I know it's crazy but..

I'm doing the Tour de Cure tomorrow and I'm terrified. I get knots in my stomach every time I think about it. It's completely irrational. I've been practicing - I only signed up for the metric - I've even been riding the route already! (The Tour leaves from right near my house so I've been following the road markers lately on my rides.)

Here's the thing - I've never ridden in a group before. I am a member of a cycling club and I could ride w/ a group if I want - but I'm so uncomfortable with the idea that I've never done it.

I know there is no reason for me to be so nervous. I know that it's not a race, I have nothing to prove to anyone, everything will be fine etc etc etc.

DH's advice is "If it stops being fun, call me and I'll come get you. There is no reason to be out there on your bike weeping or miserable or in agony. If it stops being fun, just call."

I hate that I'm so nervous about it. I guess I'll continue being nervous until I'm there, on my bike and going.

I'll keep you posted.
:rolleyes:

LiW,
You'll do fine! It's a "ride" not a "race." Yes, there will be those that will turn it into their personal race, but unless you're a really fast rider, you won't see much of them. If you've riden in group rides, then you do have the experience you need. Stop at the rest stops, chat with folks, have fun! :)

Last year I did the Tour des Farmes ride, which was 45 miles. I had only had my road bike for a month, and had never ridden longer than 30 miles.

I was also terrified, and besides that, the weather was horrible - it rained the whole day.

When I started, I felt like I couldn't breathe and I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. I was crying on the bike, thinking... I will just quit at the first rest stop.

But at the first stop, I started talking to some people, and then went to a quiet corner, closed my eyes, and told myself, "This is crazy, just relax and have fun."

And that is what I did. I did the whole thing; I was the absolute last one to finish, but ended up having a blast.

So, take it from someone that has been in your shoes. Attitude is everything. Tell yourself over and over that you are going to have fun, and I bet you will.:)

Lynette

You are not alone.

We've all been there, and you have the support of DH.

And now it's time for an appearance by my inner Drill Sergeant:

You've got people expecting you to do this!
You said you'd do it and dammit you will!
You will be fine, you will surprise yourself, and you will have fun!
DO YOU UNDERSTAND, PRIVATE LADY?!!!!!!!

Hey lady in white!
Me too !! I started cycling with my new bike in March. I signed up for a women's only ride in Utah, metric, and, as with your ride, it is tomorrow.
I am chicken!!!
Chickens unite!!!!!:D
Zen's inner sarg. is right - we can do this, we just have to get there and get it done!
I love the advice about having FUN - that is what got us into this in the first place FUN!!!! That is what we are going to do tomorrow, okay, you and me, have FUN!!
I haven't ever ridden in a group ride, either. Let's hope no one will know! Kidding - I plan on asking lots of questions.
I am sure we will both have some stories to tell one another on Sunday/Monday. Your post made my day. I look forward to hearing of your victory and sharing mine :eek: :D :confused: :rolleyes: :D

Hey, I get nervous before every big ride. Tomorrow I'm doing my 5th double. I was awake this morning at 3:30 thinking about what to pack.

If it's riding with others that has you worried, just remember to be predictable - no sudden swerving, stopping, etc. If you need to stop on the road, look behind you, holler "Stopping!" and then pull over to the side.

Think hard before you call your DH if you're not having fun. Rides aren't always 100% fun. You may be unhappy for 10 minutes, but then you find your groove and life is good again.

Enjoy your ride. Don't worry about being last. It's no big deal. Trust me on this one. :p

V.

You are going to do GREAT!!! Just think of GOOD you are going to feel once you have accomplished the ride!! You are at least going to TRY and that is awesome!! Like Flybye said, we look forward to hearing of your VICTORY!!!:D

I am nervous too. I was talking to the only woman who ever did Cannonball,
a race across the state of Washington. She has done multiple Ramrods; she's done Multiple STP's, she's done all sorts of rides. SHE doesn't sleep well before a big ride either.
When she told me that, I instantly felt better. but i still lose sleep, have
intestinal difficulties, etc, etc.

You guys are awesome. I feel better all ready. I feel SO much better knowing it's not just me!!

