I know it's crazy but..

[chakra]

Years ago, I did the 50K Ride for Heart - I was terrified! But what I found was that all the guys in lycra who wanted to turn it into their own private race did so - my heart hammered (hey, at least the cause was right, LOL) as they tore past me yelling "your left!" every second or so - but then they were gone, and the rest of us could just enjoy going at our own pace, enjoy talking if we wished, loiter at the rest stops if we felt the need, and have us our own party!

I hope it turns out just like that for you! I felt horrid the 3 days before I rode, but after the first half hour (while the speedies were going by) I had a great time.

With luck, you'll get to meet other riders who go at the same pace as you, and maybe you'll even make some friends.

I'll keep you in mind while I'm stuck in class tomorrow (dang grad school never ends).

Chakra

[RoadRaven]

Very crazy
Very sane
I lookfor ward to reading how you did
Its a shame you and FlyBye aren't doing the same ride!
Y'all have fun

Thats what its about, remember...

[LadyinWhite]

I posted that I successfully completed the ride under the June 2 rides but thought I'd take a minute to share the details here, with you guys who were such a great support to me.

First of all - I was up at 6, checking tire inflation, lubing this and that and generally trying not to stress. Just before 7 I decide to ride over to the start. DH decides to ride over w/ me for moral support. He is in army green cargo shorts, lime green polo shirt, sneakers and helmet. We get there and I just have to laugh - while I'm checking in w/ the remaining 100 milers (they departed at 7) DH is putting my free tshirt on over his polo so now he looks utterly ridiculous, he's snagging a Tour de Cure water bottle and filling it for me, he's making himself a bagel w/ butter from the breakfast tent. In short, he's having a grand time.

I'm totally tense - surrounded by all sorts of decked out roadies in full kit.

Then I hear the 100's get called to the start. The 62's don't leave til 8. So I hit the head and pace around a little finally I say to DH, I'm leaving now.

Yep - I totally chickened out of the group ride experience, succumbing to all my anxiety. He pins on my number, gives me a pep talk and decides to ride with me for a bit. The number starts flapping like crazy as we leave so we swing back home for a sec to get additional pins and then we are off. He rides with me about a mile to a deli where he's going to get coffee and I continue on alone.

The first half of the ride was glorious - the route I knew well b/c I'd been practicing it, straight to beach. This first town had police stationed at every intersection expecting riders. I was all alone but when they saw me coming they stopped traffic in all directions and I flew through - it was SO fun. That feeling right there was worth the whole experience. They yelled Good Luck!!

The next town wasn't so great - streets PACKED with craft fair shoppers and then the next town was jammed with a local 5k run happening. I was yelled at by a guy with a bull horn to get out of the way.

Stopped after that at a g/f's apt for bathroom and water break and a pep talk. And then I was really off. Headed into a route I didn't know - I followed the markers painted on the ground and rode solo almost the whole rest of the way -

There was a couple that kept arriving at the rest stops about 5 min after me and one older gentleman rode with me out of a rest stop for a bit but I just couldn't hang on to him. He blew me away.

It was HOT riding (mid 90's) - baking at the intersections.

Then I began to recognize where I was again and knew I was headed home I almost wept - not from relief or exhaustion but from "omg I did it"

I stopped at the last rest stop which was located right in my normal riding route, called the DH and told him I couldn't be more than 30 min out. 20 min later I pulled through the finish! DH and boy were waiting cheering!!! I absolutely LOVED the volunteers whose sole responsibility was to cheer and congratulate people arriving. When DH took this picture below - I truly was on the verge of tears knowing that this ride represented how far I'd come in regaining my health.

[KnottedYet]

HOOOORAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

I loved reading your post! Good riding, good writing, YOU ROCK!!!!!

[Flybye]

YOU ARE AN AWESOME AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

Cheers to you!!! You did it!!!

I know the teary eyes "wow I did it!" because I did it too!!
Cheers to our success!
Wasn't there part of you thinking, now wait, something must be not quite right, did I REALLY do this? It seems so surreal to me today. You too?

Although my woo - ha and my knee remind me that it is very real

Here is a picture from my first ride, too!!
Yeah us!!
Chickens, UNITE and ROCK!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!

I now have an inner-drill sarg, you too?????

[LadyinWhite]

Nicely done! So psyched to hear you finished as well. You are right - we are awesome !

Sorry to hear about the hoo ha pain - I'm happy to report no soreness anywhere at all today. Re: knee pain - I hear ya - I have to be super careful when I ride, as soon as I start to mash even the slightest, I get left knee pain reminding me last years injury. Really slows down the pace when one depends exclusively on spinning for "power" LOL!

RE: inner sargent - YES YES YES - I heard that voice more than once LMAO Once on a hill, no one around anywhere, SO VERY HOT outside and I sound like a freight train climbing - thank goodness for that inner sargent. I suspect I'll be hearing from her again.

PS: LOVE your bike! What kind is it? I really want to get an upgrade at the end of this season - I'm looking at Giants mostly because the LBS that I absolutely love deals them.
Mostly what is surreal is that I signed up for this ride last fall and now it's done. I am having trouble getting used to what that feels like!! I feel confident I could have done the century - but do you think it's wierd not to really WANT to do another super long ride?

[Flybye]

Nicely done! So psyched to hear you finished as well. You are right - we are awesome !

Sorry to hear about the hoo ha pain - I'm happy to report no soreness anywhere at all today. Re: knee pain - I hear ya - I have to be super careful when I ride, as soon as I start to mash even the slightest, I get left knee pain reminding me last years injury. Really slows down the pace when one depends exclusively on spinning for "power" LOL!

I am glad to hear you had no pain!! I feel lots better this evening.

RE: inner sargent - YES YES YES - I heard that voice more than once LMAO Once on a hill, no one around anywhere, SO VERY HOT outside and I sound like a freight train climbing - thank goodness for that inner sargent. I suspect I'll be hearing from her again.

Heehehhheheheh = Me too!!!

PS: LOVE your bike! What kind is it? I really want to get an upgrade at the end of this season - I'm looking at Giants mostly because the LBS that I absolutely love deals them.

My bike is a Giant OCR 2 - it is my first bike (well, okay, there was the one with the banana seat and the flag ) and I really have been happy with it. I don't have a "benchmark" bike to compare it to. I love the geometry of the bike. I rode LOTS of bikes (mostly because I am such a tightwad - I spent all of my Christmas and birthday money from EVERYONE that gave me a gift - I pleaded for money instead of Chia Pets and slippers) and this one was so comfortable. It just felt natural. I love my LBS guys, too. They are so encouraging.

Mostly what is surreal is that I signed up for this ride last fall and now it's done. I am having trouble getting used to what that feels like!! I feel confident I could have done the century - but do you think it's wierd not to really WANT to do another super long ride?

Yeah - It will be weird to ride just because you want to take a ride for the heck of it and not because you have a specific goal in mind, huh?
No, I don't think that it is weird not to have a plan to ride a long ride again, but I suspect that the bug will bite again. Cycling is just so much fun!


Congrats again. Relish it.

[luv'nAustin]

Whoo Hoo for both of you! Have you picked out your next rides?

[Flybye]

Whoo Hoo for both of you! Have you picked out your next rides?

Yes, my next ride will most likely be with a group of Boy Scouts on Huffy Bikes that they purchased at Wal-Mart. They have a 50 miler coming up. I am the "elected" mistress of the road for this one. Now I know that no one will be saying "on your left" during this ride I will be able to say that I kicked you know what on this one!

I am, on a more serious note, not sure what to do about another ride. I do want to do another one, but nothing has captured my attention at this point! Thanks for asking!