cyclinfool

Tomorrow is the Greylock century, 100 miles & 10K ft of climbing.
The forecast is for 50% chance of rain. I really set my mind for this challenge but this was a sucky week, the forecast is 50% rain and the whole family is stretched right now.

Looked at the signup - only 73 riders, I would most likely ride this solo - boring.

So I am bailing - I will sign up for a 60 mile club ride in the AM (if no rain) and then spend the afternoon decompressing with the family. Sunday I will shoot for 80 miles.

I have not met my fitness goals for this ride - 5lbs heavier than goal and no hill work since mid June. Life/work just gets in the way.

I am having another average summer, I was so hoping for some more noteworthy accomplishments.

DnvrFox

If you could just get rid of life/work all would be well!!

tsl

If it's any consolation, I'm scaling back as well.

I had a good, strong spring--my best ever. Then I got sick. It'll be a month on Monday, and I'm still coughing up stuff. Oh, and I fell on the stairs Wednesday, skinning both knees and aggravating old injuries to my right ankle and left wrist.

I leave in the morning on my annual cycling vacation in the Rideau Lakes region of southeastern Ontario. I'm taking two bikes--the Portland with its cyclocross tires for the dirt roads and the Litespeed for the pavement. Ordinarily I alternate dirt and pavement days, shooting for 30-40 miles on a dirt day and 70 or so on a pavement day. I'm reducing those goals by half this year.

10 Wheels

9.5 inches of rain this month in 8 days. Hot. Sore tail bone,
Enjoying The TDF this week.

cranky old dude

I sincerely feel badly for you guys. I know the disappointment in disrupted plans and foiled expectations.

Here's hoping the rest of the Summer is kinder to you all.

badamsjr

Like tsl, I was doing well up to the end of May, then caught a bug, and been fighting it since. Mon 7/5 my dad (90 in April) went in the hospital with a systemic infection, low BP, and pretty severe dehydration. Two sisters are in from out of town to help with stuff, so it is a little easier, but riding will have to be put on hold for a little longer.

stapfam

Far better to bail before ride if you are not feeling right. Far better than struggling through the ride or even abandonning during it.

There's always next week- or year- so you won't be missing out.

I am out of sorts right now so No big rides planned- but they will come. So just going out for Pie right now to keep the legs in but if the mood is right- then a few hills are taken in or the milage will go up. Just keep plugging away and the fitness will come back- or the enthusiasm if that is what is lacking.

But what are you doing riding at present- The temp is way high for those long rides- and the TDF is on. Plenty of other things to do- like the gardening- the decorating- the shopping- the ----- Hold on- pull yourself together.

The TDF can be recorded to watch later on and the bike is a good excuse to put those other jobs on hold for the summer.

kr32

That's a shame you are having to bail. Sometimes though when I feel like not doing something but do it anyway I find it wasn't all that bad.( includes cycling and life)
I know I am late and the ride will be starting in a few hours but I think you should have gone. I hear you say riding solo is boring and that could be a bigger part for bailing then I can understand, I ride solo 99% of the time, but 100 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing would seem to me that unless you were riding with a friend who was in the same shape you more than likely would be solo a large part of the time anyway. I could be wrong, probably am, but I think there is some other reason for bailing. Enjoy whatever you end up doing and now you can train for a whole year to lose those pesky 5 lbs and do the Greylock in 2011.

PS...rain would be the deal stopper for me. Hate riding in the rain and playing golf in the rain, the two things I love doing outside.

jppe

I think I figured out a few years ago that July is a great month for me to scale back as well. It gets pretty hot/humid in NC and while riding is still fun it's less enjoyable doing the longer rides in this stuff. At least I have an option of heading up to the mountains and can get in some hill training in a little cooler temps-but like kr32 I still play a little golf and this is a great time of the year to hit the links.


I think Greylock may be the 100 miler my brother has done up your way and he said it was pretty tough-even tougher than some of the rides in our NC mountains due to the roads being more chip and seal. Regardless, it is indeed the type of ride you have to be 100% committed to or it could be very miserable. It must be a really tough one if that few of people have signed up.........

We have some centuries where a small group will ride it before or after the organized ride. We're able to do if there are stores along the way where we can refuel. Is that an option to either do Greylock solo or with a smaller group later by chance?

cyclinfool

Good call on my part - it's raining here now - we are in the middle of the front, where the ride is starting from is on the eastern edge so they will have it all morning and into the afternoon - it will leave us (at my house) at noon at the rate it is moving. I hope every one on that ride is safe, those steep descents on wet busy roads is not my idea of a good time. This morning will be a good time to get a few indoor projects out of the way.