First 30 Mile Event Ride-What I Need to Know

[Velocivixen]

Hi All,

So this Saturday I'm riding the 30 mile route of the PetalPedal departing from the Oregon Gardens in Silverton. My friend, DH and I all signed up for the 30 mile route. There are also 60 and 100 mile routes. I plan on getting a good night's sleep, staying well hydrated, eating before and during the ride. They provide a breakfast, rest stops every 15 miles for food, drink, bike repair, etc. They also provide lunch/dinner afterwards. The weather will be cloudy and start in the 50's with highs likely in the upper 60's, and dry.

So...anything I should know? I have my took kit with me, two water bottles and likely a few snacks just in case. My goal is to stay with my friend who's about 14 years older than me and has been off her bike for a good long time. I know from riding with her that my average speed is faster than hers, but I'm doing this for fun and for leisure, not to win the race.

Thanks for any tips you could provide.

[indysteel]

Riding with a potentially large number of people takes a little more awareness of yourself and what and who is around you. Generally speaking, I'd encourage you to stay to the right of the road unless you're passing. If riders are close behind you, it's nice to yell or point out any road hazards and to signal when you're slowing, stopping, or turning. As you pass other riders, yell "on your left." Always keep an eye out for what's behind you, especially as you go to pass someone. If I had a dollar for every fast-moving cyclist or paceline that passed me on the left without warning, I'd be a rich woman. If a car is coming up from behind, yell "car back." From the front, yell "car up." If a car is passing, yell "car passing." This assumes othe riders are nearby.

One pet peeve I have at event or club rides is the yo-yoer. Those are people who pass you and then almost immediately slow down such that you then have to pass them. Then they pass you again. Don't be that person!!!

Otherwise just have fun! Be careful at rest stops. It is easy to overeat at stops. And don't stay too long at the stops--unless you don't mind having legs that feel like lead!

[marni]

take an extra packet of chamois butter with you, sometimes in the heat and or humidity, an extra addition makes all the difference. Take you camera, take pictures, talk to the other riders, remember that you don't have to stop at every rest stop, and keep yourself hydrated and limber.

most importantly enjoy riding with your friend and husband and have a good time.

marni

[Velocivixen]

Wow these are excellent tips. Not sure what the turnout will be like. Good to know about not staying too long at rest breaks. For us there will be only one at the halfway point. How long is "too long" to stay?
@marni, I've never had the need for chamois butter. I've ridden 25 miles before without issue. I don't have any. I do have mountain bike shorts with a liner that has a chamois though.

[smilingcat]

I stay at rest stop for no more than 10 minutes. You don't want to start cooling down.

If you have been riding regularly, 30 miles will be okay! Just pace your self and not get sucked up with the faster riders. Take your time and enjoy yourself. don't worry too much.

Oh you may want to have a small stiff plastic board with a clip inside a plastic zip bag. clip the route sheet onto the small board and mount it on the gooseneck or somewhere it doesn't get in a way.

Pay attention to the distance between the way points and colored arrows if the ride is marked. Keep an eye out for other riders. if you lose sight of other riders, you may want to double back to make sure you didn't go off course.

And enjoy your ride!!

[DarcyInOregon]

Velo, you will be cycling over roads I ride on quite a bit. This is an event ride for the Oregon public gardens, I believe. The 30-mile route is relatively flat, so no worries there for you, and by flat I mean any inclines are generally in the nature of rollers and not difficult to navigate for a new cyclist. The only advice I can give you is to arrive early, and stand in line for the porta potties first before you pick up your registration packet as the lines get long fast. Bring extra cash with you in case they have tables set up selling jerseys, tees, socks, jackets, etc for cheap, and you can pick up some nice stuff that way. Go to the porta potty first, registration second, look to see if anything is being sold, then go to your car to get your bike and gear together and put stuff in the car from the registration packet or items you purchased.

Make an agreement with the people you are cycling with if you are cycling together at the slowest person's speed or if you are all going to do your own thing and regroup at the rest stop and the finish line. One aspect about new cyclists on their first event ride is they don't pace themselves; they speed up as packs of cyclists pass them, get caught up in the frenzy of pedaling among so many bikes and going faster than normal, and totally forget about the group of friends they are supposedly biking with, who are pacing themselves, and soon leave their friends miles behind. It can lead to some hurt feelings, so it is something you have to agree on before the event ride. All groups are different on how they bike an event ride, so how you bike will be specific to you and your friends. I participate in quite a few event rides each year, and I bike with different cycling friends, and pretty much every ride we start out as a pace line and it devolves into individuals riding at their own speed. I have a lot of fun drafting off anyone who passes me by until I am dropped or they slow down, then I jump into some other group's slipstream. I know I am real tired on a long ride when I find myself drafting off the back wheel of a bike that is only going 13 mph and I don't care.

