Team Amici Veloci (and other TE'ers) do ALC 6

[KnottedYet]

I'm text messaging her, too. Though we did actually TALK to each other for a couple minutes today. Sigh. (don't want to wear out her cell phone batteries while she's unable to recharge them)

If anyone (Velogirl?) wants to send her a message you can do it by clicking on the link in my signature line. Enter her rider number 4223. Type in your message, and then submit it. The ride crew prints the messages up in the evening and gives them to the riders in camp.

I just got a text from Trek saying she saw a doctor in camp about her broken toe, and he sent her to the sports medicine tent. (Physical therapy.) They were closed, but she promises she'll go in the morning.

[velogirl]

unless the system has changed, the messages get printed and put in binders and the riders have to hunt through them to see if there are any messages for them.

[KnottedYet]

Oh, bummer. I was under the impression they got 'em. Well, she'll still get em if she goes and looks for them.

[KnottedYet]

Trek saw the doc and sports med in camp, had some stuff done to her foot, and rode 20 miles today. She *is* getting the messages everyone is sending her, and really loves them. They lift her spirits, and she said to thank everyone!

She is worried about tomorrow, it's a tough ride day. I'm hoping she doesn't push it too hard.

i keep telling her that riding in the sag wagon is *still* riding the ALC, and I'm so proud of her I could just bust!

DoW and family are in camp tonight to visit with Trek and UK Eliphant. Trek is in the mechanics' tent to get a flat fixed (tire messed up, needed new tire and tube) and might go to the medical tent again to get her foot treated again. (if the tape comes off in the shower she's s'posed to get that part redone) I don't know how much she'll get to see DoW and family tonight.

[snapdragen]

Here's a map of the route - they're in Paso Robles tonight I think....

[Duck on Wheels]

Yep. We stopped by the camp when we reached Paso Robles. We were headed another hour down the highway, but it was a good time to stop for a leg stretch anyway. Found the campground right away by following signs to the fairgrounds. Then we found UK and Trek's tent thanks to 1) I heard UK mention their tent site number, and 2) I looked for the stuffed flamingos (really cute ones!). Nobody answered our "knock" at the tent door, so we IM'ed them both to say how cool the flamingos were. Got an IM back from UK "Where are you? I'm at the food tent." Just as we got there, we met Trek coming out from dinner, headed to check on her bike. We admired her taped foot, gave her hugs from all on TD, noted her sunburned face, that she wasn't limping, that she seemed fine with taking her ride easy and sagging in as soon as her foot started complaining, and that she was in good spirits and having fun. Then we went in and found UK. Also met Sean, with whom she did a couple of training rides back in Essex.

So ... all is well with at least those two riders. Didn't happen to run into any other TE'ers, though there is at least one more doing the ride.

Tomorrow we plan to find a point on their path from which to wave and cheer as they ride by. Some staff folks recommended the "Evil Twins", but that's too far back up the road. We won't make it there before they've passed by. So we'll wait for them down near Pismo Beach instead.
We'll IM them where we are once we're in place.

[KnottedYet]

sunburned!?! SUNBURNED!?!?!?!

Yup, I'm a nag. I just text messaged my dear Trek to PUT ON HER SUNSCREEN!!!!

I'm glad she wasn't limping. (I think if she was hurting to the point her gait was effected, the docs would probably consider pulling her from the ride.) As long as she is good about stopping before her foot gets really bad, then I guess I can stay semi-calm for the next 3 days. Maybe.

If she puts on some SUNSCREEN!!!!

[Trek420]

unless the system has changed, the messages get printed and put in binders and the riders have to hunt through them to see if there are any messages for them.

Sort of. They have laptops at the info tent. Our amazing crew downloads your messages, burns CD's, puts those in the laptop. Then we log in with our rider number and can read 'em.

My last two rides when I rode much better it was fun to get the messages. When you're struggling .... it really helped.

"They went up highway 92? Good grief. That's a busy road."

Hwy 92 down to Half Moon Bay is pretty dangerous as it is narrow in spots. Cars aren't very friendly to cyclists either so I suspect that is why they changed the route.

Also, Hwy 1 down to Santa Cruz is no picnic either due to the traffic. However, by doing Skyline, they miss getting a lot of publicity in Half Moon Bay and beyond. That was where I had my first encounter with the ride many years ago. I remember how touched I was by seeing all of these cyclists on their way to LA. I saw the ride twice this way and finally in '05 did the ride. It was a challenging week mentally and physically but I'm glad I did it!!!! (TREK was my tent partner that year!)

BG, the reason we took a sharp left hand turn at the top of 92 which added another 9 miles of climbing was there was construction going on somewhere on the descent.

I saw one rider get to the top and he probably thought "alright, now we go down" and flew into the descent. Too far away for me to yell or wave. I don't think he climbed back up, think they went and got him.

I don't know if we gained any safety on this.

I heard of two riders injured on the detour. One who fell into a guard rail and the other a car crash, driver error. Driver was passing on the double yellow of course, saw a car approaching and got back to the right ... into the rider. Road rash of course and at least one of these cyclists got broken collarbone.

[Bike Goddess]

Thanks Trek for the clarification. Yes, skyline is so much more difficult (and you can certainly attest to that!)

Glad you are back safe and sound!

Thanks to ACG for your report as well. I was also determined to finish no matter what! Congrats to you!!!!

Would love to hear from the rest of the TEers who rode.

[maillotpois]

Congrats for being a part of the whole huge thing. I'm sure it was a HUGE bummer to have to sit parts of it out, but you were supportive to the rest of your team and I am sure they really appreciated it.

Great job!!

Hope the toe heals soon!