Day 06
Just another great day to ride...even if it's on interstates

DAILY DOINGS: What can you say about the weather...other than it's perfect.  We woke to clear skies and mild temperatures for departure and promises of up to 35 MPH tailwinds.  We didn't get quite that, but the winds were pretty good most of the day.  We loaded at 7:00 and soon everyone was off and running...or riding.  Our route today was almost entirely on I-80 except for the first 3 miles and the last 13 of a 91 mile day.  This portion of interstate is much better than the section we rode on the way to Truckee.  Most of the day the shoulder was smooth and fairly clean and with the tailwinds, the riders were scooting along quite briskly all day.  The front was rolling so fast, we barely caught them at the SAGs.  The first few miles were through beautiful hills and mostly down hill.  Even the up hill sections were fairly easy pedaling but all the terrain was extremely scenic.

But even with the smooth pavement, we always have more flats than normal when we ride shoulders.  I spent most of the day helping change flat tires and always it was punctures from little wires or something else lurking unseen to the riders.  Luckily, most of the riders are able to change their tires and have the tools necessary to keep rolling.  If they don't, they spend a lot of time along the side of the road while their riding partners enjoy the tailwinds.  I always tell everyone that if I asked them to find me a small wire about a quarter inch long on the shoulder of the highway, they would look for hours.  But if they ride bicycle tires along the shoulders, they will always find wires whether they want to or not.

I was in the van today and the morning started out pretty slowly without incident except for a couple of flats I attended to, but it didn't take long for things to get exciting.  I got a call from Barbara that she saw a warning sign that the exit we planned to have our SAG was under construction and for all traffic to exit 2 miles earlier...I'll be right there!  Barb couldn't go up to the planned exit with the trailer so she decided to set the SAG up at an alternate exit 2 miles short.  She jumped out and out down several sets of directional arrows to warn every one of the change.  By the time I arrived, I even put down a couple more sets of arrows very clearly spelling out that the SAG was now at the 46 mile exit vs the 48 mile exit.  I left the scene confident that everyone would stop at Barb's location...I had to go up and scope out the construction to see if we could get thorough it OK.  While I was up there, I found that the construction wasn't on the exit at all but on the state road that went under the freeway...No problem.  What's this?  Riders exiting here???  It was Jeff, Scott, and Bill...didn't they stop at Barb's spot?  As the riders rode up, they were curious why I was there instead of Barb.  She's not here...didn't you see the arrows directing you off the interstate 2 miles back?  No...there were arrows?  YES!!  LOTS OF THEM!!!  I told everyone they would become brain dead, but this was rigor mortis.  While we were there, Clarence and Gordon also rode up...arrows?  There were arrows?  I then heard Barb on the radio saying she saw more riders riding through her position for me to stay there.  Meanwhile, we had a visitor at Barb's location...Karen Ide who has ridden with us before.  I told Barb to enlist her help and to station her at the exit to direct all those who were oblivious to the arrows to leave the interstate at our new location.  Finally, I was assured no one was between us who didn't get serviced so I could finally start rolling.  Another entertaining Keystone Cops activity for me to write about.

After the SAG, I was moving up through the riders when I got a call from Paul that there was some more construction requiring everyone to ride behind barrels but one short section they had to get out in traffic to get around construction vehicles.  Another boring period interrupted by urgent business.  I was but a mile or two from the start of the problem and caught all but the very leaders who had called me with the head's up.  I stopped everyone at the beginning of the construction until Green Van got to me to drive through and scope it out on her way to the second SAG.  She related that there was but a short section that they would have to ride out in the travel lane and they could get behind barriers after that.  I briefed everyone of the situation and it was decided they would carefully ride through it.  I offered to shuttle anyone who didn't feel confident, but all decided to ride.  I stayed back and alerted traffic as they entered the area to slow down and watch for cyclists...everyone got through with little trouble and we were back on track...smooth pavement and tail winds boosting us toward Lovelock.

We had an uneventful finish from the last SAG stop.  I spent the final miles watching the riders ride by me about 10 miles from the finish where I toured a small grave yard along the highway.  There were about 20 headstones with "Munk" on them.  Seems there are lots of Munks in this area...wonder if any of them are related to my family...my kin may have been pioneers.

We are staying at a casino motel tonight.  Most are sitting around just relaxing and doing laundry...hopefully, everyone will still have all their money when we leave in the morning.  If we keep having this many flats, they are going to need their money to buy tubes.  Oh well, their credit is good and I know where they live for the next 40 some odd days.  Tomorrow we leave for Winnemucca...Winne Who?  Another day of interstate riding...I'm riding...can't wait.  Keep your fingers crossed for good winds.  See you then.  M

Copyright © 2006 by Bamacyclist  
All rights reserved.