what not to do on a bike ride!

[knapplaura]

Yesterday I went riding by myself when the weather was very questionable....it had been raining all night and into the morning. I saw a break in the rain, and the radar indicated a break of clear before the next big patch of rain. And it looked like the rain would pass N of here.

I felt so guilty b/c I took of 5 days from training to go home for Christmas (am training for an Ironman in April) so I felt like I must ride.

Well, at mile 18 it was drizzling pretty good. I was wearing a water-resistant jacket and wind-vest, w/glove, headband, and wool socks. I changed the route to a shorter loop (around 48 miles or so) and kept going b/c I felt good and dammit i needed the miles.

At around 24 miles it was full-on raining and I was soaked. Had gone too far to turn around, so just kept going. About 10 miles later, I heard thunder and saw lightning. My feet and hands were numb. I was starting to freak out. I did not have a cell phone on me and just kept riding so I would not totally freeze.

At mile 38 I flagged down a car and begged for a ride home. Thankfully it was a kind lady who drove me the remaining 10 miles home. I was shaking so bad I could hardly put the key in the door.

Today I am paying the price...sick! Stuffy head, fever, chills, sore throat! And it is beautiful sunny 60 degrees outside! So mad at myself for not waiting one more day to get a quality workout in and avoid the illness.

O well, thanks for listening,
Laura

[Pax]

Glad you found a kind soul to take you home! Sorry you're sick but I'm happy you didn't end up a frozen bike popsicle instead!!

[three]

That's a lesson hard learned. No fun. I wish you a speedy recovery and good health - and for you not to make the same choice again in the future. I think we all have our 'I can beat the weather' story. I'm just thankful you were able to get a ride and that it was from a safe person.

Get better soon!

[Aggie_Ama]

You poor thing!! That is a hard lesson to learn. I have called my parents to get me when a thunderstorm I thought wouldn't be a problem ended up being in my path. Hope you recover quickly and get back to training.

[li10up]

I have to admit I'm a little scared to ride solo in the cold/wet combo. I broke a spoke on a cool night and just sitting there for 20 minutes for my mates to come back and get me got me pretty chilled. So I'm afraid of what could happen if it was really cold and wet and I had a some type of serious mechanical. Hypothermia can set in very quickly. Glad you are ok, other than the cold. Hope you feel better soon.

[pinkychique]

I feel your pain! I've been riding in the cold because I need the miles, too, and dangit I'm so sick today and frustrated because I need to get back out there! I'm praying that it's not the flu I've already had one bout of it this year, and I'm not wanting to do it again.


FEEL BETTER!!!

[nancy sv]

Ah man! That's a bummer! I hate it when the weather changes and I'm not prepared. I only have a 7.5-mile ride home from school, but there have been days when I wasn't sure I was going to make it. I don't know what I would have done if I'da had further to go!

I guess the important thing is that yoiu DID make it home - and a cold isn't the worst thing that could have happened!

[Tri Girl]

Wow! Scary stuff! Glad a nice lady took you home. 38 frozen miles. Not fun. Now rest up, because you'll get NO training in if you stay sick.

p.s. I'm glad you guys are finally getting rain, tho. I'm sure it's too little too late, but I'm glad for the land that you're seeing the wet stuff.

[sundial]

About 10 miles later, I heard thunder and saw lightning.

Oh gosh! There's nothing worse than being a lightning rod! Thank goodness you found a kind soul to help you. Had it been me, I would have been stubborn enough to challenge the Fates.