| (Long Distance) Ramblings |
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I like to ride my bicycle - for long distances. I have earned the California Triple Crown and finished the Furnace Creek 508. My goals include qualifying for RAAM and ...(read the blog to find out). "The bicycle has a soul. If you are able to love it as it deserves, it will give you emotions you will never forget." "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
"The important decisions in my life I make while out riding my bike."
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong
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Saturday, October 08, 2005
Today's ride was hard and longer than I expected. First of all, here are the stats... Dst: 97.72 miles Avg: 14.5 mph Max: 40.3 mph ATM: 6:43:56 Alt: 6,610 ft The ride consisted of five separate parts: the first descent, the long hill, the descent into Sisters, the climb out of Sisters, and lastly, the long descent. I was on the bike at 7:45 am at an elevation of 3720 ft. The temperature was just 33 ° F. The route first descends down to an elevation 1,700. I do not know what the wind chill was, but I was cold! I was trying to remember my climb on the Central Coast Double - 13% and 90° F.! I was not successful. Next, I rode McKenzie pass from the west. I gained more than 3,500 feet in 30 miles. I climbed well, and did not stop at the summit, but continued down to Sisters. There, I ate a rather large lunch - a cup of soup and a turkey sandwich. I then reversed my route and rode McKenzie pass from the east. This direction is much easier as the elevation gain is just 2,000 feet. Again, I climbed well and did not stop at the summit. I now descended for 3,500 feet and this was very hard. My arms and hands grew tired from braking, my feet started to hurt as I was not peddling and my back began to hurt. I found myself wishing I was climbing again. At the bottom of the descent, I realized that I did not have time to ride the 20 miles back to my car. I promised my wife that I would be home in time to have dinner with her brother who is visiting from Washington, so I hitch-hiked back to my car. A special thanks to Don Mathews and his wife who picked me up and took me back to my car! So, I did not finish the ride, but I get to have dinner! An even trade I would say.
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