MAK

THE HISTORIAN made a great point. They waited for you and worked with you. Sounds like a great group. Most clubs that post rides give contact numbers for ride leaders. Next time feel free to call the leader and ask about hills. Also remember that there is no problem or disgrace leaving the ride and making the left to go back rather than making the right. Just let the leader know. I'd bet that one of the experienced riders might likely make that left with you to make sure you get back in good shape. This happened to me on my first 30 miler when I tried to keep up with the roadies on my hybrid. I was embarrassed to be accompanied home via a shortcut and when I got off the bike I felt like my legs were made of rubber. Then I realized what a great group I'd joined. I'm still not in the best of shape (it's tough to start cycling in your mid 50's) but I now love leading slow family friendly rides that cater to new and inexperienced riders.

I would stick with the group and talk to them about other rides they do. Good luck.

genejockey 

It sounds like bonking and/or dehydration. I never go on a ride anymore without an energy bar. I almost never eat it, but it's there, just in case. Also, cell phone, ID, and money - enough to buy something to drink, for example. Yesterday, I used both the money AND the energy bar!

It's nice that the group waited for you at the hilltops. The downside to that, of course, is that when you get there, and really need a rest, they're raring to go, having rested all the time they waited for you!

One thing that I did when I started riding longer distances was to study maps of the county I live in, and when driving, take the occasional turn down a road I hadn't driven before. That way, I found a number of short cuts that let me, for instance, shave 4 miles off my return trip the day I had a flat at the turnaround point, and needed to get home quicker. You can also use this to put together longer, more varied rides, or as in this case, you might choose to head home via a shortcut, rather than riding with them all the way.

shog

Sounds like a great group to ride with. I've been left in the middle of nowhere before. You had a good learning experience. There's no shame in having to bail, you did ride a personal best so you should be very proud of that. It does sound like you bonked, remember us large folk are working harder than the "sticks" especially when climbing and it's very important to stay hydrated and fed. Everyone bonks and everyone has to bail. I bailed and was helped two years ago when I was stung multiple times by a hornet that flew down my jersey. I've never had a reaction before but it was a hot day and I was probably dehydrated and it was an instant bonk.

Shog

Hoz

Hikers maxim, "every down down is followed by an up up."

I probably would have stopped at the Buddist Center. All that good karma (and cool water) will heal your body, mind and soul. Not to mention someone there certainly would have given you a ride back to town.

I consider the "leader" of that ride to be in error. Is this the way it is in cycling? Pressure the weaker participants to either keep up or be left behind?

Congrats for surviving.

Terrierman

+1. I could not give a small crap how it looks, but I do like comfort. I prefer to let my bike be my camel, rather than my back. Carry a couple of big bottles and don't be afraid to stop and fill them up. Water is good, water is fine, water is essential to life. But when you are physically exerting yourself and sweating like a pig like me, you need replacement electrolytes and replacement carbohydrates too. Gatorade works for me, others hate it and want something different. Find out what works for you and use it. Hydration and fuel for the muscles makes all the difference on a long ride, and of course what constitutes a long rides varies for all of us. Those gel shots are a gift from the heavens when you need them, as is a Clif bar. I cannot seem to eat solids while riding, but goo is no problem, just need to drink with them too.

jaxgtr

Your right on the comfort level on the Camelbak, I have a larger one and that is strickly used for hicking or when I am in a more verticle position. My small 70 oz version works really good for my road or hybrid.

lil brown bat

I concur with what others have said about hydration and fuel and not trying to double your previous max distance in one day. I'd also add that although it is a group ride, you need to take the attitude of looking after yourself, in every particular, start to finish. A lot of people come to group activities rather underprepared to deal with eventualities, out of some vague belief that surely "someone" has thought of all that. Maybe so...maybe not. Best not to assume. The ride leader could be the most responsible person in the world, but it could also be the norm with these rides that everyone comes with all the water, fuel, and whatever they'll need to do the entire ride without stopping. From the perspective of preparation, you need to treat a group ride like a solo ride, and carry what you need to go the distance.

chinotex

Joe,

After graduating from college, where I played rugby all four years, I joined up with a local men's club. Their website said "all players of all skill level welcome." So I went, played for two weeks, and then one day during practice we did this drill, and I nearly passed out. I messed the drill up because my group was one man short, so the whole practice came to a halt. I left after that practice, and never went back.

And now, four years later, I don't think I could ever play rugby again, and I regret it. That probably wouldn't be the case if I had gone to practice the day after my "disgraceful" end.

One of the guys on the team emailed me a few days later and asked where I was. I never replied to him, and that was the end of rugby for me for now, unfortunately (God Willing, I'll get back to it some day).

Get back on the horse! Don't let it get you down!

Wogster

Always plan for 1L per hour, add 50% more if the temp is above 30C(86F), double it if the temp is above 40C (104F). That means if your average speed is 12MPH, and your going 25 miles at a temperature of 90F you need at least 2¼ hours worth of water, or just under 3½L (roughly 114 ounces). One thing to remember though, is that water is heavy, 1L weighs 1kg, so our water supply would weigh almost 3½kg or nearly 8 pounds.

I have a camelbak, I don't always use it, but for longer rides I do, most bike bottles are ½L or ¾L capacity, where as camelbaks are 2L or 3L capacity. However that puts the water on your back, which isn't always the best place for it. Some of the flavoured waters can also taste better with the CB.

Now, here is another solution, if you have a rear rack, you get a 2L pop bottle, when it's empty, you fill it with water, about ¾ full, and put it in the deep freeze, over night, with the cap left loose. Now in the morning you have a block of ice, top it off with water, and put the cap on tight. Lash this to your rear rack, and carry your two regular bottles filled as well. When you hit a rest stop, you fill your regular bottles from your pop bottle. It will thaw as you go, so by the time your bike bottles are empty, it should have a good amount of water inside it. A trick is to learn how to grab a bottle, drink and reinsert it, without taking more then a slight glance at it.

One bottle will be easier to get to, then the other, so if you know the easier to get one, is getting low, swap them at a stop sign or traffic light.

Blue Jays

Wogsterca, one of my favorite techniques is to similarly freeze a CamelBak bladder that has been 3/4 -filled with water and has a lemon/lime Elixir (electrolyte enhanced hydration tablet) dissolved in it. It is cool against the back and guarantees chilled water for many hours.

I do the same thing with extra-large Specialized waterbottles, but the smaller blocks of ice don't last quite as long. The CamelBak solution is only used during mountainbike rides away from water sources or on incredibly hot roadrides.