Carol’s Episode of “Lost”

Last night I did the InsideOut Sports (IOS) group training ride. Sort of. It was more of an epic fail ride. I ended up riding solo and getting lost in Cary, and it was sheer terror trying to get back before darkness fell. Note to self: Stick with the group if I do the IOS ride!

I couldn’t decide what title to give this post. After reading this story, please scroll back up here and vote – you can even add your own title. 🙂

Here’s the whole story:

I wasn’t quite sure if my sore legs would perform today, so I stashed the course map in my pocket, just in case I got dropped. I did get dropped. And miserably lost. I ended up riding 8 extra miles. Here’s the path I rode.

Map Key:
Green: actual path I took.
Purple: parts of the plotted course I missed.
Orange: where I went off course.
A-I: critical points in the ride, see below…

A. Up to this point the ride is easy, and the group stays together. This is a weird little part of the course where you have to get off your bike, carry it past a construction barricade and across railroad tracks. A little bit after this point, the “A” pace group takes off. Man, they took off fast tonight! I was near the back of the entire group, or so I thought. There were two riders behind me, who were not picking up their pace. I hammered it… but no way could close the gap. I glanced at my computer and was going 26mph on a flat. My heart rate was 175. Holy crap! No way in hell I can catch them. I wanted a hard training ride, and there didn’t seem to be a solid “B” group, so I decided to shadow the “A” group, and do my prescribed workout: two 16 minute Zone 4 efforts, with 10 minutes of rest in between. This was going great! I looked at my hr several times, and it was in the mid 160 range. I kept the “A” group in sight for a long time. Fear of getting lost really helped motivate me to work hard and get my heart rate up to Zone 4. And my trashed legs were cooperating with my hard effort.

B. Things were going great. I could still see one lone straggler from the “A” group at this point. However, I was surprised when he turned right. I had thought this turn should be a left. My 16 minute tempo effort was almost done, so I stopped here and pulled out my map. I was out of breath, and not quite thinking straight. I misread the map, and was still sure it was supposed to be a left turn. While I was stopped, about 8 riders blew past me. I recognized them as some of the IOS group. Crap, there WAS a “B” group! They also turned right. I put my map away, clipped in and started riding.

C. I chased the “B” group for a couple minutes. Dang, they were already too far ahead and riding fast. No chance of catching them, especially after the 16 minute hard effort I just put in (on already dead legs). I thought I better follow the map, so I turned around and rode south. I started riding easy here, for recovery.

D. When i got to the bridge over Jordan Lake, I knew something was wrong. There were no bridges on the prescribed route. Crap! I stopped and looked at the map. Then I realized my mistake and wished I had kept following the “B” group. I could have probably at least kept them in sight. I briefly considered continuing south all the way to I-64, then taking that up to NC-55 and staying on all the main roads back to IOS. I had no idea how ridable that was, so decided to turn around, and just retrace my steps backwards. At this point I decided to do another hard tempo set. I rode hard for 16 minutes. Felt good, but I did not get my heart rate up quite as high as when chasing the “A” riders. After that, I decided to ride as fast as I could without killing myself, for I was beginning to worry about making it back in time.

E. This section of the course is very confusing, even while following a group. Alot of roads named ‘Green Level Something or other’. I followed strange twists and turns, some of which are not yet on the map. I got completely lost, and ended up on a dead end road called Morrisville Parkway. It looked like the place discussed in bullet point ‘A’ above, where you have to get off and carry your bike. Nope, not the right place. I spotted a man and woman pushing a baby stroller nearby. I asked them for help and showed them my map. They told me to take a Left at the stop sign, then another Left and that should take me to Green Level School Rd. I followed their directions, and I ended up back on track, for a moment at least. I recognized that weird curvey spot near Green Level School rd. Yay! I thought all was good so I started riding hard again to make up lost time. Hehe, lost time. Oxymoron. Or, I’m a moron.

F. I obviously missed a turn someplace because I ended up going way off course, again! The sun was setting. I was lost. I was riding solo. I had a blinky headlight – but no blinky tail light. I was very nervous about whether cars coming up from behind could see me. I stopped at this intersection, not knowing what to do. Should I head back? No, I had already gone too far down this road. I decided to take a left onto Green Level West Rd, thinking that direction should take me back to Hwy 55. I rode easy for a few minutes, wondering if I had made the right choice. I glanced back at the sun setting behind me. I decided, yes, this was right, because I was heading east, which should take me back toward Cary. Eventually. I hoped. Since I had made the commitment to continue on this road, I rode hard. As hard as I could to get me to the next point quickly.

G. Phew, I did end up on Hwy 55 as expected. Across the intersection was High House Road, but I didn’t know it. My plan was to take 55 to High House to NW Cary Parkway. Stay on the main roads to avoid getting lost. So, I turned north and headed up 55. I hated riding on a busy road, especially in the evening, but I had no choice. I rode as hard as I could just to get off this busy road!

H. I rode for a good 10 minutes and came up to a stop light. I looked to the right, and there was a construction barricade. Hmmm…maybe that is the railroad tracks spot (marked in bullet point ‘A’ above). Sure enough it was! Dang, I wondered what happened to High House road? Anyway, I was back on track. But I still had a long way to go through unknown territory. And daylight was quickly fading.

I rode at full speed whenever possible. It was getting darker and darker by the minute and I was beginning to panic. Not only was it getting really hard for me to read my map, but also getting harder to read the street signs. And I really could not afford any more mistakes.

I. I did make one more mistake riding down Crabtree Crossing Parkway. I was looking for Ridge Creek road on the left. But a tree-lined divider made it hard to see the opposite side streets, so I flew right past it. After 5 minutes, it dawned on me that I had gone too far. I stopped and asked a man and woman for help. They were very kind but they took forever looking at my map and trying to figure out how to get me back on track. Precious minutes of daylight were ticking away, but I maintained my composure and patiently waited for their directions. After all, they were HELPING me.

Backtracking up the street, I was almost in tears. Luckily, it didn’t take too long to find Ridge Creek. My mind was racing, my legs were spinning, I was terrified.

Hang a right. Hammer hammer hammer. Pretty much a straight shot from here. Hmmmm… why did both those cars turn left up ahead? I stopped there and read the road sign. Rainbrook. Not marked on my map, but that sounds like the name of the road across from IOS. Hang left. Up a little hill. Stoplight, yay, I see the shopping center. Almost there!

Crossing NW Cary Parkway to the shopping center was difficult because it was dark. But I made it safely back to my car. What a relief to have survived this adventure and tell the tale. I’m always living on the edge – and loving every minute of it!

My next gear purchase: a blinky red taillight! Oh, and don’t forget to scroll back up and vote!