Seagull Century: Disappointment

[latelatebloomer]

Cyclesome, I wouldn't kick myself too hard if I were you. We made it as far as Assateague to call it a metric century, but it was more out of a spirit of grim determination, not a lot of fun. I worked for years on an organic farm, and am kind of used to the idea of being out all day in bad weather. Am I glad I tried? Yes. Maybe it'll make the next event seem easier - plus, I have a whole "moral support crew" of brain-injured clients back in PA I have to face on Wednesday. I know some of them are going to give me a really hard time for bailing out....

Smarter, maybe, to have skipped riding in a nor'easter and have a nice ride on a beautiful Sunday that was just made for riding! (I was stuck in a car headed home...yuck!)

[emily_in_nc]

Don't feel bad...I think you did the right thing in not doing the Seagull. It would have been pretty miserable. My DH and I did it in 2003, and although we did finish the full century (on a tandem), it rained for the second 50 miles, and the wind was brutal. The rest stop at Assateague was awful -- wind blowing hard, mud everywhere, pouring rain. We were so cold in the last 30 miles or so, my husband's lips were turning blue! At the last rest stop, someone was giving out coffee (or hot chocolate, can't recall now), and that's what we had, to try to warm our bones -- we stupidly had believed the Weather Channel's forecast of no rain until 3 pm (it actually started around 11 am, as I recall), and didn't bring warm enough clothes so were stuck wearing short-sleeve jerseys and shorts.

When we finished, the beer guy (thank god for the beer guy!!) told me that it rains nearly every year at this event. I guess it's pretty common to get a nor'easter in early October in coastal Maryland. Maybe they should move the event back a month.

So, perhaps next year will be better, but based on beer guy's assessment, don't count on it!

Emily

[Bikingmomof3]

Oh I am sorry the weather was so brutal. It does indeed sound as though you made a good decision. I am glad to know you enjoyed your ride on Sunday.

[wannaduacentury]

I'm sorry the weather messed up your ride. I would have been miserable physically and in spirit riding in that kind of weather. Good point to move the event back a month to fairer weather since it's known to be a rain event. Hugs to you for trying regardless. Jennifer

[megandmac]

Don't feel bad about it, think of all that great training you've been doing and keep moving forward on the momentum. Honestly, it took everything I could muster to gear up and pull the bike off the car in that morning.

I bailed out from doing it last year because of the heavy rain but, you know, that made me even more determined to show up and do it this year. I am glad that I had the extra year of training and getting excited for it. (And, glad for my new waterproof socks!)

So...I ended up doing the full century but was miserable the first half of it because of the strong head wind and nearly teetered over the bridge prior to the lunch rest stop.

I'm also glad to report that the piece of sand that blew into my eye on Saturday *finally* went away yesterday. (See, you missed being sandblasted which wasn't fun at all!)

I'm looking forward to next year...rain or shine...but, I can really do without the wind!!!

[7rider]

I'm sorry, Cyclesome that you didn't do the ride. There's always next year.
I did finish it and yes, it was slow and brutal. The wind going onto Assateague was just unbelievable. Our poor bikes were totally sandblasted.
Last year, DH and I attempted the ride during Tropical Storm Tammy. Although this year had less rain, it had more wind and was colder, so in many ways, this year was worse than last year. Someone I spoke to last year said it rained 4 of the last 5 times he tried it. I did the ride in 2000 and it was sunny, mild and gorgeous! I guess that was the only time he rode where it didn't rain and I got a skewed view from my first attempt.
DH stopped at REI on Thursday evening and picked up a rain jacket and rain pants for himself. It really was helpful on the ride (I had picked up some last year for it, and we both had helmet covers). I think if you're wearing the right clothes, it can be tolerable -- as Emily reminds us, cold and wet are horrible. Of course, the wind never helps.
Here's a picture of me at Assateague (making a funny face, I was probably barking out instructions to my DH on how to use the camera....he never uses it!). Notice, I'm totally bundled up....including long fingered gloves.
Take heart, folks! Next year will be awesome! Sunny, mild, calm!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Cyclesome,
I sure would have made the same decision that you did!

[bikerchick21]

Regina,,its so funny looking at your picture((DRY)),,surly it was taken at the beginning,,I dont remember at all being dry that day!!!
My hubby and I got into town the night before,,had no trouble at all finding a great hotel filled (which should have been our first "signal",,since I had goggled hotels all week long,,,and they were all booked!!!) The morning of the ride,,I looked out our warm comfy hotel room,,and felt like I was in Vermont,,watching it snow,,could it actually be raining that hard???!!! Had it not been for all the other bikers there,,who although spirits were low, due to the crapy weather,,,I swear,,we would have made a quick stop to see the ponies,,and high tailed it out of there back to Jersey,,where by the way,,,had a dry great day!!!
I dont know if we'll do this ride again,,Im sure had the weather been great we would have completed the full century,,but as cold,wet and sandy as we were,,we had no trouble at all,,uncrunching a wet 20$ dollar bill,,for a cold beer...aaahhh always finding the rainbow!!!