Wild West Ride

[DDH]

Okay, last one. This is when we or I was still energized.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Donna, you did GREAT!!!!

25 miles is nothing to sniff at. I could not do 25 miles 3 months ago, no way. Now I have done 40 a couple of times. You're just getting better and better!
I wish I could have been there riding with you!
Love the cute matching jerseys you got. Hey is that your DH?- cute!

Right ON, girl. What an accomplishment to be proud of. Nothing will be stopping you now.

[DDH]

Yes Lisa, that is my DH. You know I had a great time on the ride the first 25 miles or so, and that last 3 just about did me in.
I can't figure it out. I rode 26 miles in the Cove ride back in August, when it was much hotter, major hills through the whole ride and yes the last bit of it was really, really hard. I had only been back to riding maybe 3 weeks at that time and did that ride, yet yesterday at about 25 I was wiped but pushed on 3 more miles just out of sheer stuborness. My endurance should be better by now I would think, not the same.
I am trying to give myself a break and not be to upset, but I really must admit, I am quite disapointed with myself.
I know 28 miles is a lot, but, well, you know how you are just harder on yourself than others would be. I just really thought I would have been able to handle 30 or so before I started giving out. I mean the first 20 or so miles of that ride was flat, the hills didn't start until I think a little after the 20 miles mark.

I do want to say, I forgot to add a big thanks and pat on the back to the folks that organize this ride. They did really, all in all, a great job with the support. The police were at every intersection on the route guiding us through and watching over everyone, the sag crew was great. (of course I particularly loved the sag crew!! LOL) They rode the route over and over checking on folks and watching over everyone. The rest stops were good. I wouldn't say great but they did a good job. They would run out of gatorade and have to get more mixed which kept riders waiting. I didn't mind but you know how impatient some folks can be. All in all, I thought it was great just the fact that these folks get out there and volunteer to do this on their Sat. afternoon, and they don't have to. They certainly don't need any grief from anyone because they aren't quick enough keeping the garotade mixed. I think they needed to have an extra jug to be able to get started while one was getting emptied, but hey, if they don't have it then they did the best they could.
All in all, it was a big thumbs up, for everyone involved in the organization and running of this ride.

[cosc]

DDH, sounds like your waco ride was a great day. Good company, a new biker friend, nice scenery and 28 miles of great biking. I always consider walking just another one of my gears to get my bike up a hill. Next time before an event find time to eat breakfast. Your body knows when it is low on gas! Thanks for sharing the pics!

[esther231]

Well, I'm impressed even if you aren't impressed with yourself.

28 miles!!!

The one I know for myself is food is really important to me if I'm going for a ride. I feel the difference immediately if I don't eat before I ride. I would have gone about 10 miles and stopped right there if I hadn't eaten. So, I think you did great. You didn't get as far as you wanted but you did great.

Congrats.

[texascyclist]

Donna (DDH) what a TERRRIFIC ride!! It was wonderful meeting you and your stepmom and your DH at the Skittles Wild West Waco Ride. And the pictures turned out great! Thank Les (DH) for me, for stopping and taking pictures of us riding along the way. What a great guy he is!!

It was a tough day out there, especially once the temp rose into the 90's, and fighting those strong winds at the same time. It wasn't easy and Donna you did great!! You really did! I really enjoyed your company along the way and being able to meet and ride with a fellow TE sister, well that just topped it off. I can't wait until we can meet up again, hopefully soon.

