it.

I didn't regret signing up for it, but I did dread doing the ride. Once I was on the road though, it was really a matter of just sucking it up and doing it.

I finished that ride and promised myself I wouldn't do it in 2011. Now, of course, with the passage of time, I'm thinking, "hey, it wasn't that tough!". :rolleyes:

Max

[chicagogal]

Have you ever regretted signing up for a ride? I'm riding the Bloomin Metric today and kind of wish I wasn't. I know I can do the distance normally, but this is a hilly ride. I'm not a climber by any stretch of the imagination. I hear there's over 3000' climbing, but can't be certain since they don't post the route. The last time I did a metric in this part of the state it was miserable, everything hurt, and I was literally the last person in. All the food was gone, the other riders were gone, and the guys that were putting all the folding chairs away clapped for me. I envision this ride to be the same way, even though it's been 3 years, that ride was a month after I gotten my first (and only) road bike, and I'm in better shape now. But I want to do it to prove to myself that I can. Its just that memory and the thought of riding uphill for the first 30mi that makes me shudder.

Anyone else sign up for something and then wished they hadn't? How did it work out in the end? I'll post a report when it's over. I can tell you it won't be including sunshine :mad:

This is EXACTLY how I feel about the snake alley criterium that, thanks to teammate of mine, I am racing next weekend. It is going to be hard. It is going to HURT. And I'm starting to wonder what craziness possessed me to sign up for this sufferfest that I have no chance of winning and am just hoping to NOT DIE!!!! I'll post a report when all is said and done. Until then, wish me luck :-)

[Zen]

Yes.
I wish I had seen this earlier, it's not like you signed a contract.
I don't ride to be miserable.

[Maxxxie]

I don't ride to be miserable.

Reminds me of a sig I saw on another cycling forum: "Cycling should be enjoyed, not endured."

Max

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yes.
I wish I had seen this earlier, it's not like you signed a contract.
I don't ride to be miserable.

Yeah me too, I'd do something else instead if i was really dreading it.

[Skierchickie]

I usually find that the more I dread the thing I signed up for, the more glad I am that I did it afterward. If it's really really really tough, I get a great feeling of accomplishment afterward. That isn't to say that it always goes well, but if I'm REALLY dreading it, it is never as bad as I anticipate.

Like the others said, you didn't sign a contract. It's totally up to you (okay, was up to you, since it's 5pm here now). Just remember that you are stronger and more experienced now, and you've already proven that you can do it!

Oh, and I typically regret signing up for every event I do, and wish I hadn't, and I dread everything! But once I get out there, I'm usually glad I did.

So what did you decide? How did it go?? Are you glad (either way)? I'm time-traveling back to this morning, to support you and give you good vibes.

[Zen]

I'm time-traveling back to this morning, to support you and give you good vibes.

:D
Take me with you. I want to get up earlier.

[Skierchickie]

:D
Take me with you. I want to get up earlier.

Sorry, Zen - I don't know what time zone Limbo is in, but I'm not going any earlier than 8:00 am EDT. Are you in?

[TrekTheKaty]

Knowing I've already plopped down the money usually motivates me. When it was 32F at the start of our scheduled century last year, I rolled over and went back to sleep.

[Zen]

Sorry, Zen - I don't know what time zone Limbo is in, but I'm not going any earlier than 8:00 am EDT. Are you in?

I can do that. Let's go!

[tharley]

I'm dreading Elephant Rock in 2 weeks. What were DH & I thinking when we signed up? We paid good money, so I will be going...just going very slowly.

