JimmyNH

Hey Rick,
Bummer bro, hope you feel better. I guess you should cut down on your biking.
Did you see all the bítchíng on Planet Ultra's web site about the DNFs? Is it dedicated to you too? I'm quite surprised that lady still gets people participating in her events.

Curbendo

Were the potholes in that last stretch of Ballard after the right turn I missed, or were they earlier and I was just lucky to avoid them?

Rick@OCRR

Yes Jimmy, I saw it, but it didn't apply to me. I had the wind, rain and cold all covered. I was warm and cozy and would have finished if not for this horrible pinched nerve problem.

Plus, I should have been riding more, but was off the bike for ten days in Feb. (in the U.K. and New Jersey) and a week in March (Taipei, Taiwan for the Bike Show). It was all for work, so I really didn't have a choice, but still, it really cut into my cycling training time.

No worries though, I'll try again on the Hemet double in 3 weeks. I've been to Saralie once (yesterday) and have another appointment scheduled in a week. She did an excellent adjustment on my back, plus gave me "homework" to do: stretches, icing my back, rolling on my foam cylinder, etc.

So, I am hopeful and somewhat confident that it will all be good by Hemet!

Rick / OCRR

alicestrong

Sounds like a rough deal all around, Rick...You still inspire me!

Rick@OCRR

Thanks Alice,

The "rough deal" was from about mile 150 (Guadalupe checkpoint) to mile 170 (Los Alanos checkpoint) where I officially DNF'd. I kept telling myself "I can ride through this pain!" Eventually, though, it just got to be too much; plus my body's alignment problem kept the bike pulling toward the right side ditch, so I was fighting to keep the bike straight too.

So yes, that bit really sucked. However, big picture, I had a pretty fun 150 mi. My wool baselayer / balaclava / socks (plus full shoe-covers) kept me warm, my rain jacket kept (most of) the rain off, plus I had knee warmers on under my leg warmers, comfy bib-shorts, so I was a happy camper until the pinched nerve thing bit me.

Saralie is a wonderful chiropractor and she helped me a lot yesterday, so as long as I do the "homework" she's assigned, I should be all good to go by Hemet! Saralie's office is in Santa Monica and I totally recommend her if you need any chiropractic work done!

Rick / OCRR

DanteB

Most of the roughest road was coming off of Foxen. There was a few on Ballard, but I was able to miss them.