Howie's Great Cross Country Adventure

8/7 Headed out to the PMC.

Howie — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:51:32 +0000

Since the CCC I have riding about 110 miles just to keep my legs loose. Last night I cleaned and lubed both the Madone, and the Y-Foil. During the ride yesterday I felt a little discomfort in my left knee while riding the Y-Foil. The setup on it must be a little off, so I’m going to ride the Madone, and loss the aw factor of riding the Y-Foil during the PMC.

for those reading my Blog that do not know what the PMC is. It is a 2-day 192 mile ride to raise money for Dana Farber Caner Institute and the Jimmy Fund. There will be over 5000 riders and we will raise over 28 million dollars for the cause. Last year 99% of the money raise be the riders went to the charities.

My PMC letter: http://howie-pmc.home.comcast.net/

My PMC Page: http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=HD0013

PMC home page: http://www.pmc.org

This morning to get ready for the ride I had an hour long massage. I’m in the best shape I been in since I started riding the PMC. I’m down 30 pounds since January. I have ridding 6,000 miles so far this year. This should be a real fun weekend.

Howie:

Gnome Shots

Howie — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:24:10 +0000

7/26: The Eastern States Tour and Summary

Howie — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:02:06 +0000

With hitting the Atlantic we also finish the final segment this segment was titled the “The Eastern States Tour”. It took us from Pennsylvania thru New York, Vermont, and finished in New Hampshire. This was 632 miles with 25,000 feet of climbing.

Hitting the Atlantic also means that we have our final totals, I was temped to take a left and keep going to Newfoundland. We have crossed 13 states and 3,836 miles with 121,500 feet of climbing. Do to bonus miles I road over 4,000 miles, this brings my total for the year to 6,000.

During the ride I went thru 6 gloves, 5 tubes, 3 tires, 1 wheel. As a group during the ride there where 3 new bikes, 3 wheels, lots of tires and spokes, and over 300 tubes. Of the 26 rider that where going cost to cost 24 made it, and of the 25, 16 of us did it with any time in a van. There where 3 crashes that required trips to the hospital, and a bunch of minor crashes.

Howie:

7/24 Day 52: Manchester NH to the Atlantic (Rye NH)

Howie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:08:26 +0000

We had a late load time; I loaded my stuff in Lynne’s car so I would not need to deal with it at the hotel. The route had us on back roads, while we wound our way to the finish. There was a different attitude on today’s ride. We needed to cover 50 miles in 5 hours. Most of the riders where in no rush and where wasting time on the way to the meeting point. The where plenty of stops in cafes, and people lingered at the one rest stop.

I rode most of the way with Pete and Dr. Dave, but the groups of other riders seemed to be in bigger groups then normal and when we past or got passed be another group. There was a lot of talking. About 11:40 riders started to get to the school that we where regrouping at for the final drive to the beach. Every one was in by 12. We hung around and at took a final group photo.

We had a police escort for the 4 miles from the school to the beach. The older rider lead us behind the police car.

When we hit the parking lot was full a balloons and people waiting for us. As we enter the parking lot we where greeted with cheers for those waiting. There was Hugs and Kisses for love ones that had been away for up to 52 days. My wife, Mom, Dad and 3 co-workers where waiting for me. Lynne put a Loral or my head.

Most of us took of our shoes and took our bikes down to the water to dip our front wheels.

After a swim in the Atlantic (it was cold). A few of the 16 riders that road every fantastic inch posed for the EFI picture.

We where about 3 miles away from the Maine state line a few riders took a ride up to the line for the photo opp. I have already ridden to Maine and my family was waiting for me.

I Made it!!!

Next step the PMC. I plan on taking the next 3 days off the bike, then riding this weekend with the club. Will be interesting to see how I ride after a few days to recover.

Howie:

7/23 Day 51: Brattleboro to Manchester NH

Howie — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 02:04:09 +0000

The route to day had us mainly on back roads. The weather did not look bad wand we started just over cast sky’s, but it was chilly I should have grabbed a jacket. Rumors have it that we did not go the most direct or flat way. The joke was that they wanted for us to have as may hill on the east cost as we did on the west cost.

With in a mile of the hotel we crossed the Connecticut River which is also the state line between Vermont and New Hampshire. Peter and I took each other picture at the State line. If you notice I have been where the club jersey each time we crossed a State line.

As always when we cross a river we had to climb out of the river valley, we climbed for about 12 miles then lost most of the gain on the next down hill. Then we got to a climb that was marked on the sheet at 10% grade it had turned out to be 12% then we small decent and on the pavement was written “Party is over” with a smiley face with it tong out. This hill was also mark 10% but it was much more I saw my Garmin hit 27% grade.

After the climbs Pete and I need food so we stopped in the next town for a sandwich. The support van also stopped there and I got my jacket from it, because the weather was getting bad. It was a good thing, within 5 miles I put it on because it was sprinkling. After then next hill it started to rain. It was a messy ride to then end. We wasted some good down hills because we could not let the bikes roll free, because of the wet roads. The was a lot of down hills in to the hotel.

After dinner the staff did a recap of the tour, and gave out hummers awards. I then gave back the Gnome that was on top of a cake. All the riders where give a chance to say something to the group about what the tour has meant to them.

Tomorrow is the last day we have a late start because it is a short day. The plan is to hit Wallis Sands Beach (http://www.nhstateparks.com/wallis.html) in New Hampshire at 12:30. We will all coming in together with the full crew with a Police escort. When we hit the beach there will be a group photo and the ceremonial dipping of the wheel in the Atlantic. I will have my wife and parents as well as co-worked at the beach waiting for me.

I will keep the blog going till at least the PMC and may a little after that. There may not be enters every day but you will not need to stop cold turkey.

Howie:

7/22 Day 50: Troy NY to Brattleboro, VT

Howie — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:28:17 +0000

We had an other fabulous day weather wise. The Route had us going out of town on and finding are way on to route 7. We started the first climb almost a soon as we got out of the hotel. Route 7 turned in to route 9 on the Vermont line, we took that almost to the next hotel. Route 7 and 9 cross the Green Mountain range so we had a lot of climbing.

I rode with Dr Dave and Pete, because of the climbing we would attack them at our own pace then regroup. After the first rest stop we crossed from New York to Vermont.

The first town we rain in to in Vermont is Bennington. My plain was when I hit the center of town was to take a small detour to go visit my brother’s and his wife grave at the cemetery in town. Dr. Dave and Pete joined me for the side trip.

We then rejoined the route and started the second big climb of the day. This clime was 8 miles with 1700 feet of climb. We then dropped to 900 feet to the second rest stop. After the rest stop we had to climb back up 700 feet. At the top of this climb you could see 100 mile (that what the signs said).

Then we had a big down hill we dropped 2000 feet in 15 miles. At the bottom of the decent we stopped for lunch at the Vermont Country Deli for lunch. The gourmet sandwiches where huge. We eat them on the grass next to the deli, I called my day who recommended the deli and he offered to buy us desert but no one had room for it.

Howie:

7/21 Day 49: Little Falls to Troy, NY

Howie — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 23:58:20 +0000

7/21 Day 49: Little Falls to Troy, NY

The weather has change in our favor; we woke to clear blue sky’s (my jacket got left in my luggage). The route had us containing on route 5, along the barge canal, at this point it is the Mohawk River. I road with Dr Dave all day, our plan was to take it easy so that we will have fresher legs for the climbing that we will encounter over the next two days.

At the second rest stop Christen was eyeing a new bike.

We stopped at a few of the locks on the Erie Canal. The last 30 miles of the ride had us on bike paths along the canal, at one point there was one of the old locks for the old Erie Canal there was no water.

I have ridden a lot of the route we rode today as part of the Erie Canal tour. It was cool following the arrows from that tour. There were a few hills today but nothing too hard. We did stick to our plan so I should be ready for the climbs tomorrow including the on up Hog Back Mountain.

Howie:

7/20 Day 48: Liverpool to Little Falls, NY

Howie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:47:30 +0000

The route today started out with us following the Old Erie Canal. These are road that I have ridden before I saw marking for that tour as we went. The route then had us go over a ridge that brought us from the old canal to the Erie Canal also know as the Barge Canal. The current canal in places uses rivers. The weather contains to be against us. I started out late because I just did not have my act together. I stated out alone and passed a few slower riders, I was passing a group of them when it to rain, so I stopped with them and put on my jacket, and road on.

When I hit the first rest stop I did not need a break the road to this point was relatively flat. Dave and Pete where almost ready to leave, so I field my bottle and put some food in my jacket, and left with them. We rode together till it started to rain heavily Dave wanted to find cover and I slowed down with him, Pete continued on, I told Dave that I wanted to keep going. We stopped so Dave could put some stuff in my pockets to stay dry (his jacket was more of a windbreaker). We then rode to the second rest stop where we found peter. It was 11:00 and I did not want to eat lunch yet, Dave did stop at subway, and Pete and I road on.

A few miles down the road it started to sprinkle again so I put the jacket back on. Going thou Herkimer we found an old style dinner, and had lunch there. The place had just opened and they where still working out the kinks. They had redone the place and it looks good. The owner was from Mass and we talked for a while. At some point while we were eating a train went thou and the owner’s wife spun a wheel with numbers on it on the wall. It came up on number 8, she then counted and I was in seat number 8. Being in the right place at the right time got me my sandwich for free. From there it was an easy 7 mile ride to the hotel in Little Falls. Another town that I have ridden thou in the past.

When I hit the hotel I did wash, for the last time :-)
Howie:

7/19 Day 47: Canandaigua to Liverpool, NY

Howie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:28:32 +0000

The route to day had us continuing on 20/5 till the first rest stop then taking some back roads and getting back on 5, then winding our way to the hotel. When we left the weather was bleak, it was like riding thru the clouds. 20 run’s along the top of Canandaigua, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes. It was to fog to gat any pitchers of the lakes. I have ridden a bike tour called the Bonton Roulet which is in this same area for the past five years. I remember lots of the roads and saw old as well are new arrows for the tour. I was my bike wanted to follow the arrows.

I started out with Dr Dave, but he realized that he for got his phone and went back of it. I ended up riding with Gene and Jane for a while. On the way to the rest stop about 20 miles in to the ride it started to rain. I stopped at Seneca Falls to talk some pictures. Seneca Falls is known for the birth place of the woman’s rights. http://www.nps.gov/wori/ .

At the rest stop it had stopped raining enough to take off my rain jacket. After the rest stop we passed another great waterfall. At this point I started to ride with Ohio Greg.

We stopped at a place for lunch called Frogger’s. After lunch we crossed the midway point of the Erie Canal. I have been here before on a tour I have done twice where I have gone form Buffalo to Albany alone the canal with my boys.

I stopped at the store to get a replacement rubber frog, (Lynne to cooking this one) that I had gotten here the last time thru. When I got back on the bike it started raining real hard. I put the jacket back on and road thou it, and road to the hotel.

Howie:

7/18 Day 46: Hamburg to Canandaigua, NY

Howie — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:59:44 +0000

The route today had us taking some back road to avoid the busy section of route 20. then taking route 20 to the hotel. The weather was still not in our favor. It was a gray foggy morning and it felt like it may rain and any moment. I took my heavy rain jacket. There was an option to go about 6 miles out of the way to the Bike Museum. And about half the riders took that it.

I had put the new tire on the bike the night before and when I pump it up the tub popped I did not have time to deal with it at the time and thought I must have just pinched the tube will changing it. After loading my stuff in the trailer, I pumped up the tire and saw a large bulge on the side of it. There was a ½ tare in the side wall. Gerard tried to boot it ( put a patch on the in side of the tire), but the hole was to bad. We changed out the tire with a new tire and I hit the road, but I was the last one out of the hotel.

About 6 miles in to the ride I missed a turn on the sheet that was on the fold. About 2 miles down the road when I could not find the turn I was looking for. I ask someone walking there dog how to get back on route. They gave me direction and 5 miles later I was back at the turn I missed. I would have been better off just riding back the way I had come. The bright side of the goof was that I now had the 7 miles I need to turn the 94 mile rider in to a century. The Down size is that I now had no hope of catching up to other riders that ride at my speed.

