Today is an unscheduled rest day -- Karli, Bryan and I doubled up on our ride yesterday to get us into the town of Baker, Oregon for an extra rest day. Doubling up on the ride put us at 90+ miles for yesterday! -- and over 3 passes to boot! I know what you're thinking -- HARD CORE -- well your right, it was hard core! Never have I kicked my own ass as much as I did yesterday. Half way through the ride we stopped for lunch (nasty hard bagel, peanut butter, string cheese - lots of water) -- I was tuckered - we rode up 2 passes already - we're talking uphill grades for around 6 miles. Karli and Bryan are a bit more use to doing long hard rides and were a great moral boost -- I was ready to crash, maybe take a 2 hour nap - it was only 1:30 -- we had plenty of daylight. But we continued -- and, as much as I hate to admit it - Red Bull does give you wings!!! I pounded a warm Red Bull I'd been carrying all day (strategically purchased the night before) - and I cruised the 3rd and final pass. After the final peak it was a short 4 mile downhill to a flat-ish section with a bit of a head wind for 30miles -- which turned out to be the most draining section of the day.
Profile of the mega day ride -- we rode from Mt Vernon to Baker City
The summit of the first pass
The summit of the 2nd pass (same day different shirt)
summit of the 3rd pass -- we got totally ripped off - elevation sign - only the downhill sign
our mileage for the day --- not very accurate - it's cordless and I lost reception for a bit (couple of miles)
my max MPH for the day :)
With all that said, I don't want to diminish the two previous days which each had their own pass -- but were shorter days.
A couple of nights ago - we stayed in a town called Mitchell -- it was virtually a ghost town. Most of the stores were vacant and dilapidated. It was nice though, because we stayed in the city park for free - and it actually had electricity -- so that night, we watched the movie 300 on Bryan's laptop -- under the pavilion at the park.
3 comments:
You are my hero after seeing the picture of your bike all weighed down with your shtuff!! You ain't messin' around bro. Sounds like a good crew you're with although I'd say they are the ones that scored since they're riding with a great chap like yourself. Beh Beh.
I don't care what you say about that swill - there ain't no way you could get me to drink that crap.
Yes, I'm well aware that was a double negative.
Nice jorb on the 90+ miler.
Way to go Paul. Question: Is the shirt changing during the day more of a favor to the people you are with than anything else?
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