Georgia Ride to the Capitol 2009

On Tuesday I braved the frigid temperatures (Hello! 20 degrees is fricking cold on a bike!) and did the 4th annual GA rides to the Capitol. You can click on the link if you want to read more about it but the gist is that this bike ride is organized to raise cycling awareness in the Atlanta area.

You can also read my blogs about the past years I have done the ride here: 2006 and 2008.

Particularly funny is in 2006 Steph commented how she wouldn't ever feel comfortable riding in metro Atlanta on the road. Well, if you read this blog at all you know for pretty much the past 2 years Steph and I have ridden all over metro Atlanta on our bikes. In fact Steph is going to be a wheel chair bike escort for the Georgia ING half marathon and has been familiarizing herself with the course this past week. She also has a pretty great post on her blog on exactly why the ride to the Capitol is necessary. Not sure why she didn't mention that in her post but I'll do it for her.

At the very least I think we should make the Atlanta area as bicycle friendly as we can manage. If cycling doesn't speak to a desire to "go green" or "get fit" in you maybe it will speak to, if you are anything like me, the quickly diminishing size of your wallet. Riding a bike is always cheaper than a car and all the cost involved with operating and owning one (insurance, maintenance, gas, purchasing etc). And considering the traffic in Atlanta (hello! 400? 285?), the 20+ miles you drive from the burbs to work would take you about the same time on a bike--given the appropriate bike lanes and such. Now, I haven't ever done the commute myself (on a bike or in a car) but I have heard you can spend an hour and a half just sitting in your car on 400, inching your way into the Atlanta city limits. Surely you can do 20 miles in an hour and half on a bike. Heck, there are some people in this world that can almost run 20 miles in an hour and half. Also, instead of getting your bp up because you are pissed off about sitting in traffic you get your heart rate up and get all these great endorphins that make you feel high. Well, unless you almost get run over by one of those pissed off people who had to sit in their cars for an hour and half in Atlanta traffic- then you might have a little heart attack yourself. Which probably isn't so good for you. Cortisol, or something like that. . .
Anyway, my point of this post is not to be political. I just wanted to encourage people to go out and ride a bike cause it is fun! Also, I for one, would like to be safe while I ride my bike on the city streets that I pay taxes to maintain. Lastly, I wanted to encourage those in the Atlanta area to play hooky from work next year and join us.
Do not be intimidated.
This ride is very pedestrian.
Heck, a guy on a unicycle rode the 20 so miles from Roswell city hall to the Capitol. There were all kinds; time trial bikes, roadies, fixies, mountain bikes, tandems, unicycles etc.

Okay here are some pictures from this year's event:
Me and Steph getting ready to roll:

Our not so genius idea to keep our tootsies warm with plastic bags over our socks.
Did not work. At. All.
For about the first hour of this ride I thought for sure I was going to lose several digits. I was painfully cold.

Some of the North Atlanta Multisport Club members that let me ride with them and pretend like I am in the club when really I am not.
But if you are in the north Atlanta area and looking for a tri club please feel free to come check them out and join. They are the nicest, most supportive bunch of people.

Like I said. All types. Hello Easy Rider.

What you can't see is his spectacular handle bar mustache. I tried to get it but he turned away at the last second. I was feeling stalkerish snapping his picture but really, do you wear a football helmet as bicycle helmet, sport a handle bar stache like you are in a barber shop quartet and wear that outfit to ride your bike through downtown Atlanta if you don't want to be noticed?
I think not.

Cyclists converging on the Capitol from the east, west, north and south metro Atlanta areas.
Yep! I took that picture while rolling.

Everyone dismounting at the Capitol to hear the speeches, get some shwag (I got free socks! I put them to use!) and have a snack (best Fig Newtons I've ever had).

The best part of any ride: Apres beers with great like-minded people!

Jamie, Greg, Courtney and Steph at Cerviche in Roswell.

Total ride for us was around 47 miles.

Small Town, Sunday

Two weekends ago kids and I went to the family stomping grounds: Bainbridge, GA. Oh, to be clear that's my family's stomping grounds.
Not Ryan's.
His family?
They're from Long Island. And Ryan, the damn Yankee, wasn't with us because he was out doing his that very un-Yankee thing that he does--deer shooting.