I did find Gene and Jane at a coffee shop. I stop in for a coffee with them. And then rode with them for a while. Till they went off route to see a friend. I was then hit a place for lunch just as other riders where leaving. When I was leaving some of the guys that went to the museum showed up. So I was still alone, for the rest of the day.

Riding alone let me ride my own pace and stop when I wanted to. I did see some cool things on the way.

Howie:

7/17 Day 45: Erie PA to Hamburg, NY.

Howie — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:05:07 +0000

We awoke to a heavily over cast day that was threatening to dump all it moister at any time. The Route had as continuing along the Lake Erie on route 5. We got to see more of the lake. At times we where riding with grape vines on both sides of us, like when we where riding thou the corn and soy fields. The sky’s did open up but not we did get drizzled on for about 3 miles, before we got the New York state line, I think this was Pennsylvania getting back at us for only spending one night. Here I am at the NY line.

I was riding with Pete, Dr Dave and Paul one of the new guys. Pete ran over a piece of glass and I was riding too close to him to avoid it. When I ran over it, it got kicked up and hit me in the shin. Luckily I did not cut me and I Did not flat. The one and only rest stop was at a park over looking a marina on Lake Erie.

After the rest stop we started looking for winery’s and a place for lunch. We never found a winery on route but saw signs for them but did not know how far off route they where. We did find a place to eat in silver creak, the food was ok but it took them a long time to make it, and it was only subs. I had a letter of Mountain Dew most if while I was waiting. I notice that my front tire had too big slits along the bead of the tire and one across it. I know I would have to change it out when I got to the hotel. Well when I got back on the bike the sugar and caffeine hit, and I ended up riding a way form Dr. Dave and Paul. By the time I made it to the hotel the tire was missing a 12 inch section of the outer casing, but I did not flat do to the type of tire I’m using.

After I hit the hotel then was a bunch of guys talking about bike over to the Bicycle Museum (http://www.pedalinghistory.com/) that was an option for the next day. It is off route and we still had time to see it today. Someone said lets get a cab and spilt it. So most of us showered, while we were waiting for the cab (van). The Museum was grate. There could use about 3 times the space they had. Here is just a small sampling of some of the stuff they had.

When we got back I had dinner with my sister-in-law Sandy and her long time boy friend. We went almost back to the museum. To a place that one of her co-workers recommended. The food was good. There did have a strange soap that they are famous for “buffalo chicken” it was a cream of chicken soup with buffalo sauce added. It was nice seeing Sandy again.

Howie:

7/16 Day 44: Rest day in Erie PA.

Howie — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:07:53 +0000

With this rest day we have finished the “The Country Mileage Tour” section of the tour. This is the 5^th section of the Cross Country Challenge. This section we rode 470 miles in 5 days crossing 3 states and climbing 11,000 feet. This brings our totals up to 3250 miles crossing 10 states and climbing 96,000 feet. We have 630 miles 3 states and 23,000 feet of climbing to do in 8 days. We are in the home stretch now.

I did not do much other then resting on my day off. I started out by going to Starbucks and doing wash. Then writing the day before BLOG. For dining I went to a brewery with Greg, Mike, and Bobby (the made Frenchman). I was disappointed with the beer. I got a sample that had 6 small beers. They where all muddy in color and tasted similar. The food was on the bland side.

Howie:

7/15 Day 43: Youngstown OH to Erie PA.

Howie — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:01:15 +0000

-Route-

The route today had us on back roads for the most part. The route was flat with a few minor rollers. We where headed north with the wind in our faces till the second rest stop. After the rest stop we turned east and rode just out of site Lake Erie but along side of it. The weather head scattered showers. I lucked out with it some of the roads where wet but I never got rained on.

After the first rest stop we had an issue with a truck. I found out some of this after words. The truck honked at one of the riders behind me. Then when he passed then next rider he honked then pulled right in front of him. When he was passing me he mover to the right and forced me on the road and on the grass. The Grass was wet and the bike slipped out from under me and I end out falling one grass. The two riders behind me help me get back to gather. I check the bike and my self and there was not damage.

The area we where riding thou had a few Amish farms. There where also a few covered bridges, and more strange barns.

The second rest stop was at White Turkey Drive-In. This was an old fashion root beer Stand. I had a turkey sandwich and a root beer. I did not get a root float like a lot of the other riders, but they did look good.

After the rest stop it was a short ride to the Penn state line and from the ride with the wind at or back it was a nice ride to Erie.

We had this guy welcome us in to Erie.

When I hit the hotel I had 97.5 miles so I road down to the lake to get me up to 100 miles.

Howie:

7/14 Day 42: Wooster to Youngstown OH.

Howie — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 21:59:48 +0000

The route was a lot of rollers but there where the kind that you could just power up. The wind was also at are backs for most of the day. I rode with Dr Dave, Pete, and Ohio Greg. Ohio, joined the tour yesterday, and will be riding with us till Syracuse.

The day was uneventful till the just before the second rest stop. I was about 3 miles out of it and had emptied both of my water bottles. Michele passed me in the van and I singled that I need her to stop. I filled one of my bottles. And she went off to set up the rest stop. The guys where out of site but it was not a big deal, because I would catch them at the rest stop. As I was coming up to where the turn on to the road with the rest stop, I saw the van coming back up the road and I thought I saw here pointing to the left. When I hit the intersection I saw why there was a sign saying the bridge was closed (I found out later that you could cross it and that there was a detour before the turn). I went right then left to stay on the road I was one. I took that till it hit a major road. I took that to the left. At the next intersection I asked for directions. They told me to take the left and the first right and take that to the bike path. Well I hit the bike path a few miles earlier then the route. I took it was a nice path, and was back on route. But I had missed the rest stop total.

When I took the turn off the path, I saw another road close sign. This time I road thou it. From that point one I was fighting a strong head wind in to the hotel. As it turns out even though I was off route for over 7 miles, I did not get in any bonus miles

Howie:

7/13 Day 41: Marysville to Wooster, OH

Howie — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:36:16 +0000

The route today had us on quite back road. Some of the road where so quite that, we did not have any cars passed us in ether direction for what felt an hour. The first part of the route was a gradual climb that was not noticeable. Then just before the second rest stop we started to get in to rollers some of which where 150 feet high. Using the down hills and careering as much speed as possible in to the up hills made it so you could roll up some of them where others where a to big to do it. Some of the climbs got quite step on one of them I saw 17%, and a few other must have been around 14%. With the hard climbs at the end of the day when your legs where tiered made the day a tough one. We did 4500 feet of climbing in 105 miles. It was hard for the crew to support us today because the group got spread out over a long distance. With today’s mileage we are over 3000 miles for the tour.

More retaliation for the Gnome, Gerard had hidden a sound box out of a stuffed monkey, under my saddle. It would have gone off when I hit a bump, but when I was checking the bike before I was about to ride I found it. The gnome picture that was posted last night was of a Gnome Cream Pie, some one must have gotten an Idea from what Gerard did to me.

After the second rest stop I was riding with Pete and we came to a bridge that was out, we saw a detour and did not take it we tried to get around the bridge that was out by walking the bike over a railroad bridge. When we got to the other side and still could not find the road we were looking for we as someone where it was, they said that is was on the other side of the river. So we walk back across some I beams. Pete found the side that marked the road. We then walked thru the contrition equipment and got back on route.

Bike and Tupperware windmill.

I know now how the Amish power their buggies.

This is the last big hill, I thought Ohio was flat.

Howie:

7/12 Day 40: Richmond, IN to Marysville, OH

Howie — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:27:45 +0000

Last night after I had posted my BLOG entry, at dinner Gerard again retaliated for my involvement for gnome napping the gnome. During dinner he did the equivalent of hitting me with a wipe cream pie (there was no crust), But he did get me with a bowl of wipe cream.

We started out the day by back tracking about a 10^th of a mile till the first right and got off the highway and on to back roads. 2 ½ miles in to the ride we hit the Ohio state border.

After the picture I rode with Dr Dave and Peter. We where going along to the first rest stop 34 miles in and 7 miles before the stop I needed to stop to water some corn stocks. I told them to ride on slow, and I would catch up. I started to ride fast and was close to the edge of the road when my rear tire blew. The bike go loss and I went off the road, and fell on a soft grassy patch in front of a house. I changed the tire and road to the rest stop.

Out of the rest stop I rode with Christian one of the support crew. We rode to a town just before the second rest stop. Going in to town we saw a round barn. At this point we where 67 miles in to the ride. We decided to get some food. From where the other bikes were there where two options. I saw Gene and Jane’s bikes at a place off to the left I said that they have found some neat place to eat, so lest go where they went. It was a Café and bakery. As it turned out the place had only open with in the last week, and the guy running the place was the mayor. They had

penini , and a lot of fried stuff in done in one of those air fryers. I went with the penini’s. The food was good but took a long time. Christian’s food came out after Gene, Jane and I had finished. She said to go with out here. I rode the rest of the day with Gene, and Jane.

When we hit the rest stop we where told that the bridge was out and that Andy was working on a detour. We headed out on the detour which added 5 miles to the route. We hit he hotel with 110 miles. Normal I would have been real upset if I rode a long ride and got and extra 5 miles, but do to the tail winds and my current conditioning it was not an issue. Some riders got ended up with up to 18 extra miles, no one was real upset about the bounce miles.

This is the whole business district of Woodstock, Ohio. The municipal building, convince store and Bar.

Do to the flat I decided it was time to change out my rear tire with a new one the Gerry had sent to me. I first clean the bike and oiled the chain. Then when I was pulling off the old tire from the rim, I notice 3 cracks in the rim around the nipples, they where all on the drive side. I called Gerry up and he contacted Trek, he used his connection to with in trek to get in contact with someone that could do something about it. Trek is warranting out the wheel and will have a new one waiting for me at the next hotel. Gerard and Gerry say I should be able to get a few more days out of the wheel.

Howie:

7/11 Day 39: Indianapolis to Richmond, IN

Howie — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:37:05 +0000

The Route today had us riding out of Indianapolis on route 40 and staying on it for the day. 40 was a four lanes (2 in each direction) for the whole way. The first 10 miles was quite congested and loaded with strip mails and stores, kind of like Route 9 back home. The Cars for the most part where leaving us alone and giving us plenty of space.

I rode with Rick and David to the first and only rest stop. We started off with a slight tail wind that at time was coming more form our sides, but still for behind. The wind was also getting stronger as the day went one. We where climbing for most of the way to the rest stop, but only slightly, we only climbed 1500 feet for the 73 miles. we rode the first 10 miles at about 15 till we left the city limits then Rick pushed it up, and was doing most of the work pulling us, in a pace line, but we where all taking turn Rich was just taking longer ones. They dropped me on a hill just before the first rest stop. When I rolled in to the stop, my average was 19 MPH.

After the rest stop rich went out on his own. David, Pete and I rode together but not at the same pace. We stop for a snack in a small town about 10 miles for Richmond. After that the route had 2 options, you could stay on 40 or take some back roads. I stayed on 40 which was back in to the strip mails. After getting to the hotel we went to for Ice Cream and shakes.

Howie:

7/10 Day 38: Rest Day - Indianapolis, IN

Howie — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:33:19 +0000

The rest day marks the end of another segment of the Cross Country Challenge. This was the Heartland Tour. We rode 620 miles thou states with 15,000 feet of climb. This brings our totals up to 9 states, 2700 miles and 85,000 feet of climb. We have are in our fourth time zone.

Wayne had some contacts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and had arranged an rare optometry for us to be able to ride are bikes around the track. So 10 of us took the rode out to the track and meet 3 other who got driven out there. We sign a waver and where lead to the track entrance. The track was not as wide as I thought it would be. The next time you see them 3 car wide on the track there is not much room to spare. Also I thought that the track would be banked more then it was.

-more pix to come-

Wayne also had a new crew meeting him at the Monument at the center of Indianapolis and they want some shots with other cyclist, so Pete, Erin, Greg, and I meet them at the Monument and did a bunch of laps around it. After the loops we where all interviewed. Wayne is doing the ride to raise money for a fund that was setup for a friend of him that was killed on 9/11. They are hoping to get national coverage.

