Fifty Plus (50+) - 50 miles is a piece of cake!

We did it! We completed the ride. It was a spectacular day in every way. I am preparing a ride report and photos and will post them when they are ready.

Thank you all so very much for your encouragement, help, advice and cheers. This was a day I'll never forget.

More later....

Jen

Congratulations! Now go for 55, then 60, then 65. And before you know it, a century!!!

Ride On!
-Spoke

Well done. Are you sure it's not a piece of pie?

:D:D:D
:beer:

We knew* you could do it.

MMMMM pie, I mean, cake. Well done! :)

Congratulations! Well done.

Well done, Yen. You supported the memory of the officer, and you scored a personal accomplishment as well.

:beer:

Nice indeed! Congratulations on a fine personal accomplishment!

There's a jersey representing you in the matchup post. Now you know which one it is.

Hi,

Nice! :)

Thank you all so much!

Spoke: "Ride on!" are the exact words that came to mind after we were back home. I don't know where they came from, it's just how I felt. :)

Jet Travis: Pie! Pie! Why yes, it was easy as pie! :)

Maddmaxx: My legs feel OK but my brain must be dead. Where is the match-up post?


Question: Does tomorrow call for an easy recovery ride, or just rest? I guess it depends on how my knees feel....I need to ice them again tonight. I'm off on Monday so perhaps we should wait until then...... what's a general rule of thumb?

Thank you all so much!

Spoke: "Ride on!" are the exact words that came to mind after we were back home. I don't know where they came from, it's just how I felt. :)

Jet Travis: Pie! Pie! Why yes, it was easy as pie! :)

Maddmaxx: My legs feel OK but my brain must be dead. Where is the match-up post?


Question: Does tomorrow call for an easy recovery ride, or just rest? I guess it depends on how my knees feel....I need to ice them again tonight. I'm off on Monday so perhaps we should wait until then...... what's a general rule of thumb?

Moved to the top of the pile, just for you. Congratulations.

:) I like it!! :)

Great news! Not surprising, we all knew you could do it! Now don't you feel right proud???

Congratulations!

Congrats. Well Done!!!!
:beer::beer:

DG: I don't think it has sunk in yet. Maybe tomorrow when I can't get out of bed.....:eek:

Congrats! Just think, 25% more and you have a Metric Century!
I'd do a short ride, even if it's just around the block.

Congrats!

I'd concur, do a short tide, just to keep the knees from stiffening up.

Easy recovery ride tomorrow. Just to spin the legs out and shake out some of the lactic.

Congratulations, although no one here had any doubt.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/BigGroupHugs.gif

Way to go, Yen!

I knew you'd feel this good at the end of the ride! I'm happy for you!

I agree with cgallagh (of course :D); take an easy spin tomorrow and bask in the glory of your accomplishment.

:beer:

That's great!

Reflecting on it tomorrow will make you giddy! Likewise for a month from now. And maybe even a couple of years from now, even if you have ridden much further by then.

Congratulations!

Not only a memorable ride, but ridden for a memorable man.
In Memory of Officer Randy Simmons - Los Angeles Police Department

Nice going. I think you have the fever now.

Question: Does tomorrow call for an easy recovery ride, or just rest? I guess it depends on how my knees feel....I need to ice them again tonight. I'm off on Monday so perhaps we should wait until then...... what's a general rule of thumb?

Get out on the bike tomorrow- even if you feel dead. Just turning the legs will get some movement back into any stiff muscles but do not find any 15% hills to attack. just a gentle ride in a lower gear but keep spinning to normal cadence.

Then again- if you feel fine- do another 50- just to prove it was not a fluke yesterday.

Well done on the ride and whens the Metric? No training needed for that one now.

Told ya so. A real tribute to your fallen friend. Way to go.

Isn't that feeling of accomplishment great!!! :) :) :)

Congratulations!! Can't wait for the pics! Seems like it was just the other day you were fairly new to this, and now-50 miles-the biking bug has bitten for sure.

Congratulations! What a great tribute.

Well done. You participated in an important event and you demonstrated to yourself that the next step (e.g. metric or regular century) will not be as daunting as it seemed.

