Originally Posted by
volosong
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However, something happened to me emotionally. Never in my life, after thousands and thousands of miles on a bicycle, have I had to have someone come and fetch. Since that fateful August day, I've gone on exactly four rides, two of them pleasure rides with Jane. The latest and longest was just this past Saturday, at slightly more than twenty miles in length. And at that, I had to force myself to get out. I didn't want to go, but told myself that I absolutely had to get out there and start riding again....
I can sympathize with this. Last year I rode in the Atlanta Tour de Cure that ended miserably. At about 75 miles it began raining in earnest and at 80 it was hellish. Winds like I'd never been outside in. It was dark and the rain so heavy that I couldn't see the route markings, having no idea where to go I backtracked and came across a couple of guys waiting in the lee of a big tree. They said that the course had been closed because of tornado reports so I waited with them there for a sweep truck. Like you I never expected that to happen. It felt like a cold and miserable fail, and emotionally I still have no desire to repeat the event this year.
Other rides though, I realized that the fun hadn't gone out of them. I'd guess that if you don't think about building up to that ride again, or of anything as similar rides, that the emotional impact will be lessened. I just had to get out and ride. If it was only 15 miles fine, or if I felt like going 50 after a bit that's what I did. Or sprints and hills, whatever but once you're on the bike it's all good.