My first Century Report or a story of a mentally ill person riding her bike.

[Geonz]

In *my* not-so-humble opinion... if I volunteer to do something, I should do it. Period. It's not as if somebody promised to pay me, or promised it wouldn't rain.
Bicycling magazine this month has an article about being at the back of organized rides, mentioning that no, you just *can't* count on the sag stops having food left for you (they didn't mention them just packing it in, but I've known other rides that do that, too), so that if you think you're going to be bringing up the rear, you should pack extra stuff.
They may be volunteers, but the rides are generally to RAISE FUNDS for their club... so they *are* being paid indirectly. (And again, they said they'd do it, though if conditions were really adverse, I could understand thinking"I didn't say I'd do THIS!") If I pay for a supported ride, I should get a supported ride, at least 'til the time they say they're going to support to.
When I hear that a ride does this I don't give it my business.
In contrast, at a sweet ride in South Carolina (I think it was the Bee Buzzin' ride), we *were* the very lastest people (tho' we weren't particularly slow), and they waited 'til we were gone and then packed up... and then caught up to us and gave us another rest stop! (It was brutally hot.) That's the spirit of true service, instead of what my mother called Princess service ("well, I'm giving to those beneath me... until it bothers me, of course!") Somewhere in between would be fine...

But... mainly... AWESOME CENTURY!!!!!

You should really try to do another one... even this year... becuase uyou're already trained for it and it will be a PIECE OF CAKE!!

[GLC1968]

Good for you, for sticking it out!! Especially when your riding buddies bailed on you. I'm VERY impressed!!

[Tater]

Well done! Way to keep going despite friends backing out and the awful conditions, that took some guts!

[FreshNewbie]

Thank you gals! I am trying to arranged and free up weekend for October 1, pumpkin Patch century, but there definately will be another one. I am still thinking if I should change my name, RainWoman lol ???

Well here are some of my statistics that I forgot to put in my report

103.5 miles, 14.95 average, ride time 8am-3:45pm. No rest stops except for official ones - didn't want to cool off my body
Shorts- 2005 Sugoi RX Flex- considering that they were dripping wet I only have a little chaffing, did not apply any lubricant after mile 67 ( 3rd stop)
Thanks again,

FN

[FreshNewbie]

As for the girls, they were not even my friends, they were people who replied to my ed on the ride's message board. Lesson learned....

[redhot3368]

Thank you gals! I am trying to arranged and free up weekend for October 1, pumpkin Patch century, but there definately will be another one. I am still thinking if I should change my name, RainWoman lol ???

Well here are some of my statistics that I forgot to put in my report

103.5 miles, 14.95 average, ride time 8am-3:45pm. No rest stops except for official ones - didn't want to cool off my body
Shorts- 2005 Sugoi RX Flex- considering that they were dripping wet I only have a little chaffing, did not apply any lubricant after mile 67 ( 3rd stop)
Thanks again,

FN

WOW!!!! Great job!! And Great Stats too!! almost a 15 mph average in the Rain? that is AWESOME!!! Great ride report!!

Karen

[maillotpois]

Congratulations!!!

And yes, that WILL make you stronger. What a perfect Mental Toughness Ride. When you are out on another ride, or run or hike or anything - and you feel like giving up, or conditions are bad, you can look back to what you have just accomplished in that century and be bolstered by the knowledge that you survived that ride - in style and at a darned good pace - so you should be able to get through ANYTHING!!!

[SouthernBelle]

One of the best ride reports ever.

Make sure you write a nasty letter to whoever called off the buses. Even if it didn't affect you personally it was a terrible thing to do to people.

[CorsairMac]

and the fans go WILDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!


to not only have done it but in the pouring rain........you definitly deserve the She-Ra Princess of Power Tiara my friend! I am sorry to hear they were packing it in at the rest stops, my last organized century they were still there but they had run out of food (good thing I carry all my own) - I can't even imagine how disheartening it was to see them closing down! but you kept at it and That is what counts. Now you understand - it ain't the miles anymore, it's the time!

Goodonya!

[downhilldiva]

Wow! That sounds like quite the first century. Kudos to you for sticking it out even when your friends took the shorter route. I'm sure you'll be doing another one again soon. Hopefully your next one will be dry!