Kids didn't want to ride with me for most of the trip. Carmella changed her mind after lunch. So for most of the ride I was solo. I tried "listening" to a book on tape. Some Patricia Cromwell novel. After about 3 hours of listening I realized that I had actually read the novel and that it made it that much easier to follow along. It was really hard for me. Maybe it is an ADD thing but I kept having to rewind because I couldn't keep my mind engaged.

Later, I entertained myself by taking pictures of me driving:


And pictures of my parents in their car:

That's Itty Bitty. Mom's new mini cooper. She does have a regular size car-- a small SUV in fact-- but their dumb asses wanted to ride 5 hours to South Georgia in a clown car.

My dad then complained the rest of the weekend about how much his back hurt. Carmella wizened up and got in my spacious Ford Explorer. I should also add the Ford Explorer that carried all their crap. As you can see from the picture Beau loved riding in Itty Bitty even if it meant he couldn't eat or drink anything in Itty Bitty.

When we rolled into town we went straight to the Boo Barbie Surprise party where you can see from the previous post much fun was had by all.

The next morning I pawned my kids off on my mom and dad and took a solo ride out around town. I first rode out to my cousin's on the outskirts of town to try to convince her to come ride with me. Apparently preparing brunch for 20 people means you can't spare the time for a 2 hour bike ride. What ev's . . .

Here is the picture I took riding out Lake Douglas road to her house: Yes, I took it while pedaling. In fact, most of these were taken while moving so that accounts for their some what poor quality. I was trying very hard to both not wreck and break yet another digital camera.

My cousin had directed me to ride out Lake Douglas road towards Climax (yes that really is the name of the town). So I headed out on the now two lane country road towards then fine town of Climax. My cousin said the second stop sign would get me to 10 miles. I never made it to even the first stop sign. After passing the speed limit sign that advertised 55 mph I started to think about things. Mostly I thought, Wow, I've never ridden on road with a speed limit over 45 mph. And then when that car passed me going at least 65 I turned around and high tailed it back to town.

The first place I decided to go was my great grandmother Ebie's house. I wasn't sure actually how to get there but when I saw Broughton St and saw this vantage point I knew how to get there.
This is her house, or rather was:

In my undergrad I wrote a poem about it, about this scene, this view. It is called Rescue. You can read the poem here if you want.

Some of the things I wrote about in the poem are gone: the flea market that was once a church, my great grandmother, my grandmother, the porch swing . . . but some things are still there and are still the same:

BrownLee Glass Company:


The tinted glass windows:


One of the houses I imagine no one lives in:


The Southern Bell building that makes me believe Florida is one street over:

The hanging Spanish moss:


The always empty street:


I rode further down the street and took a picture of my favorite church in town. The Episcopal:
And yes, it is my favorite because it has a red door.

Though I am not a religious person I do love that in this town you are never a 1/4 mile away from a church. Seems there is one on every street.

I rode over and took a picture of the church my parents got married in. The Presbyterian:

This is the Methodist Church.
I think this was Lala's church but she got married in the Presbyterian-- that was Daddy's church-- because she thought it was prettier. At least that is the story that I remember but I may have it all backwards because the Methodist church looked grander to me.

I decided my next stop was the cemetery. I knew the direction but wasn't exactly sure of the way. I found it though.

I love that the cemetery is called 'Oak City'. It's the epitome of Southern Gothic: a city populated by century old oaks and tombs. Does it get any more romantic and macabre than that? All that Spanish moss and marble. Sigh. My heart gets all a flutter. I had wanted to walk around and find all my family's markers but I was in my cleated bike shoes. With the exception of the main drag the roads in Oak City are dirt. Not the Georgia red clay that you see up here above the gnat line but that gray sandy dirt that is fine like powdered sugar and is all over the coastal plain of south Georgia.

Okay. Truth. What really happened and why there are not pretty pictures of the marble markers and tombs is that I got scared.

I realized after about two minutes that I was the only living person in Oak City. So even though it was a bright Sunday afternoon and the cemetery was quiet and serene and beautiful it was still a whole city filled with dead people-- and yeah, it was a little creepy. What can I say? I was all by myself in the middle of cemetery on my bike with no cell service. People, I had to ride across the tracks to get there.

So my chicken-ass hightailed it out of there.

As it was I didn't have time to ride over the my grandmother's Adelaide's house or the house my grandmother Anne lived in with her second husband Lee Roy or any of the other places. I had to get back to my cousin's and get my kids and come home.

It was a very nice Sunday ride. Sometimes, just like when I was little, I still wish I could live there.

