DAILY DOINGS: Boy, it was nice to have yesterday off...or at least a different schedule than our daily rides.  The staff was busy all day doing odd jobs that needed to be done before the ride continued...wash the vans, clean our bikes, do bike shop runs, shop, do the books, restock the vans, and I even gave a flat tire clinic in the early morning hours before everyone scattered to the four winds to do some sight seeing.  We were busy enough that I think we need a day off today...but no.  We mounted our bikes and continued our quest to cross the nation in quick order.

After an early breakfast at Village Inn, we welcomed our two new riders...Jay Lewis and John Hedgecock from Arkansas.  They will be riding with us until Ft Smith.  After the festivities and chow, we set out for a perfect day of riding...winds were calm, sun was shining, and we were rested...what's with all those tall things in our way?  Today was our second biggest climb day on the trip and even though our legs took the day off yesterday, they were rebelling early as we climbed out of town.  I usually get blamed for taking the hilliest route, but it doesn't matter which way you ride out of Albuquerque, you go up.

I was in the van early and didn't ride until after the first SAG to allow Jim to get in some miles today.  I was counting the riders as they passed through and for some reason, I seemed to be missing a couple.  It didn't take long to find San Francisco Joseph, but Mitch had somehow eluded me or hadn't come through where I was stationed.  I thought I'd drive back toward town to make one last check and just as I was about to give up, I spotted Mitch riding back into town.  I pulled up and rolled my window down and asked him if he'd forgotten anything at the motel..."I'm lost aren't I," he said.  "Yep," I answered.  By now he was quite a way behind all the other riders so I picked him up and drove him up into the group...ahhh, all my sheep were back in the flock.

Our route today led us out of town to the east on highway 14 a nice windy road through the Sandia Mountains.  We rode through some small, quaint little towns like Madrid, a town that was up for sale several years ago...yes, somebody bought it.  Now it's a tourist trap full of arts and crafts and some interesting sights.  Several of the riders stopped by the MADrid HATTER (right) for a sticky bun and a beverage.  There is a sign on the door that says, "Nothing Happened Here In 1897" but it's a happening place now.  Also, I couldn't believe all the trees in town...almost all the trees we saw all day.

After we got close to Santa Fe, we entered I-25 for the remainder of the day.  The road before us rose gently for the first 9 miles as you would swear that the road was level, but your legs said otherwise.  When we would look behind we could see we had been climbing for quite awhile, but after cresting just east of Santa Fe, the road began present us with big rollers where the terrain dropped quickly and the winds shifted to our backs for a nice push...a pleasant/welcomed surprise to say the least.

In addition to the favorable conditions, we also had some of the most beautiful vistas of the trip today but we had to work for them pretty hard.  The climbing was tough, but it wasn't without rewards.  The descent into Madrid (right) was a 50+ screamer that everyone seemed to enjoy and the interstate descents were also exciting. 

After lunch, I had caught up with Jay and John.  Anytime I ride with Jay (He's ridden with us on several occasions), I know it's going to be a hammer fest.  We left lunch and started to wind it up and the terrain just kept begging us to push the pace.  I was right about us riding hard; as a matter of fact, I haven't ridden that hard since the last time I rode with him last year.  I could only ride with them until the last SAG where I needed to wait for the rear to sweep in the final riders.  But the 35 miles we rode together was fun to say the least and I think he enjoyed the pace too.  I hope we didn't ride too hard for him and John to be able to ride the long day tomorrow...I'm glad I'm in the van tomorrow for a day off from riding.

Actually, it was good that I rode drag to the motel.  Paula had a flat and Mark had two that I was able to help with.  Finally, everyone had gotten off the freeway into town so I thought I could finally pedal into the motel...not so fast.  Just as I was about 100 yards from the exit ramp, I got my first flat of the trip...bummer...so close and I was getting a bit hungry too.  Luckily, the van was at the end of the ramp so after a phone call, they came to my rescue, loaded me and my tired bike into the van and shuttled me home.  Food at last.

Everyone is really riding much stronger than they were at the beginning.  Yes, their legs are weary but when they get warmed up in the morning, they really are riding well.  All they feel is fatigue in their legs, but I can see they are riding stronger than when they started.   It amazes me how the body adapts to the stress of these rides.  Everyone who tries a ride like this should take their preparation seriously because they will enjoy the ride more if they start out in shape with lots of miles in the legs.  But, without a doubt, if they take it easy the first couple of days and don't burn themselves out, by the second week, they'll be flying.

Tomorrow we ride my favorite ride of all time...the lonely 104 to Tucumcari.  We're leaving early so if the conditions are right, maybe we'll have a nice "recovery" ride tomorrow.  Check back with us then. 

Copyright © 2006 by Bamacyclist  
All rights reserved.