Indysteel has a separate post re: RAIN 2007, so I won't bore you with the details. But, the raving you'll have to listen to...
That was absolutely the most fun I've ever had, on the bike or otherwise!! With the wind at our backs, we just flew! 160 miles, and it felt like nothin'!! It was one of those days where everything clicked, and I couldn't believe how good it felt. Kept waiting for the "wall" to rise up and smote me or for the gorilla to jump on my back, but it never happened. And there ain't nothin' in the world that feels better than sailing past scads of buff guys over the last 50 miles, knowing that I feel AWESOME, and they are obviously tanked, toasted, bonked, and done for the day!! (Well, at least for this middle-aged female who got into the sport late in life.)
When we left the first official SAG at 41 miles, I knew I was going to finish. And then I had to spend the rest of the day trying NOT to think about it because every time I did, I thought I was going to cry -- just because I couldn't believe I was actually going to complete this crazy thing called RAIN. Did just about lose it when I saw the 200 yards to go sign on the pavement and then when DD ran out of the crowd to greet me after I'd crossed the line, but I'm sure most of you understand that whole emotional thing.
Two firsts for me on the ride. Dropped a bottle at 29 miles (snarly condensation, and it just slipped right out of my hand) that I had to run back and get -- what a doofus! Thank goodness we'd thinned out by then so I wasn't responsible for someone kissing the pavement. Plus, I fell at 80 miles at one of the dangerous intersections along the stretch that bypasses around the south side of Indianapolis. Saw several other riders go down throughout the day, so perhaps not such a doofus there. My thought on the way down: "I don't care how badly this hurts, I'm not breaking my fall; I'm going to hold my bike up so I don't hurt my baby!" Boogered up a pedal, but bar tape, etc., escaped unscathed. Whew!
Only other issue was at mile 85 when the USB cable came loose that was connecting my Garmin to my APC battery back-up. (Probably as a result of the fall.) The accompanying ting-ting-ting noise is one that strikes fear in any cyclist's heart -- sounded for all the world like I'd thrown several spokes -- and that was quickly followed by a very loud hissing noise, which I was certain meant I'd flatted my front tire. Stopped at the speed of light. Checked spokes. All accounted for and tight. Checked tires. Both solid. What the *&%# is going on here? Spun the front wheel to check for true, and it wouldn't turn. What?! Realized something was wedged between my brake pad and my rim, and that's when the light went on -- that's the plug on my USB cable -- ACK! Chewed the cable all to heck, but we added an additional cable tie (Nothing like cycling prepared for just about any conceivable event!) so it couldn't drop down that far if it popped loose again, and were on our way. Catastrophe narrowly averted -- if that had gone through my spokes and gotten wrapped up in my front wheel, I'd have been over the handlebars in nothin' flat. Double whew!
All in all, a terrific day! Whoo-doggies!! Thank goodness having that much fun is legal!
It was awesome, and I felt great! Am fairly certain there isn't anything I can't conquer now!! Think I'll solve world hunger and illiteracy next...
