Little Red Riding Hood-Logan Utah June 6, 2009

[sulis]

My friend and I have decided to go up Friday night. We managed to get a fairly inexpensive hotel room in Brigham City. We are definitely going to be at the packet pickup tomorrow first thing.

I am not certain if we can make dinner - haven't cleared that with my friend yet. But can someone let me know the final plans, just in case we decide to stop by.

Rain rain stay away - we want nice weather this year! Oye the headwinds the entire time last year were miserable.

Thanks

[BikeDutchess]

So far the forecast looks cool (max 64) and dry, partly cloudy. Unfortunately it looks like 15 mph headwinds on the way back. But all that still sounds better than last year!

[yellow]

OK, I'm going to make the decision. CyclaSutra, I'll make it up to you, I promise!

Firehouse Pizzeria, 880 South Main Street, Logan
http://www.firehousepizzeria.com/
6:30

Be there!

[Lifesgreat]

OK, I'm going to make the decision. CyclaSutra, I'll make it up to you, I promise!

Firehouse Pizzeria, 880 South Main Street, Logan
http://www.firehousepizzeria.com/
6:30

Be there!

10-4 I will be there.

[Alex]

What a GREAT day for a ride! Cool with clouds for most of the ride. No rain, no hail, no sleet! There was some wind in places, but not bad at all. We did the 80-mile ride. The participants were well-behaved this year and the staggered starts were a great idea. I didn't see any particularly unsafe riding until we hooked up again with the metric route.

We had a nice TE dinner with Yellow, LifesGreat, Cyclasutra, her daughter, and some other friends on Friday.

How was everyone else's ride?

Alex

[BikeDutchess]

When we woke up it was still raining, but luckily it stopped pretty soon after. It looked threatening for a good part of the day, but we never got rained on (heard others did). I loved the cooler temperatures.

I loved the staggered starts too, it made that first stretch soooo much better. And it was nice that the 80's and 100's more or less got to lunch at the same time.

We did the 100 and the winds were pretty horrendous as soon as we turned south up in Idaho. I had to very deliberately change my mantra from "da*n these f***ing winds" to something more positive like "I am strong, girl power will get me through." I was so happy the winds died down as we got closer to Wellsville. And the sun came out too!

I tried to do better with my nutrition this year, eating something at every stop, but I still hit the wall in almost exactly the same spot as last year, right before the last rest stop. I kept telling myself that if I could make it to that last stop, I could make it all the way. My friend pulled me home again, and I felt very tired but good for finishing. [Did anyone else think it was a funky roundabout way to route us back to the park at the end?] It was a fun party at the finish. Mmm, that chocolate fountain was something else!

My daughter did only the 15 because of a hip injury. She was the 2nd one back - she was disappointed there was no cheering because they weren't ready yet!

The support was great again, many volunteers at every stop and lots of sag vehicles.

All in all it was a great ride!

[Alex]

We did the 100 and the winds were pretty horrendous as soon as we turned south up in Idaho. I had to very deliberately change my mantra from "da*n these f***ing winds" to something more positive like "I am strong, girl power will get me through."

I tried to do better with my nutrition this year, eating something at every stop, but I still hit the wall in almost exactly the same spot as last year, right before the last rest stop. I kept telling myself that if I could make it to that last stop, I could make it all the way. My friend pulled me home again, and I felt very tired but good for finishing. [Did anyone else think it was a funky roundabout way to route us back to the park at the end?] It was a fun party at the finish. Mmm, that chocolate fountain was something else!

Great job, BD! My friend and I agreed that we would decide out on the course whether we were going to do the 80 or the 100. I was waiting for her at the rest stop before we would have to decide and I was thinking that I would be happy doing either. She pulled up and announced that she did NOT want to do the 100. I was fine with that, especially as we could see the dark clouds to the north. I knew, too, that the wind would be bad once you turned south. Good for you for getting through that difficult stretch!

What did you eat at the rest stops? I always bring my own stuff. I had a multi-hour bottle of Perpetuem in one bottle, and water in the other. I also had several Hammer Gels. I took Endurolytes and Digest Caps about every hour. The only thing I get at the rest stops is water (and a bag of potato chips at the lunch stop). I do best avoiding real food until the end and I take a slug of Perpetuem or some gel every 15 minutes. I've used this combination many times now, and have been very happy with the results. I also had some Cytomax powder with me, but I never did use it since we did the 80 and not the 100.

I agree that the end of the route was sort of strange. I loved my pink lei at the finish. It looks really cute on my dog.

And, yeah, that chocolate fountain was GREAT!

Alex