Ride Out of Redneck Mecca

It was akin to a religious experience:

Pulling into the parking lot from the access road and seeing that big Budweiser sign, smelling the hops (though I think it smelled like french fries) and then seeing a parking lot full of cyclists and cars with bike racks just gave me the warm fuzzies.

I was worried and briefly lost that fuzzy feeling when I stepped out of the car and the first thing I saw was a dead Luna moth. However, I chose not to see it as a potential omen. Which proved wise because apparently seeing moths on bike rides mean nothing as Joe saw one too and he didn't die either.

The Budplant in Carterville, GA. is VERY generous and allows cyclists to use their parking lot and ride out to the country back roads. Recall that in June I rode the Cartersville Century but I have never ridden out of the Budplant. I've heard about it but I have never been there myself.

Until today.

Today Doug, Steph and I headed up to Cartersville to do a practice brick. Word is that Cartersville is very similar to the bike course in the SC Half Iron. And just so you know, this was Steph and Doug's gig. I invited myself along and ruined any chances of afternoon delight in a cow pasture for them. Though, I think, the hours in the saddle probably had that ruled out anyway. But I just wanted to say thanks to them for letting me tag along.

This was my second time this week to practice a brick after a longish bike ride. The past 3 bricks I have done I have struggled with GI issues--which is new for me. The first was 2 weeks ago when I rode 57 miles and then ran a 4 mile brick. I did okay but I couldn't have run more than 4, if you catch my meaning. The next was my 1 mile swim, 36 mile bike and 9.6 mile run. That time I had to stop at 5 miles to use the restroom. And the most painful was just this past Wednesday: 47 miles on the bike and 5k run. Horrible tummy cramps.

So today was my chance to get it right and test out some new nutrition. That was my goal. Doug and Steph's--which I guess I misunderstood-- was to ride race pace and then try to run race pace. I didn't care as much about pace as I did about not having my tummy hurt.

They told me the plan was 17 mph--which is my race goal but I will be fine with anything under 3 hours and 20 minutes. (Really, I am just hoping for some race day magic. ) But I figured 17mph would be fine for me since Neal and I did average that for most of the century ride until I had a huge fade factor around 70 miles.

And fortunately the temperature today was in the high 70's/low 80's. Down right arctic compared to my last bricks that finished up in the low 90's.

Unfortunately Fay was showing us her ass and blowing some big wind our way.

Doug started out very aggressive and I was struggling. I tried to negotiate a bit slower pace since the wind was just killing me but he said no. So I kinda pouted for about oh, 20 miles. But around 25 I realized that I wasn't feeling that bad and I was totally fine and would make it. So for the last part of the ride I actually felt really good. I mean sure I was tired but no more tired than if we had ridden 1-2 mph slower.

We finished at 2:39 at 46.55 miles at 17.6 mph.

Then we, and by we I mean Doug, racked our bikes and we all ran out. Steph said, as always, she was going to go slow and wasn't going to keep up with us. Doug and I hung together the first few miles. The strap on my Garmin broke so it was in my pocket, so no GPS. My achilles started giving me trouble immediately. They have been tight/sore all week and the result is the tight/crampy feeling in my calves that throws off my stride and makes running painful. I had iced them last night--and am icing them now. Still tight.

My hope was that they would loosen up after the first mile. Nope. After the second mile I asked Doug our avg pace: 7:59 he said. A few minutes later I told him I had to walk for a second. He took that opportunity to ditch me and went back to look for Steph who had stopped to meet some trucker's at the truck stop I think. Doug fouled that plan. I think a husband just knows these things.

The tightness eased up after a few seconds and I resumed pace. Since I no longer had my pace reporter with me I operated on the assumption that I was still running around an 8 minute pace. My only goal for the HIM is sub 2 hours. 8 will be fine. Sub7:50 will be ideal. I ran just past 41 minutes to ensure I got in at least 5 miles. Honestly, I wasn't really trying to practice any pace. I just didn't want to have a tummy ache. But the 8 minute pace had felt comfortable (with the exception of the achilles issue) so I assume that is what I maintained. My achilles's did release a little and I finished up feeling great. I thought about running a little more but decided it wouldn't be wise.

So the good news of the day is NO GI issues. Even better, I didn't even have to stop to pee on the run (did on the bike though).

It should be noted that it was cooler today and I did only run 5 miles. BUT every brick my GI issues were presenting themselves before the 4 mile point so I have to assume either what I ate today worked or it just being 10 degrees cooler made the difference.

