Fort Sumner, NM to Encino, NM
Distance: 76.06 miles
Time: 5:39:05
Max Speed: 36.4 mph
Average Speed: 13.4 mph
I love this team. We have such a great time together. I am not looking forward to the end of summer. Today we left Fort Sumner, eternal home of Billy the Kid, and headed west, blazing our trail through New Mexico. Originally, we were supposed to stay in Vaughn tonight, wherever we could find public land to camp on. Instead, we decided to continue on to Encino today to cut off some the mileage for tomorrow's ride to Albuquerque, which is supposed to include some interesting climbs. Speaking of climbing, we climbed over 2,000 feet today in a bout 60 miles. That was pretty cool.
To begin the day, Rambeau and I bought some American flags to attach to our saddle bags at the Billy the Kid Gift Shop. They were quite a hit with both drivers on the highway and our teammates. The route was nice today, with very little traffic, smooth road and bountiful hills. It looks like El Paso out here, and it gives me a feeling like I am home. I guess I have figured out where my home is. Even the desert is not the prettiest place ever, there is a comforting beauty and serenity that I can find in it.
When we arrived in Vaughn, we ate lunch at Penny's Diner, which had very good food, and they hooked us up with ice cream and coffee! Also, in the diner were two sheriffs who we talked to and ended up getting to staying the community center in Encino, thanks to their help. We are currently in the center, living large as there is a kitchen, washer, dryer, bathroom, and hose. We had a nice group shower at the hose in the rain with about 8 people. It was quite cold, hilarious, and fun.
Coming into Encino today, a storm began to blow in, so we were truckin' to beat it. Once we got on the other side of the storm clouds, we caught an awesome tail wind, and the road was downhill, so we were flying at 30+ mph into town. It was such a cool feeling, flying down the hill, racing the storm into town. It is moments like these that I love so much and make me feel so alive. It all feels so real. Every day, we wake up, suit up, and ride our bikes. Though it sounds the same, each day is so incredibly unique and we never know what to expect. There are no filters, nothing is censored, and there is no need for a facade. All that matters is us, our bikes, and our mission. It is so liberating to be doing something that I love and believe in 100%, rather than just being a pawn, trying to please others.
Now, we are all sitting around after a delicious dinner, some playing cards, some reading, others working on applications to medical school. In the morning, we will get up and ride again, but that is where the similarities between today and tomorrow end.
Peace and Love,
Tornado Tito
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Day 7-A Strange Day Indeed
Clovis, NM to Fort Sumner, NM
Distance: 75.18
Time: 5:14:22
Max Speed: 28.4 mph
Average Speed: 19.2 mph
I told everyone that New Mexico roads suck. So far, I have been very wrong, and I can only hope I continue to be so wrong. It was smooth sailing today as the roads were incredibly smooth and the wind was either at our backs or non-existent. I would say we averaged at least 20 mph for most of the day. For some of the long stretches, we had a solid paceline going and probably did not go much below 23 mph.
In the morning, Vitek and Darlene were interviewed on the radio, which went well, and then we went to a centennial celebration for the town of Clovis at their Civic Center where we were introduced and shared our ride dedication for the day with everyone in attendance. We were originally supposed to have given our presentation at the Civic Center, but plans changed and we got to speak before the centennial audience, which was a great opportunity for us. The mayor of Clovis made a very generous donation and also gave us all Clovis centennial pins. We also received donations from others present and it seemed they were all very moved by what we are doing. It is because of people like these that I have come to love taking my time on the road, stopping as often as we like to see the sights and interact with people. It has only been just over one a week, and we have already met some of the most amazing people ever. It is so flattering for these awesome people to tell me that what I am doing impresses them when many of them have knowledge and experience well beyond my years. This is my inspiration, thisis why I ride, to see the joy we bring to all the people with whom we share our journey.
It has been a while since I have been in the desert, and at such a high elevation. Coming into Clovis, the sign said an elevation of about 4,200 feet. That is impressive that we have climbed so much already, though I know we have much more to come. At our first rest stop, we were once again treated to donated McDonald's, Egg McMuffins this time. Oleg said we are all going to get fat from this trip, and I think he may be right, we shall see. After the rest stop, we were flying. It is such an amazing feeling to be doing 20+ mph on a smooth flat road with very little wind. The sound of the tires dancing on the road is such a beautiful and calming sound. I do love it very much.
