So, I was doing an intro 25 mile ride after coming back to my hometown for cooler cycling weather when I got stung. The good news, most of the hills were gone. The bad news, I had 7 miles left to ride - 3 of which was city. I want to ride to Michigan tomorrow and following that, I am doing a charity recovery ride - 10 miles with my Dad - Saturday and a 48 miler out to the lake and back sunday. Blargh.

I realized a stinging feeling as I was on a straight away trying to shift and pick up speed. I was going about 17 mph at the time. I saw it on my shorts. It got me right through the shorts. I was clipped it, so I just dealt with it - it stung me 5 times I realize now. When I stopped, I got it off of me (that was hard). It didn't hurt terribly yet, so instead of calling my father or cousin as a way out, I rode back home. Fastest 7 miles of my life. If I kept it above 17 mph (mainly I think it was cadence), I didn't feel it a too much so I just spun and cried. When I got into town, I HAD to slow down and stop because of traffic. It KILLED. I was sobbing by the time I wobbled back to my house.

I'm now sitting with ice and I took a benadryl. It's VERY VERY red and swollen. How do I get back to normal? Right now it hurts VERY badly. I figure since it got me when I was in the middle of using my leg when it happened, it's like getting a shot when you are tense. Any other ideas?

The reality was that while this route used to KILL me with all the hills, I plowed through it as I have been training on REAL hills. I am in great shape. But man that hurt!