Back to Plan... A?

Ok, my wife is one of those people that can pretty much accomplish anything she wants to accomplish. She thought she had turned the corner on the idea of racing, but on our first ride simulating a relay team race she discovered rather quickly it was not for her.

I think it was mostly that she didn't like riding alone, particularly if there is traffic. Up to this point we have basically always ridden together. But on a relay race we would be taking turns riding, essentially riding solo the entire time. So it is completely different from our normal routine of actually riding together. I think she also felt much more unsafe as a solo rider. When there are no shoulders or bike lanes I usually ride a little closer to the center of the lane (where the passenger side wheel wears the road smooth) specifically so that any approaching cars will definitely see us and be forced to move over to pass. She has never liked doing that, which is fine when we're together, but doesn't work as well when riding solo. In case you think I am being rude by not riding on the edge of the road, I am not. When you ride on the very edge of the road cars from behind tend to try to squeeze by you even when they shouldn't (e.g. when there are oncoming cars or when there is limited sight distance of the road ahead). Or worse, they don't see you at all.

The other thing she didn't like was the added stress of racing. It made it, well, not fun. Who in their right mind wants to morph something they love doing into something that is not at all fun?

So, I may or may not enter the May 29 ultra race as a solo rider. It will depend on my conditioning and the weather. If either is not up to par it would be not fun for me too.