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Day 10
We scoff at 40 MPH winds!

ROUTE: Elko to Wendover NV DISTANCE: 108 Miles WINDS: South 15-25...cross winds most of the day steady...after 2:00, howling gusts 50+
WEATHER: Sunny and warm till about noon when the clouds started to roll in and the winds started to howl.  Rain showers after noon. TERRAIN: Flat mostly, with a couple significant climbs over Pequop Summit (6987') and Silver Zone Pass (5940') TOTAL CLIMBING: 3310 feet

DAILY DOINGS: ED NOTE-Sorry for the late post but Wendover had no internet service plus it was a late night anyway.  We lost an hour and it was a long tough day. 

What started out as a perfect day to ride a bike, turned into a tough afternoon and almost a survival situation before getting to our day's destination.  We got on the road early due to the high mileage and forecast 90 degree temperatures.  We were also expecting pretty strong winds by afternoon and a chance of rain...well, we got it all.

We departed Elko in perfect conditions...cool temperatures, calm winds with an occasional breath of a tail wind.  Could we skate today and have the forecasters missed one...life was good.  Everything was going great and I was enjoying my usual boring day in the van bouncing back and forth checking on the progress of everyone.  By the time the riders got to the first SAG, the winds had picked up in the valleys and was getting a bit sporty as we rode between the ridge lines of the surrounding mountains.  The valley floor was lush with greenery and stretched from the base of mountains on either side of our route, but traversing the valley exposed the riders to the strongest forces of the swirling winds.  One minute the wind would be attacking them from the side, the next it would be pushing them.  Sometimes when the next rider came through, they would get a different experience...really unpredictable and sporty to say the least.  Even the final downhill into town with the first view of the salt flats (left) gave each rider different conditions as they coasted into town.

By the time the riders passed the second SAG, the winds were really beginning to pick up.  At one point, riders were riding completely leaning to the right to compensate for the gale force winds...according to tonight's weather news, gusts of 50 MPH were not uncommon today.  The last downhill and then steady 15 mile climb to the final pass to Wendover was pummeled with direct cross winds and most of the last riders decided it was time to take shelter and wait for us to pick them up.  Barb and I were quickly on scene and hustled to load up those who didn't want to ride anymore and I was concerned whether to pull everyone off the road.  Karen and I drove through everyone to check on those still riding and gave everyone the opportunity to bag it for the day.  The winds did seem to die down a bit...at least below 40 MPH for the final miles, but it was still a challenge to keep from being blown over.  Linda was the only rider who actually got blown over from the wind.  Her water bottle came out while she was getting up and blew away across the interstate.  Mary unbuckled her helmet while I was loading her bike on the van and the next thing she knew was her helmet was flying off her head into the highway.  The first semi that went by, missed it...but the second one didn't.  I wonder if the Giro helmet company would like a report on their helmet's reaction to an 80,000 pound 18 wheeler impact.  Yep, it was fun out there.  The song "The Answer Is Blowing In The Wind" kept bouncing around in my noggin. 

Everyone got in safely by 4:00...not bad at all for the conditions.  By rap, the subject of conversation was definitely the winds and how we're going to do tomorrow.  We're expecting another blustery day, but hopefully they will be a bit behind us.  It really doesn't matter when they blow that hard...even tailwinds are a bit dangerous.  We know we can't get through about 10 miles on the interstate just out of town so we'll have to shuttle everyone through.  This is part of the expanded comfort zone I mentioned in orientation.  I think everyone passed with flying colors today.  I'm really proud of everyone for a super job today...tomorrow we'll get another challenge.

We're closing in on our first rest day...and we're ready I think.  We'll be saying good bye to 9 riders after SLC, but we pick up 6 new ones.  I'll get them posted as soon as I can.  Hope you'll continue to follow our progress.  See you tomorrow.

DAILY DISCERNING DIALOGUE:

"We're all coiled springs!"  Heard at luggage load.

"Gordon, did you do the triple bypass?"
"Yeah, but I thought it was a procedure.  When I showed up, I found it was a bike ride."  

"Today was like riding in front of a big hair dryer."  That was only early...later it got cold.

"I was riding up the hill at 3½ MPH...I could walk it at 3!"

"I thought it ironic that the prison is in "Independence Valley."  Observation by Rich.

"If it gets too bad, I'll do something different."
"If it involves knocking me over and taking MY bike, I'll pass."

"We live in Ocala Florida and there's a hurricane there (Alberto) right now, but we had more wind today than they did!"  Bernie commenting on the winds.

"I'd take another 10 MPH of headwinds if my butt would just feel better."

"'The fantasy of crossing the country on a bicycle and the reality of crossing the country on a bicycle are two entirely different things,' Mike Munk, June 3, 2006."  Marc's statement when he rode into the motel.

 IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING: 

The wind was really blowing today...and we are in the desert so I directed everyone to stop in Wells and fill water bottles.  Wells was also the only place for real food today.  Linda, Mary, and others were stopped at a Flying J Truck Stop when the following scenario took place.  Linda was standing over her bike when a gust of wind blew it out from under her and she squatted right down on the frame...from straddle to squat in one fell swoop.  While she was collecting herself, Mary came by with her lunch purchase...a double tuna sandwich.  Must have been the wind again...or maybe just seeing Linda trying to untangle from her bike, but something caused Linda to dump the insides of her sandwich into Linda's helmet.  From then on Linda kept craving food throughout the day.  I told her not to ride by any cats.

 

DAILY DIGITAL DELIGHTS

Poor Clarence...he parked his bike by a pole to air up his tires and when he went to get it, the automatic sprinkler system activated and he and his bike got soaked.  Nothing like a cold shower in the crisp morning air.

Since the only pump available was the pink ladies pump, Debbie offered to air up Larry's tires to prevent anyone from questioning his masculinity.

Joe has learned so much out here...like you can't pour Gatorade into your water bottle in a 30 MPH wind.

In order to prevent Alan from having any more flats, I made sure his departure route was brushed clean.  Nothing is beyond the responsibility of the ride leader.

It was hard to walk carrying a bike in the stiff wind let alone get on top of the van to clamp it on.  Wind gusts were 50+ when several riders showed good judgment and bagged it for the day.

The last gentle climb before town goes through the two bumps you see in the photo.  It's a bit demoralizing when the bumps don't seem to get closer.  From where this rider is, the bump is 18 miles away.

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