We stopped in the town of Melrose at this fruit market just as we hit town. They had some amazing cherry and also raspberry cider from Carrizozo, NM. I bought a 2 liter bottle of the raspberry cider, and also got some honey with the comb in it, which I had never had before and is quite delicious. We all stood around outside the store, drinking cider and eating honey with our hands straight from the jar, Winnie the Pooh style. Good times. We also stopped at the Melrose war memorial for all the citizens of Melrose who have died in wars from the Civil War up to the Iraq War. It is amazing how many people from that town have lost their lives in wars, especially since the town's population was just over 700, and the memorial had a list of at least a few hundred names, only those who had died, mind you. At the end of town, we stopped for a bit at a garage sale with some interesting stuff to look at.
All day it was easy riding, my heart rate stayed below 120 for the majority of the time. It was a nice recovery ride after yesterday's taxing ride. It is funny that a 65 mile ride has become a recovery ride for us and 100 mile rides are somewhat routine now. We were also losing elevation ost of the day, so that helped. At our second rest stop, we found a large toad and Shelley kissed the toad, causing the toad to immediately pee all over Oleg's hands and Shelley's chamois. I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard.
Outside Fort Sumner, we drafted off a tractor driven by a boy who looked to be well under 10 years old. It was a strange sight, and only fitting to follow Shelley being peed on by a toad. We also visited the grave site of Billy the Kid, which was neat.
The town of Fort Sumner is rather small and centered around the fact that Billy the Kid is buried here. Tonight we are staying in an Episcopal church which is very cool, somewhat in the style of an old Spanish mission. Tomorrow we do not have a place to stay, but plan on simply camping on some public property outside of Vaughn, NM as we hope to cut some of the mileage off the following day's ride to Albuquerque.
Peace and Love,
Toad Tito
Distance: 75.18
Time: 5:14:22
Max Speed: 28.4 mph
Average Speed: 19.2 mph
I told everyone that New Mexico roads suck. So far, I have been very wrong, and I can only hope I continue to be so wrong. It was smooth sailing today as the roads were incredibly smooth and the wind was either at our backs or non-existent. I would say we averaged at least 20 mph for most of the day. For some of the long stretches, we had a solid paceline going and probably did not go much below 23 mph.
In the morning, Vitek and Darlene were interviewed on the radio, which went well, and then we went to a centennial celebration for the town of Clovis at their Civic Center where we were introduced and shared our ride dedication for the day with everyone in attendance. We were originally supposed to have given our presentation at the Civic Center, but plans changed and we got to speak before the centennial audience, which was a great opportunity for us. The mayor of Clovis made a very generous donation and also gave us all Clovis centennial pins. We also received donations from others present and it seemed they were all very moved by what we are doing. It is because of people like these that I have come to love taking my time on the road, stopping as often as we like to see the sights and interact with people. It has only been just over one a week, and we have already met some of the most amazing people ever. It is so flattering for these awesome people to tell me that what I am doing impresses them when many of them have knowledge and experience well beyond my years. This is my inspiration, thisis why I ride, to see the joy we bring to all the people with whom we share our journey.
It has been a while since I have been in the desert, and at such a high elevation. Coming into Clovis, the sign said an elevation of about 4,200 feet. That is impressive that we have climbed so much already, though I know we have much more to come. At our first rest stop, we were once again treated to donated McDonald's, Egg McMuffins this time. Oleg said we are all going to get fat from this trip, and I think he may be right, we shall see. After the rest stop, we were flying. It is such an amazing feeling to be doing 20+ mph on a smooth flat road with very little wind. The sound of the tires dancing on the road is such a beautiful and calming sound. I do love it very much.
We stopped in the town of Melrose at this fruit market just as we hit town. They had some amazing cherry and also raspberry cider from Carrizozo, NM. I bought a 2 liter bottle of the raspberry cider, and also got some honey with the comb in it, which I had never had before and is quite delicious. We all stood around outside the store, drinking cider and eating honey with our hands straight from the jar, Winnie the Pooh style. Good times. We also stopped at the Melrose war memorial for all the citizens of Melrose who have died in wars from the Civil War up to the Iraq War. It is amazing how many people from that town have lost their lives in wars, especially since the town's population was just over 700, and the memorial had a list of at least a few hundred names, only those who had died, mind you. At the end of town, we stopped for a bit at a garage sale with some interesting stuff to look at.
