51 miles and ANOTHER fall (long)

[latelatebloomer]

Hi.
Latelate here.
Pass the ibruprofen. Thanks.

The cool news is that I did my 4th club ride - a mostly flat ride - mostly on bike trail - from Valley Forge to the Philadelphia Art Museum. It was a small group, the leader + 3 guys + 2 women. I was, again, the newbie and the caboose, but I toughed it out. The only really awful parts were some nasty city-traffic riding and a sharp hill post-lunch that caught me with my gearing all wrong - and lots of irritable Philly traffic to deal with, so I walked. Other than that, I was steady - took your advice to "ride my ride" cause I felt pretty sure that if I pushed for more speed, I was gonna pay with a loss of endurance. On the way back, we got some headwinds and the ride leader gave me a primer on drafting. For whatever reason - probably just newbie-ness - I freak out a bit when I'm less than 8 feet from another bike. Not good, definitely something to work on.

And then, the last mile - a descending curve went all wrong on me. I've been trying to build cornering confidence after my spill LAST weekend - I'm tensing and chanting oh no oh no - something I definitely have to get over... I think I moved to the right to make room for an oncoming rider and then just lost it! The ride leader was looking back and said it was on my face - I'm gonna crash! I tried to stay out of the soft stuff at the shoulder, but was probably looking right at it - and as you all have said a million times - you ride into what you're looking at.

So I did a faceplant. But somebody up there was looking out for me, cause I missed the macadam and the gravel - and landed on my right cheekbone in - thickly spread mulch. Got the wind knocked out of me good, my sunglasses went kablooey after digging into my skin a bit, and the muscles on my right side really hurt...my ride buddies were so worried there for a bit. But I got my breath, we checked out my bike, and I rode the last mile in. Got many strokes for being tough and determined. Once in the car, DH stopped at the first store we found for meds, frozen peas for face and side, and um, ice cream. After an hour's drive, I'm actually feeling pretty perky, all things considered. (DH is the one who's shaky now, sweet thing.)

But man, I really want better ride skills. I've fallen 3 times this spring and it's getting old. I don't want to be a fearful rider. That seems REALLY dangerous. The ride leader said he & I could do a little cornering clinic to help me get confident, and he made me promise to ride a little tomorrow.

For the rest of the day, I'm gonna try to focus on the jump from 35 to 51 miles as my best. Flat or no, it's a long time in the saddle turning pedals. Thanks for listening. Long-distance healings to body & confidence deeply appreciated.

[Duck on Wheels]

Hi.
The ride leader said he & I could do a little cornering clinic to help me get confident, and he made me promise to ride a little tomorrow.

Good offer. Good advice. Get well quick! And absolutely good on you for getting back in the saddle and for doing so well on the rest of the ride!

[Grog]

I'm sorry for your fall LateLate, but happy nothing's too crushed there. Good for you to get back on the bike and finish the ride, that must have been difficult but you can be proud you did.

You certainly earned that ice cream!

Practice makes perfect. You have to go out there and try it. Maybe you can find small hills around your house where you don't feel too scared going down? Then add corners? The cornering clinic is also a great idea...

Good luck - thinking of you.

[Brandy]

I'm sorry about the fall.

[GreenLady]

Sorry to hear about your crash; I hope the pain goes away soon.

One thing that might help with ride skills is to find a good group to ride with, people you can trust and who are willing to help (your ride leader sound like a perfect such person). Do you ever ride with some of the Philly clubs (I'm thinking BCP or SturdyGirl)? They have always been very nice, and I've learned a lot from the people on these rides.

[latelatebloomer]

Greenlady, I just joined the Lehigh Wheelmen 2 months ago and haven't met all their beginning ride leaders yet. If I'm up to it on Tuesday evening, I'll try their women-only ride. I'm very grateful to the riders who ride beside me help me out, also to the ones who just give me a big smile and tell me that I'm awesome.

I just might try the Philly clubs someday. It would be great to ride with a TE buddy.

Now awesome is going to bed, hopeful for a deep healing slumber.