So in case anyone is curious here is--in my opinion--the ridiculous amount of food for a 3 hour bike ride that I consumed:
24 oz of water
20 oz of HEED
2 GU's (one vanilla, one Roctane)
1.5 packages of Lance's Peanut butter on Wheat crackers.

I also brought 20 oz of HEED on the run but didn't drink very much since I realized I wouldn't need it since I was only running a little while.

Here is the rest of the week's log:
Sunday: Easy day. Rode down at the river for an hour 18.95 miles.

Monday: Slowww 6 mile run--9:19 pace. I had to walk a bit up a hill due to Achilles issues. Then a 2000 yd swim that also sucked (34 minutes/ 1:42 per 100yd avg)

Tuesday: 21 mile run at an 8:12 pace.

Wednesday: Day of doom where I was an anchor. 47 mile ride at 16.4 mph pace. 3.1 mile run in 28 minutes.

Thursday: Lost mojo but rallied myself for an 8 mile run, walked a bit here and there. 9:23 avg pace.

Friday: Again an easy day. 7 miles on the Leita Thompson Trail with Lola. 9:34 avg pace. Bailed on planned swim. Just didn't want to get wet.

Saturday: 46.5 bike 17.6 mph/5 mile run 8:20 pace.

Totals:
Run: 50 miles
Cycle: 112 miles
Swim: 2000 yds

It must be Christmas

Or the night before a race.

'Cause I can't sleep I am so freaking excited.

Kids though seem to be having no problem sleeping as they have been sacked out since about 8pm.

Why all the excitement?

Tomorrow is the first day of school!!

See how excited Carmella is?

And Beau.

Beau starts kindergarten.

Wait. Here is Beau.
Wanna know why Beau gets all the ladies?

Cause he is a real cyclist.
He did his first ever bike race today!

He was so psyched and cute and not nervous at all. He didn't win but he didn't lose either. Keep in mind he has only been riding his bike without training wheels for 2 months. Next year he will take them all out.

Wait. I got video (Beau is in yellow jersey):

And here are some of the big boys who raced today:

My friend Paul raced cat 4 and the masters. He either took 4th or 5th in the cat 4 and he didn't know his place in master's.

But Tyler won it for the master's group.
The Mainstay (7) raced the pro/cat 1 and 2.
He looked good at the start but it was not his day. I don't know who won this race as we had to leave to get the kids home to bed.

And I too spent some time on my bike today. Albeit much, much slower than any of those guys (and gals).

I don't know what I was expecting since I had a long hard run yesterday but I really underestimated how tired my legs would be. The first half of the ride felt the worst and it wasn't until around 25 miles my legs relented and said: Okay, I guess we will cooperate.

Once I got them on board the ride became much more comfortable. There wasn't any soreness just muscle fatigue. It was like one of those times where I was certain I could feel the actual building of muscle happening. I should have taken before and after pictures of my quads.

There was an option to do the Roswell 40+ loop twice but I knew after the first few big climbs on the second loop I would be hating myself. So I ended up with 43 miles and a 15.5 mph. Geez, I need to get myself a new motor for my bike cause this one is broke.

It was a beautiful day to ride and Leslie, David and Steph were great company. Props to Leslie and David for doing the loop twice. Glad y'all let me come along and put up with my putzer pace.

Cartersville Century

Okay.
It is decided.
I am an official endurance addict.
I just love the long events.

Not sure I am ready to put it all together but I LOVE the ups and downs and finding ways to push through the misery and riding the exhalation of the endorphin high. It is amazing to me how you will go from an hour or two of feeling awesome to the next minute feeling like you are dying only to rebound and feel strong again and like you can go forever.

I always expect that once I hit that first downward spiral it is all going to pot but almost always it gets better if I just hang in there. Total physical roller coaster. And, this is the totally insane part, I absolutely adore the spent feeling after I am done. I really like how wasted and weak my body feels. I find it thrilling.

I know. It seems totally crazy to me too.

So yeah, I am so glad I did this ride. It was so much fun and very peaceful. Riding down long country roads. It was just crazily bucolic.

Friday morning I went to the gym to get a little treadmill run in. 4 miles in 29 something minutes. Decent enough run. As I was leaving I saw Neal swimming. I went down to the pool to give him yet another one of my critiques and offer some unsolicited advice of his swim. All in good fun, of course.

