Ms. Wrong-Way

[Catrin]

Well, that might explain why we never saw you. What time did you end up starting?

Nice, well supported ride. They change the route nearly every year, which I didn't know until today. I was not, however, a big fan of the crowds. I saw a lot of stupid behavior today. Apparently, it's perfectly acceptable for riders to take up the entire width of the road or fly past without an on your left. We also played yo yo for the last 15 miles with a group of seemingly experienced guys who had no idea how to share the road. They would pass us, then slow to a crawl. So, we'd pass them, and the whole thing would start over again. They blew through one of the busiest intersection on the route like idiots. Grrrrr.

I changed from the 64-mile route to the 50 in hopes of seeing the two of you (and to go a little easy on my right quad - my hamstring was a little cranky when I first started). I did this at my SECOND stop - so I had already made whatever mistake I made. I arrived a little after 7:00 and got started a little before 8. There was a lot of madness there before the first SAG. Yeah, I saw some inconsistent behavior that had me a little nervous, but at least there were no accidents that I heard of.

Did you happen to see the "Garden of Armageddon?" We all just cracked up laughing - then there were the huge statues? that someone had set up in their yard. I wanted pictures of both but there were too many riders around for me to feel comfortable stopping.

What time did the two of you get started? I was pretty pleased with my riding time for the first 30 miles, then it seemed like I was fated to have a head-wind no matter which direction I turned.

[indysteel]

I'm not sure I'm following you when you say you switched routes. The 64 mile route consisted of an extra loop that began and ended at the first SAG (meaning that SAGs one and two on the 64 miler were the same SAG). From there, you just followed the 50 mile route. In looking at the map, I can't figure out what you may have done.

We left a little before 9 and hit the lunch stop around 12:40.

[Catrin]

I'm not sure I'm following you when you say you switched routes. The 64 mile route consisted of an extra loop that began and ended at the first SAG (meaning that SAGs one and two on the 64 miler were the same SAG). From there, you just followed the 50 mile route. In looking at the map, I can't figure out what you may have done.

We left a little before 9 and hit the lunch stop around 12:40.

That is what I thought... but there was a marker for the 50 mile route at the second stop, and a marker for the 64 mile route - and they split... oh well, at least I wasn't by myself, a good number of people were with me and I had fun. Thinking about it makes me wonder if we got off route at the very beginning and that my "second" stop was actually the first? Hard to believe that though, there were quite large numbers of cyclists with me before the first SAG. I will never know exactly what happened at this point and that is ok

I hit the lunch stop around 1:20 or so - I really spent too much times at the three stops. I really enjoyed the day, it was all good

[indysteel]

My theory is that you did the extra loop. If you got to the third SAG thinking that you should be closer to being done (because you thought you were just doing the 50), then that might explain it.

But, yes, you may never know. at least it sounds like you never got off the route.

[Catrin]

My theory is that you did the extra loop. If you got to the third SAG thinking that you should be closer to being done (because you thought you were just doing the 50), then that might explain it.

But, yes, you may never know. at least it sounds like you never got off the route.

Well, the perplexing bit was when they told me it was the "second" stop when it was my third - and that I still had 30 miles to go after having done 39... Hmmm, but if that was the extra loop then it was very pretty and I am glad I did it

I was also told that the "50" mile route was closer to 56, which means the 64 mile route was also probably longer - so you are probably right about my riding the extra loop - I doubt the SAG mystery can be solved - and that is ok

So now I have to let it go - and be thankful that it was a very positive day outside of the little mystery