I have to also send out a HUGE thank you to the volunteers! They were great out there on Saturday. Especially the REI team sag wagon who helped me out at about the 30 mile mark change my flat and get me back on the road. The one awesome thing about this ride, it was sponsored by Skittles and the Skittles plant was the second to last rest stop along the way. Besides all the usual fruit, cookies and drinks everyone was welcome to grab and take as much candy as they wanted. I heard riders were stocking up for Halloween...LOL! OOhhh and I can't forget the Snickers ice cream bars they had for us. Yummy!! The Skittles plant is where I met up with Donna's stepmom and DH again. When they arrived they told me you had finally been picked up. I hated to leave you, but standing at the top of that first hill I could see nothing but more hills lied await ahead of us and I knew for me it's easier to keep my rythem going and conquer them all at once. The word used to describe this race by so many riders was "BRUTAL".....and it was! It wasn't but maybe 3 miles past the Skittles plant, with about 17 miles to go, I had my flat. Stepmom and DH were ahead of me and never realized I had to stop. After I got back on the road, I got my rythem going again and decided to by-pass the last rest stop and just finish the race. Just as I passed the final rest stop I heard my named yelled out and turned to see stepmom and DH getting ready to leave from there. I stopped until they got up to where I was and then the three of us continued on. But as Donna said, her DH got his second wind and was long gone, finishing the race ahead of us. Once we crossed the finish line I headed to my truck, put my bike up and found a port-a-potty. That was when Donna called to see where I was....Perfect timing, LOL!! I then found Donna, stepmom and DH at their truck, we took some pictures and reminisced about the race for a little bit. After they left I went back to the finish line and waited for my DH and a friend of ours who had both chosen to do the 100 mile race. My DH called me when he had reached the Skittles plant and I knew from there they still had 22 miles to go. So I went back to my truck, grabbed my bag and headed for the showers only to find out they had closed them already. WHY??? I still don't understand that one, since most of the 100 milers hadn't even made it in yet. I then went back to my truck and washed down as best I could with baby wipes, ducked down in the back seat and changed clothes. After that fun exprerience I went back to the finish line. I met a girl from Shreveport, LA who had also rode the 50 and was waiting on her DH which was doing the 100miler also. We had a great time talking while we waited. It was another hour or so before for my DH and friend crossed the finish line. We then stayed with Sherry from Shreveport until her DH crossed about 20 minutes later. I think it was about 6 pm when we finally got everything loaded up and headed back to Dallas.

All in all it was a great day! And I have to again say a BIG THANK YOU to Donna (DDH) for making me a part of her wondeful family for the day. I can't express enough how much I loved her and her family. I look forward to many, many more rides in the future with you. Can you say Hotter -n- Hell next August??

Oh by the way, also A BIG THANK YOU to Donna (DDH), jobob, Lisa S.H., Veronica, Bad JuJu, midgetcycler, RoadRaven and Kano for all your advice and support with my knee problem and the cramping (spelled it right this time....LOL!). I took the advice on raising my seat for the knee problem and it worked like a charm! I made it through the race with no pain. What a great feeling that was!!! And this time I made sure to eat and drink more frequently, even when I felt like I couldn't eat a thing I forced myself because I knew I would need it, especially with the temp. being well into the
90's. TE has the best support and I love you all!!!!

[li10up]

DDH Congratulations on your ride! 28 miles is nothing to be ashamed of...especially with the wind we had. I rode the 65 mile route with another member of our bike club. I had to draft off of her most of the time! I did do a couple of pulls but she really helped me out. At the split where you decide to do the 50 or the 65 mile route I thought about just doing the 50...but my riding partner didn't suggest it so I went along (and I'm glad I did). We had bypassed the first rest stop and when we hit the second one they were out of water but had plenty of ice. We talked to the folks there and this was their first time. They weren't prepared for so many riders to get there at once. They did the best they could though and I'm just thankful they were there. I too loved the Skittles stop. Too bad I wasn't hungry. But I did manage to eat one of the Snickers ice cream bars...yummy! and cold! The next to last stop was good too. They had homemade cookies that had just come out of the oven and were still warm. They also had washclothes sitting in a bowl of ice water. It felt so good to put that around my neck and face! Good idea! This was a really fun ride. Thanks to all the volunteers! On the whole route I only came across one impatient driver. All the others seemed to get a kick out of seeing all the bike riders. So thanks to all the drivers who were patient with us!!