All day it was easy riding, my heart rate stayed below 120 for the majority of the time. It was a nice recovery ride after yesterday's taxing ride. It is funny that a 65 mile ride has become a recovery ride for us and 100 mile rides are somewhat routine now. We were also losing elevation ost of the day, so that helped. At our second rest stop, we found a large toad and Shelley kissed the toad, causing the toad to immediately pee all over Oleg's hands and Shelley's chamois. I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard.
Outside Fort Sumner, we drafted off a tractor driven by a boy who looked to be well under 10 years old. It was a strange sight, and only fitting to follow Shelley being peed on by a toad. We also visited the grave site of Billy the Kid, which was neat.
The town of Fort Sumner is rather small and centered around the fact that Billy the Kid is buried here. Tonight we are staying in an Episcopal church which is very cool, somewhat in the style of an old Spanish mission. Tomorrow we do not have a place to stay, but plan on simply camping on some public property outside of Vaughn, NM as we hope to cut some of the mileage off the following day's ride to Albuquerque.
Peace and Love,
Toad Tito
Day 6-Farewell Texas
Lubbock, TX to Clovis, NM
Distance: 106 miles
Time: 8:00:16
Max Speed: 27.1 mph
Average Speed: 13.2 mph
Clovis, New Mexico could be my new favorite town ever. After one of the most boring days of riding ever, we arrived in Clovis, just west of the Texas/New Mexico border at the beautiful home of Rick and Michelle, who were some of the coolest, kindest, and most hospitable people I have ever met.
The route today was incredibly boring as the land is nothing but flat (the only hills are man-made, such as overpasses and railroad tracks), so there was nothing exciting to see. Also, the wind was in our faces almost the entire day, preventing us from going much faster than 13 mph and making everyone quite frustrated and unmotivated.
We were so bored and frustrated that we began stopping in all the small towns through which we passed. We stopped in the town of Muleshoe, TX for almost 45 minutes to get some food and a drink, and we also saw the world's largest mule shoe, and got some cool pictures. While visiting the mule shoe, we met three awesome senior citizens who we talked to for a little while. They wanted to get us on their local news and told us about a local bike ride they were hosting in mid-June. We will definitely have to tell the 2008 team to be in contact with the people of Muleshoe.
I am currently in New Mexico, now in the mountain time zone. Crossing the border was such an exhilirating feeling. Rather than having a race to the border, my group of 4 rode four-abreast across the border, and then stopped to get pictures with the "Welcome to New Mexico" sign. It is so crazy to think that we practically rode our bikes across the state of Texas. From Austin to Clovis, NM, over 500 miles, in one week... on a bike. Simply driving across Texas is an undertaking, and to think that I have done it using only my two legs and two wheels is an awesome feeling of accomplishment.
The last 10 miles or so into Clovis were awesome. The wind finally gave up and the road was smooth as butter, so we were flying, going over 20 mph the entire time. We made it to our host's house just before the sunset, which was our goal, and w were welcomed by such an amazing group of people. They were all so nice and positive, it really let us know that what we are doing has an impact beyond ourselves and that others support us 100%. Michelle, one of the hosts is currently battling breast cancer and was such a strong, positive, beautiful, and inspirational woman. After such a frustrating day on our bikes, Rick and Michelle made it all seem so worth it. They fed us one of the most amazing meals I have ever had, consisting of chicken, pasta salad, macaroni salad, cheeses, crackers & spreads, Greek salad, beans, amazing desserts, and more. These people were incredible and such an inspiration to continue on this journey no matter how difficult it seems. I cannot thank Rick, Michelle, and the people of Clovis enough for the awesome welcome and stay we have had here.
Tomorrow morning we are giving our presentation for the citizens of Clovis at the Clovis Civic Center before we ride to Fort Sumner, NM. Hopefully the wind will be more cooperative tomorrow. We also have a radio interview tomorrow morning on the local Clovis station, and this morning we were on both Lubbock TV news and radio as well, which I almost forgot to mention. We have been receiving an amazing amount of media attention, which is so cool, and also, many more people are beginning to honk at us and wave as they drive by. I have a feeling it is because they have heard about or seen us and recognize us. It is so cool to know that so many people support you in what you are doing, even if it is a simple friendly honk, wave, or hook 'em sign.
Today was rough but worth 100% worth every minute of it. I lay here in the gym of the Clovis Middle School, reflecting on the day and realizing how fortunate I am. I think our plan of action today where we took our time seeing the sights and stopping in the small towns along the way is really the way to go. So long as we make it to our destination city by sunset, we are free to do as we wish. It is such an incredible feeling.