Howie:

7/09 Day 37: Crawfordsville to Indianapolis, IN

Howie — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:13:42 +0000

The day start by is taking a short ride to breakfast I was riding with Rick and Tom. We where about a 1½ miles past town as ask if there where going to stop to eat they said they had already eaten at the hotel so I went back to town to eat. When I got out I notice something white on my rear chain stay. It was a heavy zip tie, and it was setup to hit the spokes so it would make noise. Tim had a razor blade witch I used to cut it off with. I quickly check of other tampering, but did not see any thing. I suspect Gerard for retaliation for the Gnome.

After the first rest stop where was an opportunity to stop at the Roark cycle Factory http://www.roarkcycles.com/ Roark bikes are customer titanium frames. The Roark is real an aircraft part manufacture that has a side line of building bikes because the owner is a cyclist. The bike area was just a small area of large machine shop. We got to meet the whole bike team. Every bike they build is totally custom, and they actually like the customer to come to the shop for fitting and tour. (Do not worry Lynne I did not order one )

From the bike factory we rode to the Indianapolis motor speedway. From where we where able to get you could not see much. We did see for a spit second 2 cars on the track. The Lead car was a pro driver being followed by someone that had paid $500 to do 4 laps at 90 MPH so 10 miles at $50 per mile. (again Lynne I did not do this). More about the Speed way tomorrow in tomorrow’s entry.

From the speedway we rode to the Major Taylor Velodrome http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPR/Parks/SportsComplexes/Major+Taylor+Velodrome.htm (A velodrome is a banked race track for bicycles). Major Taylor was a Black cyclist how lived over 100 years ago, He was a world champion, and for a time not allowed to race in the US even thou he was an American. Read more about him at http://www.majortaylor.com/ . We where allowed to ride on the velodrome. I did about 10 laps on the track I found it easy to ride on the banking, but after riding almost 50 miles to get there I did not have much legs left, I could only get up to around 25 MPH. Riding on the track was a blast. You can watch me go around by clicking on this link. http://www.wendellwelch.com/brassbed/howie/day36/P7090012.AVI . Tom the staff memner that left in Pueblo, meet us at the track, and road with us to the hotel with his wife on thier tandem.

Coming thou town we past another state capital.At dinner I talk to Gerard and got him to admit to putting the zip tie on my bike.

Howie:

7/08 Day 36: Champaign, IL to Crawfordsville, IN

Howie — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:44:33 +0000

The route was along quintet back road. It being Sunday morning there was almost not traffic when we set out. I rode the whole day with Dr Dave, David and Rick. Dave was on a mission today to get in early. He did not get into till after 6 because he road to a bike shop with a few other. We eat at the hotel vs. the restaurant to save time. We did not run in to any more of the sticky tar, because we where out early. We rode thru more Corn and Soy fields.

We got to the first rest stop before the rest stop before the van. We got water from the store and pushed on. To the Indiana state line. Dr Dave and I was out front and nothing was said we where both positioning our self’s to be the first across the line. Well I was aiming for the sign, but Dave saw the real state line marker before the big one. So he got the state line. Crossing the line we lost an hour so we are now on east cost time.

After the Stateline we rode to the second rest stop. I was in a small town and it was around lunch time. We left the bike at the rest stop and went to a small restaurant. It was a little funny that we where in our bright bike jersey and spandex, and all the locals where in the Sunday church close. We had a good lunch it was real cheap I had a pulled-pork sandwich, chips and a soda for five dollars. The people of the next town had a sense of hummer the sign entering the town show this and the side of the ice shop.

From there It was an easy ride in to the hotel.

Howie:

7/07 Day 35: Springfield to Champaign, IL

Howie — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:55:50 +0000

-route-

The route today had lots of turns, We where on some more major roads , as well as quilt back roads. The day was real flat, no climbs to speak of. We continued the tour of Corn and Soy fields. There was nothing much to talk pictures of.

I road with Pete and Dave, we where doing good staying on route spite all the turns, till just before the first rest stop, The turn was a half mile sooner then the sheet said it was. Dave and Pete were a little ahead of me, and Gene and Jane where just a little behind me they yelled out that we missed the turn, and I yelled to Dave and Pete but they where out of ear shot. So I sprinted up to them they said it could not have been the turn, and keep going till they saw a person walking a dog. We ask where the road was and they said behind us, we road back, we had and extra 2 ½ miles, with was not a big deal because in needed 3 extra miles for the century.

The second Rest Stop was scheduled to be at a cemetery. When we pulled in to it, we did not see the Van, only someone finishing up after a funeral, they had not seen the van Dave called and was told that it was up the road a mile, they had moved it do to the funeral.

We planed to get lunch in a town 10 miles up from rest stop. We stopped at the first fast food place we saw, it was a Hardee’s the service was very slow, unorganized and almost rude. It must have taken us 30 minutes to get in and out of the place.

We started to take roads that paralleled the I-72 the road turned loss gravel then to chip stone. Do to the heat the tar had come to the surface of the stone. And the day was hot enough to make it soft. As we where riding over it we were hearing the popping and crackling of the tar. We went a way on it, and then got in to loss stone. That is where the trouble really started. The stones where sticking to our tires. Dave had more trouble with the tar then Pete or I. Pete just road the next section with rocks flying, Dave had to carry his bike part of it and road in the grass becuase he had so much tar on his tires, I road on the grass for most of this sections. The road became a little better after that. As one point we stopped and Dave rub as much tar off as he could. At this point I had run out of water Dave gave me what was left in one of his bottles. We stopped at the first store we ran in to I had another Slushy, and road to the hotel; Dave went to a bike shop with some other riders.

With the extra miles from getting lost and form the cue sheets being off. I got my 100 miles in. so for the first I have ridden 3 days with consecutives centuries. Tomorrow we only have 85 miles so unless I get real lost of do a lot of extra miles my run of centuries is over. How ever we do cross another state line tomorrow with then final time zone change.

Howie:

7/06 Day 34: Quincy to Springfield IL.

Howie — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 02:08:13 +0000

Today’s route had us riding on some more traveled road. I started out the day with Dr Dave. We had more of the rollers till the first rest stop. The first rest stop was hidden behind a church on a good down hill. I missed it and had to ride back a little. After that it flattened out with a few climbs. After the Rest stop we slowed down when we saw Pete coming up from behind us. The three of us rode in a pace line for most of the way. We crossed the Illinois River and rode thou lots of Corn and Soy fields. When we where on the flats we where pushing a good pace between 18 and 20 mph.

When we where getting close to the hotel around 100 miles we rode thou Springfield IL. Springfield is the capitol of Illinois. We passed right next to the capital. At this part it started to sprinkle. Then rain a little harder. We rode on in the rail. We were almost at the hotel when we saw in front of us a wall of rain. We quickly pulled in to a Hardee’s, we all had milk shake while waiting for the rain to stop. When we got back on the bikes, the Hotel was less then 100 yards up the road, we could not see the sign in the rain.

I heard a rumor that the Gnome has been recaptured by the riders, but I do not have it.

Howie:

7/05 Day 33: Kirksville, MO to Quincy, IL

Howie — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:20:20 +0000

The started out the days ride by getting back on the back roads. We are sill in the hilly part of Missouri, but they where not as bad as yesterday. They where rolling but rolling down. We where able to roll over a few of the hills. A few of the hills where pushing 16% grad.

Gerard the mechanic has a stuff Gnome. Well 4 days ago I kidnapped, and have been posting ransom notices on the notice board. You can check out the pictures here http://picasaweb.google.com/gnomenaper/GnomePictures . Well today as I was setting up to take a picture of the Gnome before the second rest stop. Guess how pulls around the corner in the van, well he come to a stop quickly and comes running out of the van with a water gun and nails me with it. The water was on the hot side. I gave up the gnome we out a fight.

After getting attacked I went to a sub shop and got a sub before going to the rest stop. The rest stop was also where we where to get the ferry across the Mississippi. I just missed it so had to wait about 20 minutes for it to go and come back.

There was not a entering Illinois sign when the ferry landed. We then road along the Mississippi river thou a giant corn field. The road was flat and we had a good tail wind. I also pick up a hitchhiker for about 3 miles.

Just before we where turning away from the river, I saw the back of a big sign at the end of a bridge. I took the gamble and road down to it. It was the entering Illinois sign. There was a store near it, and I got some one to take the Illinois picture.

When I hit the hotel I had 98 miles so after get some water and talking Gene in to going with me, we did the extra 2 miles. So I the first part of what will be 3 days in a row with over 100 miles.

Howie:

7/04 Day 32: Chillicothe to Kirksville, MO

Howie — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:54:58 +0000

The morning started by some of the riders bringing down their bikes or them selves decorated of the forth, the crew was running a contest for the best decorated bike. I did not want to bother with doing up my bike, and even If I did I would not have won some of the bike where pretty good. Breakfast was at McD’s because the hotel did not have much to offer. Here is Wayne chilling out with a friend after he ate.

The route had us staying off the major roads. So much so that till we got close to the destination there was only one store, over the 83 miles. The train was more of the rolling hills. I where going down some of them at 35 and up at 6. Some I able to roll up some and other peddle heard to make it over.

About 3 miles before the first rest stop it started to sprinkle, and got was getting heavier. There were a few rumbles from thunder. We kicked up the pace and made a run for it. We hung out at the store while the rain storm blew thro. Here is a few of the group waiting.

After the rain let up we headed out. The roads dried quickly then the heat started to build. Here is a shot showing some of the hill off to the side of the route. If this was on of my club rides I would have called it something like “The hundred hills ride”

Howie:

7/03 Day 31: St. Josephs to Chillicothe, MO.

Howie — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:23:17 +0000

The route was again on those 100 foot rollers on quit back roads. It too a little to get used to the routes in Missouri, the use letters or double letters so something like “H” or “HH”. The weather is finally changed, the wind do day was a South wind, we where headed east for the most part, but it was not strong enough to give us much problems. Also there we were still having over cast skies but only a 10% change of rain.

As I was taking the bike out of the hotel I noticed that the rear tire was lower then it should have been after the day off. I just pumped it up and figured I could ride on it. I was feeling real good after the day off, and I was pushing the pace probable faster then I should have been. I then hung around the rest stop a little too long. When I felt the rest stop my thigh where real tight, so I tried to stretch then out, and rode in a low gear till they loosened up. It was starting to get hot when I saw a gas station with a bunch of other riders at it including one of the vans; I stopped and refilled the tire which was getting soft, thinking I could get to the next rest stop on it. I went in the store and got a slushy. I did not finish it and put the rest in my water bottle. I started out and did not like the feel of the rear tire so I went back and changed the tube. I did not find any think in the tire and could not find the hole in the tube so I took the tube with me. When I got to hotel and I checked the tube and found the hole.

We stopped the vans for water, and where told that there were two places for lunch. One before and one after the rest stop we opted for the one after because the first one was packed, it was probable the better place because that is where all the locals where going. Including the Amish with there wagons. We did a quick stop at the rest stop and went on for lunch. The restaurant was good but not great there most of the waitresses where dress in Amish dresses and where very cute looking. The town had been transformed to a tourist area.

You never know what you will find on the side of the road

After lunch the route became less hilly, and we where making good time till Greg stop to take a picture of some horses. When the horses came to the fence, Greg started feeding them peanut butter crackers. The liked them but it was funning watching them trying to get the peanut butter of the roof of their mouths. I could see that this was going to go on for a while and I wanted to get off the bike, so I went on by my self.

The hotel was right next to a DQ so after checking and putting my stuff in the room, I went over and got a milk shake. Mike and Greg got to the hotel an hour after I did, They stopped for coffee.

Howie:

7/02 Day 30: Rest day in St. Josephs

Howie — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:08:32 +0000

With this rest day we finished the tried the third segment of the challenge. This was a tough segment; we had 3, 100 mile plus days, covering 700+ miles, with 10,000 feet of climb. We Started in Colorado , spent most of the time in Kansas, and finished in Missouri. This brings the totals up to 6 States, 2158 miles, and 70,000 miles of climb. over the next few weeks we start to do lost of long miles days. As we start to cross states in 3 days.

I took it real easy today. Slept till 8:30, did yesterdays blog, Setup a Google group for the riders. Went on a bike shop run, the shop was barely a bike shop, Wal-Mart has more stuff the only difference was it had parts, and this was the only shop in town. I also folded the wash I did yesterday and repack all my gear. We will see tomorrow how much the day of has helped my legs and sore butt. The weather forecast look a little better for tomorrow.
Howie:

7/01 Day 29: Topeka, KS to St. Joseph MO.

