June 10 Ride Reports

[Fredwina]

Of course, It invlove did 9300 feet of climbing!
woke up bright and early at 3:30 in the morning . Got to Redlands, got my packet and got on the road at 5:30 the firts 15 miles were ok. The next 12 well, were a Bear (myabe this is why the call it ride around the bear?) you tsart at about 1500 feet, and wind up at about 6100. I had to stop and change my glasses to my sunglasses, since we had climbed above the fog.(atcually I tend to stop at least every hour and refuel, anyway) We had some climbing up to about 7100 feet before we finally had a descent to big bear lake and lunch. Some one was actully sailing a pirate ship on the lake! a Couple that are members of our club had agreed to drive thier minivan as a private SAG. Tom kept on yelling at me to drink more gatorade/ cytomax. After lunch , we went up to onyx Summit (8443 feet, 60 miles) From here , the ride organizers claim it's all down hill. What they forget to mention is that t mile 70, there is a 1.5 hille, followed about 5 miles of rollers. I had a good laugh her as I passed one of the "racer dude" types on a roller beacuse he had gotten his gearing wrong. At that last rest stop, I was asked where my team car was. Tom is a diabetic, and he need to go to Redlands to get something to eat. the final 20 miles were all downhill.
I left after the ride to a friend birthday party. Unfortunatley, I left my duffel, with my helmet and gloves there, So tommorw, i'm headed back to San Bernardino. Pictures my follow.

[SadieKate]

a Couple that are members of our club had agreed to drive thier minivan as a private SAG.

Fredwina, I'm not trying to be confrontational. I'm really curious. Why did you feel the need for a private SAG? I really want to know. I'm seeing an increase in these on organized rides and it really add to the traffic issues. Why not just volunteer to be a SAG for everyone? Educate me so I know. Thanks.

[melissam]

It was a gorgeous ride -- the weather was perfect, the wind wasn't too bad, all car drivers were courteous. The funny part is that it almost didn't happen, as I was coming up with every excuse in the book not to ride. Finally I went for the ride, and even then I was making excuses to cut it short. I really would have missed out.

Mantra: No matter what, just keep on pedaling!

It's amazing how well this works, even as your laboring uphill with a headwind comin' at ya!

Riding Philosophy 1: It doesn't matter if you're not fast -- if you don't keep riding, how the heck are you ever going to get faster?!

Riding Philosophy 2: Yes I have a nice bike, but I'm still slow. But just imagine how much slower I'd be if I didn't have such a nice bike!

Riding Philosophy 3: The nice bike doesn't care if you're slow -- it's just glad to be out in the fresh air and not gathering dust in the garage!

[Bron]

I did my longest ride ever, and was I tired at the end!
125km with 1500m ascent over the route (80miles and 5000 feet.) Ouch. My husband had planned a longer route, but took pity on me - wasn´t that nice ? The scenery was beautiful, so it was definately worth getting out of the city full of football fans.
Now I need to stucture training a bit better and go for a century.

[Fredwina]

It's something (to my knowledge Tom and Mary Lou have always done. and yes, they helped out non Club members as well, so in fact, I guess I should have said a "non offical" sag. I agree that given the road wew were on yesterday, Less cars would have been better.
Jana

[Nanci]

I rode a 200k Brevet Saturday, which ended up being 130 miles. It was really hot- 101F at 2:30 PM- and endlessly sunny. The route was beautiful- rural, not much traffic. I rode most of it with two really great guys. Two really cool girls met up with us for the last 30 or so miles. My riding time was 8:50, and total time about 11.5. We stopped to cool off a lot. One of my guys dropped with 15 miles to go. His mom picked him up, and drove to meet us 9 miles later at the end of the paved trail, with ice and water. I put ice chunks in y sandals and gloated!! I also put a lot of ice in my bra, in my groin, down my shorts in the back, and in my helmet. Used Neutrogena spary on 45 sunscreen, and didn't get burned. I think the spray is great because I tend to reapply it often, because it feels cold, and isn't messy. I took Suceed Electrolyte caps on the half hour all day, and drank water, and ate a few Sport Beans, but didn't have much of an appetite. Ate a small bag of chips and a hot dog. My usual standbys- flavored milk, and even Gatorade, just wouldn't go down.

Five miles from the end we found a guy walking down the middle of the road, cleats worn down to bare metal, covered with leaves and dirt. Very close to heat stroke. Finally convinced him to sit in the shade and wait for a ride. He thought he could still make it in. He'd been vomiting. He was afraid if he stopped walking, he'd cramp up. When he stopped and sat down, you could see his leg muscles jumping all over. We stayed with him till the RBA came to pick him up. At an MTB race, one time, I saw a guy go from about the state this guy was in, to delerious, to unconscious and air-lifted out, in about 30 minutes, so I was afraid to just leave the guy alone in the shade. I took the time to lie down with my Camelback for a pillow. Luckily, there weren't too many fire ants in the area. Some curious goats came to observe.

Then, five more miles, and it was finally over!! I rode 20 miles the next day with my slow club group, and wasn't sore at all, just tired.

This was my official 200k, since I wasn't a member of RUSA when I did the one in January, and it completes my Super Randonneur Award.

Nanci

[Barb]

Congrats Nanci!! I am so glad to hear that someone stopped for him. I was puking on the side of the road and NO ONE stopped to see if I was ok. This was suppose to be a freindly ride too, not a race. I was appalled when I started walking and some guy rode by and told me it was a really long walk!!!


Anyway. Yesterday my ride partner bailed on me so my planned 30 mile Killer hill ride was out. We haven't done that route and I don't know about traffic there, so I didn't want to venture out alone. I did 16 miles with some good hills for me. I am still having trouble timing when to change rings up front. I do pretty well in back, but I always seem to be spinning WAY too much when I have to go to the granny. There must be some happy medium, I just haven't found it.

[SandyGirl]

I thought about it! It rained all day Saturday and Sunday was not any better. But today.......................

Barb, how awful for you and that guy! Hope all is well today.........gee...........