We all started out together and did great to the first rest stop. The confounding factor was that I had to do a surgery today but the hospital could not tell me what time I could start and I was not sure if I should do 38 or 65. I called the OR at the first stop about an hour into the ride. They told me to go long.

Jessicas friends were pulling a big group of people. They dropped me on a hill because this annoying little jerk kept coming to practically a complete stop for every bump, pepple, RR track or anything else in the road. Then he would sprint like 30 MPH to catch up. I can't ride like that and I hated it. I really wanted to knock him off his bike and I couldn't get around him. I fell into my own pace and was still doing 19-20MPH. Rode with a very nice guy on an orange bike :) Us orange bikes gotta stick together!!!

Jess was sweet and waited up for me then we caught up at the second rest stop. Called the hospital again and they were still completely not helpful...shocking I know. The rest of the ride I rode with Jess, rode with the orange guy, rode with a group. Whatever. Towards the end the wind really kicked up. I was stuck behind these chicks doing like 16 and it was, making me CRAZY. Finally I went around them with orange guy. The last stretch was on a very busy road and at every intersection those chicks had to zoom past then slow down to 16 ggrrrr. The road is VERY busy tho and I didn't want to wreck going around them. Threw the bike in the car and went straight to the hospital.

Be more aggressive going around slow people. I did well with my fluids but I cut it close. I had 66oz with me. 44oz of efuel and 22 oz of water. There was a big line for water at the second rest stop and I thought my water was still full so I didn't bother....turns out it was just about empty. Luckily I still had 22oz of efuel left. Took 3 gels during the ride.

Threw bike in car and went to the hospital. Did surgery


Not good at hills, wind


It was good. I wish I had known about it sooner but since I was on call I would still have had to sign up the day of. Wish I didn't have that surgery hanging over my head. Jess was sweet to wait for me twice. She totally talked me into the ride

This was my longest ride EVER. I felt really good tho. If I had had the time I would have gone for the century. I did good with nutrition for the distance but I would have needed to re-fuel if I was going further.

I have never riden in a group like that before. IT was an intersting experience. It was fun to meet people and talk to people while riding. I'm not sure how I feel about the group riding thing. The drafting and socializing was nice. The biker people seemed to be on the whole a skittish group. It varied from pack to pack. I am uber careful about cars but the way they crossed streets was very strange to me. I'm not sure I liked it overall. I could have riden for days with orange guy. We were just about equal in ability and he was pleasant to talk to. It was very different.

I was supposed to do a 3.5 hour ride today anyway. Riding 3.5 hours in my neighborhood is about as much fun as riding 3.5 hours on a trainer. I would have wanted to blow my brains out. The time went VERY fast which was nice. I am supposed to ride 4.25 hours next Sunday and I don't know what I am going to do because I don't have anyone to ride with.