Peace and Love,
Mighty Miguel
Distance: 106 miles
Time: 8:00:16
Max Speed: 27.1 mph
Average Speed: 13.2 mph
Clovis, New Mexico could be my new favorite town ever. After one of the most boring days of riding ever, we arrived in Clovis, just west of the Texas/New Mexico border at the beautiful home of Rick and Michelle, who were some of the coolest, kindest, and most hospitable people I have ever met.
The route today was incredibly boring as the land is nothing but flat (the only hills are man-made, such as overpasses and railroad tracks), so there was nothing exciting to see. Also, the wind was in our faces almost the entire day, preventing us from going much faster than 13 mph and making everyone quite frustrated and unmotivated.
We were so bored and frustrated that we began stopping in all the small towns through which we passed. We stopped in the town of Muleshoe, TX for almost 45 minutes to get some food and a drink, and we also saw the world's largest mule shoe, and got some cool pictures. While visiting the mule shoe, we met three awesome senior citizens who we talked to for a little while. They wanted to get us on their local news and told us about a local bike ride they were hosting in mid-June. We will definitely have to tell the 2008 team to be in contact with the people of Muleshoe.
I am currently in New Mexico, now in the mountain time zone. Crossing the border was such an exhilirating feeling. Rather than having a race to the border, my group of 4 rode four-abreast across the border, and then stopped to get pictures with the "Welcome to New Mexico" sign. It is so crazy to think that we practically rode our bikes across the state of Texas. From Austin to Clovis, NM, over 500 miles, in one week... on a bike. Simply driving across Texas is an undertaking, and to think that I have done it using only my two legs and two wheels is an awesome feeling of accomplishment.
The last 10 miles or so into Clovis were awesome. The wind finally gave up and the road was smooth as butter, so we were flying, going over 20 mph the entire time. We made it to our host's house just before the sunset, which was our goal, and w were welcomed by such an amazing group of people. They were all so nice and positive, it really let us know that what we are doing has an impact beyond ourselves and that others support us 100%. Michelle, one of the hosts is currently battling breast cancer and was such a strong, positive, beautiful, and inspirational woman. After such a frustrating day on our bikes, Rick and Michelle made it all seem so worth it. They fed us one of the most amazing meals I have ever had, consisting of chicken, pasta salad, macaroni salad, cheeses, crackers & spreads, Greek salad, beans, amazing desserts, and more. These people were incredible and such an inspiration to continue on this journey no matter how difficult it seems. I cannot thank Rick, Michelle, and the people of Clovis enough for the awesome welcome and stay we have had here.
Tomorrow morning we are giving our presentation for the citizens of Clovis at the Clovis Civic Center before we ride to Fort Sumner, NM. Hopefully the wind will be more cooperative tomorrow. We also have a radio interview tomorrow morning on the local Clovis station, and this morning we were on both Lubbock TV news and radio as well, which I almost forgot to mention. We have been receiving an amazing amount of media attention, which is so cool, and also, many more people are beginning to honk at us and wave as they drive by. I have a feeling it is because they have heard about or seen us and recognize us. It is so cool to know that so many people support you in what you are doing, even if it is a simple friendly honk, wave, or hook 'em sign.
Today was rough but worth 100% worth every minute of it. I lay here in the gym of the Clovis Middle School, reflecting on the day and realizing how fortunate I am. I think our plan of action today where we took our time seeing the sights and stopping in the small towns along the way is really the way to go. So long as we make it to our destination city by sunset, we are free to do as we wish. It is such an incredible feeling.
Peace and Love,
Mighty Miguel
Day 5-Riding to Raiderland
Post, TX to Lubbock, TX
Distance: 50.87 miles
Time: 3:11:08
Max Speed: 31.8 mph
Average Speed: 16.0 mph
As much as I thought a day of driving and rest would be awesome, I could not wait to get back on my bike. Poor Vanessa could not understand why she had to be put in the trailer all day. It took me a while to explain to her that it was not punishment, but rather something we all had to do for the good of the team. Driving sucks, to say the least, but it is essential to the success of this trip and everyone must have their turn.
