Day 10--June 30--Boise ID to Mountain Home ID
Miles Ridden 54.2
Avg Speed 17,2 MPH
Climbing 1400 ft.
Total Miles Ridden 663
Miles to Go 2966
Today's ride left Boise after a short ride on the city streets and then over about 8 miles of bike paths along the Boise River.
After we got out of town the ride had very little climbing, a strong tailwind and moderate temperatures so most of it was easy. Only problem was my first flat which occurred on I-84. I had to change it in the weeds just off the shoulder and at the edge of a 30 foot drop while the trucks whistled by.
We got to Mountain Home which is in the middle of a real desert with no mountain nearby and an Air Force base as the major employer. The town apparently was founded in the hills about 20 miles north of here but decided to move to the present location when the railroad passed them by.(without changing the name)
Since nothing eventful happened today, maybe it would be a good time to describe a typical day on this tour.
We get up about 5:30 and pack our two bags.
Breakfast is at 6:00, usually buffet style in the hotel
At about 6:30 we line up to load our bags onto the big truck that hauls our stuff to the next hotel.
One note about this process....about 3/4 of the riders on this trip are eager and half an hour early for everything and are dutifully lined up well before anything starts. (you know the type). These riders also clean their bikes every day and torture the ride mechanic with minor issues and appear to have their lives driven by bicycling. The other riders are generally more relaxed and are here to experience the ride. I fall into the latter group. (at least I'm never early).
After the bags are loaded we are free to start the ride. We have been given cue sheets which tell us about all the turns needed to stay on course. (e.g. left turn in 1.2 miles at T intersection with Route 3o). We use our odometers to make as many as 40 of these turns a day and sometimes miss them and have to backtrack.
I usually ride with a group of 5 who start late but ride fast. Many of the riders go it alone at their own pace. The luggage truck and two vans continuously travel the course looking for riders with issues and to make sure no one slips too far back. (they did not show up in time to help me with my flat tire)
After about 30 miles on a typical day, the ride staff will set up a SAG stop along the side of the road. They will provide water, Gatorade, food, sunscreen and mechanical parts. Every rider has to stop and sign in to make sure no one is lost or hurt.
If you want a real lunch, you must stop and purchase it.
On a normal day's ride of about 90 miles the first riders will start to arrive at the hotel at about 2:00 PM. The last will make it in around 5:00. Very few take rides in the vans unless there is an injury.
After checking into the hotel we have free time until the day's wrap-up meeting at about 5 where we go over issues from the day and cover the ride for tomorrow. We then go for dinner, usually a buffet at a nearby restaurant.
This is not a partying group so most people are in their rooms and asleep early.
Tomorrow we have a long ride of 97 miles through mostly desert to Twin Falls where Evel Knievel tried to jump the Snake River. It's supposed to be hot so I hope there is a tail wind.
City bike path along the Boise River
The open and desolate spaces outside of town
The land was flat and empty for miles
Avg Speed 17,2 MPH
Climbing 1400 ft.
Total Miles Ridden 663
Miles to Go 2966
Today's ride left Boise after a short ride on the city streets and then over about 8 miles of bike paths along the Boise River.
After we got out of town the ride had very little climbing, a strong tailwind and moderate temperatures so most of it was easy. Only problem was my first flat which occurred on I-84. I had to change it in the weeds just off the shoulder and at the edge of a 30 foot drop while the trucks whistled by.
We got to Mountain Home which is in the middle of a real desert with no mountain nearby and an Air Force base as the major employer. The town apparently was founded in the hills about 20 miles north of here but decided to move to the present location when the railroad passed them by.(without changing the name)
Since nothing eventful happened today, maybe it would be a good time to describe a typical day on this tour.
We get up about 5:30 and pack our two bags.
Breakfast is at 6:00, usually buffet style in the hotel
At about 6:30 we line up to load our bags onto the big truck that hauls our stuff to the next hotel.
One note about this process....about 3/4 of the riders on this trip are eager and half an hour early for everything and are dutifully lined up well before anything starts. (you know the type). These riders also clean their bikes every day and torture the ride mechanic with minor issues and appear to have their lives driven by bicycling. The other riders are generally more relaxed and are here to experience the ride. I fall into the latter group. (at least I'm never early).
After the bags are loaded we are free to start the ride. We have been given cue sheets which tell us about all the turns needed to stay on course. (e.g. left turn in 1.2 miles at T intersection with Route 3o). We use our odometers to make as many as 40 of these turns a day and sometimes miss them and have to backtrack.
I usually ride with a group of 5 who start late but ride fast. Many of the riders go it alone at their own pace. The luggage truck and two vans continuously travel the course looking for riders with issues and to make sure no one slips too far back. (they did not show up in time to help me with my flat tire)
After about 30 miles on a typical day, the ride staff will set up a SAG stop along the side of the road. They will provide water, Gatorade, food, sunscreen and mechanical parts. Every rider has to stop and sign in to make sure no one is lost or hurt.
If you want a real lunch, you must stop and purchase it.
On a normal day's ride of about 90 miles the first riders will start to arrive at the hotel at about 2:00 PM. The last will make it in around 5:00. Very few take rides in the vans unless there is an injury.
After checking into the hotel we have free time until the day's wrap-up meeting at about 5 where we go over issues from the day and cover the ride for tomorrow. We then go for dinner, usually a buffet at a nearby restaurant.
This is not a partying group so most people are in their rooms and asleep early.
Tomorrow we have a long ride of 97 miles through mostly desert to Twin Falls where Evel Knievel tried to jump the Snake River. It's supposed to be hot so I hope there is a tail wind.
City bike path along the Boise River
The open and desolate spaces outside of town
The land was flat and empty for miles
when do you guys get to do your laundry? i'd imagine you have some pretty nasty clothes in your suitcases.
ReplyDeleteWe are supposed to have 4 days of clothes with us. You're right, the clothes are pretty rough after a hot desert ride but most of the motels have washing machines and so far it has not been a problem to get it done in free time.
ReplyDelete