Anyway, you will have fun. The weather for Saturday won't be too hot, just right. The route is over roads that are fun to bike. The scenery is great.

[Bike Chick]

All great advice here. I also take my phone in a plastic sandwich bag if there's a possibility of rain and use sunscreen. One more thing, be sure to have a map of the course with you and be sure to pay attention to what color arrow is being used for the 30 mile course. My first 60 mile group ride ended up being an 85 mile group ride because I followed the wrong arrows and turned right when I should've turned left. Trust me, you don't want to do that!

Most importantly, have fun.

[Velocivixen]

Hi Darcy, I hoped you would chime in. The only time I've ridden this distance was on Sauvies Island for 25 miles on May 1st- it was sunny and windy. Great to hear about the roads. Since my friend is the slower rider I'm going her pace. Were doing it to have fun and support each other (we both do Weight Warchers & have lost a lot of weight). My DH likes to ride faster but said he would ride with us. I'll post photos and a summary when I finish.

[Catrin]

...One more thing, be sure to have a map of the course with you and be sure to pay attention to what color arrow is being used for the 30 mile course. My first 60 mile group ride ended up being an 85 mile group ride because I followed the wrong arrows and turned right when I should've turned left. Trust me, you don't want to do that!

Most importantly, have fun.

+100 on this. On my last good organized ride last September before my injuries, I added several hours to my ride by following the wrong arrow...I finally had to take a shortcut back to the start from one of the SAGs and was unable to finish the ride. I would have stuck with it if my leg hadn't been in pain by that point - so double-check all of your arrows or whatever markings they choose to use. With multiple routes this mistake can be easy to make.

Having fun is the very most important thing :D

[jlnc]

I'm glad you posted this question VVixen...i have a 25 mile ride this weekend, and all of this advice will be helpful! I think the hardest thing for me will be to remember to ride at my own (slow!) pace and not get caught up in the excitement. We've got another hot humid day predicted for Saturday, so I have to remember to drink, drink drink!! :D
Hope you enjoy your ride!

[marni]

[QUOTE=Bike Chick;581891]All great advice here. I also take my phone in a plastic sandwich bag if there's a possibility of rain and use sunscreen.

I on the other hand, ride so hot and sweaty that my cell phone lives permanently in a zip lock sandwich bag whether rain is predicted or not.

[Velocivixen]

It's going to be cloudy and in the 60's. Maybe partly sunny. 30 miles won't be a big deal, but it's my first "organized ride". I do Portland Sunday Parkways but they're more meandering loops of about 7 or 8 miles. I don't worry about myself, but about other riders who are idiots!
I know about pacing myself and use a training computer (Polar FT40) at least for running races. I know not to go too fast in the beginning if I want to finish strong at the end. As I said, my friend is much slower and we're going to stop and take photos, etc. along the way as appropriate. I have a Trek FX 7.3 and I really wish I had my road bike by now. I'm trying to convince DH to finance it for me and I will repay him. If I didn't already have a bike he'd probably buy me one, but since I don't really need another bike it's up to me to pay for it. Anyway, that's an entirely different story.

[jlnc]

Let us know how your ride goes VeloV! I finished my first 25 mile charity ride this morning. It was so much fun! I was nervous about the heat but made sure i drank the whole time, and I took a good rest at the halfway point. Last quarter of the ride was uphill and in the full sun, but I made it! So glad I did it. I hope you have fun on your 30 miler today! :D

[Velocivixen]