Howie — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:00:01 +0000

What can I say we are still dealing with the storm system to the south of us. For the most part we had a cross wind, but we did have sections of head winds. As we started out of town thro the streets of we had the Capital building on our right.

We then found our selves on a highway section of route 4 of a few miles. Just before we where to take an exit off of the highway to stay of 4, there was a group stopped in the road so I stopped to see what was happening. Tim had a loss spoke, I did what I could to true up the wheel but every time I brought part of it in to true, another part popped out. Andy called for the SAG, where the put a temp wheel on it, and Tim was on his way again. We took the exit and route 4 turned back in to a quiet back road. We took that till the first rest stop on more of those 100 foot rollers. After the stop, I just did not seam to have emerge, I keep going till Andy pulled me over and said that there where riders at the KFC and to go over the next bridge in a group, because the cars where giving some of the riders a hard time. So I stop for lunch and head for the bridge for with Bill and Erin. The Bridge at one point must have had a steal surface but it had been filled with cement. It was hard to ride on and so we wound not try to pass us we read three a breast. At the midway point there was a sign “Leaving Kansas, come again” we did not see the “Welcome to Missouri” Sing for about a mile.

Shortly after the Missouri sign we came upon a dive call “the Broken spoke” we stop to take pictures then I had a small mental brake down. My sister-in-lay who was an artist had made me a picture of “biker bar” called “The Broken Spoke”. This brought back memories of her and my brothers who where killed in a car crash a few years ago.

After pulling my self back together, I contained on to the second rest stop. We had to climb out of the river delta and up more of the rollers. The second SAG stop was on the top of a hill, in town square, was not much of a town.

After the rest stop we road the ridge for a while then dropped down in to ST. Joseph, we hit the town on the opposite side of from the hotel. We had a long stretch thou a park that had the best windy down hill that I have ridden in a while, was almost worth riding back up it so that I could do it again. After the park we had about 3 miles on a busy city road saw the first Dunkin Donuts, since the trip started, I should have stopped for a Ice coffee.

Howie:

6/30 Day 28: Abilenem to Topeka, KS

Howie — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:59:25 +0000

We are still dealing with the same weather, gray sky’s threatening to rain. We had a 108 mile day. This is the third century of the week. We had to fight the wind till the second rest stop. This made the ride a lot longer then it should have been. We rode on quite back roads on route 4 for the day. The terrain was rolling but the hills where to big to just get up a good head of steam and roll up the next hill, and the road was on the windy side.

We rode thou several small towns with lots of boarded up stores.

Their was someone razing elk next to there house,

It started to drizzle going in to the second rest stop. I had dropped my rain jacket in the van at the first rest stop so I was getting wet but not too bad. When I hit the stop I grabbed my jacket but not any food. I got lunch in a small café in the town with the rest stop. I wanted grill cheese and soup but they did not have any soup. After the rests stop it started to rain heavy for a while. We also game by some one the was using bikes as park of sculptures.

At the hundred mark about the time where I had had it. I was looking at the following set of hills.

Howie:

6/29 Day 27: McPherson to Abilene, KS

Howie — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 02:40:40 +0000

For the first day in a long while we had a cue sheet that we really needed to follow and we where on back counter roads. We are still dealing with the low that is causing flooding in Colorado, Texas and Kansas. The sky’s where threatening all day, with temps in the 70s. I opted of the hot breakfast at the restaurant, with meant that I was not with riders I normal ride with . I was feeling real good and was pushing the pace harder then I have been. Coming in to Canton KS, you could see that the town had there act together the had labeled their water towers Hot and Cold.

After leaving that town and riding for a while I saw a large group of riders stop and the road. I was thinking that someone must of crashed then I realized that they where at the half way point of the tour.

Since we left had ridden 1900 miles, climbed 63760 feet, my wheels have gone over 60,000 revolutions and I have pushed the crank around 618,000 times. I have used 2 tubes and 1 tire, I have had my rear rim trued twice. I have worn out 4 gloves. I have no clue how much Gatorade, water of junk food I have had. I have lost around 12 pounds. At the rest stop the crew was being cute and there where donuts and fruit all cut in half, to mark the half way point.

After the rest stop it started to drizzle, not heavy enough to put the jacket on, but hard enough to make it hard to see thru my glasses. I missed a turn, the riders that where behind me tried yelling at me so I would stop. I did not hear them and keep going for 3 miles before I realized that I was off course. As a Lady in a van and she had no clue where the road was. I called the SAG Van to let them know and started riding back over the route I had taken. I saw a guy working his field near the road I ask him and He said that it was another half mile back. There mist turn gave me 6 bounce miles. This is the tracker he was in.

I took a small detour about 2 miles before the end of the days ride to the Eisenhower Center. I did not go in any of the buildings, but took the following shots.

Howie:

6/28 Day 26: Great Bend to McPherson KS

Howie — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:36:04 +0000

Today was day 26 of 52 so we passed the half way point; we have ridden 1886 miles, ridden in 5 states. We have lost one rider do to injury. The riders and bikes are showing the wear and tare of the miles. We have had two days where we have gotten wet. We have ridden in a lot of head wind. Tomorrow we cross the half way point on miles.

The route today was real difficult we took a right out of the hotel back on route 56, Stopped of a snack in a rest area and left in to the next hotel. The day was gray and over cast, with temps in the 70’s while we where riding, we did not seen any thing interesting on the route, just a few wheat fields grain elevators, Oil and Natural gas wells.

I rode in a pace line with Dr Dave, California Tom, and Rick for the fist 35 miles and finished with Dave. Dave and I stop for lunch at a Sonics on the way in to town. We both think that it was the worst food that we have had on the trip so far. We should have eaten closer to the hotel.

Howie:

6/27 Day 25: Dodge City to Great Bend KS

Howie — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:04:52 +0000

They sheriff came in to the hotel when we where eating breakfast and told us that we had been causing too much trouble in Dodge, and that we should be getting out of Dodge. We did so my going east on route 50. The road was both 50 and 56 we took it for a while till the two routes spilt we stayed on 56, till we got to the hotel. We had been riding south east for the last few days with the wind coming from the north east today the wind finally changed unfortunately so the direction that we where headed also did. So we still head a head wind that built thou out the day. I road the whole day with Dr Dave, at different time we paced lined with other riders some that where not experienced pace liners, while riding with them we had to pay a lot of attention to the other riders so not to crash. Will riding alone there was a 5 mile stretch where there where little frogs or toads crossing the road. It was hard not to hit them. I was like being one of the cars while playing Frogger.

The first rest stop was and the Sod House and Museum. This was also the half way point between San Francisco and New York City to bad that we are not stopping in New York City. We will have to wait till tomorrow for the half the days, and the following day for half the miles. I do not know which way to go east or west. West is looking good with all the winds.

The guys on the ride are holding me ransom and are going to tie me to the tracks if I do not raise a lot of money for the PMC. So I need your help, please make a large donation to my PMC Account. J

It started to drizzle between the two rest stop, we keep riding, because it was not too bad. Then it started to get heavier. So I took my rain jacket out of my back pocket and was getting ready to put it on. I tried this while I was riding this was a mistake a gust of wind caught one of the sleeves, and it got sucked in to the rear cassette. I felt the pull and quickly brought the bike to a stop with out letting it get sucked in any more. I then proceeded to unentangle it. It was raped around the cassette about 4 times, I thought for sure that the sleeve was going to be shredded, but it was ok except for the oil all over it. You could see the teeth from the cassette on the sleeve, and the cassette has not looked so clean since Gerry put it on the bike. So when I get back I’m going to submitted a pattern for this method of cleaning your cassette while riding.

Howie:

6/26 Day 24: Garden City to Dodge City, KS

Howie — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:59:02 +0000

We had a late load time of 8:00 today and eating after it so we would not hit the road till 8:30 or so. This was do to a short ride distance. Well my body has gotten used to getting up early so, I woke up at 5:00, I took the time to write the days before’s blog, that was because we went out drinking the night before. The route was to get back on 50 till the hotel. Well about half the groups went right where we should have gone left and we went in a big circle and covered the last 4 miles of the ride from the day before. The detour cost us about 10 miles. It also cost me some of my enthusiasm. Also the group got real spread out because of it. I ended up ride most of the day alone. The wind was in our face but not as strong as the day before. We past a historical land mark on the route which was the Santa Fe Trail;

I did not know what to look for when I was there so I took the picture of the wrong thing. After I talked to other rides I now know that the ruts that I road over there the ruts left from the wagons. The ankle feel ok when I’m riding once it loosens up, as long as I spin, and do not mash the peddles.

When I hit the hotel Dr Dave said he was going to boot hill, in Dodge City (http://www.boothill.org/). Boot Hill is a recreation of the town in 1872 when Dodge City was the biggest cattle city in the west. It was not very big and not very well done, but it was entertaining.

We hung out there till we went to dinner after dinner we went back for the daily shoot out and “The Long Branch Variety Show” the show was corny but good for a laugh.

Howie:

6/25 Day 23: Lamar CO to Garden City, KS

Howie — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:12:25 +0000

I woke up at about 3:00 in the morning with my ankle stiff, and It was throbbing. The night before while getting in to the hot tub I had slipped and all my weight had went to that foot, I did not think any thing of it at that point and it was not bothering me at that point. I could not get make to sleep thinking that my adventure was done or that I would have to SAG for a day or two. I know that this is wrong but in my mind once I step in the van and skip any miles due to my inability to ride will negate the accomplishment of ride. After calling Lynne and almost having a mental breakdown, I decided to try to ride on it. I loaded up on Ibuprofen of as Judy from NVP likes to call it Vitamin I. After talking to Dr. Dave the plan was to ride with Team Stops a lot, and spin( there are two styles of riding Mashing and Spinning, Mashing is when you muscle the peddles in a higher gear at a low cadence, Spinning is when you are in a easier gear at a high cadence). There was another ride with a knee problem so the group was going to be taking it easy.

For the route, we where back on our beloved route 50, the wind was back in our faces or side. There were 8 of use in the group, we where riding in a double pace line to try to combat the wind. We rode this way till the first rest stop at a slow pace, on chip stone. My ankle was still stiff and sore but was not killing me to ride on it. I took more vitamin I.

We did not leave the rest stop all at once Dr Dave and I where the last to leave. With in a mile from the stop we crossed in to Kansas. The group was still not together, so we road on knowing that we would have no problem catching up. Shortly after crossing the line the road improved and we went in to a small town and the group was stopped at a monument about the Santa Fe Trail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Trail).

We reformed the pace line but was keeping the other injured rider protected from the wind so that it would be easer for him. He was in a lot of pain and as we got close to where we had planed on breaking for lunch. We started to talk turns putting our hands on his back and ether pushing him along, or just giving him assistance. At Subway we called he decided that he could ride the 55 miles we had left and called for the SAG van, which we had just passed coming in to town.

Do not know why this was not on the boarder.

I think I may have to get him to mow my lawn by the time I get back.

After lunch Dave and I tried to pick up the pace it had taken us 6 hours to 55 miles. After several attempts to get the group to kick it up. I gave up and did not wait for them, Dave joined me, add we pick the pace up. Now with the wind and only have two of us, you could not really call it a pace line, but we did what we could do to release each other for the wind for short bits of time. The road turned slightly off the wind so that it was more to our sides when we started a long stretch of giant rollers, to big to just speed down and roll up the other side. With the faster pace my ankle was losing up, and giving me less trouble.

The second rest stop was at a DQ so I got a large peanut butter milk shake, and Dave got a Sunday. We eat them inside DQ because of the AC. Just as we where about to leave the group that we had left at the other rest stop pulling in. About half way between the last rest stop and the hotel Dave and I pulled in to a gas station to get cold drinks because we had not seen one of the vans in some time. They had Gatorade Slush’s I could not have asked for more. I filled on bottle with the slush’s the other with water and ice. When we hit the road again I found that in the thermal bottles that I had been using that I had over done it with the cold stuff. I quickly drained the water out of the ice water and the ice was not melting to replace it. The slushy was just one frozen mass (I did not dilute it enough). The day was getting long the heat and wind was staring to take it toll, as we proceeded to ride to the hotel. The rode turned us directly in to the wind about to get off the highway and go to the hotel this cut our speed in about half as we made it to the hotel.

