Bud and I took off on a 200k from Italy Texas with the lone star randos.  There was a fast group, a medium group, and a slow group.  Bud and I stayed with the middle group since it was abundantly clear we were not going to catch the leaders.  So we hung out with a tandem and another upright and were fine, until the pace started to pick up slowly, but consistently.  Still, made it out of the first control fine and at mile 40 I felt like I could keep up the pace all day.  At mile 45 it was "Houston, we have a problem."  I was creeping along at about 12-13mph when we hit the second control at mile 63.  I almost DNF'ed right there, but Mark Metcalf convinced me to go on - that I would recover one the bike.  So I stuck it out - 30 miles to the next control.
 
15 miles in I was fine.  The last 15 were abject misery.  I had to pull over and stop twice because my knees, ankles and toes were screaming.  So was my shoulder.  It was a major arthritis flare-up, which must have meant I was dehydrated.  In spite of a second sunscreeen application, I was burnt to a crisp, and my thighs felt like they were underneath a hot fire from the sun.  The last 7 miles seemed to take an eternity; I nearly fell over once and swerved a couple times.  I got lightheaded, sick, and my vision went fuzzy.  Seemed like heastroke.
 
Bud was a Saint for pulling me that last 15 miles.  I sat at the control and tried to get it together but I couldn't stop the pain.  My legs hurt to put my feet down and sit up, and my knees hurt when I propped them up.  This time, I didn't listen to Mark anymore and DNF'ed.  The first time ever on any ride.  Called my wife to drive the 90 miles to come get my sorry butt.
 
So close to the finish - only 38 to go, but an hour and a half later, when I had thoughtd of trying to get back on the bike, the heat just crushed me.  No go.
 
For those who know Jorge, he had a crash and had to DNF also - hope he's ok.  
 
I'll just be eating my arse off the next couple days and recuperating, and give it anothe go on Wednesday.  This time I'll reapply sunscreen at every control.   I hope that will make a difference.

Yup.  Had I chose to continue, I would have completed the last ten miles at least in a brutal downpour.

Quote from Bud_Bent on Jul 1^st, 2007, 10:43pm:

 
 
Sounds about like the 200K's the GDB group did 6 months ago...  makes for a long day on the bike, eh?  
 
Sorry you had so many problems, Greg!
 
PB

Greg - I feel you pain, my friend.  As I posted about a month ago, Nelson pulled me through a 200k where I should have been hospitalized for heat sickness.  It's a horrible feeling, especially when the heat index is over 100, there is no shade to hide, and you cramp so bad you have to stop, get off the bike, and rest.  The core temperature doesn't drop because there is no shade.  
 
Happy 4th of July everyone.