I asked him if he was going to do the century ride and he said that he had emailed me about riding together. I misunderstood and thought that he meant drive to Cartersville together and told him eagerly that I could meet him at 6 am at La Fitness. I figured no one I knew would want to ride my slow pace. And besides I know that Neal is much faster than me. He clarified that he meant actually ride the ride with me but also said carpooling would be cool too.

Another swimmer was eavesdropping on our conversation and piped up with his two cents. He said he and a group had ridden the course the previous weekend and that it was actually 106 miles and was very hilly at the end. In particular, he mentioned a steep uphill that made him wish for a granny gear right around 91 miles. He wished me luck.

Neal tried to reassure me that I would have no problems but Pool Boy had put the monkey on my bike.

So while I hadn't previously been too nervous about this ride The Mainstay's psyche-you-out-texts and Pool Boy's warnings now had me very worried.

So went home to prep my bike.

And by prep I mean I clean it with Windex and put some oil on my chain. I also bought a new bike jersey because I find a new outfit always makes me feel confident. I got all my "food" and bike stuff packed and I made the kids clean out and vacuum my car so Neal wouldn't have to ride in absolute filth.

I got up and out the door and was at La Fitness at 6 am on the dot. Neal racked his bike on my car and bungeed them together. He brought his super fabulous GPS and we tossed my Google map. After a stop at QT for coffee for Neal and a throw away camera for me we were off.

We got to the ride start just before 7 am. We went straight to registration and on the way there I ran into Dani. It was her first century too. But she is much more the professional athlete than I. She is training for Ironman Kentucky. And if you notice she has on a team jersey.


Then we hooked up with other tri peeps from NAMSC. Not certain of everyone's name but I remember Greg and he is the one looking at the camera. Neal is the guy pointing. I also met Felix and I don't know why he isn't in this picture. He was there when we were all talking. And I remember Felix's name specifically because really, how often do you meet someone named Felix? I don't know how he escaped my camera.

Not everyone was as lucky to escape my camera though. My friend Paul happened to be parked a few cars down from me. He was not happy to see my camera and told me no spandex pictures but oh well. . .
Paul is actually the one who sent me the link about the ride a week ago. So my ass totally blames him. Paul is quite a tremendous cyclist. He rode with me a month ago and was politely bored while I struggled and sucked tail. He literally pushed me up one hill to help me out. His wife Traci did the 55 mile route so hopefully she'll call me to ride because even if I did those spinervals Dani suggested everyday for 3 years I still don't think I could ever hope to keep up with Paul.

Neal and I had discussed starting out before the official roll at 8 am but that didn't happen. We put ourselves at the back and rolled out into the Cartersville back roads.


I got hot fast and that didn't make me happy. I can totally deal with hot on the bike--much better than hot on the run but it was too early in the ride to have to be hot.

The pace was fine and the course much more forgiving than Roswell. There were hills but nothing too terrible or memorable. The only complaint I have is that we'd have an uphill and then get a downhill and then there would be a long stretch to an uphill and then a quick downhill and then a stop sign and a turn and immediate uphill. So I felt a bit cheated out of my downhill momentum and couldn't work the rollers as I would have liked. Not sure if that makes sense but basically I wanted the hills to be closer together and after the stops signs a downhill instead of an uphill would have been nice. But whatever. It can't all be perfect.

We stopped at every rest stop. I certainly didn't need to but since I wasn't sure how it would all play out I figured I'd be conservative and take all the help offered.

I rode to the first rest stop with Leslie, who I have ridden previously in Roswell with. Leslie is also training for Ironman Kentucky:

After that first rest stop we started coming up on lots of little wrecks and even saw a cyclist sitting in a field and then a fire truck raced past a bit later. It all seemed really early for things to be going south already and it made me nervous considering I am pretty inexperienced on the bike--having only been riding a year and that not so long ago a 30 mile ride was an impossibly long and challenging ride for me. So I was feeling even more cautious and alert than usual.

Yes, despite the taking pictures while rolling.

I am fairly coordinated, most of the time.

Around 24 miles we were coming down a steep hill. At the bottom of the hill the course took a sharp right over a bridge. Neal and I were about 30 feet behind a group of four cyclists: 3 men and 1 woman. They all took the turn way too fast and the woman in the group freaked out. Not sure if she just wasn't ready to turn or being sandwiched between the guys wigged her out but instead of taking the turn she swiveled and went straight into the guard rail of the bridge. Her front tire hit the rail and she and her bike flipped over the bridge and fell straight into the creek below. Seeing that woman flipping in the air still clipped into her bike really was the most spectacular sight I have ever witnessed. Also, completely terrifying to witness. As it could easily happen to me.