It was a very long day it took us about 11 hours to go 105 miles including all the stops.

Howie:

6/24 Day 22: Pueblo to Lamar CO.

Howie — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:42:34 +0000

The day did not start off grate; we had planed to on getting an early start. After we all load out stuff in to the trailer and went in for breakfast. Well the kitchen was not ready they had lost the keys to the refrigerator. It took them a while to break in to it and cook up the food. When we hit the road we continued on route 50.

I was riding and talking to Tom form California, and we missed a turn that would keep us on 50. Tom notes that we where off course about a mile down the road and we road back and got back on 50. We joined up with a pace line with Brain, Mike and Greg. We where moving pretty good till Greg flatted, I helped him change it, the rest of the group keep on going. We rejoined Brian and Mike at the first rest stop along with Earn. We continued to make good time till the second rest stop. When we left the rest stop I was with Gerard, Mike and Greg. The winds started to pick up and was switching between a head wind and a cross wind. Greg and I dropped of the pace do to the hills and the wind and pulled off to a rest area off the high way, just to take a break. Earn road up while we where in there. The three of us caught up with Arleen and Brain, just before the town where we had planned to have lunch. We say a bunch of bikes in front of DQ, so we pulled in. Most of the day the scenery was plain, so not any thing to take pictures of.

We did pass two Cattle facilities.

The ride was 120 miles; with getting lost I added 2 miles. So when I hit the hotel I keep on going another mile and a half and turned around and went back to the hotel. When I hit the hotel I had 125 mile which is 200 kilometers or a Double Metric Century. This is the longest I have ridden in a single day.

Howie:

6/23 Day 21: Rest day in Pueblo, CO.

Howie — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:22:21 +0000

We have finished the second leg “The Rocky Mountain Tour”. This segment was 2 states for 594 miles. We crossed the Wasatch and the Rocky Mountain chains. We climbed 24600 feet. Since the beginning of the tour we have crossed 5 states, ridden miles to 1450 and climbing to 59230.

On the day off I went on the bike shop run. They did not have the aero bars that I could use, but I did help Arleen pick out and buy a new bike, there was not much of a choice in her size. We had the shop convert the bike to have flat bars and rapid fire mountain sifters. The Shop was not the greatest they did not fit the bike to here. In the afternoon I wrote the blog for day20, and took a nap. We were on our own for dinner Greg , Mike , Earn and I went to Olive Gardens for a nice dinner.

Howie:

6/22 Day 20: Salida to Pueblo, CO.

Howie — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 21:59:38 +0000

I know this part is getting old we road all day on 50. But a lot of us took a detour to The Royal Gorge. We are on the other side of the divide not so we had a net loss in altitude for the day. Coming out of town and for the first 20 miles we had a pretty good down hill, as we follow the Arkansas River down stream. The river had formed a canyon, and rolling thou it was fantastic with the water rushing next to the road and the walls of the canyon rising hundreds of feet above.

The Rest stop was in a parking lot that us used of launching white water rafting trips. There was a constant flow of busses and van towing rafts, coming in to the parking lot. I do not know most of them where not in wet suites, and the water looked real cold. But on hindsight there river was not rough enough where there was a chance that they would be going in it. When we took off the rafts where on the river beside us we, could easily out run them.

A little ways after the rest stop there was a turn for the back entrance to the Royal Gorge. The road to the gorge was old chip stone and not in great shape. About 2 miles in to the detour the road started to climb. The climb was about 1000 feet in 5 miles. there ware lots of places where it hit 16%. Then we dropped down to the rim of the gorge but first had to pay $16. Across the gorge was the tallest suspension bridge. It was 1053 feet over the Arkansas River. The Bridge it self was a steel with a wooden surface. People where walking across is, but also cars where allowed across it. When a car went across the bridge shook. Surrounding the bridge was a small tourist trap.

After we crossed the bridge we rode back to the route, this was all down hill. We stop for lunch in Canyon city where we talk to a group of cyclist that where headed the other direction, there where part of a group riding self supported. There started in the DC Area to Seattle. There each had 60 pounds on their bike and where camping most nights. Considering that we had been descending for the last 90 miles, there where going to have a tough couple of days ahead of them.

While we where getting close to the rest stop we started to see the sky darkening, on both sides, with thunder and rain, but we had blue sky’s ahead of us, so we keep up the pass and where out running the storm for some time. The storm finally caught up with us we took shelter in a open horse stable on the other side of the road about a mile short of the rest stop. We waited there for about 30 minutes, it was letting up the lighting had stopped, I need to find a bathroom bad, so I took off to the rest stop alone. But the time I got out of the bathroom, the roads where dry. But the sky was still dark. We waited for what felt like an hour before taking off for the hotel.

The route was 95 miles but with our 7 mile detour thou the canyon I ended up with a century. I real glad that tomorrow is a day off. I need it.

Howie:

6/21 Day 19: Gunnison to Salida Co.

Howie — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:46:18 +0000

-route-

We took 50 from Gunnison to Salida, via Monarch pass. The train was a gentle climb with a few rollers till the first rest stop. There was a guest at the first rest stop Dr Dave’s wife, had flown in to spend the 3 days with him, She is not riding. This is the pass that we will be taking from the rest stop.

4 miles down the road the only climb of the day; it started about 8,600 feet and was a steady climb of 6% for 9 miles. The climb ended at the Continental Dived at 11,312 feet, the clime was 2738 feet 8.4 miles. Here are some of the shots of the climb up.

I know it was going to be a hard climb, and I was not feeling at the top of my game, just did not seam to have a lot a power, and could have been the altitude. My original plan of attack was to talk a break every 1000 feet of climb. But I could not do that so I adjust to take it one mile at a time, and break close to the mile markers. I was averaging around 4.5 MPH. As I climbed I developed a killer headache, was finding it hard do drink while riding so when I was breaking I was giving my body time to adjust to the altitude. At about 10,000 feet I started to find it hard to catch my breath. I contained with breaking every mile till 2 miles from the top, at which time I need to get to the top, and I pushed my self to get to top. When I made it to the top I laid down in the van till my breathing and my head adjust to the altitude. I did not feel that I could keep food down, so I did not eat. I have on this trip done 6% climbs so I contribute me difficulty to the altitude. Took the ceremonial pictures at the continental dived. Mike found a pile of snow, and came back with three snow balls, I took them and manage to juggle them.

From the top Monarch pass it was down hill for the next for the next 23 miles, we drop 4274 feet, most of the drop till we got close to town was at 6%. I was wearing a jacket that was slowing me down so did not hit a record fast speed, but it was better then freezing like I did on Mt Rose. This is what it looked like from the top of the pass looking at the Atlantic ok it is 2500 miles away.

I did stop a few times to take pictures. This is where we have been.

Howie:

6/20 Day 18: Montrose to Gunnison Co.

Howie — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:47:45 +0000

You guessed it, we got back on 50 and rode it all day. I don’t know why, but, again we were one of the last groups to leave, I may have to set the alarm 15 minutes earlier. But the magic word of the day was �Climbing�. There were 2 major climes and one minor one. We started off climbing gently but the head wind was bad, again, but we have ridden through worse. We rode by the entrance to the Black Canyon, there was an optional ride up it 2000 feet in 7 miles, up and back, no thanks! Three people tried and only two of them made it all the way up. The head wind was steady until the first climb got serious. We had a 5 mile climb at 6 to 8% grade. The wind was not bad when it was getting blocked by the mountains. This climb got us to about 8000 feet above sea level.

Form there we descended 900 feet, into the valley. We heard from the hotel that there was a store with great home made pie. We stopped at one place, but it wasn’t the right one, they said to go up the road another 2 miles. We found the place. It was not hard since there were no other stores on the road. A lot of us stopped there. I had a piece of pecan pie, thinking that all that sugar would help the next climb. The big climb started right when we left the store. This climb took us to 8700 feet. A Little ways up the road we ran in to a construction area. They where putting down chip stone (yuck). The flag lady would not let us go for a while, then I talked to her and explained that we’d only be riding the break down lane on the other side of the road anyways, so we wouldn’t be in the way at all. After that, she gave in and let us continue riding.

My goal was to do the climb with out stopping. I did make it 1000 feet up to where Tom was sitting with the van. I stopped for water and had a power bar. The SAG stop was another 700 feet up at 8700 feet. Once we were at the top, we had climbed 1700 feet in 7 miles (I�m glad I didn’t do the optional climb). I was feeling a little dizzy so I laid down in the van for 5 minutes, for my head to clear. I really did not feel like eating, due to the altitude. I did eat a little and put some stuff in my pockets. And dropped about 300 feet, just to climb back up another 300 feet.

From this point we dropped another 1000 feet. We followed the Gunnison River. It was flowing in the other direction to a huge reservoir. We rode the shores of it, to the other end.

We then continued to follow the river upstream until we got to town and the hotel.

Howie:

6/19 Day 17: Grand Junction to Montrose, CO.

Howie — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:24:56 +0000

-route-

�

We started out the day with three local cyclists leading our way for the first 12 miles on a bike path for about 12 miles, at the end of the path we got back on 50 and took that to Montrose. The local riders then went back home. Did you ever wonder what it look like after we loaded the gear and going in for breakfast? Here are most of the bikes ready to roll.

�

I road to the first rest stop with the faster riders, I can take them on the down hills, but they drop me on the climbs. When I got drop I just road till the next group caught me then I road with them. �The last climb to the rest stop we a tough one, but I just geared down and made it up it, it hit 8% in places. To the rest stop we where riding next to the Grand Mesa.

�

After the rest stop I road with Dr. Dave for till about 10 miles from the end. Dave I the fist person that I have ridden with that can take me on a down hill. I had to give my down hill crown to Dave. Just be for delta I notice that my front tire was soft, but not flat. So I tried to ride to Delta where we had planned to have lunch. Just as I decided that I could not make it. Gerard can to the rescue he quickly changed the tube. It was not do to running over something, the tube that I had put in the day before had failed.

The reason that I did not ride all the way with Dave is that the Fast tandem blew by us and it was too tempting not to go with them, I road with them form the next 3 miles, hitting speeds of 23 mph but it was them pulling me along. When we hill I hill I descended that if I stay with them I would regret it the next day. So I drop off the train and road for a shot distance with Gene, till the next down hill. As I crested the hill I saw a tracker with a hay baler in tow. I told Gene that it was going to get in my way. Well it did not I did catch it but at the bottom of the hill, I then drafted behind it for a few miles. When I hit town I saw a bike shop and got 2 pair of new gloves. From there I rode to the hotel.

�

There was a trip in the van to Black Canyon the picture speak for them self�s.

�

Howie:

�

6/18 Day 16: Green River UT to Grand Junction Colorado.

Howie — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:23:19 +0000

To days route was another simple one, out of the hotel go down the road to the interstate get of at for the rest stops and at the end get off the interstate and to the hotel. They had us load the trailer before we eat at the hotel and want us on the road as soon as possible it was going to be a long, hot day, but not as hot as yesterday. I started of riding with Brain and with in a few miles on the interstate we caught up to a group of other riders riding in a pace line we join on it. We stay with them till the first rest stop.

I took off from the rest stop with Greg and a few miles down the road he stopped to check his rear tire. There was a bubble where the tire was about to fail. Fortunately he had a foldable tire in his bag. We change the tire and were on our way, but near the back of the pack. We had a large mesa on our left while we were riding to the second stop. By this point in the day it was starting to get hot there rest stop was under an overpass with a cool breeze blowing thou, this wash an nice relief for the heat.

After the rest stop we had a 6 mile ride with a nice tail wind to the Utah, Colorado board. There was a large group of us so we took a group shot as well as individual shots. Greg an I also went to the other of the highway to get the missed shot of the Utah sign, I know it is cheating, but it is still an entering Utah sign.

As soon as we passed in to Colorado it was amazing how the scenery change, it was form very little vegetation to, to trees and grasses. The Mountains changes as well. Sue a AB ride leader who live in Grand Junction, was under an over pass with freeze pops, welcoming us to Colorado. I lost Greg on some of the great descents.

