Originally Posted by
Cricket22
I'm actually 5' even and weigh just under 100 lbs., which I first stated a while back on a thread about concealed carry, of course, not when cycling.
I'm far from skinny. I've gone to almost 110, that's overweight for me, and anyone who saw me at that time would agree. As a woman, excess weight goes right to my hips. To be skinny, I'd have to drop below 95, but at that weight, I don't have the strength or energy to ride. It's a balancing act.
These are people who have probably never ridden a century (100 miles) which is hard enough, and don't understand that we don't ride in pace lines because we like each other, but rather to benefit off each other's draft, thus reducing the effort required to expend by at least 20-40%.
If you can't keep pace, the line drops you quick, and not only have you made the ride that much more difficult for everyone else who was counting on you, but it will be a lot harder, and take you a whole lot longer. I also have the disadvantage of always being the smallest/weakest in my line, so doing whatever I can to minimize that is crucial. There isn't any real need to carry water or anything else -- SAG wagons abound. Even when training, I mean, there are rest areas with water fountains all over the place and Starbucks baristas like it when you leave them your change.
But cross country is the best -- we've cycled Sacramento to Seattle, Miami to Key West, across Missouri, following the route of Lewis and Clark, etc. We stay at other cyclists homes along the way, stealth and 'credit card camp". Meaning, at the end of the day, we find a hotel, and make camp with the act of handing over a credit card. I just bring along my pack mule husband, don't have to carry anything.
Don't know how it is even possible for anyone not to understand that challenging adventures are a huge part of what make life worth living. The joy of accomplishment, the euphoria of reaching the peak, followed by the high of flying downhill, meeting all those new people, and all the sights you'd otherwise miss out on along the way. So much fun, in so many ways.