Almost my first century..some thoughts

[skinimini]

[QUOTE=Pedal Wench;440742] Was that you sportin' the Filagree jersey this morning? Saw a woman wearing it and commented on how good it looked in person. At least I think I did- it was on a hill and I might have been huffin and puffin too much to be audible. QUOTE]
Hey Pedal, that was me! I should have introduced myself! I agree it was blistering hot! At mile 42, I had to take about a 20 minute breather--sat down and everytime I stood, nauseated and dizzy (is that a bonk?). Finally got my act together and made it back without further problems. I think it was a combination of the new bike fitting (he changed everything, and I'm not happy), the heat, and the hills. I've done longer rides, but those 50 miles were definitely my hardest.

9. All chamois lubricants aren't applied equally either- back to butts (I had to focus on something else other than the heat, being lost, dogs,etc) Is it acceptable to let another rider know that their lubricant is now copiously oozing out of their black shorts? I'm sure it was lubricant and not laundry suds because as hard as he was puffing up the hill he probably would have blown some bubbles out the rear.

Denny What a hoot! I agree, I saw more than I really ever needed to see. I loved your summary--my sentiments exactly.

I also agree that the route was poorly marked. Sometimes, I saw the markings only after we made a turn.

Did you all see the little boy "shooting" the riders as we went by? I heard this funny noise, and there was the cutest little blonde boy, about 3-4 years old with a toy machine gun. They start training 'em early here in Georgia. No dogs chasing me, but I did see an Airedale that almost caused a crash and a black lab that was chasing a pickup truck down the road. No one screamed at me to get off the road this time, and best of all, no snakes! I guess it was too hot.

[Pedal Wench]

Hi Skini!!! Well, nice to sort-of meet you!!! I should have stayed and chatted a bit more, but I just wanted up that hill!

The dogs were okay - just chased by one. There were a few big ones hanging out, but it seemed too hot for them to bother with a run. Good dogs.

Oh my - there was a guy on Ride the Rockies who wore his shorts, ummm, quite low. My BF and I were wondering if there was a bike signal to warn riders behind us. I was tempted to say something to him at a rest stop though, because it was going to be a really bad sunburn to explain.

[tctrek]

Congrats to all the Georgia folks that did ANY MILES at Cartersville yesterday!! We saw how hot it was going to be and opted out for a short 20 mile ride in Alpharetta. Just 20 miles and I was done... I am not anywhere near acclimated yet to this stinkin' heat.

So, awesome job if you did anything in Cartersville 'cause that's a tough ride on a cool day!

[denny]

Skini- so sorry you got sick along the way that really sucks but I'm glad you were able to recover and finish without any further mishaps. I heard one of the organizers say that they had 2 riders that were down due to the heat and exhaustion but kept going. I heard the shots going off while I was lost and though... oh nooooooo! please don't tell me all the warnings that there were still rednecks dying to pick off a lone black rider be true. I figured if the Spanish team of various colors made it back safely the odds were on my side. I'm glad it wasn't a prolonged "huntin" season.

Pedal- I saw Cheryl from your team, did you ride with her as well? All my tri friends finished the 100 in 4 hours then proceeded to do a 5 mile run! These people are crazy!!

TCTREK- We'll see you out there next time.

Right now I'm thinking about the following centuries.

Claxton(sp?) in or near Savannah- I'm told this is a must do ride that is virtually flat and the themed rest stops are the major attraction of the ride, not the ride itself. Not sure of the date in September.

Beautiful back roads- one of the same of the confusing road markings on this ride (BCC), think that's called the Budweiser century too. I'm told that's the one with the fab food (beer,steaks, potatoes, etc) at the finish.

Covington Century- still in the air on this one. I don't want to see another hill again!

One Love Ride- Sept 19th. I think I'll just volunteer for this one.

[skinimini]

I heard the shots going off while I was lost and though... oh nooooooo! please don't tell me all the warnings that there were still rednecks dying to pick off a lone black rider be true.

I heard those shots too, just before Barnsley Gardens , but at least there were a lot of people around me. I would have totally freaked, if I had be all by my lonesome! I'm sorry you were lost and so glad you made it back safe and sound. Someone else told me that the markings were left over from seasons past. They were really poor!

I shared your thoughts about the ride with DH and he thought your musings were soooo funny. He won't get on a bicycle for any reason and can't understand one bit why we do this! He's the one that's missing out.

[Pedal Wench]

Skini- so sorry you got sick along the way that really sucks but I'm glad you were able to recover and finish without any further mishaps. I heard one of the organizers say that they had 2 riders that were down due to the heat and exhaustion but kept going. I heard the shots going off while I was lost and though... oh nooooooo! please don't tell me all the warnings that there were still rednecks dying to pick off a lone black rider be true. I figured if the Spanish team of various colors made it back safely the odds were on my side. I'm glad it wasn't a prolonged "huntin" season.

Pedal- I saw Cheryl from your team, did you ride with her as well? All my tri friends finished the 100 in 4 hours then proceeded to do a 5 mile run! These people are crazy!!

TCTREK- We'll see you out there next time.

Right now I'm thinking about the following centuries.

Claxton(sp?) in or near Savannah- I'm told this is a must do ride that is virtually flat and the themed rest stops are the major attraction of the ride, not the ride itself. Not sure of the date in September.

Beautiful back roads- one of the same of the confusing road markings on this ride (BCC), think that's called the Budweiser century too. I'm told that's the one with the fab food (beer,steaks, potatoes, etc) at the finish.

Covington Century- still in the air on this one. I don't want to see another hill again!

One Love Ride- Sept 19th. I think I'll just volunteer for this one.

Ha! I heard the gunshots too - that's nothing compared to the century I did around the Army firing ranges at Fort Gordon!

I didn't know Cheryl was out there. I rode pretty much alone.

I think I'm doing Covington, and I've always heard wonderful things about Claxton. If I'm in town, Beautiful Backroads for sure, and One Love - my new favorite century. I did it the first year they had it, and it was wonderful - amazing organization and volunteers.

Hope to see everyone at some of them.

[Miranda]

I'm getting ready for my first century also and your list had me lol. Thx for that. I went out with my very strong ride guy pal that intends to ride it with me. I was already protesting part of the list on what he would do. A couple of those things happened to him on our training ride today. Including dogs from he$$... omg... I think "dog from he$$" should be a special marker on cycling maps. That's how I ride my normal routes locally... big bold letters: DOG. Good luck for the next event.