I'll let you know how it all turns out :)
T.

No matter how prepared I am, I get the nervous tummy before charity rides. I couldn't even tell you what it is that increases the anxiety, but it goes away once I start riding.

Just be aware that if your stomach likes to go to mush, be careful what you eat & know where the toilets will be at the starting point.

I'm looking forward to some excellent ride reports after this weekend.

Years ago, I did the 50K Ride for Heart - I was terrified! But what I found was that all the guys in lycra who wanted to turn it into their own private race did so - my heart hammered (hey, at least the cause was right, LOL) as they tore past me yelling "your left!" every second or so - but then they were gone, and the rest of us could just enjoy going at our own pace, enjoy talking if we wished, loiter at the rest stops if we felt the need, and have us our own party!

I hope it turns out just like that for you! I felt horrid the 3 days before I rode, but after the first half hour (while the speedies were going by) I had a great time.

With luck, you'll get to meet other riders who go at the same pace as you, and maybe you'll even make some friends.

I'll keep you in mind while I'm stuck in class tomorrow;) (dang grad school never ends).

Chakra

Very crazy
Very sane
I lookfor ward to reading how you did
Its a shame you and FlyBye aren't doing the same ride!
Y'all have fun
:)
Thats what its about, remember...

I posted that I successfully completed the ride under the June 2 rides but thought I'd take a minute to share the details here, with you guys who were such a great support to me.

First of all - I was up at 6, checking tire inflation, lubing this and that and generally trying not to stress. Just before 7 I decide to ride over to the start. DH decides to ride over w/ me for moral support. He is in army green cargo shorts, lime green polo shirt, sneakers and helmet. We get there and I just have to laugh - while I'm checking in w/ the remaining 100 milers (they departed at 7) DH is putting my free tshirt on over his polo so now he looks utterly ridiculous, he's snagging a Tour de Cure water bottle and filling it for me, he's making himself a bagel w/ butter from the breakfast tent. In short, he's having a grand time.

I'm totally tense - surrounded by all sorts of decked out roadies in full kit.

Then I hear the 100's get called to the start. The 62's don't leave til 8. So I hit the head and pace around a little finally I say to DH, I'm leaving now.

Yep - I totally chickened out of the group ride experience, succumbing to all my anxiety. He pins on my number, gives me a pep talk and decides to ride with me for a bit. The number starts flapping like crazy as we leave so we swing back home for a sec to get additional pins and then we are off. He rides with me about a mile to a deli where he's going to get coffee and I continue on alone.

The first half of the ride was glorious - the route I knew well b/c I'd been practicing it, straight to beach. This first town had police stationed at every intersection expecting riders. I was all alone but when they saw me coming they stopped traffic in all directions and I flew through - it was SO fun. That feeling right there was worth the whole experience. They yelled Good Luck!!

The next town wasn't so great - streets PACKED with craft fair shoppers and then the next town was jammed with a local 5k run happening. I was yelled at by a guy with a bull horn to get out of the way. :(

Stopped after that at a g/f's apt for bathroom and water break and a pep talk. And then I was really off. Headed into a route I didn't know - I followed the markers painted on the ground and rode solo almost the whole rest of the way -

There was a couple that kept arriving at the rest stops about 5 min after me and one older gentleman rode with me out of a rest stop for a bit but I just couldn't hang on to him. He blew me away. :rolleyes:

It was HOT riding (mid 90's) - baking at the intersections.

Then I began to recognize where I was again and knew I was headed home :D I almost wept - not from relief or exhaustion but from "omg I did it"

I stopped at the last rest stop which was located right in my normal riding route, called the DH and told him I couldn't be more than 30 min out. 20 min later I pulled through the finish! DH and boy were waiting cheering!!! I absolutely LOVED the volunteers whose sole responsibility was to cheer and congratulate people arriving. When DH took this picture below - I truly was on the verge of tears knowing that this ride represented how far I'd come in regaining my health.

HOOOORAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! :D :p :D :p :D

I loved reading your post! Good riding, good writing, YOU ROCK!!!!!