This was the second ride that Sally & I participated in since the end of our winter season...the first was the Cinderella Ride two weeks ago with some of our TNT teammates. We have been lucky to have each other as ride partners, since our riding style, humor, commitment and tenacity are similar...we have fun!
I needed to post the caution tape picture, since it was upgraded with the white paper for my benefit. In classic Lisa style, I came very close to clothes-lining myself while riding in to registration on my bike...haha! I was busy looking around for friends in the parking lot...as Sally just watched as I rolled up on it quickly...yikes...thanks Sally! I slowed and ducked under but it was almost an embarrassing & funny way to start the day:)
The first part of the ride was moderate and relaxed,into the first SAG stop. Heading out towards Morgan Territory was where our challenges began. This was Sally's first ride through the area...and she had her reservations about the decent. We paced ourselves since it was becoming warmer than we were used to riding in...us winter team riders aren't used to heat yet...haha!
By the last hill on Morgan Territory...I dropped my chain and Sally's was throwing up (a bonk/heat exhaustion combo was hitting her)! However, we corrected our problems and kept riding without hesitation into the second SAG...it was less than a quarter mile further. We took our time at that SAG to get Sally feeling better. I am so proud of her...at no time did she consider quitting...her mental game has improved! This was a good learning experience for both of us...for me getting her through the situation and for her, the understanding of what it feels like to go through something like this...its another experience to help us be more effective in our roles this summer season with TNT.
Sally did well on her decent, although she hated it...not a surprise! Heading through the Highland area, we were feeling the heat...big time! It was reported that it had hit 90 degrees! Big difference from the 40 and 50 degree weather we trained in through the winter. It was a struggle for my already re-bounding ride partner...but we took it easy.
It was a beautiful ride in spite of the early challenges. We meant a lot of really nice cyclist along the way. I was the GPS for us and eventually a few other riders...one lady joined us after getting lost and riding an additional 10 miles! It was a longer day than we planned but we had a good ride and would definitely do the ride again next year.
