Well we did it, daughter and I, our first half century! The ride was in our neck of the woods so we knew the roads, and how to avoid the most nasty hill. (We called DH and my trusty VW van!) The first half of the ride was hilly and we did some hills I thought I would never be able to climb, but I did. We started the ride in a light drizzle, that became a sprinkle, that turn to full blown rain that was cold and very wet! So the first hour and a half was interesting. At the second rest stop lots of riders turned to go back. But I was determined to continue. We did and after another hour of hit and miss rain the clouds broke up some and it was sunshine and steaming pavement. It even warmed up enough to shed the layers down to my jersey. I personally really enjoyed the day, even riding in the rain. It was a most inspiring sight at the beginning of the ride to see more than 100 riders strung out along the first long uphill.
While we did the best we could, I am disapointed that we were among the last riders to come in and if we had done the course with out the help of our personal SAG we most likely would have been last. I know I'm slooow on the hills but I really try to push on the flats. I watched our time at the rest stops and in general did my best. The rain messed with my wireless computer so I don't have a true gauge of the time, distance and average MPH. I know it's a ride not a race, I just didn't think we would be that slow!