she came, she went she conquered
Just note to let everyone know we survived!
First day was gorgeous! great temps, a tail wind, averaged 16.6 for 53 miles Hooked up with Kathi from TE at the first rest stop on the first day in the basement of a quaint prairie church then who should appear but Rjay!
I erred re the 8 day note it was only 7, but days two and 3 were BRUTAL ! !
25-30 mph sustained headwinds with 35 mph gusts.
You were right Bad juju it was our fellow cyclists who pulled us through, 8-10 mph DOWN hills pedalling in a pace line (if you didn't pedal the wind would stop you) Going uphill was actually a little easier because the hills blocked the wind. At minimum 150 people sagged on day 3. We averaged 12.5 mph on day 2 for 60 miles and 10.5 on day 3 for 71 miles :eek:
I came within 2 miles of Bonking on day 2. a hwy overpass looked like Logan pass in the Rockies:( I ate at every rest stop but didn't take in near enough for what was being expended. Day 3 was longer and harder but I ATE a LOT and had good energy upon arrival.
Fortunately the wind died down for day 4 and we had a beautiful but hot ride (+94) It was hot mainly because we played tourist and saw the sites, a German from Russia iron cross cemetary, and a large beautiful church with ceiling paintings in a small prairie town of about 250 people getting us in during the heat of the day)
Day 5 was optional Century day, I chose to do it and made it :D (details later in another post) This was along the Missouri river through the Missouri breaks good rolling hills with some decent climbs but also great downhills
Day 6 short again and touristy. Made it over to Fort Mandan where Lewis and Clark spent their first winter. It is an authentic replica down to the buffalo robes and fox furs - too cool
Day seven was back to the beginning, now the wind had switched and 1/2 way was back into a head/crosswind. getting across the bridge between the audobon refuge and the big lake was brutal, pretty bad when the electrical towers feel like a wind break. Last 6 miles were with a tail wind, immediately going from 10mph to 18mph
They always say the tours w/ adversity are the ones you remember.
I tried to make friends w/ the wind "I like wind, the wind is my friend, wind makes you strong, call the wind moria" Well it made me strong but I still don't like it :mad: It is more a mental thing than a physical one. We couldn't hear each other even if we were right beside the person. One rider tried to listen to his ipod and couldn't hear it either because of the wind.
I've not had the confidence to try rides else where because of the climbs. I expressed this to a veteran rider. He asked how I had done on day two and three I told him I had made it. He and others said "if you can do those days you can ride anything". Another gentleman said he had done double centuries and the 71 miles of day 3 beat him up worse. a third gentleman said it was the 2nd worse day in his riding history (the first worse was when he got caught in a hail storm so bad it cracked his helmet)
I felt bad because I am a NoDak native and wanted the out of staters to have a great experience. (71% were from out of state) One lady said "now she knows why there are so few natives on the ride - they know about the wind :p
After talking to different people I found they loved the ride overall because of the welcoming people in the small towns, the open spaces, lack of traffic, how well the ride is organized and supported (2 sag wagons patrolled diligently) This made me feel better and also to find that many of the out of staters are repeat Candiscers
I do have pics but need to figure how to post them.
Kathi is hanging out for another week at the lake here in sunny Nodak before heading home, she said she'll post when she gets back to Co. Rjay won't be home for awhile either as she is hanging out here longer too.
Well this post is long enough so a post on a later date re the rest stops and food :D