UPDATE: It poured rain! Thank goodness I had waterproof (yes, they were) over my biking shorts, then a tech tee shirt, a thermal cycling jacket, then a PI Barrier cycling jacket. My feet, hands, face and hair were soaking wet most of the time. It rained, we had a 10 mph or so headwind, sometimes a "side wind" when the rain was coming down horizontally, and sometimes but not often a tailwind. There were what I call long, slow rolling hills that went "uphill" if that makes sense. I have NEVER ridden 30 miles and I have not practiced hills except a few very short steeper ones around here once in awhile. At mile 16 there was food- dave's killer bread peanut butter & jelly half sandwiches, watermelon, gatorade, strawberry shortcake, boiled eggs, etc. They also had breakfast, and gourmet food for our "dinner" with a band.
In the beginning I think I tried to go too fast up the first loooong rolling hill AND into a headwind and I was almost crying, I just got off and walked. I was so disgusted with myself. My 62 year old friend who's been off her bikes for a few years, just kept peddling and she was 10 minutes ahead of me the entire time. She was riding a heavy hybrid, only had clipless pedals. My DH stayed back with me and it took 3 hours of actual riding to ride 30 miles. Let's just say that many folks who signed up for the 68 & 100 mile rides quit after 35 or 40. The weather was bad.

[jlnc]

Ugh, sorry it was rainy and windy, but kudos to you for sticking with it. I'm not sure I would have even attempted it if it were pouring!

[Velocivixen]

Continued: I meant to say waterproof rain pants. They are the REI women's generic waterproof pants and I can say that they kept me dry.
At the end of the ride there was a moderately steep hill back to the Oregon Garden and I was hellbent on not having to walk. I was in gears 2 (front)& 1(rear) and I focused my gaze about 5 feet in front of my front tire and kept peddling. I finally had to shift into 2 & 3 because I guess I'm not a "spinner". As I reached the summit up into the garden's parking lot I was screaming going "WHOOOOHOOOO-I DID IT!" and was in tears. People were smiling and saying "Good Job". My HRM said I burned around 1500 calories, and they fed us salmon, risotto salad with goat cheese, chicken, salad, whole wheat rolls, cake, free beer (I don't drink but was tempted). I don't know if I'd do this kind of ride again. Some places had no shoulder with 6' gullys on the side so if you fell it was a long way down. Big trucks occasionally speeding by were scary.
I would definitely want a road bike for my next long ride.
Also, bought MKL "Lambda" pedals and they ARE very slick in rain. My feet slid off of them more than once and I was very p*ssed about this. I can't return them, so I guess they'll be my dry weather pedals.
Thanks for all your support. Although I did eat too much at the stop and I had indigestion as I rode on (I'm guessing all the blood was going to my legs).
What should I expect tomorrow in the way of soreness? I've taken tylenon and have been drinking tons of water to clear away the lactic acid so my muscles won't be sore.

[Bike Writer]

VV, you make us proud to persevere in the rain and wind and finish. Some times we build things up in our head to be a certain way and when it does not materalize that way we get frustrated and dissapointed, including being dissapointed in ourself, which I am sure, is why you felt like crying at one point. That tugged at my heart as we have all been there at some point and suffered near defeat, but you came back to overcome that defeat and finish the course.

Bully for you! ;)

If you reread through your thread you realized that an all out assult might cause you problems and you wanted to avoid that and pace yourself, you got excited and caught up in the moment and abandoned that plan. That happens. To the best of people, often more than once.

You finished, what a huge accomplishment for you or anyone in that weather!

Congratulations to you.

[smilingcat]

Congratulation for finishing the ride under extreme condition.

As for tomorrow, depending on your conditioning, you may or may not be sore and stiff. Treat yourself to a nice long hot bath and better yet a full body massage. Preferably deep tissue or sports massage. It may hurt a little while getting the massage but it really helps with recovery and how you feel afterwards.

:cool: :D

[Velocivixen]

Thanks for your suport. It took me awhile, when I was running races, to learn to pace myself so I could finish strong and although this wasn't a race I will have to learn how to pace myself for these endurance activities. I've never done it so I wasnt sure what or how much to eat, drink, when to go faster and when to conserve energy and go slower. Still a learning process. I just don't know if I'd do enough of these to get that all sorted out.
I do know that I am really hungry. I ate very well after the event, but I feel very hungry.
I wonder if it's normal to feel that way.

[Bike Chick]

Oh I hate that you had such awful weather and bad experience on your first 30 but a big thumbs up for sucking it up and finishing. I really think that cyclists enjoy suffering and it sounds like you did your fair share.

It sounds like it was a wonderful ride with great rest stops despite the weather. Be sure to do it next year so you have something to compare it to.

[smilingcat]

T I just don't know if I'd do enough of these to get that all sorted out.
I do know that I am really hungry. I ate very well after the event, but I feel very hungry.
I wonder if it's normal to feel that way.


Not to worry, you will get it sorted out about your pace unless you are serious type-A personality.

