Even with a cue sheet and color coded arrows on the road I still get lost

[mom2twins]

Yesterday I did my very first organized ride since getting back into cycling. I was suppose to do 50 mile ride but it turned out to be a really hilly course and I haven't been on the bike since last week so I chickened out and did the 25 mile course, not so hilly (or so I thought) but still challanging and long enough for me to feel like I actually got in a decent ride.

I took off and early on hooked up with a lady doing the 63 mile course. Our courses were the same up to mile 19 so we rode together that whole time. It was a beautiful ride, over cast but cool and comfortable. Lots and lots of farms with a great view of the mountains. At one point we hit the thickest fog I've ever seen. I swear I couldn't see anything past my front wheel. it was so thick and heavy that I was drenched in moisture. My bike, helmet, and even my eyelashes were dripping. That was very cool even it was a little spooky.

My new friend tried to convince me to do the 63 miles with her but I passed because I knew that it would really get hilly as it headed up into PA towards Gettysburg. So I turned off at mile 19 all by myself and headed off to finish my 6 miles, or so I thought. This is where it all went wrong

At some point I started to follow the wrong route markers painted on the road. I guess there was another ride or something going on that weekend and there were arrows painted for that. For about 10 miles I tooled around in some of the hilliest backroads I have ever ridden. I tried to turn myself around when I realized my mistake but I was so far off course I had no idea where I was going. Panic set in when I didn't see a single soul, on a bike or near a cow (that's all I did see, cows and sheep) I didn't even see any houses for a while.I had a cell phone but what good was it going to do me when I didn't know where I was?

After I rode around looking for anyone who could help me I noticed bike riders in the distence. By this time I had been riding about 30 miles but I still felt okay, just a little nervous about my MIA status. I headed for the bike helmets. I found a huge group of riders doing the 63 mile route. I thought they might have just gotten started and was hoping the start/finish was near by. As it turns out they were on mile 22, just 3 miles from where I got lost in the first place when i seperated from my companion. So I had 2 choices, go back the way they came and add 22 miles to my ride backtracking or follow them to thier next rest stop, about 15 miles away and call for SAG support to come and get me. I guess I had a third choice to continue with the 65 mile loop and do a total of about 70 miles but that never even entered my mind.

I started to follow them but while I had been pondering my choices they had gone far ahead and I lost them. So i was alone again but at least I had the correct arrows. Just then the real hills started, I thought I was going to die, or pop a knee cap right off. I went about 5 more miles and hit a big intersection where I had to stop and wait for traffic. Some other riders zoomed up behind me and i told them my situation. They told me that there was a short cut back the way I cam that would take me to the start/finish and it was only about 8 miles away. That seemed better then going the addition 10 to the rest stop and then waiting for SAG so I headed back in the wrong direction again. Just as I started back through the monsterious hills the SAG wagon pulled up and asked if I was okay. it was obvious i was confused because I was going the wrong way. They offered me a lift and I gladly took it.

So all in all I did a little over 35 miles. Not 50 but better then 25. it wasn't too bad so I probably could have done the 50. I probably could have even done the 63 too but getting lost shock my confidence so I was happy for the car ride back.

This was the longest ride I have done this year since getting back into the sport. The last time I did rode a longer distance was back in 1999 so I'm pretty proud of myself. And now I have the confidence to go out longer on my solo rides too.

[JanT]

Wow! That was quite an adventure! It is scary when you get lost and you're by yourself, and the ride always ends up being longer. I've only done one organized ride, and the race directions were a full page, single spaced. Fortunately, I found a couple people I could keep up with, so was able to rely on their expertise. I eventually got separated from them (AKA dropped!) once we hit the hills, and I was glad that by that time, we were in familiar territory. Glad you found your way back to civilization, and still had a fun ride despite the scare.

[emily_in_nc]

Good going, mom2twins! It's a scary feeling to be lost like that (out of control, ya know), but sounds like you did just fine and ended up with more miles than you expected, and even the realization that you could have done more! Glad you made it back safe and sound!

Emily

[Trekhawk]

Well done - I can relate to the getting lost thing. I got some bike routes from the LBS and Im glad I drove them first because I got lost in my car yikes .

The next ride you do will seem like a piece of cake after that one.

