94 + 103 + 93 = 290

Quote of the Day: "Sweet a$$ thighs! I'm a legs lady myself." -Random lady at lunch stop on Monday

Wow, three days without internet access seems like an eternity. A little unfortunate that I feel the need to be plugged in at all times, but realistically I haven't been dwelling on it as the past three days have been challenging. Recap...

We stayed at the Barstow Fire Station on Sat 14 April and the firemen were more than accommodating for our team. Then we were off bright and early for a 94-miler to a campsite in Kelso. We rode on what must've been some of the most poorly maintained highways in America. I should've taken pictures of my first flat, as well as the flats that every other rider was getting. The rough count from this day was some 30 odd tubes lost to potholes and jagged surfaces. Aside from the terrible roads, the scenery and weather were quite nice. Some pictures from my ride:

Rest Stop #1

I am officially naming my bike the Giant Rattler. Hopefully I get the rattle out, but the name will stay.

Lunch Stop (or RS #2)... One of the older gas pumps I've seen.

The ride ended on a 15 mile climb, and I made it just before sunset, as well as just before the pre-set pick-up time of 19:00 (I got in at 18:55).

Sunset over the Route 66 and I-40 intersection.

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Monday, 16 April 2012

Last night, it was already pitch black by the time we pulled into the campsite. I had personally been on the road for almost ten hours; all I wanted to do was eat and sleep. After a mash of macaroni cheese, re-re-re-re-fried beans (we first had these at Huntington Beach) mixed with maize (yes maize, not corn), three hot dogs and random s'mores I could stuff in my mouth, I threw on clean sweats over my biking gear and snuggled into the sleeping bag. I was pooped after riding 94 miles (personal best in one day).

We woke up to a cloudless sky and gorgeous sunrise, although my camera/photography skills were unable to fully capture the beauty.

Our little tent city in the Black Canyon, although it seemed like we were higher up in elevation due to the chilling cold (note Chris' cold weather get-up).

Brad and Nicole on crew. They're a great couple and perfect team. Example: the two of them broke down the entire camp so that us riders could have a fighting chance to make Shoshone before sundown...AND they set up camp in Shoshone. 

Barren Beauty

 Mark and Rob

Taking respite from the desert sun. This sign was the only source of shade on our 103 mile ride.

Where's Waldo? Where's Robbie? Playing hide-and-seek behind a dirt mound. There are some other more odorous mounds back there.

Two thousand feet climb. 'Twas just Mark and me for many stretches on this day.

Camping Day #2: We increased the town's population by 25% that night.

Rob the Trooper. For being a non-cyclist and riding a chunky Cannondale, Robbie performed admirably on his first century + three, coming in third after Mark and I. Breaking records every day :)

As for me and my bottom, 94 + 103 was starting to take its toll. The legs felt okay, but the two cheeks and in-between was not happy with me. Mark, Rob, and I had set out at 09:20, and we reached the Shoshone camp around 17:30 (Rob was about 30 minutes behind). Not bad for my first 100+ mile ride, considering our lengthy rest stops and lunch. 

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Tuesday, 17 April 2012 

Roll-out from Camp Shoshone @ 07:20

90 + 3 ... including an initial 10 mile climb to 1,500 feet and 6%+ grade, and a second climb spanning 28 miles to reach an altitude of a 5,500 feet with a grade range of 3 to 5.4 % ... The first climb almost did me in as the the cumulative work from the past two days finally hit my legs hard. But the downhill provided an instant and much-needed jolt of energy. There's an exhilaration of speeding down the hill, rushing wind by the ears, taking in the expansive desert horizon. 

 Mark and Brad reaching the bottom of the first descent. 

 RS #1: Our trio reached the rest stop before the snack van. Snow-capped peaks in the horizon.

This was at the top of the second climb. Mark and I were whoopin' n' hollerin' as we reached the peak. After double checking our wheels and brakes, Mark says, "Whatever you do on this downhill, have fun."

We hit almost 38 mph on our two-wheelers, the fastest I've gone on my bike (Mark has gotten close to 50 mph! in his extensive biking experiences). I stopped twice on the descent, once when the Vegas skyline (slightly hazy) first came into view as I rounded a curve, and another time for a a standard scenic shot.

Here we're cheering on the riders as they roll into Arbor Tennis and Play Park, our meeting spot in a southwest suburb of Vegas. On the second climb, Brad pulled away from Mark and me; he reached the park around 14:30. Unfortunately for me, Mark missed a turn 0.2 miles out of the RS #2, and I didn't catch the oversight until 10-15 minutes later. This added a 3-mile uphill, making Mark and my day's ride a total of 90 + 3. We rolled in around 15:40, a little over eight hours on the road.

The Winton Family. 

Lisa did a great job trucking the cargo van around, making sure we all had enough ice. Couldn't have done it without you, Lisa. Thanks!

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Quote of the Day: "Las Vegas is like Disneyland x100, but for adults." -Chris? Abramoff?

Las Vegas. Most of the team opted to stay at the Excabilur after two nights of roughin' it in the Mojave Desert. Six of us weren't in the mood to splurge, so we went the church route again. After showering and some In-N-Out, we called it a night and slept like babes. 

My total for three days of riding: 94 + 103 + 93 = 290 miles. Breaking records every day :) 

This update was done entirely at a 24-hr laundromat. I became the unofficial guardian of everyone's laundry and other knick knacks as I uploaded these pictures and words. This WiFi was rather finicky, but glad to be plugged in nonetheless. My lower body is also getting a much-deserved break. Tomorrow we roll out again, destination: Alamo, NV.

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Laying on my back at Arbor Park, resting in the soothing shadows of leafy arboles.