Being hungry after a ride like that is normal. You probably burned lot more calories than you might think. The cold wet rain and your body trying to keep your extremities warm and all that exercise, your body wants to replenish all that expended calories.

Treat yourself to a cheeseburgers or fried chicken. :D high calorie feel good food.

[Velocivixen]

Honestely, I've been depressed about losing my cat. I've been on the verge of tears often and now we have zero pets. We're going on vacation in a couple of months so want to wait until we return before adopting.
So there I was feeling low energy, depressed and my first group ride, first 30 mile ride, out in a rural setting with rain/wind. My emotions were raw, I felt vulnerable and actually got off and walked a little while trying to fight back tears of frustration. So not only was I out of breath by trying to ride too fast up a long rolling hill into a rainy headwind, but I was fighting back tears of overall feeling overwhelmed and it felt like someone was squeezing my larynx and I couldn't breathe. My friend who I signed up with was on a time schedule and had to be back home by a certain time, so I told her to go on ahead of me. She was about 10 minutes ahead the entire rest of the way. When DH & I arrived my friend had already eaten and had to go. She did not realize how raw, vulnerable, sad, frustrated I had been feeling....
So I really wasn't in a very good place, emotionally, for something that for me takes so much focus and energy. I have no energy....I am sad....I feel lonely. I know this will pass.

[radacrider]

Congrats on completing your first long ride, VV!!!! and {{{{hugs}}}}.

Do not think of this as a bad or hard ride, but an extremely successful, personal accomplishment. Completing a bad weather ride is tough enough, but to also be dealing with emotional issues adds that much more. I have always believed that riding is 80% mental - sticking it out when it is easier to quit, surviving those hills, riding despite frustrations - far more significant than any hill in my opinion.

be sure to remind yourself of your one of many cool accomplishments!

[Velocivixen]

Thanks radacrider. I know you're right about it being "mental". My friend actually has done a 500+ mile ride around Canada with a group. It rained a lot and she was the only one who completed the entire trip even through the rain. I think it helps to have group/ride cycling experience to know how to pace, adjust, etc. in times where it just sucks. Now I have some experience and I will know how to adjust better. Even for this ride I spoke with several riders after the event and they had signed up for the 68 mile ride and bailed out after 30-40 due to the weather.

[jdubble]

Thanks radacrider. I know you're right about it being "mental". My friend actually has done a 500+ mile ride around Canada with a group. It rained a lot and she was the only one who completed the entire trip even through the rain. I think it helps to have group/ride cycling experience to know how to pace, adjust, etc. in times where it just sucks. Now I have some experience and I will know how to adjust better. Even for this ride I spoke with several riders after the event and they had signed up for the 68 mile ride and bailed out after 30-40 due to the weather.

I'm proud of you for getting out and doing it! My husband and I had a rare morning alone (the kids were at my parents') and were going to go for a ride together, something we never get to do. We both woke up, looked outside, and agreed that we'd rather stay in and read the paper :) So kudos to you for doing that ride! It was NASTY out there yesterday!

Have you done any of the Woodstock Bike Gallery Ladies-only rides? They have them twice a month. I used to ride with the ladies out of the Hollywood shop, and it was always a good ride. Got me used to riding in a group again and pacing for a 30+ mile ride.

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations -- you did it! I wouldn't have even started in pouring rain. We'd signed up for a century before and woke up to driving rain. Just ate the entry fee we'd already paid and rolled over and went back to sleep. Only a small % of those who signed up actually did the ride. So you should feel very good that you persevered.

As for the mental part, I completely get it! Read about my ride today in the "June 19 rides" thread. I had a tough go of it too. I didn't mention this in my ride report, but Father's Day is a toughie for me because I lost my dad in a car accident in 2005. I loved him dearly and miss him madly. That will never change. So I always feel a little lonely and sad on this day anyway, and a difficult solo ride didn't help my mental attitude. But my ride ended on an upbeat note, and yours did too, from the sounds of it -- conquering that hill! You go!

[DarcyInOregon]

Velo, glad you finished the ride. The first event ride can always be difficult and fraught with drama, and usually on too heavy of a bike. But you experienced adventures and you will remember this ride for many years. Your next event ride will be better.

