130 Miles of Rain and What Doesn't Hurt?

[Trekhawk]

MATE!!!!!
You never cease to amaze me. Enjoy your hot chocolates you truly deserve them after a ride like that.

WELL DONE

Trek-who would have stayed in bed with that rain-hawk

[jobob]

Well done, V. You're made of very tough stuff.

I had actually signed up for the SFR 200K permanent yesterday, but I wussed out.

I figured I could have managed despite my lack of training and squeaked in under the time limit. But, that combined with the rain was just too much for my delicate psyche.

[Veronica]

Pretty much everything hurts this morning - hence the title. My toes hurt from being damp. My ankles hurt from my new shoes which aren't broken in yet. I changed into them at lunch, so I could have the illusion of dryness for a while. My knees are the worst. The left one just has the achy, creakiness I usually get after a ride like this. My right one feels like it has been twisted to the right. I'm wondering if the cleat in my new shoes isn't quite right. Quads, very tired. My lower back is a little achy, but not bad.

My fingers hurt. I was on the brakes a lot more than normal since the roads were so wet. The descent of Mt. George was the worst since it was raining and dark. Howell Mt. was wet but the rain had stopped. We did have one guy crash on Howell Mt. He continued on to the rest stop at Berryessa, but he was not able to climb, so he went off to Kaiser. He loaned his rear wheel to guy who had a spoke break on Howell Mt. The descent of Knoxville-Berryessa was pretty bad too. The rain was just pelting me in the face.

My elbows and biceps hurt. There are a lot of rough roads on this ride. My nose hurts because it ran constantly.

But I'm glad I did it. It gives me my Triple Crown for this year. And a little (A LOT!) of adversity is good for your character.

V.

[aka_kim]

It gives me my Triple Crown for this year. And a little (A LOT!) of adversity is good for your character.

Congratulations!

I seriously think everyone out there yesterday was nuts, but obviously of very strong character .

Jesse said Thom saved the day (as usual). And he gets to do it again next week!

[Starfish]

And a little (A LOT!) of adversity is good for your character. V.

Hey, I've been kinda off the grid with my work hours...haven't been checking in on TE and forgot about your ride. You are truly made of tough stuff.

I believe I would have quit. I have come to truly, truly hate riding in the cold wet rain. Surely, sometimes it is OK to simply say, you know, this isn't fun anymore, and quit on a rainy day?

[Tri Girl]

bows down repeatedly I'm not worthy to post to such a riding goddess...

I'm SOOOO proud of you for toughing it out and staying strong. Wow- just don't know what to say except: congratulations and you're one tough cookie. Wow, wow, wow...

[maillotpois]

I can't wait for the full report!

Where's Tom going to be next week??

[Veronica]

Thom is doing motorcycle SAG on Howell Mt and Knoxville-Berryessa Rd.

It should be more fun for him than yesterday and not such a long day. He managed to catch a little bit of a nap in between riders at the dam.

V.

[jobob]

Surely, sometimes it is OK to simply say, you know, this isn't fun anymore, and quit on a rainy day?

Heh, I said that after 200K of my 300K ride last April, and it was nice out.

I figure, if it's not fun, then what's the point?

But, some people's idea of fun differs from mine.

Or to put it another way, there are people made of stronger stuff and are way more tenacious and goal-oriented than I.

[Veronica]

I believe I would have quit. I have come to truly, truly hate riding in the cold wet rain. Surely, sometimes it is OK to simply say, you know, this isn't fun anymore, and quit on a rainy day?

There are good reasons to quit. I DNF'ed on Devil Mountain Double last year because my back hurt so much. I just couldn't come up with a good enough reason to quit yesterday. At lunch I was uncomfortable and tired. Good reasons to quit when you are riding by yourself and training. I've done that. But I knew how few SAG drivers we had. What if someone else got hurt? I'd be taking a space in a vehicle just because I was uncomfortable and tired? I'd already seen how much pain the one guy who crashed was in. I thought it would be selfish of me to SAG in with so much of the ride left. Plus I really wanted to do the downhill after the Loch Lomond climb. It has a section of 11% downhill. Wheeee!!!

When I had 55 miles left to go and my stomach was bothering me, I really wanted to get in the car. But Thom is really good at reading me and where my pain is. He knew I was unhappy, but not in serious distress and that I'd be really mad at myself today if I gave up. What was left of the ride at that point wasn't hard stuff, no more really hard climbs. And he knew I could do it.

I think it helps that I have a high pain threshold. Oh and I'm sure being stubborn plays into too. And the insanity.

V.

[kelownagirl]

Wow Veronica, like the others, I am SO impressed! I did a very hilly 100 mile ride in great weather this summer and was totally wiped by the end. I cannot fathom doing 200 hilly miles when I'm cold and wet. I hope you tell your kids all about it at school tomorrow. They will be very proud of you too!

[DirtDiva]

Yay V! Nice work, nutter.

I'll mountain bike in pretty much anything, but am a completely unashamed fair-weather road rider. (Not that I'd try and ride two hundred miles in one go on any kind of bike.)

[Starfish]

But Thom is really good at reading me and where my pain is. He knew I was unhappy, but not in serious distress and that I'd be really mad at myself today if I gave up. I think it helps that I have a high pain threshold. Oh and I'm sure being stubborn plays into too. And the insanity. V.

You know, someone who knows you like that and can encourage you in the way that will bring you the most satisfaction is really worth their weight in gold. You are a tough lady.

As for pain threshold...I am the biggest baby!! My dentist knows I get an extra shot of novacain without asking...my surgeon learned I needed a whole different class of pain relief than her other patients with the same operation...I am truly a sensitive baby! I am now officially terrified to ever ride with you!! LOL

[jobob]

eh, she's not that bad.