Thursday (I think)

With riding8-10hrs, the sleeping, then repeating over and over, we really have no clue what day it is. We are so tired now that it is easy to finish a session and crash no matter what time of day it is. Just tell me when the next riders will be back.

Although we are about 2/3rds across the nation, the race just started. When we past Fort Scott, KS (Time Station 30), the course became daunting. The Rockies are long moderate climbs, the plains were long flat with cross winds, but now it is frequent short hills that go up and down and up and down and just wear at you for hundreds of miles. Then it flattens up a little right before the Appalachian’s.

The storms are now gone, but things are getting sticky. You sweat and don’t dry off. Gotta go!

Life as a Rider (pt 1)

Although the riders have to deal with riding, our awesome crew make our lives civilized. About an hour before the previous riders arrive, we are woken up. We gather our things to prepare for the day/night and weather. Breakfast is made for us, if we need anything, we just ask the crew. We get an update on the weather. Sara the crew chief has mapped out our section(s), the crew checks on the bikes and prepares them before we ride out. And Sara happens to be a masseuse, so before we head out, our legs and tight muscles get loosened up.

The riders sit in the air conditioned “Harvey”, until the previous riders ride in. Then the crew does the exchange between the two vehicles. Moving the eight bikes, re-plenishing the food and drinks in the Van and then the riders step out of the RV, a bike his given to them (of course the bike they ask for), the rider takes off and the crew follows