Eating on the event rides is something that is learned with repitition and unique to each cyclist. Most of the female cyclists I know stick with whatever bike food they stuff in their jersey pockets, plus electrolyte tablets, and use the rest stops for water, to eat fresh fruit and veggies, maybe to eat a little something with sodium, on the longer rides a boiled egg now and then for the protein, and of course to use the Porta Potties. I can't eat a meal half-way through a bike ride as it interferes with my blood sugar. I know of cyclists who bonked only an hour after eating a meal on a bike ride, and the theory is that the body has to divert energy to digesting the meal, and it doesn't leave enough ready energy to ride the bike, so the blood sugars get too low.

Eventually the rolling hills will be easy for you, rollers that you speed down and then go up the next one without even shifting down the gears. It just takes time and lots of riding, then one day they are no longer hills to you but just slight variations in the terrain.

I found two of my cats on bike rides, so keep your heart open when you are out cycling. Last summer there was an 8-week black and white female kitten about 30 feet up an old oak tree screaming her head off, no farm houses nearby, about a mile from Champoeg State Park. I rescued her and today she is a vibrant and healthy fluffy kitty. A few months ago I found a young female cat so starved she was almost dead, by the side of the road out near Willamette Mission State Park, fur fallen out from malnutrition and starvation, spotted her from my bike. I stopped and fed her bits of my Power Bar. I promised her I would come back for her; she screamed after me, wanting to go with me on my bike and it broke my heart to hear the sound. I was riding with someone and we still had another 35 miles to go. She was waiting for me when I got back to that spot in my car. The vet said she was the most starved near-death cat that the clinic ever treated. Right now she is of normal weight and sleeping behind my Notebook.

Yesterday's weather was tempermental, but it was warm enough. I rode with shorts and jersey and a light rain jacket, took the rain jacket off about an hour into my group training ride and kept it off, didn't mind getting wet as bike clothing dries fast. I ride all winter so it is all perspective, and I thought the weather was great because it wasn't too hot or too windy or too cold and the temperature was over 55.

[Velocivixen]

To all of you for your pre-ride advice and your support - THANK YOU. I kept in mind especially what you said about eat/drink before you feel hungry/thirsty. The only time I ever rode 25 miles back in May I didn't eat or drink ANYTHING until after I finished. No wonder it took me so long that day! haha.

Thanks to all of you who have given me virtual hugs for my post ride blues. I sure appreciate knowing that you all have had similar things happen and how you coped or felt during and after the ride.

UPDATE: My DH and I went to the Oregon Humane Society just to "look" and came home with two 9 month old female cats! I will do a separate post, but if you can't wait to see go to these web pages to see the cats. The first one is all black and was named "Biddy Earls" but we're calling her "Mila" : http://www.oregonhumane.org/adopt/adopted_detail.asp?animalID=108398

The second one was called "Puma Purrsalot" and we're calling her Violet : http://www.oregonhumane.org/adopt/adopted_detail.asp?animalID=109209

So I will be busy spending time with "the girls" currently in separate rooms so they can acclimate. I'll keep you posted.

[andtckrtoo]

Congrats on your ride! Majorly impressive, especially for a first organized ride!! It did sound scary in parts. :eek:

Also congrats on your new editions! They are cutie pies!!!

[Velocivixen]

Thanks all. I have an acquaintance who rode the 100 mile loop. He said he was surprised/horrified by the hills in the 30 mile section (end of his ride) and especially the headwinds. He said there were very few riders who completed the 100 ride, maybe 12-20 at most and they all came in around the same time regardless of age or fitness. The course marshalls pulled off a few "skinny lycra clad young chicks" because they were wearing just tops and shorts and suffering from pretty severe hypothermia. Others quit at the turnoff (those on the 68 or 100 mile loop) at around 50 miles. He's a seasoned rider with 85K miles under his belt and he said this was no picnic.
So I guess now I feel just a tiny bit "hard core". ;)

[radacrider]

Thanks all. I have an acquaintance who rode the 100 mile loop. He said he was surprised/horrified by the hills in the 30 mile section (end of his ride) and especially the headwinds. He said there were very few riders who completed the 100 ride, maybe 12-20 at most and they all came in around the same time regardless of age or fitness. The course marshalls pulled off a few "skinny lycra clad young chicks" because they were wearing just tops and shorts and suffering from pretty severe hypothermia. Others quit at the turnoff (those on the 68 or 100 mile loop) at around 50 miles. He's a seasoned rider with 85K miles under his belt and he said this was no picnic.
So I guess now I feel just a tiny bit "hard core". ;)

Awesome ... and you totally should!:)