It's Not All Peaches and Cream

Today was my first official Wheelmen ride. It was a "stay together" 30-mile ride. It means no rider gets left behind and the whole group ends up moving as slow as the slowest rider. My first fear in joining a group ride like this is that I would be the slowest rider holding everyone up. Pete and I talked through the route last night. We decided on a strategy for deciding if I could make the full 30 miles, or needed to cut it short. We discussed the lack of consistency in my training and lack of a distance rides recently.

I kept all of that in mind as we drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately, I struggled a bit to fall asleep last night. Which means when the alarm went off, I wasn't jumping out of bed ready for the ride. I got up though and we started to get ready for the ride. I know I'm running slow if I'm still fussing with sunscreen and Pete is making the water bottles. We managed to pull out of the driveway a mere two minutes late. I'll take it!

We arrived at the rendez vous point and signed in for the ride. Pete knows the route, so we didn't look at the maps. We got our gear in order, listened to the pre-ride briefing and then watched the faster groups start out. Cliff asked Pete to sweep, so that meant he'd be at the back of the line. No problem! Someone behind me, if I'm the slowest who I won't be too worried about being too slow for.

We start out and I'm already beginning to think it's hot out. For the record -- it was! At 8 a.m. it was at least 78 already and 84% humidity. "Buck up, Alison! You can't change the weather. Summer is coming. You have to get used to riding in the heat." So, we head out. Cliff, the ride leader, turns left. "Left?!?!? This isn't the route I know, or we discussed, or planned our strategy for." Then I hear Pete say, "Cliff turned left. Hmm... he must be doing the published 30-mile route."

"Ya think? Oh crap! What does that mean I'm in store for? Knock it off! You know what you're doing. Pete will coach you through what you need and tell you when you need to make distance decisions."

My self-pep talk is interrupted by the focus on pot holes and gravel. The road we head out on is under some construction, so it's slow going as we deal with the uneven road and gravel. I learn how to maneuver with someone I don't know in front of me who doesn't point out holes. For what it's worth, there were too many holes to point out (and I wasn't pointing any out to Pete either.)

I'm suddenly ready for some water. Must have gone three miles. Nope! I look down and we've done a mere mile and half and I'm already dripping sweat down my face. I notice two or three people in front of me, and obviously more experienced, grab their water bottles on the fly. I see a stop sign, so I'll get to that point. We stop and Cliff does a pace check. We had been doing about 12 miles an hour. I was doing okay. Occasionally falling a little off the back, but I was unsure of who I was following, so I was giving him some room. The group decides we can pick it up to 13 mph. I don't say anything, but I know I haven't been able to hold that pace before, but I don't want to be the only wimp in the group and maybe the group will keep me motivated to move. So we head off again.

About now, Erica and another rider catch up with us and are gabbing away. Erica used to be Pete's neighbor and we haven't seen her in a couple months, so there's some catching up to be done. Meanwhile, we go up a little incline, I shift once or twice, and I fall off the group a bit. No one says anything and we keep on trucking. I just keep pedaling, but the group gets further and further ahead. "Okay, you'll catch up at that intersection ahead. Then you have to work to stay on the group."

As luck would have it, the group continued through the intersection. Thankfully, Pete knows the route. So, we head through the intersection, make the right and the immediate left. "Oh no! Look at that hill! The group is almost at the top. It'll take me awhile to catch them now." Meanwhile, Erica and the other gal are gabbing away. I'm already gasping for breath! "How are they talking like this when we have to use our energy to get up this hill?!??!" I know they'll pass me going up the hill, but I just have to keep going, keep pedaling, keep shifting and I can do it.

Suddenly. . . I can't do it! I have to stop. I can't breathe. This is where I should mention I've been fighting off a cold, or allergies, or a sinus infection all week. I felt better on Thursday, but Friday night was all stuffed up again, and this morning I am too. I stop without saying a word. I couldn't talk! But, I put myself as far to the side in the grass as I could. Pete quickly tells Erica to catch up with Cliff and not worry about us. He stops in middle of the hill with me. Gasping for breath, I drink some water, then tell him to go ahead and meet me at the top of the hill. I have to walk it. So, I start hoofing it up the hill. Then my right calf starts to try to cramp. I keep stretching it out and won't let it, but finally jump back on the bike for the last little bit so I change the movement in my leg. Now I'm worried! It's too early to be cramping. I hook up with Pete and notice I have another hill and not only is the group out of sight, but so is Erica already!

