Even with a cue sheet and color coded arrows on the road I still get lost

[mom2twins]

Yesterday I did my very first organized ride since getting back into cycling. I was suppose to do 50 mile ride but it turned out to be a really hilly course and I haven't been on the bike since last week so I chickened out and did the 25 mile course, not so hilly (or so I thought) but still challanging and long enough for me to feel like I actually got in a decent ride.

I took off and early on hooked up with a lady doing the 63 mile course. Our courses were the same up to mile 19 so we rode together that whole time. It was a beautiful ride, over cast but cool and comfortable. Lots and lots of farms with a great view of the mountains. At one point we hit the thickest fog I've ever seen. I swear I couldn't see anything past my front wheel. it was so thick and heavy that I was drenched in moisture. My bike, helmet, and even my eyelashes were dripping. That was very cool even it was a little spooky.

My new friend tried to convince me to do the 63 miles with her but I passed because I knew that it would really get hilly as it headed up into PA towards Gettysburg. So I turned off at mile 19 all by myself and headed off to finish my 6 miles, or so I thought. This is where it all went wrong

At some point I started to follow the wrong route markers painted on the road. I guess there was another ride or something going on that weekend and there were arrows painted for that. For about 10 miles I tooled around in some of the hilliest backroads I have ever ridden. I tried to turn myself around when I realized my mistake but I was so far off course I had no idea where I was going. Panic set in when I didn't see a single soul, on a bike or near a cow (that's all I did see, cows and sheep) I didn't even see any houses for a while.I had a cell phone but what good was it going to do me when I didn't know where I was?

After I rode around looking for anyone who could help me I noticed bike riders in the distence. By this time I had been riding about 30 miles but I still felt okay, just a little nervous about my MIA status. I headed for the bike helmets. I found a huge group of riders doing the 63 mile route. I thought they might have just gotten started and was hoping the start/finish was near by. As it turns out they were on mile 22, just 3 miles from where I got lost in the first place when i seperated from my companion. So I had 2 choices, go back the way they came and add 22 miles to my ride backtracking or follow them to thier next rest stop, about 15 miles away and call for SAG support to come and get me. I guess I had a third choice to continue with the 65 mile loop and do a total of about 70 miles but that never even entered my mind.

I started to follow them but while I had been pondering my choices they had gone far ahead and I lost them. So i was alone again but at least I had the correct arrows. Just then the real hills started, I thought I was going to die, or pop a knee cap right off. I went about 5 more miles and hit a big intersection where I had to stop and wait for traffic. Some other riders zoomed up behind me and i told them my situation. They told me that there was a short cut back the way I cam that would take me to the start/finish and it was only about 8 miles away. That seemed better then going the addition 10 to the rest stop and then waiting for SAG so I headed back in the wrong direction again. Just as I started back through the monsterious hills the SAG wagon pulled up and asked if I was okay. it was obvious i was confused because I was going the wrong way. They offered me a lift and I gladly took it.

So all in all I did a little over 35 miles. Not 50 but better then 25. it wasn't too bad so I probably could have done the 50. I probably could have even done the 63 too but getting lost shock my confidence so I was happy for the car ride back.

This was the longest ride I have done this year since getting back into the sport. The last time I did rode a longer distance was back in 1999 so I'm pretty proud of myself. And now I have the confidence to go out longer on my solo rides too.

[JanT]

Wow! That was quite an adventure! It is scary when you get lost and you're by yourself, and the ride always ends up being longer. I've only done one organized ride, and the race directions were a full page, single spaced. Fortunately, I found a couple people I could keep up with, so was able to rely on their expertise. I eventually got separated from them (AKA dropped!) once we hit the hills, and I was glad that by that time, we were in familiar territory. Glad you found your way back to civilization, and still had a fun ride despite the scare.

[emily_in_nc]

Good going, mom2twins! It's a scary feeling to be lost like that (out of control, ya know), but sounds like you did just fine and ended up with more miles than you expected, and even the realization that you could have done more! Glad you made it back safe and sound!

Emily

[Trekhawk]

Well done - I can relate to the getting lost thing. I got some bike routes from the LBS and Im glad I drove them first because I got lost in my car yikes .

The next ride you do will seem like a piece of cake after that one.

[newrider]

Wow, mom2twins, a serious adventure! The stress of feeling lost really drains the energy (and confidence) right out of me (a directionally challenged person) -- you pulled off a successful ride in spite of it! Way to go!

[Nanci]

This kind of reminds me of when my daughter took off on her horse for a five minute ride with no saddle, no bridle, just a halter and lead rope. So she got lost, but when she met up with other riders who were going to a lake a couple hours away, she agreed to just go along with them, instead of saying, "Hey, I'm a lost kid, please take me back to the campground!" So off she went, and meanwhile, when she didn't reappear, the whole campground was called out to search for her on horseback and motorcycle, and there was talk of calling in helicopters, but then, late in the afternoon, a guy on a motorcycle saw her, and asked if she was the lost kid, and she had to think for a minute...

Sounds like quite an adventure you had!

Nanci