Today: 92 miles, climbing elevation 4311 feet (and 6085 feet descending)
Cumulative: 266 miles, 13513 feet
Today was as good as yesterday was bad. I was the first to leave the hotel at 6:30 am and shot off like an arrow into the pre-dawn light. It was cool and windless and I just flew across the beautiful newly surfaced roads gliding across the flat desert. Euphoric! I covered 20 miles in the first hour. Nobody even caught up with me until mile 45, right before the lunch stop. Then everyone passed me as we road up the three-mile long climb to the lunch spot. Lunch was in a pretty spot with a bunch of boulders perfect for jumping and climbing if only we were wearing anything other than bike cleats and weren't so anxious to move on as the heat started coming on. It wasn't even 10 am and it was already into the 90s. I rode out with the peletón and lasted for exactly 3.5 miles until the next hill. I seem to be able to hold my own with the group on the flat, but they are much, much faster on the climbs. I blame the lack of meaningful terrain in Uruguay. Maybe running would have helped. Well, I'm sure I'll improve as the trip progresses.
Got into the funky 29 Palms Inn at 1:30, second to last. I'm pleased with myself. Although I can't feel my fingers and don't think I'll ever be not tired again.
Tomorrow--biggest ride so far, 115 miles to Parker, Arizona. Forecast: sunny, 102 degrees. I will probably die.
You're looking skinnier already!!! 13,000 ft of climbing and 266 miles in three days is HUGE! No shame in 15 mph, for sure. Draft as much as possible! I am soooooooooooooo jealous. Do you come through Texas at all?
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad about riding by yourself. When in the paceline you miss a lot of the scenary.
ReplyDeleteThe ride to Parker is great. Don't miss the sign in the morning when leaving 29 Palms that says "next service 100 miles".
Very cool kevin. Keep it up. Don't worry about those guys passing you on the hills, I know what it's like. I suspect training in Uraguay is like training in Cambridge. No hills so you just can't get good at them. Look on the bright side, you've got 3000 miles of hills to get better at them....
ReplyDeleteDan: My aching body agrees that it is huge! We're going across Oklahoma so not so close to you, but , hey, why not join us for a day!
ReplyDeleteSaratogaRichard: Thanks for the comment. I totally agree that riding alone has a lot of advantages. I _loved_ that sign--see today's post.
Ewan: Yeah, it's a good excuse, right? No doubt I'll get better (if I survive). You are absolutely right about cursing every extra ounce of weight, though!