Day 21 - Memorial Day in Abilene Kansas

We arrived in Abilene this afternoon after nine consecutive days & 681 miles of riding since the last rest day in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A symbolic location to celebrate Memorial Day, Abilene is the childhood home of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th President and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during WWII.

The storms that surrounded us yesterday afternoon and evening were gone this morning and we experienced another sunny, clear and cool riding day.

The people of Kansas are very friendly and we look forward to spending some down time here this evening and tomorrow before moving on to Topeka and the last of seven days in the state.

"We are the breakaway..."

Day 20 - Rain...NOT!

It looked like rain this morning, but we made it to our destination of McPherson without getting wet. Severe weather is all around us this afternoon as we wait to see if our luck holds up tomorrow for the ride into Abilene.

Day 19 - I Can See For Miles & Miles...

Hot and windy on our 87 mile ride from Dodge City to Great Bend, Kansas today. Had I stood on my helmet, I may have been able to see even further...

Day 18 - Dodge City, Kansas

Fast and furious cycling today on the flat windswept byways of western Kansas. The temperature and humidity are going up and there is a grain elevator in every town. We're definitely in the middle of America now...

Day 17 - Liberal, Kansas

Short and easy riding day. Only four riding days until the mid-point of the tour.

Day 16 - Wide Open Spaces...

You know it's getting serious when 73 miles on the bike is a recovery ride... We've logged 350 miles in the last 4 days and I'm beginning to wonder how we keep doing the seemingly impossible. It's noteworthy that I rode my first century only 30 months ago and I remember contemplating then that perhaps I was crazy. I suppose there in no longer any doubt about that.

My trusty steed and I (along w/ 20 other riders) arrived in the flat green plains of Oklahoma today and were greeted for the first time by a real headwind for the last 20 miles of the ride. I call it "flat hills", but it was a beautiful and invigorating day nonetheless.

Tomorrow we visit the land of Oz.

Day 15 - Texas!

Another day, another state line. We cross into Oklahoma tomorrow...

To all the XC09 and XC11 readers: Our secret weather weapon is Kevin Huber. Kevin was a rider this year from Manhattan Beach to Albuquerque. We jokingly credited him w/ our fine conditions for the first two weeks of the tour. He promised to keep us in his thoughts and keep us connected to a higher power for the remainder of the tour.

Oh yeah, Kevin is a priest. Thanks Kevin!!

Day 14 - Unbelievable!!!

Today was an incredible day of riding! Sun, wind, high speeds and more beautiful terrain were the order of the day. I almost felt that somehow I had cheated when I looked at the stats at the end of the ride... 110 miles at an average speed of 21 mph! I wonder if Lance Armstrong could have caught me today...

Day 13 - Santa Fe to Las Vegas, New Mexico

We rode 75 miles from Santa Fe to Las Vegas today as we get warmed up for back to back century rides on Monday and Tuesday. We are getting used to the high elevations of eastern New Mexico and are experiencing some wide open and pristine riding country.

The Pecos National Historical Park was worth a stop to see the adobe indian ruins.

On Monday, we log our 1,000th mile of the tour!

Day 12 - Santa Fe

Today marks the end of our 2nd week on tour and we are closing in on our first 1,000 miles of cycling. Santa Fe (elevation 7,000 ft.) is close the the highest point of the trip, so I'm guessing that means it is all downhill from here... Ha!

Saturday is a rest day and on Sunday we begin a string of 9 consecutive days of riding.

Day 11 - Albuquerque

If I'm dreaming, don't wake me!

We rode Route 66 from Grants to Albuquerque in perfect cycling conditions today and also crossed the Rio Grande River at the end of the ride. EVERYONE is getting stronger and we're all a bit giddy. Maybe this is the lead in to being swept away by a tornado in Oklahoma, but we're taking one day at a time and the fun just keeps rolling...

Day 10 - It's a Dry Cold...

Our day began at 35 degrees, but warmed up quickly. We rode the wind from Gallup to Grants and crossed the Continental Divide. Another fine day to ride a bike across America.

Day 9 - Land of Enchantment

Enchantment indeed! The sky is getting bigger and we're getting faster...

Day 8 - Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Ninety four miles from Flagstaff to Holbrook today. Stood on the corner in Winslow Arizona and got my kicks on a giant rabbit.

Day 7 - Red Rocks, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon

I'm running out of superlatives, but today was truly a day of cycling heaven. The sun was bright, the air was cool and the scenery spectacular! We're beginning to get the WOW factor when speaking to people along the way. Where are you going? Where did you come from? WOW!

This week's statistics:

7 days

532 miles

27 hours 45 minutes in the saddle

19.2 mph avg. speed

38.6 mph max speed

33,067 calories burned

23,926 ft. of climbing

Tomorrow we rest...