Day 31 - Getting Wet

It took thirty days, but we finally got wet. It was raining at dawn and just kept on throughout the morning. In Southern California, we don't get many chances to ride all day in the rain when the temps are in the mid to high 70s. It was wet, but it was warm.

Tomorrow we ride the last "official century" of the tour.

Day 30 - Crawfordsville To Indianapolis

Today's highlight was visiting the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis that is named after the African American sprint cyclist and world champion at the beginning of the 20th century. My first time visiting and riding on a velodrome, it was great fun climbing "the wall" of the track and trying to get the bike up to 30 mph. I have new found respect for the racers who far exceed that speed and do it on a single speed bicycle!

Our back road excursion from Crawfordsville to Indianapolis was prettier than I was expecting for a ride through central Indiana. The 70 mile route was full of twists and 57 turns through fields, farms, neighborhoods and city streets. It was a good day.

One more day in Indiana then 3 days in Ohio followed by a single day in Pennsylvania. We will ride 465 miles in the next 5 days...

Day 29 - Bozos On The Bus

Back at it after a day of rest, we crossed into Indiana and the eastern time zone today. The terrain was a bit more scenic with hills, woods and a stretch of the ride on a river road.

I spent part of yesterday exploring the town of Champaign and the University of Illinois campus. It did make me feel a bit old as most of the people around me were about three decades younger than I am. I was probably mistaken for somebody's father... good practice for a few years from now.

Today was decorate your helmet day. As you can see, we really are just a bunch of bozos.

Day 28 - That's a lot of corn...Really!

The last two days of riding were about working hard and getting the job done. The weather and terrain were unremarkable, but we did ride 195 miles on flat country roads and boy, is there a lot of corn out there! Maybe it just looks like so much because I was on the bike. Either way, there's not much else to say.

For those of you that have cycled with me over the years, you know that I prefer the hills. I have taken the opportunity of the last couple of days to work on my flat road skills...(i.e. pedal real hard for a real long time until I get real tired)

Tomorrow we rest and then ride into Indiana on Thursday.

Day 27 - Springfield, IL

High clouds gave cover from the sun as we rode a century through the Land of Lincoln...

Day 26 - Milestones

A massive thunderstorm passed through overnight and gave way to one of the most beautiful, crystal clear, blue sky mornings I have seen in some time... It was a day to savor, not to hurry through as late Spring in Missouri was in full splendor.

Milestones today included the first 2,000 miles of riding, the first (and only) Mississippi River crossing and my first flat tire.

Day 25 - Recovery

Last night.








This morning.



The road less traveled.

There are two secrets to completing this tour. First, it's mind over matter. Control your mind and you're half way there. Sure, 3,400 miles on the bike is a long way, but it's really more about making it to the next SAG (support and grub) and then making it to the end of each day. The second secret is recovery... Get to the hotel as early as possible, eat, rest and get ready for the next riding day. Today I learned to recover while riding 148 "roller coaster" hills. Conserving and expending energy at precisely the right time made this potentially difficult day a lot of fun.

This morning we followed the storm that began last night. It was another stroke of luck that everything happened in front of us and we never got wet... Tomorrow we cross into Illinois.