"Uncle! I can't do another hill like that already. And I have no idea how many more of these are ahead." Pete talks me through our options as I'm staring wide-eyed at the hill. I admit to the hint of a cramp and we decide it's smarter to head closer to the vehicle and ride on the flatter, more known route for me today. My head is pulsing with every heart beat. I'm hot and down-right miserable. But now I feel like a wimp. I had no idea how quickly the humidity would get to me and how it would effect me. I had been a bit cocky about how much I could go out and do after we haven't been out for a ride like this in a month. But, I was giving in at less than six miles!

We go back down the hill. What a nice break. But, I'm moving so fast, I feel shaking in my bike that I'm not used to. My shoulder was already a little sore and now I'm feeling it on the bike. We turn to go down the highway and oh look -- a hill. "Slow and steady and you can do it!" I tell myself. Sure enough, I make it up this little one. I decided to make the most of the ride and started playing with the gears on some of the little ups and downs. I was trying to play with it enough so I could finally remember which number corresponds to the big ring and the little ring and regardless of if it's the big, or little, ring which number on the handle bars is best for getting me up those hills!

We get near the parking lot and Pete mentions it's a right turn. "No kidding! Thank you! We're not going to try to go further." At this point, I know I could pedal further if I needed to, but I'm broken and don't really want to. This is a first for me. Meanwhile, both of my feet feel a bit sore, my shoulders are tight, I've been leaning on my hands, so my palms are sore and my head is pounding and throbbing still. We get to the truck and I jump off my bike. I'm in my sneakers and my feet hurt just to walk in the parking lot. Good sign that I've had enough. We did a measly nine miles today. Oh well... this was a humbling and learning experience. I need to get consistent and serious about this biking. I can't just jump on the bike and ride 30 miles (not to mention the 95 I'll have to do in October.)

Pete offers air conditioning and I take it. I jump in the truck while he loads the bikes. I grab the Gatorade and finish it. I finish the water. My eyes are stinging and feel all puffy. I look in the mirror and my face is bright red! Even I'm shocked at how red my face is. I mention that I now truly see the value in shoes for the help the shoes and clips give to getting you up a hill! Pete offers a trip to Bike World. Perfect! So we head out. I decide to wet my handkerchief and put it on my eyes to try to ease the stinging. It works, but I'm still red and hot!

While stopped at a light Pete says "I still love you," leans in for a kiss and grabs my hand. Simple words that meant so much! I felt like a total wimp and was worried that he wasn't getting the mileage, speed, or training that he needs, and like I'd let him down. And here he is, still proud of me and doesn't put me down, and encourages me to keep on trying. This little moment went a long way!

So, we get to Bike World right as they open. Tom greets us with a smile and after a quick hello, we're shopping for shoes. He understands what I need and listens to me when I tell him how each shoe fits. We quickly discovered that I am a size 40 (not 39 like the guy in Dallas wanted to keep me in) and that the Sidi brand doesn't fit me right. I settle on a pair of Shimanos, which luck would have it, are white with blue accents. Pete goes to get my bike. Tom goes to put the cleats on my shoes. Together they get my bike on the trainer and new pedals on my bike, while I shop the clothing.

They didn't have a lot of shorts in stock. I only have the capri pants, and if they had shorts, I wanted to try them. But, they do have a blue jersey in both a 3X and a 4X. I decide to try those on. The 4X is comfortable, breathable, and roomy enough. The 3X is too and I think will last me longer as I drop some inches. Plus, this one is a much lighter weight fabric than what I had on for the heat and humidity today.

I head over to the bike and put on my new shoes with cleats. Then I climb up on the stand and get on the bike. I clip in fairly easily and immediately notice a difference in how the bike fits. Wow! It pedals differently too. I like it already. I clip in and out a few times and decide I'm good. Pete mentions the fit and I say the seat feels different now. Tom adjusts the seat a couple times and now it feels better. Now I'm ready to go try my new shoes, pedals, cooler jersey and go for it again.

We head back to the ride start and hook up with the group just as they're all loading up their bikes. A group of five of us go to lunch and I get to talk to some women about cycling. It was good. They have nothing to gain from me continuing or quitting and they said nothing but encouraging words. They had nothing negative to say about me giving up so early in the ride today. I was touched and encouraged.

It was an emotional day, but a learning lesson and a humbling day. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's ride with friends. It's usually a slower pace and I'm ready for that. I can use the pace to my advantage as I deal with the shoes and clips now too. We're going to ride our "normal" flat route and try to take the gang on the 21-mile loop (only 3 miles of which I haven't ridden before.)

Goals
Today's Miles: 9
Total Miles Achieved: 99.3
Financial Investment: $815.16 (added shoes, cleats, pedals, and summer jersey)
Total Weight Loss: 0