My 135km challenge! What a weekend!

[ny biker]

Wow. I have to say, congratulations -- even though you didn't finish, you rode a long way at a fast pace in *terrible* conditions. And it was your first big group ride and only your second ride in the rain. Really, it was a great accomplishment. And you've learned from it, which will help you so much on future rides.

I remember once seeing a mountain climber on a TV talk show, I think he was plugging a book that he'd written. He said that a successful climb is not when you reach the summit -- it's only a success when you make it back down to the bottom safely. You were facing a dangerous situation with the weather, as you saw with the folks who had hypothermia. Given the conditions, I think you made the right decision to stop the ride. It's better to stay healthy and try again another day.

I'm also impressed that so many people showed up despite the weather, and that there are so many willing to take on the challenge of this ride. 22 km/hr is roughly 14 mph, which is a brisk pace for a hilly ride.

And I'm so glad that your new bike is working out well for you. It sounds like you've gotten a lot of positives out of the experience and are focused on the future. Good luck and have fun with your training!!

Oh and p.s., I took a great first aid course recently in which they suggested bringing a mylar emergency blanket on rainy/cold rides. Other folks here on TE have also suggested it -- they take up very little space in your bike bag but could really help in cold rainy conditions.

http://www.rei.com/product/407104/sp...rgency-blanket

[lph]

What an awesome story! You'll probably never have a race that bad again :-D Of course you cried, having to give up is the hardest thing to do, it kicks your butt the way no amount of effort does.

Funny thing, just yesterday I was reading in "How to think like a Freak" (book 3 of the Freakonomics series) about exactly that, how most people - and firms are really "bad at failing" - ie. giving up in time, instead of carrying on with something that's getting worse and worse. Learning when to call it a day is a really good thing to do.

[Crankin]

You were very wise to stop when you did. Hypothermia is nothing to fool around with. You did a lot. Enjoy what you accomplished.
But... this is why I won't sign up for a timed event. If it's not a race, I want to be able to go as fast as I can, *for me.* If I am raising money for a good cause (rare, I hate to ask for $), I'm going to do it under comfortable conditions. I've ridden in the kind of rain you describe, on a tour, with big hills. While my rain gear worked, I knew I could get in the van at any time, and no one was timing me.

[shootingstar]

So was this a radonnee like ride? Congrats. Helene. Set your own standards, no matter what other people think, and always be safe.

Anyway, I know I wouldn't enjoy trying to ride at the speed requirement continuously and especially in driving rain with a pile of other cyclists.

We have done a number of touring rides which is different type of cycling but still..same weather conditions...with our loaded panniers where we cycled for 5-6 hrs. in continuous rain on highways and paths from town to town. And some of those rides were in Quebec....ah yes, one memorable ride with logging trucks beside us. (Yes, freakin' scary.) In all these wet touring ride days, no we did not have any support van. It's just touring trips we make up and no van support. I've only participated in less than 4 long-distance group rides where there was van support. (maybe 20% of all the multi-hr. long touring rides we've done in the past 2 decades)

Helene, there really are different types of cycling endurance and toughness. And you did one of them well.

[Helene2013]

Thank you all. I'm over it now but it was not an easy call to drop off. My head was set so high in achieving it to the end. And conditions were bad.

Shootingstar,
This event takes about a year to organize and it is getting bigger every year. I have linked the website below for those who want to know more about it. The part is in 2. 1000 cyclists cycle 1000km in 3 days from x place to Montreal. There is a loop of 135km included in that part that is opened to people 16y+ . At 1st it was only 3,000 cyclists to join the 1000. This year they raised the number to 4000. Imagine going from town to town with over 200 motorhomes (each team (5 people) in the 1000 has to have their motorhome (sleep, relay cyclists, etc.), buses, police, ambulances, etc. It takes a lot of organization and no one is ever left behind thus the buses in the back. Main roads are blocked to let cyclists ride safely, etc.

I wish I never have to ride in such bad weather, at least for that long. I told hubby last night that I don't like to ride with a timed-clock either. More the type to look at turtles in ponds, watch not to squash a caterpillar on my drive. hahahah But if/when I ever sign into something like this again, yes I will make sure I start at the front, no matter what speed I signed up for.

Most of our "challenges" have that van in the back. I'm talking the more organized outings.

NY,
I will look into such blanket to keep in our stuff for days we go out and forecast is not stable. I normally would not go out and ride in such weather. This is something I booked last December. In QC City you never know what weather could be like. But it was never that bad. Even the pros in there suffered from hypothermia (those doing the 1000) and were removed from the peloton at some point. They have some ex-Montreal Hockey players that were removed too after a few kms (on the 1000) because of harsh conditions and they tired. So if those men used to work hard and play tough were challenged, imagine someone like me! I am no match. haha

But it is a good experience (once dust settled in) and I will move forward in working on my weaknesses. At 51 I will never be a Froome or Armstrong. But I will be in better physical shape for sure.

https://www.legdpl.com/en/the-grand-...-le-grand-defi

[AppleTree]

Really interesting to read your ride experience, I think if the HOCKEY dudes were bailing out, then you certainly have nothing to regret, egads. Those guys are tough cookies. Well, you are tough cookie for lasting as long as you did. I would have been totally intimidated by the sweep van rolling behind me.

+1 on the mylar blanket, they probably weigh hardly even an ounce. I always carry one with me if we are out in cooler conditions or longer rides where it might rain. I had one in my trunk bag on our way back from Vancouver last week, even though it's summertime here. You never know.