We rushed to the bridge and looked down. And there she was about 12 feet down in a dry creek bed sitting on her butt with her bike few feet away. I was expecting to see a girl with her neck broken or twisted leg or at the very least some blood. But she looked okay. She asked what happened and said she was fine. She was even laughing. Honestly though, seeing how she fell I don't know how fine she really could have been.

The image of her flipping over that guard rail haunted me the whole ride. I think it haunted Neal too because at least once an hour during the ride we would revisit the incident and further try to dissect exactly what had happened and whether the girl was really okay.

After the first few stops it was just Neal and I. We'd typically come up to rest a stop and I'd see Dani pulling away from the stop and Leslie, Felix and Greg getting back on their bikes and heading back out.

I really didn't have any problems or discomfort until around miles 80. I started getting chills and was super hot. I wasn't hungry, thirsty or particularly tired. But in addition to the chills I was starting to feel the beginnings of cramps in my arms and also in my left foot and calf. I noticed that wasn't sweating as much as I had been but felt much hotter. I wasn't sure if this was because the sweat was evaporating or I was getting dehydrated. Admittedly, I was a little worried about heat stroke. I know the warning signs: having experienced heat exhaustion at GA ING 07. However, I also knew that I had had chills on many a hot runs and got through those without further problem.

So I was just riding along; thinking and assessing and I guess I was pretty quiet for awhile. Neal noted this. He tried to chat me up and bring me out of the funk and I told him it was just a bad patch and that I would be fine. Honestly though, I really didn't know. I know in marathons I always have bad patches and so far I have managed to move on and finish strong (Country Music Marathon aside) but a bad patch on the bike was a new one for me. I slowed down a lot. I think we had been averaging 16-17mph. But around this time slowed to about 12-13 mph. It wasn't even particularly hilly at this point. I was also still worried about what Pool Boy had said about the "super long bad hill at mile 91" and that the ride was really 106 miles. Not to mention that I had already used my granny gear on a few occasions just to not fatigue myself on the up hills. I was worried that if I really needed it I might not actually make it the hill. I just couldn't bear the idea of having to walk up a hill this late in the game.

I figured I had about 15 more miles in me but I didn't know how much more. I started getting up out of the saddle and shifting around. Finally Neal suggested we stop and look at our map to make sure we were still on course (we had missed a few turns here and there and had to back track a few times). I knew we were on course but figured he wanted to stop cause I was looking bad. I knew there was a stop coming up at 89 miles and wanted to wait but stopped under Neal's "let's check the map" rouse. It was a good call on his part. It felt really good to get off the bike and stretch for a second. I did contemplate laying on the ground and doing a back bend because I felt like my muscles were recoiling into themselves but worried that I might not be able to actually pull it off. Instead I just leaned back a bit and twisted my spine from the waist. It felt amazing.

We did stop again at the last rest stop around 89 miles and put ice in our bottles. Awesome to drink cold water at that point. I also got my second wind and was feeling great and ready to go longer. After we left the rest stop I started noticing on the street ground markings for "105". Then around 91 miles I saw the 105 markings turn off up a steep hill. Happily, our route went straight and I relaxed realizing Pool Boy had done a different course: a 105 course and it went a different way than ours. With that monkey off my bike I was a new woman.

And then I saw a zebra.

I was certain I was hallucinating so I made Neal turn around so I could take a picture. A guy walked by me and said, "there's a water buffalo too."

I didn't see the water buffalo but there were a total of 3 zebras. I don't think you can see them in the picture. Damn crappy throw away camera with no zoom lens. I tried to get as close as possible but they were way in the back near the trailer. Zebras in a trailer park.
Only in Georgia I guess.

A short while later we were winding through Cartersville's main street area back to the park. Neal reported that he had us at only 97 miles. So we rode 3 more miles to make it a full century. So 100.30 miles at a 15.6 mph avg pace. 6 hours 24 minutes. Woo Hoo!

Great ride! I still can't believe I rode a 100 miles and didn't fall, wreck or get a flat. I feel VERY lucky.

Did not die

Almost bonked though. Had a rough patch around mile 80. Entertained some pretty negative thoughts which irritated me but I rallied and got past it to finish strong.

