// Nerves of Steel Required
Posted on Monday, September 28th, 2009
So, I’ve always kind of fooled myself into thinking I was one of those distance riders. You know, I’d ride 20 or 30 miles, and think that I was really rocking the distance thing. I mean, sure, they weren’t Tour de France length rides or anything, but they impressed my friends a lot. They were impressed with five miles, though–so maybe they weren’t a good indicator of my distance riding ability. But as a result, I never had to ride any farther, and now the very idea has my nerves totally on edge.
Of course, then there’s the people I know who really are good at the distance riding. The Trusty Boyfriend, for example, and his older brother. Those two will go on 80 mile rides together and try to kick each other’s butts…there’s even a title for the loser: The Wet Sock. Because the loser gets dragged around, right? Like a wet sock. And there’s the joke that always comes after: “I thought I’d be dragging around a wet sock all day, but instead the wet sock dried up and blew away.” As if either of them could have such a terrible ride.
Anyway, I’ve never really ridden more than 30 or 35 miles in one go. I’m so embarrassed to admit this, here on the so-called interwebs for all the world to see. But it’s true. I’m not really a long distance cyclist. But I’d like to be. Maybe.
So this weekend, I’m going with the Trusty Boyfriend, and his sister, to Monetrey. From there we will ride our bikes to Santa Cruz. This journey, according to Google Maps (see below), is something like 43 miles. I’m a nervous wreck. Part of my brain tells me that this is not so much farther than 30 or 35 miles. What’s another 10? But then I realize that those 10 miles are one third of my longest ride ever. So this ride will be 133% the distance of my longest ride. *eeks*
Of course, I’m going to do it. And we have a friend who will be around with a car, so that makes things less scary. I can just call for a ride. But seriously, how embarrassing if I bonk on this ride?!
I’ll keep you all posted.
Looking forward to this; looks like an adventure, a good time, a new experience! Good luck!