Do not feel bad, Badgercat. The Sunday before your ride we were in Arizona for a PAC Tour training week. It stormed Saturday night, but by the Sunday morning start of the ride from Tucson to Sierra Vista it looked like it had settled to drizzle.

I'd been focusing on that ride for more than 6 months. It was a super stretch goal. I had to do it. I got on my bike in the drizzle and started riding. The drizzle turned to rain. The rain to sleet which stung the face. And then we turned into the wind. At the first rest stop DH hooked up a sag ride, but I was going to keep going. No, I wasn't going to quit. This ride was the motivator for all those months of trainer riding. I had to finish.

A few of us were going to keep going, although I was the slowest of the bunch. Many of the riders (including the coaches had already called it a day). While sipping my second hot cocoa I was starting to question my sanity when Lon Haldeman pulled in (obviously he started much, much later than this tortoise). He was going to bail. This guy rides through anything, doesn't he? Eh?

The lesson learned: Pick your battles. Sometimes we ride through; sometimes, the better part of valor is to call it a day so that you can battle stronger tomorrow. Yes, it is disappointing. I feel your pain--really, I do. I wanted to finish my ride, too. But, sometimes it is better to be safe and stop than to push on, get sick, get injured or just burn out. The ride needs you back next year.

Disappointing, but a good decision. You climbed the hill. You got to the top. Celebrate the accomplishment.