100.30 miles, 15.65 miles per hour (yes, I am slow poke. But I should note this was a tad faster than my previous longest ever ride of 63 miles. So there is potential that someday? I might, kick ass on the bike. Bwhahahaha) Time was 6 and half hours. Ouch for the boo-Tay. But thanks to Dani for the chamois creme. My girly bits thank you too.

Full report with pictures forth coming. Digital camera got dropped in the pool at swim meet Thursday so I bought a throw away for the ride to record for prosperity. And by prosperity I mean blog.

Thanks to the Mainstay for the advice. I take back about wishing you to be a bridesmaid and hope that it was your big day up in Rome this evening.

And HUGE thanks to Neal for offering and actually riding with me. I had a FABULOUS time. It was great meeting everyone and just was a beautiful ride!

Mayor's Ride

As previously mentioned I did the Roswell's Mayor Ride Sunday Morning. As it turned out the route is pretty much what Steph and I regularly ride--we just do it all mixed up and don't usually do the whole 40 but sometimes we do. So it was both nice that I was comfortable with the route but disappointing because it was nothing new-- as I not only bike the route but I also run it (of course not the whole 40 miles at once though). But having grown up in Roswell I really don't know what I was expecting. I can navigate the area with my eyes closed at this point.

And I worry too much.

It is because I am runner.

I have come to realize that cyclists are a lot more laid back than runners. You know that if I asked 3 random runners before a marathon about the course more likely than not they could accurately answer any of my questions having studied all the nuances of elevations and mile splits and aid stations. Cyclists on the other hand, while they may have a map or cue sheet, are really quite uniformed by comparison. Cyclists. They seem so . . . unconcerned. And I really think it has to do with 2 things: The first is, of course, the spandex. The second is that they just really don't care because why else would they get on bike and ride in traffic? The only thing that matters to them is to not get hit (and I've even seen some that this isn't all that important for either.) All the other details are really just not so important. Ride where? When? Doesn't matter. . .

At the ride start my questions of when we started, how the ride was broken up, was there a sag wagon, were there potty breaks, was there police escorts for the whole ride etc were pretty much met with "I don't know." Either no one really knew or they just didn't want to tell me. I even asked these questions to people I thought were in on the coordinating of the ride but even they weren't sure the of the whats, wheres and whens. For the most part I wasn't so concerned since I know the area extremely well but I am sure for those that didn't it could be a bit unnerving. Getting lost was never an issue for me. Having to ride alone was.

The ride was suppose to start at 8 but we started much later than 8. How much later--I have no idea but I know I got the ride start about 20 til eight. In that time I managed to: park, put on lipstick, put on my gear, lock up my car, ride down to registration, run into Steph and Dagny, chat, pee, and pick up my goodies bag. Then ride back and put it back in my car and ride over to where Steph said she was parked. Chat with Doug and Annika. Pee. Ride down to the Roswell Bikes Tent. Chat with James and have him oil/check my gears. Run into Barbie and her friend. Chat. Then pee (yes, again). Get lined up and eavesdrop on some triathletes. Quickly get bored of their "Oh! You look like a runner. No you do! Well, looks are deceiving . . ." conversation, and because we still weren't starting I go back to the Roswell Bike tent and chat with James some more. Then Mayor Wood is talking --blah blah bikes blah blah blah--I have no idea what you are saying because you are talking through a bullhorn. And then, finally, we are off.

And yes, I have to pee. Again.

And that is all I can think about for about the first 15 miles. And you know the whole time I am cursing that damn waiter from the Mexican restaurant the night before for not putting the salt on my margarita. I swear, at this restaurant, you always run the risk of if you specifically ask for something you will get the exact opposite. (But I am too worried to try asking for what I don't want. That just seems crazy.) So for example, I ask for a "a margarita with salt." And I will get a margarita with no salt. And then when I order a Negro Modelo with a lime and a mug I just get a bottle of beer. I could push it and ask for the lime but that mug I am definitely not getting. Even if I ask 3 times.

Anyway, my body didn't get its extra salt so it had no idea that it was suppose to retain water. Especially since I am not Pmsing. Sigh. I'll just eat salt straight from now on.

The first part of the ride took us around the Crit course. And as much as I tried I know I got no where close to the speeds they clock. And it had nothing to do with the crowd. Then we rode around the square and down Atlanta street--which by the way you will never see me riding on without a police escort-- and then down Oxbo. Then we had to climb that hill up Grimes Bridge. I have no issues with hill climbing since I am so proficient on down hill breaking and often start up a hill with zero momentum but I could see that this hill was not easy for many.

