Tell us your sad sad tale of SAG woe

[Crankin]

I don't do a lot of multi day rides, but on our first tour, which was a weekend in Stow, VT. I crashed going down a 20% grade on the first day. I got right up and finished (it was a very short but extremely hilly ride) but I ended up with a huge bruise on my thigh and hip. I was SO sore,if it hadn't been for the jacuzzi in our room, I would not have been able to do the next 2 days. But, I did not do the MT. Mansfield climb the next day, which was 7 miles. It was October and as we started going up the Mountain Rd, it was getting really cold, which made my leg even stiffer. I was also concerned about the downhill part, having been spooked the day before. The roads were slightly wet and I don't like downhills very much to begin with. So, I got in the van and took it back to the inn. In fact, most of the other riders were tri-athletes from the midwest and had never seen a mountain. My husband and 2 other people were the only ones who did the climb. I didn't feel bad at all.
On our tour in Austria and the Czech Republic, we did choose the shorter option rides on 2 days. No sagging involved, but I knew my limits and wanted to enjoy the other parts of the tour, too. There was unbelievable climbing on this tour, so I don't feel bad.

[bmccasland]

I have SAG'd (what is the past tense of SAG?)
- after a crash when the person in front of me slammed on her brakes going up hill on a rotten road. I DID ride my bike the mile and a half to the next rest-stop, tho. Went home, showered, and THEN went to the ER for x-ray and stitches.
- after asthma attacks - the worst was on a MS-150 a couple of years ago when they took my bike away from me... but no ride to the hospital
- and when I was fairly new at long-haul biking and had mechanical problems, but didn't know it, so I was fighting my bike, and had trouble breathing.
- and on day 2 of the MS-150 last year when I didn't rehydrate after day 1 (the bottled water vendor was a no-show) and woke up with a migraine. I rode 30 miles with it until I was defeated.

And somehow on most of this, the same wonderful lady, Janet, was the driver that picked me up.

Is it a bad thing to get to know a SAG driver, reall well???

So call me a whimp, I suppose. I drive myself into the ground, but there is a point where I admit defeat and cry Uncle, or Janet

[7rider]

So call me a whimp, I suppose. I drive myself into the ground, but there is a point where I admit defeat and cry Uncle, or Janet

No shame in taking the SAG when you need it. As they say, “Discretion is the better part of valor.”

[Celeste]

Well, I am a SAG gal too. I can only push myself so far before I just am not having any fun at all.

- SAG #1: TNT Chappel Hill training ride...long one of 65 miles. My first at hill training. It was hot and I was sweating, but having chills at the same time even some nausea. Decided I was not feeling right and should SAG in to the finish. Wise choice as I found out later that I was beginning to dehydrate.

- SAG #2: Tahoe Century ride 2007. Had to SAG up at first rest stop after the tuff switch backs. I was in the wrong gear, had to get off or fall off. Trying to get started again, my foot slipped off the pedal and the big cog sliced my leg open. I did get going again, but had blood running down my leg and sock filled with blood. My head felt weird even after eating and drinking. That woozy feeling lasted most of the day. Sagged up from first to second stop. Hmmm, nerves?

- SAG #3: Tahoe Century ride 2007. Once gain, still feeling woozy, chose to SAG up the Spooner hill. My SAG driver was so concerned about me she wrote her personal cell number on my leg with a ball point pen. If I was in need of help, I was to call her and she would come get me. They tried to get me to SAG all the way in...NO WAY. I wanted to do as much as I could. So I did. Even though I should have had stitches...oops.

-SAG #4: Tour de Braz ride 2007. One week after Tahoe we did a century with the other half of our TNT group. I fully completed 85 miles in the boiling heat. Had to sag up a bit, about 12 miles, once I felt those familiar goose bumbs of dehydration. But I did finish under my own power.

No, I never sign up intending to SAG. I want to finish. But sometimes my body says otherwise. With my leukemia, I have to be very careful of what my body tells me.

It is very difficult for me to stay hydrated even though I drink constantly during the ride, days before the ride and after the ride. I feel this causes me most of my SAG issues.