[newrider]

Wow, mom2twins, a serious adventure! The stress of feeling lost really drains the energy (and confidence) right out of me (a directionally challenged person) -- you pulled off a successful ride in spite of it! Way to go!

[Nanci]

This kind of reminds me of when my daughter took off on her horse for a five minute ride with no saddle, no bridle, just a halter and lead rope. So she got lost, but when she met up with other riders who were going to a lake a couple hours away, she agreed to just go along with them, instead of saying, "Hey, I'm a lost kid, please take me back to the campground!" So off she went, and meanwhile, when she didn't reappear, the whole campground was called out to search for her on horseback and motorcycle, and there was talk of calling in helicopters, but then, late in the afternoon, a guy on a motorcycle saw her, and asked if she was the lost kid, and she had to think for a minute...

Sounds like quite an adventure you had!

Nanci

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=Nanci]This kind of reminds me of when my daughter took off on her horse for a five minute ride with no saddle, no bridle, just a halter and lead rope. So she got lost, but when she met up with other riders who were going to a lake a couple hours away, she agreed to just go along with them, instead of saying, "Hey, I'm a lost kid, please take me back to the campground!"

Wow Nanci that must have given you a heart attack.
You will have to remind her of that story when she is a parent.

[Nanci]

Fortunately, I was unaware of what happened until it was over. I had gone off scuba diving with the friends that Kelly had been riding her horse to show off for, leaving her with my (ex) husband and my girlfriend Sue. (We were camping at a really cool state forest in MN with both great horse trails and great diving in abandoned iron mines.) When I got back late in the afternoon, Sue says "You wouldn't believe the day we've had..." I was _quite_ happy to have missed it. I would have been frantic.

Nanci

[DirtDiva]

You weren't lost! You were exploring an unfamiliar area! Trust me. I do a lot of that in London - it's cheating to pull out the A-Z!

[CR400]

Good job keeping your head on your shoulders in that situation. A lot of people would just freak out and not know what to do.
I can relate I got lost on my first tour ride too. The sad thing was it was in my own county, just not a part I know well.

So you really did a good job more miles than you expected and got up more and bigger hills than you thought you could. Way to go

[bikerchick68]

OMG! When you saw those helmets in the distance were the one of the best things you'v EVER seen??? I've gotten lost a couple times on rides... the worst was a century where my knee DID blow out at mile 80... stubborn girl that I am I did not stop... but kept riding injured (stupid, stupid, stupid...sigh... ) anyway we got 10 miles off course... and that last 10 miles all I kept thinking was, "I JUST want a chair and my BBQ chicken!!!" LOL That may have been the best chicken lunch postride ever!

glad you are OK and were able to figure out how to get yourself to a safe place again!

[CorsairMac]

wow mom2 - what an adventure! and how much fun was that seeing all new sights and enjoying the rural quietness! (and trying to still the inner voice of panic! ) It sounds like you had a great ride and yup - I'm a-thinking ya'll coulda done the longer ride after all........I mean you were so close and all!

[caligurl]

WOW! i'd be so freaked if i was lost in an area i wasn't familiar with!

good job!!!!!

[Trek420]

Reminds me of years ago and my first try at a metric century was a training ride for the AIDS ride from SF to the Russian River, camp overnight then ride back. Got to the top of the first hill and a rider passed me and turned right...

First lesson I learned of cycling: just 'cause someone turns does not mean they are on your ride!

I followed them. Golden Gate National Seashore is breathtakingly beautiful, and I'd love to ride it again someday, anyday, anyone!?

But those 20 miles were not on our route!

Ten miles out I realise I'm lost, ride 10 back and by then everyone, which includes my camping gear and car keys is in front of me, decided nothing to do but forge ahead.

From there I was on the route all the way.

Due to a series of near misses that are comical now, David the ride organiser thought I was ahead of them all. C'mon, it's me! Ahead??? He kept pulling up the route signs ahead of me, luckily I had the map.

I was about 15 miles from the end when I stopped at a tiny store to "make my own rest stop". David who by then had been to the end and "where's Trek?" was going backwards in a panic to find me. Boy was I glad to see his truck. Tired, hungry, cold, fog rolling in, I gladly took the ride in.

Deffinately some moments of panic out there in the most remote parts of Sonoma and Marin counties thinking "no one knows where I am".