The pictures are from a birthday party we had for one of the riders today. These are some of the riders in our group.
Just the stats: 63 miles, 13.8 MPH average, rolling hills with more climbing. Climbed 2,185 feet, descended 2437. Cumulative 1,616 miles. No flats today, eight in total. Sunshine, 64 to 79 degrees.
I was the last one to begin the ride today. As most of you know, I am not a morning person but I am trying. I generally get up at 5:45 a.m., eat at 6 a.m. and am packed, loaded and on the road at 7 a.m. Today I got on the road at 7:20 a.m. As a group, all the riders are ready to go at 7 a.m., very efficient and enthusiastic group. (We can't start before 7 a.m. - it's a safety thing.)
So, starting late I said to myself, I am passing 30 riders. To do so I had to ride hard and steady, and not waste time at the sag stops. To make a long story short - Well I did it.
Today was a day where headwind really made a difference in the ride. For the first 22 miles we had a mild cross-wind, and I moved along at an average speed of 18.2 MPH. I rode alone most of the day. Still a little pace-line shy.
Then we made a 90-degree turn north into the wind and we were in a continuous headwind for the next 40 miles. The headwind brought my average speed for this 40 mile section down to 11.4 MPH, resulting in an overall average of 13.8 MPH for the day. The net result is that it took me one hour longer to ride the same distance as I rode yesterday. On the other hand, we had blue sky, rolling green Kansas farmland, and relatively smooth roads all day.
Although the scenery would seem monotonous from a car, to a cyclist there are other things to make the ride interesting, such as watching for every crack or bit of gravel in the road, paying attention to the width of the shoulder and the presence of rumble strips, listening to the call of birds and the roar of upcoming 18-wheelers, and identifying road kill.
Tomorrow is a rest day in Abilene and then on Wednesday we go 105 miles to Topeka, KA. I won't write tomorrow, and I will try to do better with pictures.
Here is my Garmin data: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2937199
5 comments:
Look at those pictures! Tom is SKIIIIIINYY!!!!
Glad to hear you got back on the horse after the accident. Go get 'em!
Tom that accident doesn't seem to have affected you any. As you know I am not a morning person ether so I thank you for letting others know we are not lazy, only storing up energy so we can beat everyone else later.
Now, Thomas, who is that woman you have your arm around? She kind of reminds me of me!
Evie
yeah, Tom, I was wondering how that was going over at home! I was thinking the same thing!!!!! lol lol lol And you and Richard need to learn to get up with the birds - it's a great time of day....and I've been enjoying it much more since Holland.
Doug - It's great to see you are following my trip. You and Todd had alot to do with me getting this riding bug.
Evie - Just trying to show some of the riders. Actually that lady is the fastest rider in the whole group.
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