First Century, bad riders, blisters, etc.
Since we had absolutely perfect weather and a flat course, we decided that if we were ever going to do a century, Sat. was the day so our little 5 person team went for it. It was the first century for 4 of us. The last 20 miles were rough, but as long as I went at my own pace, I was fine. I was surprisingly un-sore afterwards, and it was nice to only have a 50 mile ride on Sunday.
On Sunday, I couldn't stand the thought of any kind of sweet sports drink after too much gatorade and accelerade on Sat. I drank a couple of bottles of Camelbak electrolyte tabs and the rest plain water, was careful to eat some protein and get enough calories at the rest stops, and did fine. Not feeling like I had to keep up with anyone was also important. As long as I went at my own pace, I felt pretty good.
The bad news is I developed a really bad blister near the crease at the top, back of my leg on Sunday. I was using chammy butter, but apparently not enough. I don't know if it was a shorts seam or my saddle. I really didn't know it was that bad until after the ride was over. I guess I'll put on my shorts and see if a seam matches up with the blister. The shorts are Terry Bellas that I have worn 4 or 5 times and the saddle is a Selle Italia Lady Diva that I have been riding since spring. I have done one 75 mile ride, a 40 - 60 mile ride every Sat. all summer, and many 20 - 25 rides, but certainly nothing close to 150 in 2 days.
I was appalled at some of the bad rider etiquette I saw, but it was the same at the last few charity rides I've been on. I especially got annoyed at groups of riders in a bunch taking up the whole lane who wouldn't move over NO MATTER WHAT. Even when we were yelling "AMBULANCE BACK! MOVE RIGHT!", they didn't move over! They certainly wouldn't move over for a "passing on left", forcing us to pass in the other lane. Perhaps related to that, I saw more injured riders requiring ambulances than ever. I personally saw 3 riders on the pavement (medical personnel already there and 2 looking like pretty serious injuries) and another ambulance stopped by the road that I didnt go by on my route.
A friend with medical training rode up on one serious injury and stopped to help until the ambulance arrived. She said a cyclist wearing earbuds nearly rode into them, saw the large group standing around the injured cyclist at the last minute and swerved almost causing several other cyclists to go down. All the while my friend is waving her arms, yelling at her to stop, but the cyclist did not see or hear her.
Now that I have done my century, I really don't feel any need or desire to do another one. I kind of feel like I have checked it off my list of things to do. 75 miles is a challenge for me, but I am still able to enjoy it. I don't think my feeling of accomplishment is enough to outweigh the discomfort of that last 25 miles in the future. We'll see, though. Never say never. I am weak when it comes to resisting peer pressure :)