When I was about 5 miles out of town, there was lots of junk on the road. I started to hear something clicking on my on my front wheel I stop to check the wheel I had a piece of wire sticking out of it. I pull it out and the tire did not go flat right away, so I booked it to the hotel. After checking in to the hotel, getting my gear to the room showering and napping (about 2 hours later),� looked at it and it was soft, so I had to change it, I went 1135 miles with out a flat.

Howie:

�

6/17 Day 15: Price to Green River.

Howie — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:20:19 +0000

Today�s route had us continuing down route 6 to I-70 and then take I-70 for one exit, which led us into to town and to the hotel. We had a net elevation change of -1500 feet over 67 miles. It was not all down hill - we still climbed 1250 feet. I know I have been talking a lot about grade and feet of climb. Grade is %grade=(100*rise)/run. So a 50 foot climb in a mile has about a 1% grade. Now 50 feet does not sound like a lot but think about it this way: a highrise has about 10 feet per floor. So 50 feet is a 5 story building. Our biggest day of climbing was 8000, so that was an 800 story building. A rule of thumb that is used by long distance cyclists is that 100 feet of climb = 1 mile of riding. So again on the day that we did 8000 feet of climb we did it in 87 miles so that is equal to a 167 mile ride.

Brian, Mike, and myself were almost the last ones to leave the hotel. In a few miles we caught up to a large group of riders. It was early on a Sunday morning so we had the road to ourselves.

Just before the first rest stop there was a good downhill with signs warning the trucks about the downhill grade of 7%. You can see that the road disappears over the crest of the hill.

After the rest stop I started to struggle mentally. I was riding in to a head wind and unlike at home when I ride you are always in the trees and the scenery is always changing because of houses and things like that. While riding in wide open terrain things change a lot slower. The scenery is stunning, but it is also big. It can take an hour or more to pass a large object in the distance, or ride to the mountain in front of you. This plays with your mind. It was also getting hot.

Another thing that made the day harder was that we were riding on chip stone. Chip stone is a cheap way of resurfacing a road. They Spray tar on the road then put flat quarter inch stone on top of it; the cars driving over it pack the stone in to the tar. This is not a smooth surface to ride on especially when you are riding the breakdown lane where cars normal do not travel. A trick is to ride the white line, the paint is a little smoother, but you need to watch for car/trucks. We had a 7 mile stretch where they where adding a lane. There were barrels separating us form the cars, and we had a fresh smooth surface.

Howie:

PS: I later heard that it hit 109 degrees on the road today.

PPS: We have ridden over 1000 miles.

6/16 Day 14: Provo to Price Utah.

Howie — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 03:06:00 +0000

They were forecasting a hot day with a high of around 100. So riders tried to get out early to beat the heat. The route had us wind our way to 89 that merge in to 6 and then ride 6 all the way to Price. The route had us climbing for the first 50 miles with one 4 mile down hill. We had a very strong head wind getting to the Price canyon. I think this was due to wind being channeled through the canyon. At some points it was so strong that I was in my lowest gears and only going about 5 mph. I fought the wind the whole time so I wouldn’t get blown over.

This is a shot of the beginning of the canyon. After a few miles in the canyon the winds let up. There were lots of false flats while riding through canyon. The climb was long but the grade was only from 1 to 4 % up to the first down hill. This is a picture near the top, the grade is about 4% for the two segments of the road you can see.

This is a shot of me at the top of that section.

At the rest stop there where some prairie dogs, and they were eating out of the hands of some kids.

Coming out of the rest stop we started a 6 mile climb, again with a 4% grade, but this time we had a tail wind. That helped get me up the climb. I did the climb with Mike, Greg, and Jeff. We took a break at the top of the hill.

This is Jeff climbing and me at the top:

The winds were not kind to us on the way down the canyon. At some points we had to peddle to� keep going! The following are some great shots of the walls of the canyon:

�

There was a monument with the following plaque on it:

Howie:

6/15 Day 13: Salt Lake City to Provo Utah.

Howie — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:51:26 +0000

I should have shown this yesterday the room was so small that we had to have the desk, desk chair, and a sitting chair removed from the room to get the roll away bed in to the room. To make more room I put my bike in the closet.

Today was a shortish day so there was a later load and start time, but, even still, the guys in my room and I found it hard to get up and get started. The route was very windy, we basically rode through neighborhoods to the first rest stop. With all the turns and stopping the group was bunched up. At one point most of the riders were in one spot. Once we hit a long stretch on one road the group broke up. I ended up riding with Andy, Tom, and Mike till the first rest stop.

After the rest stop I rode with Tom, the mechanic. We had to climb with a headwind, that made the climb that much tougher. This shot is from the top of the hill:

As I was on my way down the hill I saw what looked to be a race track with a bunch of police cars with lights flashing running around it. It must have been a training center. From there we started going through some more neighborhoods. We had a fantastic view of a mountain in the background

From there we decided that we were lost. We asked for directions and found our way back to the route. The route took us on a bike path, that had separate lanes for walkers and bikes, and the whole thing was landscaped (should have taken a picture). At the end of the path we stopped at a gas station. Going in to the store I made a comment jokingly about filling my bottle with a slushy. While in the store after getting a Gatorade I saw Tom getting a watermelon slushy. So I did the same. Considering how hot it was the cold, sweet slushy was very refreshing. While in the store I got a gift for my wife.

This is a inside joke. We have a frog pond, so we have a frog gallery on one of the walls in the dining room, several plush frogs, and a bunch of other frog things in the house.

The route then took us through Brigham Young University, and to the hotel.

Howie:

6/14 Day 12: Rest day in Salt Lake City

Howie — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:09:58 +0000

Today was the first rest day of the tour. After hitting the free happy hour at the hotel, and the bar we went to after dinner last night, we tried to sleep in. But after getting up early every day so far, it was hard to sleep too late. I had signed up for a massage at 10:00, but it did not happen till 11. The lady that did it was relatively new at massages. She was competent but not as good as my normal masseuse, Liz. She worked out most of the knots, but was not able to loosen up my IT Bands.

After the massage I went in to Salt Lake City with Dave. We paid the hotel shuttle driver to drop us off in town. The first thing we did because it was where he dropped us off. Was go in to The Family History Library. You could look up records about your family tree (http://www.familysearch.org). I tried a few lookups, but did not find much out. From there we got something to eat at a food court, nothing special. Then we went Temple Square, where we saw the Mormon Temple, Tabernacle hall. You would not believe the number of brides and grooms getting photos in front of the temple.

After walking around the square we tried to find a bike shop. The one we got directions to was closed. We got directions to another sporting goods store. I headed off to that and Dave went to get a hair cut. I start walking to the store with another one from our group, but after several large blocks I decide that it was too far. So I headed back to meet Dave at the barbers. I found him walking up the street on his way to it. When we got close I took a shot of the capital building.

After Dave got his hair cut we went in hunt of the bus stop. We asked a bunch of people and none of them had a clue, they must have been in town to visit the Mormon Church or for the Rotary International Convention that was starting that weekend. We managed to find the Bus Stop, just as the bus showed up. There were two others from our group that had been waiting for the bus for 25 mins. It took a long time to get back to the hotel on the bus, including a stop at the airport.

Howie:

6/13 Day 11: Wendover, NV to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Howie — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:12:00 +0000

Today we finished the first segment of the tour, The Western State Tour. We have ridden 850 miles through 3 states, 2 time zones, over 11 days. There have been many flats, a few tires replaced, and a few minor mishaps. There are a few achy legs, ankles, and knees. We are counting on using tomorrow to recover.

The plan for the day was to again ride most of the day on I-80, and at the end take a side road for 10 miles to the hotel. We started out the ride by crossing in to Utah. I was disappointed that there was no sign marking the crossing. From there we got on I-80 and road through the Bonneville Salt Flats. I rode part of the first section with Darleen. There was not much to see on the Salt Flats.

The SAG van was sitting about 20 miles out. After filling up my bottles, I went out with a big group of riders. We had a strong cross wind. So we formed a pace line. The wind was so strong that the even though we were in a pace line we were not getting the normal relief that it gives you. So we decided to do a double pace line. The riders in the inner line would have the other line blocking the wind. We road that way for the rest of the way to the next SAG stop. There was no van at the SAG stop, it was just water and a table of food. One of the vans needed to get jumped. Even with the van, there was not much at the SAG Stop, it was just a dirt spot on an off ramp.

I left the stop with Gerard, there was not much wind for this stretch, and he was able to pull my 20+ till we found one of the vans on the side of the road. We stopped and filled up our bottles. Mike joined us when we left the stop. I stuck with them till we hit a hill. It was a long climb but it was not too steep. The wind was picking up again. When I crested the hill and started down I had to peddle to go down hill. There was a gas station off one of the exits about 30 miles from the last rest stop and 20 more till the next one. Most riders where stopping.

After the impromptu stop I got back on the interstate and started to ride to the next rest stop. About half way to it I ran in to Brian and Robert, Robert had just repaired a flat. Next to the interstate was a small salt water pond. Because of the pond the air was very acrid. I was found it very hard to breath. We started to ride and made it to exit where the rest stop was. We did not see any thing, but about half way down the ramp Michele was sitting in her chair with the table of food and water to the side. While we were eating and filling our bottles, Eckhart came riding back from I-80 to the rest stop. He had broken a spoke. Just then, Tom drove up in the SAG Van. Tom gave him the wheel off of his bike, and Eckhart took off. Brian and Robert, also, left before I was ready. I was feeling beat and did not want to have to keep their pace, so I set off by my self shortly after them. The cue sheet indicated that there was a 600 foot climb between the last rest stop and the finish. I had been going slow while fighting my fatigue and the wind. At 99 miles in to the ride I ate a GU to give me energy for the climb. I never found the hill. But between the wind backing off, and the GU, I was able to pick up the pace and felt good during the last 18 mile.

I got off the interstate and took a road that was between the salt lake and the highway. About 3 miles before the end of the road Tom drove bye in the van and told me that due to construction I needed to get back on the interstate and get off at the next exit. I tried to talk my way through the construction area. But they would not let me through. So I took the highway for about a mile, got off, and found my way to the hotel. This was the longest day in the saddle I have had on this tour, so far, because of the miles and the wind slowing me down.

After dinner the riders that where leaving the ride said nice things about the group that was continuing on. We recognized the first time century (100 miles) riders. Then Wayne had the new century riders do a word game where they had to repeat a set of sentence that kept getting longer. While this was going on I talked to the hotel person that was running the dinner about if the hotel had a masseuse that they could call in. It just happened that one of the waitresses was a masseuse. So I set it up that she would bring in some of her friends for massages for riders who wanted them.

Howie:

6/12 Day 10: Elko to Wendover.

Howie — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:26:04 +0000

To day was the first long day of the trip. We general climbed for the first 70 miles, and then dropped in to Wendover. West Wendover is just on Utah border, in fact the west Wendover is in Nevada and Wendover is in Utah. West Wendover being in Nevada means it is the first place where you can gamble on I-80 in Nevada. Utah is in the Mountain Time zone and so is this town, so we loss and hour when we rolled in to town.

Today�s route was simple go left out of the hotel get on I-80 get of and off I-80 for the two rest stops, get off I-80 two quick rights and your at the hotel. I start riding with Greg and Mike. Greg flatted on a brand new tire before we hit the interstate. I helped change it, and the SAG van came by just as we where about down, so we finish with a floor pump. We got on our way, at the end of the pack. We then got on I-80 and it was reinforced that it was going to be a long day.

I pulled way form Mike and Greg on the first hill, I was feeling pretty good, and I keep on going. I ended up riding with several riders for short stretches but in general road alone till the first rest stop at the 40 mile mark. When I got there I was still fresh so I told my self that was the warm up and the 68 starts now. I spent too much time at the rest stop.

Bump before the big climb. After a down hill we started the big climb of the day. They were working on the road in the fast lane, and the flag person told us to ride inside the barrels. The lane was blocked off the whole way to the top about 5 miles. Now this was not real different from riding the breakdown lane, we had the same 8 feet of road. The only difference was that we had the barrels between us and the traffic. I found my self riding close to the barrels, I guess I have gotten use to ride the right hand side of the lane. A few times in almost hit one of the barrels. The climb was from 4 to 6%.�

�

Shot near the top of the climb. The down hill was another good fast decent. There has been plenty of time where I saw a nice down hill when I was in the car and wanted to ride it. This down hill was so long I will I may have another view of those hills. Near the bottom off an exit was the rest stop in a closed gas station down a dirt road. The canap� over the pumps made for good shade. When I was on the bike I was feeling ok. But when got off the bike, I started to feel the miles. Just when I was about to leave we saw one of the other miss the turn on to the dirt road, we tried yelling at them, but there where too far away to hear. So I started the chase, it tool me about � mile to catch the rider It was Darleen.

