Last minute ride decision

[redrhodie]

Until recently, I only drank water on rides. Lately I've been experimenting with homemade sports drinks, and they have been working well. Some taste better than others. So far my favorite is pear nectar diluted with water, with a pinch of salt. I just looked at the "Santa Cruz Organic" website, and it looks like apricot nectar would even be a better choice for potassium. I'll try that next time.

I think you're going to do great! Have fun!

[Geonz]

Bring salty snacks and water and you should do *fine.* It's 46 miles, not 406. The other thing I'd suggest is that you ***relax*** -- if you're worried and stressed about not going fast enough... that will affect your body position and your blood chemistry (like looking down when you're climbing a mountain) and deplete your performance. Relax and decide that you'll either go fast enough, or you won't, but you'll do your best to look like you know what you're doing... and you'll find yourself going faster than if you're looking at the speedometer and worrying.

[goldfinch]

Bring salty snacks and water and you should do *fine.* It's 46 miles, not 406. The other thing I'd suggest is that you ***relax*** -- if you're worried and stressed about not going fast enough... that will affect your body position and your blood chemistry (like looking down when you're climbing a mountain) and deplete your performance. Relax and decide that you'll either go fast enough, or you won't, but you'll do your best to look like you know what you're doing... and you'll find yourself going faster than if you're looking at the speedometer and worrying.

Good points Sue!

I picked up my start packet and they said no problem starting early so that is what I am going to do.

[goldfinch]

The ride went great. 46 miles turned out to be 48 miles, my longest ride yet, I tagged on two more to hit 50, a milestone for me as my prior longest ride was 37 miles.

It was too hot. I started the ride with some friends but could not keep up with them, though I did meet up with them a couple more times after rest stops and rode with them maybe a total of 15 miles. The nice thing was that we started early, at 10:30 am instead of noon. I don't know if I could have handled the heat if I had started later. It had to be in the mid-80s, and I have been riding the the 60s for the last few weeks. Last year it was 38 degrees when the ride started! I drank maybe eight bottles of water. And I drank a lot of water at the rest stops too, roughly every 12-13 miles. I ate too much at the half way point which gave me a stomach ache. At the last rest stop I was dragging with 13 miles to go. I ate a half an orange and some potato chips. I recovered and moved a lot faster to the end.

Good ride, I had a lot of fun.

[AppleTree]

Good to hear your ride report Goldfinch and glad you did well, the heat is really hard for me to deal with also. Mid-80s is HOT......especially when you stop riding and no air flow to cool you off. 50 miles is a huge accomplishment! Way to go!

[jessmarimba]

hurray for 50!! And yeah, I'm done with hot. It was in the mid-60s for the race here and after about 20 minutes of riding in the sun I would've sworn it was 80. I can't imagine how awful 80 really felt.

[tomaskova]

I did the 22 mile ride, and it was my longest too. it WAS hot wasn't it?! Awesome you did 50 miles, and for a great cause!!!