SheGotBike! 2008

[withm]

So how was it?

From the eyes of a flatlander....

It was HOT, HUMID, and all hills! If I wasn't going 4mph UP the hill, it was 25mph DOWN. I confess I had to walk the tops of a couple of them when I ran out of gear. I learned that trying to clip out with that much pressure on the pedals was scary - almost couldn't do it. There were so many hills that my average speed for the day was so slow I can't even type it here. () Yikes! Did I say it was ALL hills? If I rode more than 2-3 miles on "flat" terrain I'd be surprised.

The group rides had designated starting times, but by 8am it was looking to be really, really hot, so I just set out by myself and did the whole ride that way. Waiting another hour or two for the group start was not in my best interests. So I missed the yoga class. Oh well. There were fix-a-flat classes and a mountain biking class as well but I did not attend any of therm.

The cue sheets were very good (large type) and included maps on the back if you got lost, but not all the roads were marked. Apparently they were stopped by the State Police while marking the roads and prohibited from continuing.

Rest stops had bagels, PB & J, bananas, water, Gatorade, the usual. The lunch food was great, and lots of veggies cooked all different ways. Grilled chicken, and hamburgers. Lots of desserts.

They had a few prizes - a Trek saddle (new Inform style), jerseys, t-shirts, gift certificates (a bunch of Road ID certificates), and Trek was there with all their new WSD bikes available to test ride, and the new Trek saddles. If I hadn't been so challenged by the hills, I would have test rode some of the bikes, but there just was no flat area around, and I just could not face anotherhill. Quite a few other vendors of services - but not so useful unless you live in that area.

Mostly it was brutally hot and humid. And hilly.

Overall it was a good day (heat notwithstanding) but I don't think I would bother to do the ride again next year unless the weather was gorgeous, and I had a reason to be over that way anyway.

It was definitely the hilliest (and slowest) ride I've ever done.

After the ride I did finally run into Zen, and we chatted for the rest of the afternoon, and waited out all the raffle drawing together, though neither of us won anything. It was really so hot that both of us were fading fast and I'm not sure I even remember what we talked aobut.

[divingbiker]

That sounds like torture, Martha! But good for you doing it.

[7rider]

That sounds like torture, Martha! But good for you doing it.

Hey!!! Talking to Zen isn't THAT bad!!!

[divingbiker]

Hey!!! Talking to Zen isn't THAT bad!!!

hehehe

[withm]

Hey!!! Talking to Zen isn't THAT bad!!!

Well it was so hot that we were probably incoherent at the end...

[Zen]

Well it was so hot that we were probably incoherent at the end...

WHAT?
I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THIS STUPID P.A. SYSTEM!!!

I didn't get there until ten am and it was far too hot by then to start a ride.
I was also nursing a sprained wrist/hand.

lunch was excellent though

And I got your swag bag, DB.

I don't know if I'll do this again. Its a great opportunity to pick up some clothing bargains but it took me an hour and a half to get there

[divingbiker]

WHAT?
I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THIS STUPID P.A. SYSTEM!!!

I didn't get there until ten am and it was far too hot by then to start a ride.
I was also nursing a sprained wrist/hand.

lunch was excellent though

And I got your swag bag, DB.

I don't know if I'll do this again. Its a great opportunity to pick up some clothing bargains but it took me an hour and a half to get there

Too bad, Zen. So I guess you didn't get to torment(or) anyone.

Thanks for picking up my loot.

[withm]

That sounds like torture, Martha! But good for you doing it.

You know, it was hard (for me anyway - since I have never ridden any hills at all except for a few bridges) but when it was done I still wanted to ride - I just wanted to ride where it was a little, no - a lot, less hilly. I really thought I would go do another 20 miles when I got home. Yeah right. I finally got home around 7pm - and by then the last thing I wanted to do was get back on a bike.