Then we had a big downhill to the river and at the bottom of the hill we hit torn up pavement. This did nothing good for my full bladder. The road is about to be repaved so it is in the "just been scored" stage. I felt like I was in a blender.

The next few miles were flat and down by the river, then up Eve's road and up and down in Martin's Landing and then back out on the scored road. And then much to my relief there was a potty break. Holy Moly! Praise Jesus for all that bike padding.

I had no idea that there would be snacks too! Honestly I am amazed at how much food people eat for a 40 mile ride. I'm not complaining and I did bring stuff but as it was I didn't finish either my 20oz Gatorade or 20oz water. I also didn't finish my Cliff bar. But I am even more terrible at fueling on the bike than I am on the run.

After the potty break I met a girl named Deanne. We seemed to keep pace pretty well with each other and by this point I realized I knew the route we would be taking. There were still police at every intersection and we could easily ride 2 abreast and chat. And chat Deanne and I did.

I was happy that we hit the hills in Wild Wood Spring the way we did. It is much easier that way than the way Steph and I go. In the Edenwilde neighborhood there was another break area but neither Deanne nor I stopped.

The group we were following missed the turn at Saddlebrook which confused me and I called out to them to see if we were suppose to turn. We all turned back and at this point I ran into Speedy who I had met at the Ride to the Capital a few months ago. He and I chatted the rest of the ride and he tried to convince me to hang for the full 65 mile. Another day I promised him and we parted ways when we got to the end of the 40 mile route.

I decided to go see what was going on down at the Crit and see what I scope out for potential seating and if Wes was there yet before driving home. After wasting my time going around the course (on my bike! One foot clipped in scootering with the other) on the sidewalk I finally texted Wes who informed me that he was still at home. Around this time I ran into Speedy and his group and they had gotten lost on the 65 loop. I told them where I thought it went but having never actually ridden it I couldn't say for sure. I think they wisely decided on beer rather than ride. Seriously next time I will be up for a longer ride.

So it was almost noon and I had told Ryan I would be back by then so I went back to my car and then suffered low blood sugar while I stopped at Publix to get lunch. I hate everyone when I am hungry. Mean as a snake I tell you.

I inhaled my lunch when I got home, showered and rushed off to the crit . . .

Historic Roswell Criterium 2008

After I got cleaned up from my ride we packed the car, kids and dog headed to the Roswell Crit. We got there at the end of-- I think--the cat 3 group. Next up was Wes.

Here he is after his race:

I think it was Chris or maybe Darin who told him he needed to race with the pros. To support Tyler--or something like that. I'm not sure how all that works. Tyler, btw, told me my blog was boring. Nevertheless I will refrain from making fun of him even though it would be really easy since he wears all that spandex and compression tights.

Really, I can't help it that my blog is boring. I am a self involved, suburban, stay at home mom that runs marathons, swims and rides her bike. Really, I think you are expecting too much.

Okay, moving on.

Crits are always very exciting to watch and this year there was even a wreck--pretty early on, like the 4th or so lap. I had stopped to snap a picture and then was walking back down the sidewalk when I heard the pile up right behind me. I didn't take a picture of it because I was worried Wes might have been in it. He was luckily in the lead pack and missed it. Colby wasn't so lucky though and while okay was out of the race.

However I didn't know he was out. So when the riders would come around I would yell "Go Colby!" Then qualify it with," If you're in there. Never mind if you are not! Pedal! Pedal! Pedal!" I yelled a lot for Wes and I think he really appreciated it because he was leading with 5 laps to go and then quit.

In his defense he has been sick this past week with the flu.

So here are my pictures I took at the crit with my camera phone. I really couldn't tell what I was taking a picture of so it was all a bit of a surprise what I caught.


This is the corner at Norcross and Canton Street. I think that is Wes in the back. If not it is someone from his team in the black.

This is Wes on Canton Street. #293.

Wes and Darin. I think Darin got 3rd! Yeah Darin.

I don't know.

Again, I don't know. Some guys on a bike. In spandex. They all look the same to me and they are zipping by at 35 mph. Just a suggestion but maybe if you put a little flag or something on your bike or helmet.

We stayed and watched the girls race and yelled for Sarah and Wes's friend Lee who I have met a few times. Not sure how she did.

We left right when the pros started. Wes hung for a few laps and then everyone went to Lala and Pop's for the low country boil.