-darleen-

I road with here till she was at the turn, I continued back to the interstate. We still had two more climbs to do. The first of them was not too bad I had a strong tail wind. The wind did not help on the second of them and after being on the bike for around hounded miles I did not have much left in my legs. So I took it easy up this hill. At the top of it you could see the Bonneville Salt Flats .

Form the top of this last hill, I drop down and got off at the exit, and made it up to the hotel. Once I stepped in to the hotel you could see that this was more of a real casino then some of the other places that we have stayed in Nevada, lots of goddie neon.

Howie:

6/11 Day 9: Battle Mountain to Elko NV.

Howie — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:52:38 +0000

The forecast was for afternoon thunder storms, so I got an early start. Again I start off we a group at an easy pace, and too some shots of the other riders in the group.

I was chatting with two of the riders and did not realize that we where pulling away form the group. We where riding along and Brian and Mike joined the group and we started to pace line at round 18 mph. We had to keep a leach on Brian when he was at the start of the line. We keep up the pace line to the first rest stop.

After the rest stop we had the big climb of the day. It was a 2000 foot climb over 12 miles. I left the rest stop alone knowing that it would take me longer then the group I road in to the rest stop with. The climb was deceptive, every time I crested what I thought was the top, there was a down hill, and another climb. on the 5^th rise the longest of the set, you could not see the top till the very end because it was on a curve. I was very happy to do the climb with out stopping which was my goal.

�

One of the SAG vans was in the rest area at the top of the hill a few riders group up, and stared the down hill together.� The down hill was in one shot and striate, not like the up hill. The hill was great for a fast decent. I hit a top speed of 41 mph. this decent let us roll in to the next rest stop 10 miles away.

After the rest stop, we took back a back road that winded it way thou a canon, there was no traffic on this road because it dead ended on I-80. We too the canon to avoid going thou a par of tunnels that when thou part of the canon. This was real neat

When we got to the end of the road we had to cross I-80 and get on it going east. When I got to the other side I started to ride with a father and his son. We passed lined our way till we got off the highway. Well the son took off to try to catch another rider that was in front of us (he did catch him). They slowed down and to caught up to them after we got off the high way just after a light. We then road together to a Dairy Queen on the way to the hotel. We got caught at a light about a block way for the DQ and some one said sprint to the DQ, so I took off, not one else did, I got food there, then road to the hotel. This was a top notch hotel, and only Mike and I where in the room.

Note: the rumble strips that go all the way across the breakdown lane are not as bad if you go over them faster.

Howie:

6/10 day 8: Winnemucca to Battle Mountain NV

Howie — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:18:55 +0000

It was a short day of 55 miles today, they let us sleep in with a load time of 8:00. Loading the trailer took a little longer then normal because we where spilt between two hotels. The bags where tag for one of the hotels. And one hotel was loaded before the other. I got with the main pack of riders. From the forecast the night before I decided not to take a jacket with me for the day so I packed it in my bag. When I started riding I felt some sprinkles and the clouds where low and dark, I was worried that I had made a mistake. We went a few miles thru town, can got on I-80 again. As the group started to split up I was feeling good so I stayed with the faster riders, for the first 10 miles or so then my phone rang. I was Ben trying to fix the frog pond back home. I could not talk and ride with the group I was with, so I slowed down then stops, I told Ben what I wanted him to do, and started riding again taking a few more calls from Ben stile riding. I road on till the only climb of the day. We where on I-80 so the grade had to be something the trucks could do. Trucks roads are no more then 6%.� This climb was 800 feet over 4 miles.

Then we had to go down the other side, the drop was over 5 and a half miles, I hit speeds of 35 mph. at one point the decent got tricky when I had to navigate thro the remains of a truck tier. After the decent we had another 10 miles till the rest area. About half way I stared to get hunger, because of the short I did not put any food in my pocket. I caught to Gary the rider I meat at the airport. We made it to the rest stop which was 39 miles in to the ride. I fueled up, and checked in on how the frog pong project was going at home. Ben gave up because he was too tiered from stall up all night at a sleep over.

I took off from the rest stop alone. There was a strong cross wind. between the wind and the fact that I was riding alone. I was riding lazily along. I then saw a rider ahead of me, and set it as a target, and kick it up. Over a mile or two I caught up to Tom the other mechanic. Tom and I road together and the pace I was going to and talking till we got off the interstate, where we ran in to another rider. Tom slowed down to talk to the other rider, they where both going to the other hotel, so I road on to the hotel. When I got to the hotel I know it was not going to be good. It was old and beat up. They had a pool and whirlpool, but they had not water in them. The rooms where not ready so I went to the pizza/deli shop next store and got a sandwich. When I got back to hotel I the room was ready. When I got up to the room Mike read something out of a local information guild. Battle Mountain was name a few years ago as the �Airpit of America�, it is also know a the site where the human-powered vehicle land-speed record was set.

Howie:

PS: I did not get rained on.

6/09 Day 7: Lovelock to Winnemucca NV.

Howie — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:23:33 +0000

Today ride was another flattish ride, for the most part the wind was at our backs, it was not too hot.? Most riders made real good time. When I started off I was with some of the faster riders, but there where going are a slow pace. Where they took off I did not go with them, because I do not want to burn my self out for the too very long days we have going in to Salt Lake City. I did pull away for the other riders that I was riding way when we came to a moderate hill. On the down hill I was just costing in a tuck when Andy one of the tour leaders(the 4 staff members take turns riding) passed me, and said some thing about racing down the hill so at that point a kicked it up, and went full out, and I caught up to him, but it was taking a lot of emerge, so I stopped pushing it before the bottom of the hill. At the turn after the hill, I did catch up to him, and we road together, we where both winded. We talk for a while then we saw in the distance a large group of stopped riders. One of the riders had a flat, we stop and took over and changed the flat. By the time we where read to go it was just Andy , Phillip (rider with the flat) and me, we started of at a moderate pace but this did not last,? I dropped off that pace and road in too the first rest stop with a few other riders that I caught up to.?After the first stop I road by myself form the most part. For short section I did ride with other riders for short stretches. The paces was pretty good do to the tailwind and the terrain.???

After the second rest stop I left with Brian and we got back on I-80. With the wind at our back we again made good time. The last 5 miles of the interstate where on concrete, with rumble strips across the breakdown lane, when we got off it was on normal road. ?When we got off the interstate one of the one of the tour mechanics caught up to us, and I made the comment that it was good to see him, and he can pull us in to the hotel. We start a pace line at about 20 MPH, and held that for a few miles, then Brian came up from the back and took the lead, and kicked up the pace to 25 MPH for the next few miles, then I took my turn, I did drop it down to 23. It felt good to spin the legs hard. Got to the hotel got some food and took a long sock in the whirl pool.

It has been on week of cycling since we left San Francisco. Have riding just under 500 miles that is about one eighth of the way across the country.? The miles are starting to talk their toll. There are a few riders riding hurt, or that have taken all or part of a day in one of the vans. Others have spent a day suffering on the bike for too many drinks the night before. There have been no major bike issues. The head mechanic is real good both on the bike and as a mechanic I say him do a road side repair of a broken spoke where? he did not have the right size replacement spoke. He took a new spoke that was too short and what was left of the broken spoke and twisted them to gather, the repair lasted forty miles to the next hotel. There have been two minor accidents that I know of, one rider hit a curb when a fire engine startled him, and another slipped in the snow storm. There have been too many flats to count, most riders have had one, (I have not, now I will have one tomorrow J ).? The new bike is working great, thank you Gerry, all the time and late nights you put in to it, have paid off.

There was nothing that interesting to take pictures of. Witch brings up a question what kind of pictures, do you like me to take and post. Mail me at hiwindz@gmail.com so I know what it is worth stopping for.

6/08 day 6: Sparks to Lovelock NV

Howie — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:41:14 +0000

After two days of climbing today was a ride was a needed relief. The day was still a long day having to ride 91 miles. We started out form the hotel and took some roads thou and warehouse/distribution center (lots of truck). From there we got on I-80 the first 12 or so mile on I-80 where not fun at all the traffic was heavy, the road was concrete, with rumble strips crossing half of the breakdown lane. This got more interesting when we hit a construction area. Where the break down lane was blocked off be jersey barriers. So we had about a foot to ride in for 2 tens of a mile. Then the surface turned to asphalt and the rumble strip was next to the white line and the traffic thinned out. ?For the most part the ride to the first rest stop was gentle down hill. So the first 32 miles did not real count. We had a moderate head wind. Os for the first time in the trip I started up a pace line at time we where cruising comfortably at 25 MPH. this may the mile pass quicker. After the rest stop we pasted a field where there where signs saying ?Danger scalding water? it look like there was a power generation area, that was using the hot springs as a source. Also in this stretch we here a plan approaching while stop to take a picture when we look up we saw 10 small single engine plans, real low, and close enough to see them wave from in side. One of the plans pass over head about 20 feet, and a few of them plans dipped their wings? to wave. Going in to the second rest stop I ran in to for the first time a cattle guard. This is like a storm grate but with the opens 4 inches apart this is design to keep the cow for crossing in to an area that they do not want them, like the rest area where the stop was.

From the rest stop we had another 14 miles on I-80, till where was a road the paroled it. The surface of this was a lot rougher than I-80, a few comments were made later that it would have been better to stay on I-80. In face riding on a interstate was not as bad as I thought it would be. We had enough of a breakdown lane so the car and trucks passing us at 75+ (speed limit was 75 so they probably where going 85+) was not a problem.

Highway riding and flats, riding on a high way intrudes a new problem, there is lots of junk in the breakdown lane. I saw lots of bungee cords, a few mirrors, and the biggest problem is peaces of tires. Now the tires themselves are just a nescience, the real problem is when a radial tire is shredded; sharp wire can be ether sticking out from them or in clumps. If one of there wire get stuck in you tire, you get a flat, needless to say there where a lot of flats today.

Howie:

6/07 Day 5: Tahoe to Sparks, CA

Howie — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:22:29 +0000

I know when I got up it was going to be a hard day, by legs where still cooked from the day before. We got out to at late start because my two roommates where out late at a micro brewer, and where a little sluggish. We where the last ones to leave the hotel. The ride started riding up to Squaw Valley Ski area. Then getting on a bike path that brought us to Lake Tahoe, we road the shore of the lake. We crossed our first state line, as we passed from California to Nevada.

Once We started riding again we caught up to a few other riders one of them had heard of a spot called fanny bridge, where there where some large tout that could be see form the bridge.

From the bridge we continued around thou some quit lake side towns that live off of the tourist money. Up till this point the road has been gently rolling. Now the fun begins we have to ride to the top of Mt Rose pass. At the turn to the climb one of the SAG vans was sitting I took off the cold weather gear, and filled my water bottle. At this point we where at about 6000 feet, and stated the 8 mile climb, to 8900 feet. This climb was non stop at about 6% grade. Made it to the 7000 foot spot where there where some great views of the lake.

After resting for a little while I started back up the hill. At this point I started watching the altimeter in my computer, and took a short rest at 7500 and 8000 vertical feet. At this point I could see the top and it was becoming a little less steep. And I pushed my way up to 8700 feet, where there was a small drop, and then the summit. Where our one and only rest stop was in a parking lot.

From the summit you could see the Reno and the road that we need to take to get there. Now we where on the top of a mountain and we had to get down to Reno 4500 feet below us. We did this decent in 16 miles of windy roads. The road where not smooth enough to let the bike fly, so I road the breaks. I also had to stop a few times to warm up. Once we stop the decent, I was feeling pretty good and did the ride to the hotel at a good clip. At on point at a light at guy on a motor scoter who was riding in the bike lane when the light changed I used him to draft behind, I did then next miles at 25 MPH, till he turned off. From then it was an easy ride to the hotel. We had dinner in the Nugget at a buffet. I resisted the gaming tables.

