Thanks TE!

I have been lurking on the board for about three years, occasionally posting, but reading with delight and learning so much from all of you. You have inspired me to keep riding more, and this summer is the first time I have really gotten serious about riding and I'm hooked!

The goal for my training this summer was to be able to do a 62-mile ride called "The Last Gasp" down the length of Cape Cod. It was originally scheduled for last weekend, but had to be postponed because of weather. It has continued to rain all week, and they are predicting gale-force winds tomorrow, so we won't be riding all the way to Provincetown :( The plan was for 350 riders to ride one-way from Sandwich to Provincetown, and then take a ferry back. Tons o' fun! But we are still going to meet, and do laps on the Cape Cod Canal, which with the predicted 25-40 mph winds will probably not be to do-able either :(

But...it got me training! I managed to do a 57-mile ride two weeks ago by myself, so I felt ready for the ride. And I raised over $500 for local charities. I am disappointed that we can't do the planned ride, but I am pleased to have found a new passion to keep me in shape and there's always next year!

So thanks again for all your inspiration, tips, and support. I really enjoy all your stories and sharing and I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow :)

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Originally Posted by wavedancer

I have been lurking on the board for about three years, occasionally posting, but reading with delight and learning so much from all of you. You have inspired me to keep riding more, and this summer is the first time I have really gotten serious about riding and I'm hooked!

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Hey Wavedancer - I agree about TE , you learn heaps and keep inspired just listening to everyones stories.

Sorry to hear the weather has not been the best, its disappointing when rides get cancelled.

Let us know how your ride works out.

Trek
:)

Wavedancer if you are out in this wind, my hats off to you girl. Holy Cow!!! First the darn rain and now the gail force winds. We drove around yesterday and found we couldn't get out of town because all the roads crossing the Blackstone river are closed. It was amazing. I have never seen the river so high and moving so fast. Most of the homes near the river are flooded.
I don't think I could stay upright on a bike with this wind.

I managed to do 60 miles on the Canal today in 25-40 knot winds. The wind was right out of the west, so it meant pedaling 7 miles directly into it, at times almost coming to a standstill in the higher gusts. But the good news is that once we reached the end of the canal, we FLEW back down with the tail wind :D

I did four "laps", each time thinking "this is the last one I can do" as I pushed into the wind, but then the thrill of the ride back just made me want to do it again! Kinda like a kid on a sled slogging up hill for the joy of the ride back down.

Everyone was really supportive, although there weren't too many riders today. We finished it off with a traditional clambake: clams, Lobster, corn, potatoes, sausage and beer! A lot of money was raised for Cape Cod charitable organizations, and I felt like I accomplished my personal challenge. My mother passed away one year ago and I was riding in her memory. Her strength and perseverance through all the health challenges she endured at the end of her life gave me the strength to just keep pushing through that wind one more time.

Thanks again, TE

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Originally Posted by wavedancer

I managed to do 60 miles on the Canal today in 25-40 knot winds. The wind was right out of the west, so it meant pedaling 7 miles directly into it, at times almost coming to a standstill in the higher gusts. But the good news is that once we reached the end of the canal, we FLEW back down with the tail wind :D
I did four "laps", each time thinking "this is the last one I can do" as I pushed into the wind, but then the thrill of the ride back just made me want to do it again! Kinda like a kid on a sled slogging up hill for the joy of the ride back down.
Everyone was really supportive, although there weren't too many riders today. We finished it off with a traditional clambake: clams, Lobster, corn, potatoes, sausage and beer! A lot of money was raised for Cape Cod charitable organizations, and I felt like I accomplished my personal challenge. My mother passed away one year ago and I was riding in her memory. Her strength and perseverance through all the health challenges she endured at the end of her life gave me the strength to just keep pushing through that wind one more time.
Thanks again, TE

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Congratulations on your ride and for perservering in windy conditions.
I feel very hungry now though after reading about all the yummy food especially clams and lobster .

Trek - wishing there was lobster in my fridge for dinner - hawk.

Congarts Wave on riding your goal and perservering in those winds! My friend once told me to think of head winds as "strength training"! :rolleyes: As for this marvelous board?......Amen! Alleluia! I don't know that I would've even Dreamed of tackling some of the things I did this year without all the encouragement, advice, and wonderful stories!

So - when's your first century? ;)

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So - when's your first century?

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I'm thinking maybe next year? Road-riding weather will be fading here in the northeast (for me, anyway), but I plan to get on the mountain bike as much as possible this winter and keep on training. Like I said, Y'all got me hooked! :p

Wavedancer, that Cape Cod ride sounds wonderful. That is one of the areas my husband and I hope to ride one day.

It sure doesn't take too much to get hooked into cycling especially with the advice and support from all the ladies on this board.

Wishing you many more happy and safe cycling days!!!

JoAnn

Hey Wavedancer -
Congrats on your ride in that wind yesterday. I almost got blown off of the road (in another part of MA), so I can definitely relate to what you were experiencing!

--- Denise

Thanks again for the congrats and support!