hibiscus09
09-22-2003, 06:15 AM
Woo-hoo!!! I did my 150 mile ride this weekend!! It went from Camden, S.C. to Florence, S.C. (74 miles), then went on the next day from Florence, S.C. to North Myrtle Beach, S.C. (76 miles).
What a blast, rush, etc.!!! The longest I had ridden before this ride was 54 miles (I believe) and then for the last month I'd almost completely ridden indoors because of an ear infection that would not go away. Anyway, I finished & I'm so proud of me. LOL
Here's a brief summary of each day:
Day 1 -- Oopsies!! Me and my sister got there an hour late because we thought the start time was an hour later than it was. Anyway, they let us set off anyway & we were with other bikers by lunch time. LOL
I don't know how to describe the first day. There were no major mishaps but it did seem kind of grueling as the day went on. The volunteers at the rest stops were so great, though. They really made the ride such a good time. One stop was completely manned by people who had MS & they were so appreciative and sweet. Another one had iced towels & I think they should have these at every rest stop. We went to Darlington Speedway for one of our stops & it was kind of cool to go to the race track -- they had popsicles there -- another good item!
I cruised into Florence High School and was so glad to be done with Day 1. It was 89 degrees & sunny out and I was definitely ready to cool down. My sister showed up about an hour and a half later & I was worried she was in the hospital because she doesn't tolerate heat well. Turns out, she was at the McDonald's drinking a chocolate milkshake for part of the time! LOL
Day 2 --
This day was both exhilarating and harrowing in opposite order. Once we set off for this ride, around rest stop 3, someone thought it would be entertaining to turn the directional arrows & we ended up a couple of miles in the wrong direction -- along with 4 other riders. Anyway, while we're down this road -- Cujo (aka, Smokey -- the big black husky) decided to attack. He especially was fond of me. He hit my bike twice with his body, trying to knock me over. He had teeth bared, hair raised & was snapping at my legs. No fun at all. I'm yelling "NO!" at the top of my lungs like the books say to do & Cujo just kept thinking "dinner." His little kiddie owners were hollering "If you just pet him, he probably won't bite you." LOL -- "probably won't bite me." -- whatever. . . One of the smarter volunteers on a motorcycle figured out the arrow was turned the wrong way & came & found us at the Interstate we finally made it to on the errant trail. He called a truck & they drove us back to the arrow because we refused to face Cujo again. Anyway, Cujo rattled the 4 people so badly with us that they quit!! They caught the SuperSag to the Beach.
My sister and I forged on -- screw Cujo! LOL My adrenalin was racing.
Anyway, the fun parts of this day was that some guys with Canada shirts on asked me if I wanted to paceline with them & I told them, I had never done it & didn't want to wipe them all out. They told me to come on anyway & they would pull me & I didn't have to participate in the paceline. Sooooo, I rode behind them for about 25 miles at a 18-20mph pace and kept up!! It was such a rush -- I had no idea I could go that fast & hang that close behind people without spazzing. They were absolutely great about signaling slow downs & bumps & everything else. Plus -- they were hot! LOL Brightened my day.
At the last water stop, I decided to wait for my sister so we could ride in together. Sooo, it was a long wait in the hot sun and the paramedics came & picked up a woman who was just really non-stop vomiting because of the heat. Overall, I heard about several heat exhaustion hospital trips & several wrecks causing hospitalization. One was a railroad track wreck & I believe the person was hurt pretty badly. That story scared me enough that I walked my bike over the railroad tracks I came to.
The last 5 miles were at about a 10-12 mph pace but I was glad I waited for my sister because she was looking a little heat stricken herself.
Anyway, we made it!!! My overall pace was right at 14mph which was fine with me. I rode about 5 legs of the ride with my sister & the rest with strangers or on my own.
I'm sorry if this is not brief (LOL) but it was such a blast & such a rush to accomplish after only having my bike a few months or so. I am so addicted. I will definitely do this ride again next year!
What a blast, rush, etc.!!! The longest I had ridden before this ride was 54 miles (I believe) and then for the last month I'd almost completely ridden indoors because of an ear infection that would not go away. Anyway, I finished & I'm so proud of me. LOL
Here's a brief summary of each day:
Day 1 -- Oopsies!! Me and my sister got there an hour late because we thought the start time was an hour later than it was. Anyway, they let us set off anyway & we were with other bikers by lunch time. LOL
I don't know how to describe the first day. There were no major mishaps but it did seem kind of grueling as the day went on. The volunteers at the rest stops were so great, though. They really made the ride such a good time. One stop was completely manned by people who had MS & they were so appreciative and sweet. Another one had iced towels & I think they should have these at every rest stop. We went to Darlington Speedway for one of our stops & it was kind of cool to go to the race track -- they had popsicles there -- another good item!
I cruised into Florence High School and was so glad to be done with Day 1. It was 89 degrees & sunny out and I was definitely ready to cool down. My sister showed up about an hour and a half later & I was worried she was in the hospital because she doesn't tolerate heat well. Turns out, she was at the McDonald's drinking a chocolate milkshake for part of the time! LOL
Day 2 --
This day was both exhilarating and harrowing in opposite order. Once we set off for this ride, around rest stop 3, someone thought it would be entertaining to turn the directional arrows & we ended up a couple of miles in the wrong direction -- along with 4 other riders. Anyway, while we're down this road -- Cujo (aka, Smokey -- the big black husky) decided to attack. He especially was fond of me. He hit my bike twice with his body, trying to knock me over. He had teeth bared, hair raised & was snapping at my legs. No fun at all. I'm yelling "NO!" at the top of my lungs like the books say to do & Cujo just kept thinking "dinner." His little kiddie owners were hollering "If you just pet him, he probably won't bite you." LOL -- "probably won't bite me." -- whatever. . . One of the smarter volunteers on a motorcycle figured out the arrow was turned the wrong way & came & found us at the Interstate we finally made it to on the errant trail. He called a truck & they drove us back to the arrow because we refused to face Cujo again. Anyway, Cujo rattled the 4 people so badly with us that they quit!! They caught the SuperSag to the Beach.
My sister and I forged on -- screw Cujo! LOL My adrenalin was racing.
Anyway, the fun parts of this day was that some guys with Canada shirts on asked me if I wanted to paceline with them & I told them, I had never done it & didn't want to wipe them all out. They told me to come on anyway & they would pull me & I didn't have to participate in the paceline. Sooooo, I rode behind them for about 25 miles at a 18-20mph pace and kept up!! It was such a rush -- I had no idea I could go that fast & hang that close behind people without spazzing. They were absolutely great about signaling slow downs & bumps & everything else. Plus -- they were hot! LOL Brightened my day.
At the last water stop, I decided to wait for my sister so we could ride in together. Sooo, it was a long wait in the hot sun and the paramedics came & picked up a woman who was just really non-stop vomiting because of the heat. Overall, I heard about several heat exhaustion hospital trips & several wrecks causing hospitalization. One was a railroad track wreck & I believe the person was hurt pretty badly. That story scared me enough that I walked my bike over the railroad tracks I came to.
The last 5 miles were at about a 10-12 mph pace but I was glad I waited for my sister because she was looking a little heat stricken herself.
Anyway, we made it!!! My overall pace was right at 14mph which was fine with me. I rode about 5 legs of the ride with my sister & the rest with strangers or on my own.
I'm sorry if this is not brief (LOL) but it was such a blast & such a rush to accomplish after only having my bike a few months or so. I am so addicted. I will definitely do this ride again next year!