The Casa Grande disaster

[Fredwina]

Well I was going to do the 400K at Casa Grande, AZ this weekend. I was doing very good until I got to the hotel and discovered that I left my shoes and gloves at home. not good. Thankfully, I had spare pair of shoes in my car. You see, I had done the same thing a couple of years back at the Las Vegas century and went by the bike shop at the first rest stop. I figured I would try them and see how far I got. I went in to Casa Grande and found the bike stop.The only gloves they had were "Desined in the USA and made in Pakistan". Not very confidence inspiring. Maybe I should have bought some from Wal-mart. I stopped and had dinner at Golden Corral, which was also wrong. The food was very bad quality, Pl;us I lost my sunglasses. I stopped at Wal mart and got some stuff before heading back to the hotel.
I woke bright and early Saturday for the 5am start. I was tail end Charlene by the time I got to interstate 10. but found it was easier. I rode the town of Eloy. To get from my workplace to the train station , I take a shuttle bus. The driver in the afternoon is named Eloy. He always asks when I'm going to ride through his town". I go to the first rest stop at Pichaco peak, with over an hour to spare, and my feet and hands weren't doing too bad. I realized than I had left my camera in the car. The next 15 miles were riding on the service road of interstate 10. My feet started to hurt when I turned off the service road in Marana. I pressed on the the next Control near Old Tuscon Studios. I though I was going to get a blister and I was only a quarter of the way in to the ride. The Arizona RBA, Susan Plonsky, was staff the control, and after talked , we decided that I should turn around and head back. We talked for while. One thing about Tucson in the winter is that of cyclists plan vacation there. while we were talking , a gentleman pulled in wearing a
Paris-Brest-Paris jersey. he thought we were with The desert Camp . I put what I could from my drop bag in my jersey pockets, and headed for the car. I had to stop a couple of times to massage my feet, But I got back about 3:00P. I did get a blister , but it was on my thumb. Susan came by my hotel and gave me my drop bag about 10PM.
and I actually enjoyed it!. Susan and I were talking that there's no point in riding , if you're able to enjoy it and it leaves you debilitated the next day. Plus I actually got to see Eloy in the daylight(If I had stuck to my plan, I would gone back through eloy at about Midnight).
So took a disaster, had a pleasant day, and got in 135 miles to boot!

[Blueberry]

Fredwina-

I'm still in awe of the mileage you do!! 135 is still awesome, and it sounds like you still had a good time (which is, after all, what matters).

CA

[maillotpois]

Hardly a "disaster"!!! Sounds like it was a pretty good time, all in all.

[Running Mommy]

Fredwina you are my HERO!!! 135 miles in shoes that don't fit!! WOW!!!
Too bad I missed you this go 'round! I had a couple of bottles and a t-shirt for you. So the next time you come through hopefully you have time to stop.

Rest up!
- And when is the next one??

Ciao!'
Denise

[sbctwin]

What a ride Fredwina...I wish I could do your 'disasters' 135 miles is a success and you still 'enjoyed' yourself....

[Fredwina]

Hmm.....
I'm still debating doing a perm to keep my toes in the r-12(brevet a month) race.
and the San Diego folks are doing my Hemet 200K on 5/12 . so I probably need to test ride to make they haven't thrown anything sneaky in...
Bobbi Fisher and the LA Wheelmen are doing a 400K on 4/19. It's RUSA sanctioned , which means that there's no medal , and I don't get my in the big book in Paris, but I'm still think I need to get the monkey off my back. I was going to do Davis, but I have an MD appt that Friday that I put off one too many times
I'm also getting a new specialized roubiax this weekend, and want to make it's broken in.
The LAW have a 200K on 67/28 that I'll probably , and I'm think about doing a 200 in July in Panaguitch , UT
TM, I'll probably not get back out there until Tour De Tucson, if then. I'd be willing to pay shipping to get the stuff here. PM me

[Melalvai]

I was doing very good until I got to the hotel and discovered that I left my shoes and gloves at home. not good. Thankfully, I had spare pair of shoes in my car. You see, I had done the same thing a couple of years back at the Las Vegas century and went by the bike shop at the first rest stop.

Pl;us I lost my sunglasses.

I realized than I had left my camera in the car.

This all sounds so familiar.
On my way in to work this morning, I was reflecting on this post, and congratulating myself for being so clever as to keep my bike locks locked, and spare bike lock keys in my office, so as to prevent myself from locking up my bike when I've forgotten my keys.

Sound like tempting the fates?

I got to the bike rack, and discovered I'd left my keys at home. I found someone to let me in my office, got the spare key, and then locked up my bike! Darn good thing I'm so clever, I guess!

[Veronica]

I'm think about doing a 200 in July in Panaguitch , UT

I was looking at that 200 K in Panguitch. I'd like to do that, but it's a two day drive each way for me.

I think I may go for the R-12 this year. My knee has done okay with 130 mile rides.

V.

[Lifesgreat]

Yay Fredwina! 135 miles, that's great. You mentioned a "perm" and I was thinking "How does curly hair help?" Shows how much I know. . .




Thread hijack: Veronica, if it helps, it may only take one (LONG) day to get to Panguitch. I have done the Modesto, CA to Provo, Utah (via St. George, Utah) drive in a long day on 99 and eventually I-15. It took about 13ish hours?

[sundial]

Good grief, girl! What an adventure! You are one very determined and persistent gal.

[Fredwina]

I just signed up for the Ventura 400K on the 19th