decision
Well folks, don’t freak, but I’ve decided to bow out of this endeavor. I rode the first 200k today, and stopped having fun around mile 30. Actually, it depends on your definition of fun: a ziptie popped off my bike at mile .2, so I stopped to make an adjustment, lost the group, and spent 18 miles trying to catch up. That was actually fine; it was reasonably pretty terrain, not terribly hilly, still cool, and not much wind. Aside from the mile or so I spent listening to a cornhusk that was stuck in my rear fender, it was peaceful.
I caught up with a group at the first control (36 miles), which was good, but then the sun really started glaring down on us, and we turned into the wind. And what a wind it was. I saw one man get blown off the road, and I know of at least one other person who was literally pushed into a field by a gust. It was around 30mph, I believe, with higher gusts. And 90 degrees. We tried hard to keep our paceline cranking, but it was hard to stay together. There were spots where we were crawling along at 5mph on the flats. And there weren’t many flats; today’s route was the hilliest of the 3 that the group uses this week.
The upshot of all this is that I spent a lot of time pedaling alone today, and I had a lot of time to really think about what I’ve gotten myself into. I concluded that I wasn’t having fun, I wasn’t looking forward to future rides–even PBP, and hobbies are supposed to be fun. So I decided to bail.
I’m actually very happy with my decision; my only regret is that I feel like I’m letting all of you down. Your support and encouragement have been wonderful, and I thank you. Thanks for riding with me, for emailing and calling to tell me I could do it, and for sending me positive energy. I know I am capable of doing it, but I don’t think that’s quite enough for something like PBP–you have to really want it. And I don’t think I do.
Those of you who are still training and riding and working on your qualifiers–keep at it. It’s worth the effort, at least once.
So I’m headed home in the morning.
Keep the rubber side down, folks.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Lisa, I’m with you. Cycling is and should stay enjoyable. You should be proud of how far
you have pushed yourself and all that you have learned. Good Job! Now come home and relax,,,
May 26th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Lisa - I couldn’t agree more. If a hobby isn’t fun, what is the possible point? Sounds like a good decision. Good for you!
May 26th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Mad props to you for 1) achieving as much as you did and 2) having the courage to say “no thanks” when it wasn’t fun anymore. You rock.
June 20th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
OK, Lisa, time to get back on your pony and ride. Hopefully, after reading about what happened to Ed and Fred last week on the Elite Tour, you are beginning to get the picture about the intensity of any PacTour ‘outing.’ I don’t think you could have picked a more difficult way to cover the brevet series, then back-to-back series with Lon and Susan. Going for your first series and your first 1200 in the same year is a huge honkin stretch for anyone. You are a great rider - you gotta keep at it.
So tell us what’s going on - are you riding again?
dr
June 21st, 2007 at 11:57 am
I know this comment is late to the party, but…
We never seem to give ourselves credit for realizing the INTENT of our goal: the “I know I could continue if I really wanted to….”
Good for you for having a goal. Good for you for getting as far as you did. Good for you for realizing that goals change.
Have fun. Keep riding!