[NoNo]

Well I went and I finished!:D It wasn't pleasant, at least not the first half. We started on the water, rode east about 10 or 11 miles, and then turned north. If you don't know Connecticut, turning north means going uphill. So we climbed. And climbed. And when you thought you were done, you climbed some more. In the end, we did 3300 feet. I went slow, used my granny gear liberally, and just went with it. The nice thing about this ride is that there's no set start time. So that meant that there was a constant stream of riders catching up to me and I was never alone. I really couldn't take much more leading up to the halfway point, and I was beginning to overheat. I stopped, poured some water on me, caught my breath, and continued on. On one of the uphills I had to make a right and two cars nearly collided in front of me, killing my momentum. On one of the big downhills, I heard a clunk and realized my bag had popped off the bike:mad: The second rest stop was a welcome sight. I knew the worst of the hills were behind me. There were some nice downhills, and I hit 45mph on one of them. But it was still rolling and my legs were tired. Slow and steady, I continued on. When I was a mere mile from the end, the guy in front of me hit some rubble in the shoulder and went flying into a signpost. He wasn't seriously injured, and while rolling on the ground in pain he screamed out "MY GARMIN! MY GARMIN! Where is it?!":rolleyes: There was a cop at the intersection we just came from, so we flagged an oncoming car to go get him. I continued on and finally made it to the end. Well, the end of the official ride. My brother lives two miles from the start, so we just rode to it, adding an extra 4 miles to an already long day.

Am I proud of myself? Yes, I was really surprised at how well I did. Would I do that particular ride again? No, it's just not fun. It's hard to enjoy the beautiful scenery when your gasping for air and focused on climbing the next hill. But I think it gave me more hope of completing my century in two weeks. That ride isn't nearly as hilly, so I think I have a chance.

Here's the elevation profile. As you can see, there were few breaks to be found.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs511.ash1/30155_1466371589464_1538774168_31182826_669012_n.jpg

[tharley]

Great job! I am very impressed. :D

[Maxxxie]

Yowsa! That looks like a lot of tough climbing. Congrats on sticking it out. Lesser mortals would've given up. Good on you!

Max

[TrekTheKaty]

WOW! Good job--century, no problem :)

[ny biker]

Here's the elevation profile. As you can see, there were few breaks to be found.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs511.ash1/30155_1466371589464_1538774168_31182826_669012_n.jpg


FWIW, this will probably change your definition of "a hilly ride." There are rides that I thought had killer hills when I first did them. Then I did a ride with seriously killer hills, and now I enjoy the old rides and realize they're not all that hilly after all.

Also when I do encounter hills now, I just think: I can handle it, I've done worse.

BTW NoNo, is the trolley museum in Branford still open? We visited it when I was very young.

[Zen]

I just can't believe that first wall. I would have had a nice walk there for sure.

[sundial]

Yeah, no kidding! No wonder you were dreading this ride! But you were tenacious enough to finish it and now you will look back and think,'That wasn't so bad.' ;)

[NoNo]

FWIW, this will probably change your definition of "a hilly ride." There are rides that I thought had killer hills when I first did them. Then I did a ride with seriously killer hills, and now I enjoy the old rides and realize they're not all that hilly after all.

Also when I do encounter hills now, I just think: I can handle it, I've done worse.

True. I was rather pleased with myself for actually being able to ride up all the hills, even if I was only doing 5mph. And to be able to keep climbing throughout the whole ride. It made me aware of how far I've progressed as a rider, even if I'm not as fast or good as the people that were breezing past me.


BTW NoNo, is the trolley museum in Branford still open? We visited it when I was very young.

It's in East Haven, which is the town next to us, and yes, it's open in the summer. Oddly, I've never been there, despite growing up in this area.

Trolley Museum (http://www.bera.org/)


Yeah, no kidding! No wonder you were dreading this ride! But you were tenacious enough to finish it and now you will look back and think,'That wasn't so bad.' ;)

It made it all the more maddening because my brother, who's a good climber, kept saying "Oh, it won't be as bad as you think!" Easy for him to say! Part of the reason I actually signed up was because last week my dad came to ride with us, stipulating that there be no hills. I live on the shore, it's about as flat as you'll find around here, and there's nothing major on the route I take him on. But he still complained and whined about how he hasn't gotten better. I told him he wouldn't if he a) barely bikes in the first place, and b) never rides on hills. Then I realized the hypocrisy of me telling him that and telling my brother I refuse to do this ride because of the hills.:rolleyes:

I feel pretty good today, just sore in the neck and shoulders, and a bit in the elbows. Legs feel surprisingly good. Oddly, my appetite is off, and I'm normally ravenous after big rides.