2019 TN
Lydia's Ride Report- I don't want to admit I failed as I bawled to my sister on the phone pushing my bike up the last steep section on my 4th mountain climb of the day. My amazing sister who answered my call even while vacationing in HI said, "You are not a failure! You ridden over 140 miles in a strong headwind and climbed 4 mountains!" (She had been watching my spot tracker all day.) "Lydia! This ride doesn't define you as a cyclist or athlete. It isn't your be all and end all ride!" As she was boarding a plane to hop islands she said to call her back when I got to my next control. My scapular region were no longer in shearing pain so I hopped back on my bike. In my mind the control was close and each mile in the continued headwind and even more climbing now that was in the dark chipped away at my spirit. I ran so many calculations on how I could still finish on time. I got my card signed. I was over an hour late. I slide down the side of the gas station as the owner locked the doors and switched the lights off. It was the first time I had sat all day. Every control I was in and out in 10 minutes or less. DNF. It's any cyclist favorite words. DNF. It's demoralizing. DNF. It would be my first ever as I enter my 4th year of ultra distance cycling. Here I sat in the dark in the middle of a small town of top of a mountain ridge in the middle of nowhere in GA, the furthest point from my hotel in TN unwilling to accept my fate. I was disappointed in myself of all of about one hour as local cyclist and lyft driver drove me back and not too far into our commute traffic on the highway slowed about 25 mph as the skies opened up and torrential downpour brought a wicked thunderstorm. HA! Not disappointed at all, nope no regrets. As I got out of the car at the hotel I started shivering. The temp had dropped to 35F and that strong southerly headwind was now coming from the north. Yup, no regrets. I knew this ride would be hard: 256 miles, 16500 feet of climbing, 8 climbs, 7 mountain, 6 ridges and unfavorable weather. BUT I still showed up (DNF is better than DNS ;) ) If I always focus on not failing then I'll never reach new heights and always stay in a zone of mediocrity. Rest in comments! I can't fear failure. I'm choosing to stand tall. I'm damn proud riding 140 miles, with 4 mountain climbs totaling 11,000 feet of climbing in a 20 mph headwind. Like my sister said DNF doesn't define me as a cyclist. It forces to me to work through my issues and come out even stronger on my next rides!
Lydia after DNF story- "I almost died on a mountain ridge" is how my husband explained his ride at the TN 400k. When I DNF at mile 140, Steve and three guys from Chicago/WI area where 30 miles ahead of me. As they climbed the 6th mountain for the day they got soaked with a slow passing thunderstorm. That storm reversed the wind creating a now north 20 mph headwind for them with temperatures now rapidly dropping into the 30s. After the final climb after midnight they were now transverse across a 2000 foot high mountain ridge through a barely inhabited community. I drove to the last control and parked the truck around 1 am. I curled up under a blanket and fell asleep immediately. I was anticipating being woken by the guys in a short time. At 2 am a very bright light was shinning in my door window. I walked outside to find a cop shinning a flashlight in my face rapid firing questions at me. Apparently being parked in front of a closed gas station at 2 am is great cause for alarm. He didn't believe me that my husband and friends would being riding their bikes at this time of night and in this weather! HA! Why do you think I DNF at mile 140 officer. Luckily, I had my cue sheet and brevet card and he deemed that sufficient evidence to believe my story. Since I didn't have any warrants out for my arrest he "Let me go". Sitting back in the truck, I grew even more anxious I hadn't seen the men yet. After sleeping another and still no sign of them I decided to go look to make sure they were ok. I found them about 10 miles out and yelled words of encouragement. They asked if they could warm up in the truck for a minute. They crammed into the truck and I cranked up the heat. Looking back every single of them was showed signs of hypothermia. I helped some take their gloves off as their fingers were so cold they couldn't move them anymore. The signs for hypothermia are massive shivering, mumbling, slurred speech, lack of coordination, confusion, drowsiness, and bright red skin. While some of those signs can be attributed riding over 200 miles with insane elevation much of those are not especially the bright red skin. The mayo clinic states someone with hypothermia usually isn't aware of their condition because the symptoms come on so gradually and the confused thinking prevents self awareness and can lead to risk taking behavior. Two of the men decided to end their ride. One already had a 400k and the other said he can ride another. Steve and Mark decided to move on. While the wind and temperatures hadn't changed they were at least drier than a hour before. As Steve and Mark set out again the rest of us drove back to the control and then the hotel. We watched the clock very closely and were ready to look for them again if they hadn't arrived at a time we felt appropriate. I am so incredibly proud to call you my husband, my friend, and my gym and cycling buddy! Of the over 20 people that were suppose to show up and the 5 that braved the predicted weather conditions only two preserved to the end. You have always been a strong cyclist but in the last few years your mental toughness and strength have grown tremendously. I love you so much! “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary
Steve's Ride Report- "I almost died on a mountain ridge.” I answered after a co-worker asked how my weekend went. To be fare I was exaggerating a bit. But if we did not have the energy to keep our legs churning away into the 35 degree head wind at 2AM after getting soaked by the evening’s rain storm, body temperature would certainly drop, and hypothermia would have set in. The ridge crossed into Tennessee from Alabama with nothing but a tiny commercially void community sitting in the middle of the 2000’ high 25 mile winding road. That was the toughest time I’ve ever had out on a bike. The company was a blessing. We were all cold, sticking with each other, keeping pace, and making light of the situation. I was extremely grateful to have those 3 guys with me that early morning. I may have given up and called for help otherwise. And I can’t complain that I didn’t know what was coming. The organizer told us 5 days in advance we would see head winds, rain, and cold . Even he decided not to brave the ride. There were only 5 of who started that morning, wife gave up after struggling to make up time after battling 140 miles by herself. Two others could not go on any further even after warming up 220 miles in. Of the twenty people initially interested in riding what is considered one of the most difficult 400ks in the country, only Mark Harrison and I finished. Beside the beautiful scenery at the top of the seven 1000’ climbs, the real treat was the welcoming party at the hotel.
photos Coming soon ....... at least before 2020 ; )