MS150 Breakaway to the Beach

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!

That's fantastic Hibiscus! What an achievement!!!You must be so proud:cool: :D :cool:

Sounds like you had enough ups and downs on the trip to make it memorable. I can't believe someone turned the arrows round - what a pratt! I'd be seriously p'd off - if you've got a big ride the last thing you need is some joker making it longer for you.

As for the dog attach - sounds pretty scary but I'm glad you didn't quit.

The pace line stuff sounds like fun. It's amazing how fast you can go in a bunch and how much effort it can save you. Oh yeh - also helps if the guys are good looking. Nothing better than a tasty bod. to chase to make those mile disappear and take you mind off you aching legs.:p

Thanks for the report - sounds like a great couple of days. Got any piccies?

LOL -- MightyMitre -- one of the guys kept doing stretches on his bike in front of me & he had a great bottom! :D

I did take piccies but am amazed how ugly I look in that bicycle get up. I'd post them but I'd have to find a normal pic of me to post first so you can see how I look every day. LOL

Oh come on Hibsicus - we all look funny in our bike gear. :D So just post your pictures. We promise not to laugh.

I am so glad you had such a good time. The dog thing did sound a bit scary. As for the extra miles, now you can say you've done an 80 mile ride (or whatever it worked out to be.) That's almost a century.

Happy riding,

Veronica

Okay, Veronica. I'll post the ugly things. LOL Let me go gather them up. :D

Oopsies. I just tried by browsing & finding my pic on the computer & it won't let me post it. Any suggestions?

You have to have them on a website and then provide a link. If you don't have a site you can e mail them to me and we'll put them up. My email is veronica@tandemhearts.com

Veronica

Veronica was sweet enough to put a few pics up for me so I could post them. :) The first one is me without a helmet -- just because I had to show that one before I showed the ugly one from the ride in the helmet and kotex shorts. :D

http://tandemhearts.com/hibiscus/1

The next one is my sister, Debbie. I was soooo proud of her for finishing this ride. :D

http://tandemhearts.com/hibiscus/2

The last one is me setting out on Day 2 from Florence, S.C. on my way to North Myrtle Beach. :D

http://tandemhearts.com/hibiscus/3



Thanks Veronica!! :)

Nice pics, Hibiscus! All of them. NO ugly ones! You look fine in your bike outfit, just like a bike rider should look.

Thanks Annie! :) It was such a fun time!

Nice photos. I agree with the others, you look find in your bike gear. I think it just takes awhile to feel comfortable walking around swaddled in lycra :D

congrats to you and your sister!

Great photos! Thank for posting them and thanks Veronica for 'hosting' them.:) Looks like there were a lot of you taking part.

Nice Bianchi. And I notice you've got the same shorts as me. How do you get on with them? I love them.

Thanks, guys! :) I love my shorts -- they're very comfy. That, along with chamois butter kept me saddle sore free for my ride. :D I also love my Bianchi -- gave me no problems during the ride.

The ride had a total of 2,100 riders -- so it was quite a crowd. :)

Plenty of company then during the ride!

l've done a few mass participation rides this year and I love the atmosphere you get. It's so cool to be with a big gang of people who all enjoy the same thing as you. It's like loads of friends you haven't yet got to know.

PS I meant to say before about the photo's, it's always nice to put a face to a name.:)

Yeah, it was tons of fun being out around so many people who loved cycling. Everyone was so friendly! The only scary times were right at the start line -- some were much more wobbly than others. ;)

I think those pics are great! I feel self conscious in my bike gear, too. That just comes from low self esteem (years of being over weight will do that to you!) But, you know.......the people teasing me about the clothes I am wearing are the ones sitting back, watching tv and hardening their arteries as we speak! haha! I think I've said this before here, but I've recently lost about 40# and I am going to do what ever I want to do, when I want to do it! I have a new attitude! hah!

I haven't done a ride like that yet. I am still too new to cycling. I did a timed ride last week, though. I rode 13.75 miles in about 55 minutes. I was pleased (especially because I had to ride a hilly road for about 4 miles.)

I am very proud of you and your sister for finishing the ride. I wish someone in my family would ride with me!

Kim in TN

Good job on your timed ride! :)

I just started riding a few months ago -- the MS150 was kind of grueling at times, but I was pleasantly surprised that I made it to the end. :) You should check and see if there is one in your area & when the date is -- you could plan ahead for the next one. It's so much fun! My sister isn't a regular cycler -- she just thought it would be fun to give this a try. It would be nice to have a trainer partner with equal skills (or a little better to push me!).