Well done Yen. 50 mile ride will be an ordinary ride for you from now on. Next for you is a century and you have done half of it so far.

Great going Yen, metric century coming up, congratulations:beer:

Congratulations to both you and your husband.:beer:

Congrats and well done!

Yen, roadfix posted a picture in the SoCal forum. Is that you and your husband on the right? And is that tombunn and alicestrong in the center?
Good job, btw.

Congrats!

Really, really proud of you and for you Yen!!!

What a great day. I'm sure the range of emotions were just incredible. The adrenaliine of the big day, the doubt of being unsure of going much further than you've ever been, getting to the half way point and saying, heh-I still feel pretty good, getting within 10 miles and seeing it's within your reach, conquering that last hill and not to mention the feelings and emotions from the whole reason for the event.

I really enjoy hearing ride reports like these........keep pedaling!!!

Thank you all so very much! Your words mean so much to me, and have carried me along these past 11 months since I bought my bike.

My knees were a little sore last night so I took 1 aspirin at bedtime. I feel terrific this morning, like yesterday was just a typical day around the house. I can hardly believe that. It will be 1 year next month since I bought my bike and I could not have imagined doing yesterday's ride -- especially that hill at the end.

Every first long group ride should be like this one. Full police escort the entire route, people honking their horns and cheering, perfect riding weather, a large group of skilled riders, good support, nice people, everything one could hope for on a first group ride.... on any group ride.

I'm trying to find the best way to share the report and the pictures. I'm composing a long report of the details of this very special ride for a very special man, and I'll post it here sometime this morning.

big john: Yes, that's us! We really enjoyed riding with them. They are good riders.

So how did the hubby do? And how is he this morning?

Helping Yen out a little here-borrowing from another post:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/jppe/Yen.jpg

Tom, he did great (thanks for asking). His legs didn't hurt last night at all, and he said he feels great this morning. He's a bit older than I am but seems (and looks) much younger than his age. I am so proud of him for his willingness to do this and to participate in what's become one of our favorite togetherness activities. His legs just never seem to be fatigued! He rode the Trek yesterday for its lower gears (anticipating the hill at the end -- did I mention that the hill was at the end of the ride??? :eek:) and more upright posture for his shoulder (he has an artificial shoulder joint).

We agree that lighter bikes would certainly make the ride easier.... but I think we've proven that a heavy hybrid can take you anywhere you really want to go. :) I am planning to call around today and see if any of the LBSs have any of the bikes on my list in stock so I can start riding them. I love my Cypress and will keep it, but I do need a bike that fits me better. If Hubby can find a road bike that gives him a more upright posture and a smooth ride for his shoulder, he'll seriously consider it.

Thanks jppe. Yep, that's me on the far right, then Hubby (note the 50+ jersey), then Alice (alicestrong), and Tom (tombunn).

BTW, Tom finished his first century last Saturday (Tour de Palm Springs). Way to go Tom !!!

Jen, it was a great pleasure meeting and riding with you and your husband.... and congratulations on completing your 50 miler! :)

Thank you, George. It was a pleasure meeting you too. Thanks for hanging back with us, you're a strong rider and I guessed you could have kept up with the others. I hope we can ride together again.

George rode a nice single... I'll include a shot in my pics. :)

Good job. Yen! A good mental attitude goes a long way to making any ride enjoyable. Often it is the mind that defines the limits of what is possible. Physical training can make the ride easier or faster but without a positive outlook it may not be possible at all. Again, good job and keep pushing your limits.

Here's roadfix... of all the bikes I saw I think I liked his best. Chocolate brown frame, tan bar tape, brown Brooks saddle, and the nice bag on the back. I'm convinced that bullhorns will be on my next bike.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc36b3127cceb57cb75b57aa00000036108Eas2TVu4c-

BikeWNC: Yes, a good mental attitude is absolutely essential. The muscle I've developed from training helped, but the self-talk on the hill made the difference for me personally. I remember the surge when my mind decided I would do it, and I pushed.

BikeWNC: Yes, a good mental attitude is absolutely essential. The muscle I've developed from training helped, but the self-talk on the hill made the difference for me personally. I remember the surge when my mind decided I would do it, and I pushed.

Awesome!