Howie:

6/06 day 4 Auburn to Tahoe CA

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:59:54 +0000

Let?s start by saying that today was probably the most challenging day of cycling that I have ever done, the ride was 73 miles, with 8625 feet of climbing and 7 hour and 23 minutes of saddle time. There where several climb where I saw my bike computer registering a 20% grade, and one hill hit 23%. I know this was going to be a hard day, the plan was to not push, but to pace my self so I would make it, the Mother Nature had her input.

I had a felling that it may get colder up in the mountains so I put my bag of bad weather gear in one of the SAG vans. We start out the day it was foggy and about 50 degrees, the fog burned off by the time we got to a impromptu stop at a gas station at around 15 miles, normal we would not stop after only 15 miles but by this point we had already done some climbing including a few of the 20% grades and had just done the 23% one. After we got back on route and had done an other ?hill, I realized that I had left one of my water bottle at the stop, I was not going back, but at that point we passed one of the SAG vans. I told Tom the driver that I had left it, and if any one went by it to pick it up. We had been climbing basically since we left the hotel. Then we hit a down hill which was a nice break, but the group soon came to the consciences that down was bad since the net gain for the day was 4000 feet. We made it to the first rest stop which was at the 32 mile mark, and then the fun began. The next stretch was on I-80 (we had a permit to ride it). So here we are climbing at 4% to 6% with cars and trucks zipping by at 65 MPH, there is a wide breakdown lane; this took a while to get use to. As we climb from 4000 feet to 5000 feet it keeps getting colder and colder. There was a note on the cue sheet that there was food available 14 miles in to the stretch on I-80. The group I was riding with deiced to get some coffee, I joined them. We hung out for about 30 minutes warming up. When I when back out to startup it was much colder, and the sky?s where getting dark. Mike and I got back on the interstate and shortly after words it stated to hale, then snow. We where lucky that we passed the one of the SAG on the side of the highway we stopped and I put on my heavy jacket, and rain paints. We came upon an other rider Cliff who had just fallen, he was back up , but was very gold and a little banged up. I called the SAG van to come get him, while I was on the phone a State police SUV, stop to check on us, we had Cliff get in the curser to get warm while the SAG van drove to us. We waited till it showed up. While we where still on the high way the it stopped snowing. By the time we got off the highway at the 49 mile mark, the roads where drying out. But it was still cold, so we stopped at a gas station and bought work gloves, the sag van was there picking up a few riders. From there we went down a hill, more of lost altitude. We got to the second rest stop and it was acutely getting warm. During the 15 minutes we where there it got cold again, and start with the snow again we waited it out before starting up again, at this point we had a group of 4 riders. From the rest stop we road up Donner?s Pass (up is the what we did) just before Donner?s Pass Ski area. It started snowing yet again, we know that that we would shortly start the drop in to the Tahoe area, We saw that the bar was open so we hung out in it while the storm passed. While we where in the bar, an older guy came in, there was one other person beside the bar tender and cook, here was I full dirt bike gear, so I made the comment that we where turning this place in to a biker bar, He said that it all was had been. He then told a story about being in the parking lot teaching a motor cycle class. And three guy pull up in a pickup, and asked if the could ride here and explained that the bikes in the pick up where MT. Bikes, He said that the truck could not make it up and showed them how to run the lift, they road all day. It turns out one of the guys was Garry Fisher, the other was his frame builder, an owned a bike shop. The guy was the former owner of the ski area.

So when it cleared up, we started back on our way. Across form the bar was some stone man? we also to picture from the top of the hill before the big decent. At 7130 feet

there road was at very windy and very steep I road the breaks on the way down, ?we dropped 2000 feet in a few miles, I could not see ride up it.After that we had a nice flat ride along side Donner Lake, and to the hotel.

Howie:

?PS: Mike said while we where in the on I-80 in the strom “I thought hell was hot”

6/05 Day 3: Sacramento to Auburn, California

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:47:32 +0000

I have a new opinion on bike paths now. We started out the morning by riding about a half mile bake the way we came at the end of yesterday, to Discovery Park ?find link-. We then road the bike path for 35 miles with NO road crossings, now this bike path was about 12 feet wide and paved, I think during the 35 mile we may have only been 10 roots that had forces the asphalts up. The path follows a few rivers beds, and was in the flood plain on the rivers. For most of it you could not see or hear any traffic noise. While one the path I saw two rabbits with very long ears (sorry no pictures), the guy for Texas call them jack rabbits not sure if that is just a Texas thing. We also ran in to two packs of wild turkeys,

We passed Folsom prison on the other side of the river. One of the other groups bumped in to an retired guard while taking pictures, He talk to them about who had spent time in Folsom, including: Charlie Manson,? the Menendez?s,? and others.

Right when we got off the path we had the only rest stop of the day, on a lake formed by a big dam. That was just up stream from the prison. From the rest stop we got on a normal road, and started the climb to Auburn. The clime started out gradual, but as we got closer to town there where parts of it that hit 10%, wanting to save my legs for tomorrow I shifted in to an easy gear and took my time doing the climb. Between the hotels we had a new gain for 1500 feet; most of it was on that climb.

When we hit Auburn, I grab some food; with some other riders then did a little more climbing up to the hotel. We did about 52 miles, and I know that we will pay for the short days, later in the tour. I spent some time in the hot tub at the hotel swapping biking stores with some of the other ridersHowie:

6/04 Day 2: Fairfield to Sacramento, California

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:41:56 +0000

This was a short easy day, there was almost no climbing and we had the wind at are back it was only 57 miles. After yesterday 4000 feet of climb of 82 miles, it was a nice relief. I figured out how to download and follow a route on the GPS so my plan was to follow it. I got a late start, I think we and my one of my room mates (mike) where the last ones out that where not doing something special. There where 5 riders went for to visit an air force base hospital, then they did the ride. Our plans where to take it easy and recover from day one, and we did keep it easy till the first hill ok it was only 100 feet about 3 miles in to the ride. We pick up speed on the way down the first hill. Then keep up that pace till the first rest stop 30 miles in to the ride. ?We stop as some point to take a picture with some windmills in the back ground; you can not see them in the picture.

We managed to catch up to and pass a few other riders. When we where getting close to the rest stop we where between two groups of riders, Mike that the turn should be right around here, but we saw the other riders ahead of us so we keep going. We caught them, and we collectively decided that we where off course. I look at the GPS and said I think if we go left we can get back on route. Just about the time we where back on course we saw some rides riding thou the intersection ahead of us. When we got that we ask one of them if they had been to the rest stop, which they had, so we know that we had to back track to get to it. We where only a few blocks past it the rest stop so we did not do too bad.? We left the rest stop in a pack of 8 riders at a less aggressive pass on some quite back road riding 2 and three abreast, talking away. About half way down a bike path the group starting to split up as 4 of use where starting to pickup the pace a little. At an intersection one path one of the group stayed to wait for the rest of the group. The three of us that went on, pickup the pace to what is was before the rest stop.? Mike was running low on water so we stopped at a gas station just off the path to fill it up. When we got back on our way we had a choice, because the gas station was on the road that had our next turn on to, but we decided to get back on the path. Just as we entered the path, I saw a water fountain, the path proceeded behind the gas station and put up right on the that road. That road took us right in to Sacramento where we meet up with the pack that we left at the intersection. From where they where there was a great shot of the capital building, so we to the photo opp. Form there we went in to Old town Sacramento where we had lunch and from there an easy ride in to the hotel on another bike path.

Shot of me with the capital in behind me.

Howie:

6/03 Day 1: San Francisco to Fairfield California

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:37:29 +0000

They made us go out as a group and stay together till the first hill following one of the support vans, way too slow. Then we got to the climb. It was 600 ft of climbing in a mile! And it was only 3 miles into the ride, ouch! It hit 14% grade. After the climb we were on the same route as the San Francisco to LA AIDS ride, except in the opposite direction. It was really foggy and hard to see. I regret putting my jacket and leggings into the support van after the climb. We made our way to a beach on the pacific and waited around for the rest of the group where we dipped our rear wheels in the Pacific Ocean (We will dip the front wheels in the Atlantic on the other side in 52 days). Ok,? starting a 4000 mile ride and what do? We do put aluminum rims in salt water. This can not be good for the wheels. I did my best to wash them off with the water from my bottle. We took group picture, with everyone’s cameras (I didn’t get a good shot, I’ll see if I can get one).

After that we wound our way through San Fransisco, past the Presidio and over the Golden Gate bridge. You could not see the top part of the bridge because of the fog. About this point my battery in the computer died, so no stats today.

After crossing the Bridge I missed the first rest stop, this was not good because my bottle was empty from washing the wheels. Luckily, I found a water fountain and filled it up. We wound our way to the second rest stop, having to find our way using the many cues. We had to ask for help a few times. I did stop off a street fair and got some food. At this point I met up with the fast pack, which I rode with for the rest of the day. After the rest stop we had a long stretch of riding on a highway, with a wide shoulder except on some of the bridges. This was not fun, but it might be something have to get used to. When we got off the highway we stopped at a gas station to get water and gaterade, and to rest since we were pushing the pace on the highway. We made our way to the final climb of the day, about 500 feet over 2 miles, so, it was not too bad, but I was starting to cramp up, so I dropped into a lower gear and spun up it. This gave us a nice down hill in to the Fairfield CA. Our group was the first in. I know I will not be with this group when we hit the real climbing days

Riding in the San Francisco area, there are lots of bike paths and lanes, but they are not in the best of shape and are sometime short. Also some of the paths are not as wide as the paths back home. Looks like whenever they do road work they put in a path or a bike lane. We did lots of riding next to a major highway on a few of the paths.

Howie:

6/02 Registration Day

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:31:53 +0000

When I got up I put the bike back together. Airport Security had checked the bike box and opened it wrong. I was worried how the bike had made it, but it was okay. When it was all set I went up to registration, and signed in. They wanted to check out all the bikes and helmets. So I went back to room and brought my stuff up to them. They both checked out. After I brought the bike back to the room I went down to the front desk to get a late checkout, but as it turned out they had kept me in the same room so it was not an issue. At this point I had started to meet other riders. A few of us want to lunch together. I took a short easy 6 mile ride with one of them to check out the bike. At that point it was time for the first of two orientation sessions, all they did was have every one introduce themselves, there are 40 riders starting off from San Fran, 25 of us are going to the end, 5 of the riders are women, and they all plan on doing the whole ride. There is one rider from Israel, one from Germany, one from France (speaks very little English) and two from England. About a quarter of the group is doing it for some charity or another. The group all went to dinner, the first dinner of the tour. Dinner was nothing special, I do not think any of the food is worth writing home about. After dinner they did a second orientation session where they did the safety talk and went over the cue sheet for then next day. The ride was 82 miles, with over a 100 cues! (For non-riders: that is a lot).

After the meeting I spent a lot of time doing up the route the best I could in one of the online mapping service I use. After I did that, I exported to a GPX file and tried to put it on the Garmin, only to find out that it does not take GPX files. I was too tired to try to fine a way to convert it.

Howie:

6/01 Fight

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:19:11 +0000

The Fight was uneventful, I seamed a lot longer then when I was flying for work, probably because I was working on the fight. When I was waiting for the bike after I got my other luggage, I meet the only other rider from the Boston area (he dose not ride with any of the local bike clubs). He deicide to do the tour after getting laid off. We too a hotel shuttle to the hotel and check in. The we went out for a beer. so I did not get to bed till 1:30 witch was real 4:30 I did manage to sleep till 7

Howie:

Blog server crashed an lost most of what I writen up.

Howie — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:18:11 +0000

I will recreate what I have already writen from memmoy.

Howie’s Great Cross Country Adventure

Howie — Thu, 31 May 2007 14:44:30 +0000

This BLOG is to chronicle my Cross Country Bike tour. The tour will be from 6/2/07 through 7/24/07. the trip is from San Francisco, California to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I’m doing the tour with America by Bicycle , the tour name is “The Cross Country Challenge”. This trip is something I have wanted to do since I started doing bike tours. I’m also doing this to raise money for the PMC; you can read about that here. To get ready for this trip I have booked about 2000 miles this year, as well as 4000 plus miles in the past 9 years.

I’m not the best writer and have problems spelling. So I do not want to get comments about my writing if I mess up mail me and I will fix it.� -Howie�

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