Riding out of Post, heading to Lubbock, there was supposed to be a somewhat nasty climb up to the Caprock Escarpment. However, for one reason of another, be it the tailwind, or the very low grade, gradual climb we averaged about 20 mph for that entire section. Jordan and I even started riding pretty hard for a while. I lasted almost 15 minutes before I had to drop back. It was crazy how quickly my heart rate went back down though. I have really been focusing on keeping the lowest heart rate possible, particularly below 150 bpm, and the improvement in just one week is incredible. If I keep this up all summer, my heart will be in awesome shape.
At our first rest stop, we all got sausage biscuits generously donated by McDonald's, which was a nice treat. The rest of the ride went well, and we were looking to arrive in Lubbock much earlier than earlier expected. Oleg and I did a bit of a modified time trial where you go maximum effort for 30 minutes, but we were too close to Lubbock when we began and ran into construction, and then I got my second flat tire of the trip, blah.
The streets in Lubbock are very confusing, to say the least. It seems as though the entire city is a big grid, but the part where we were staying had many interruptions in the grid. We spent a little too much time trying to find our way to Steph's house where we were generously hosted for the night. Steph is a member of the Sierra team but unfortunately will not be able to do the ride this summer due to a medical condition. I feel so bad for her. But she plans on doing it next year and I am sure will be able to provide great insight to the 2008 team. Best of luck Steph!
The meal prepared for us by Steph's family and friends was to die for. There was some amazing pulled pork that was wonderfully tender and lightly seasoned, and some awesome salads. It is crazy how much you miss vegetables when you do not eat them regularly. After dinner, I got to meet up with my good friend John from Grapevine who is working in Lubbock for the summer. It was awesome to see him and spend time with him since I had not seen him since probably last October when I went up to Lubbock for the UT vs. Tech football game.
We had internet access for the first time on the trip at Steph's house, so everyone was excited to check e-mail and update blogs and what not. Though I am considerably behind on my blogging, so please forgive me. Now I retire to my sleeping bag and wonderful pad in Steph's backyard. Tomorrow we have another century (100 mile ride) and will be crossing our first border going into New Mexico!
Peace and Love,
Tailwind Tito
Distance: 50.87 miles
Time: 3:11:08
Max Speed: 31.8 mph
Average Speed: 16.0 mph
As much as I thought a day of driving and rest would be awesome, I could not wait to get back on my bike. Poor Vanessa could not understand why she had to be put in the trailer all day. It took me a while to explain to her that it was not punishment, but rather something we all had to do for the good of the team. Driving sucks, to say the least, but it is essential to the success of this trip and everyone must have their turn.
Riding out of Post, heading to Lubbock, there was supposed to be a somewhat nasty climb up to the Caprock Escarpment. However, for one reason of another, be it the tailwind, or the very low grade, gradual climb we averaged about 20 mph for that entire section. Jordan and I even started riding pretty hard for a while. I lasted almost 15 minutes before I had to drop back. It was crazy how quickly my heart rate went back down though. I have really been focusing on keeping the lowest heart rate possible, particularly below 150 bpm, and the improvement in just one week is incredible. If I keep this up all summer, my heart will be in awesome shape.
At our first rest stop, we all got sausage biscuits generously donated by McDonald's, which was a nice treat. The rest of the ride went well, and we were looking to arrive in Lubbock much earlier than earlier expected. Oleg and I did a bit of a modified time trial where you go maximum effort for 30 minutes, but we were too close to Lubbock when we began and ran into construction, and then I got my second flat tire of the trip, blah.
The streets in Lubbock are very confusing, to say the least. It seems as though the entire city is a big grid, but the part where we were staying had many interruptions in the grid. We spent a little too much time trying to find our way to Steph's house where we were generously hosted for the night. Steph is a member of the Sierra team but unfortunately will not be able to do the ride this summer due to a medical condition. I feel so bad for her. But she plans on doing it next year and I am sure will be able to provide great insight to the 2008 team. Best of luck Steph!
The meal prepared for us by Steph's family and friends was to die for. There was some amazing pulled pork that was wonderfully tender and lightly seasoned, and some awesome salads. It is crazy how much you miss vegetables when you do not eat them regularly. After dinner, I got to meet up with my good friend John from Grapevine who is working in Lubbock for the summer. It was awesome to see him and spend time with him since I had not seen him since probably last October when I went up to Lubbock for the UT vs. Tech football game.
We had internet access for the first time on the trip at Steph's house, so everyone was excited to check e-mail and update blogs and what not. Though I am considerably behind on my blogging, so please forgive me. Now I retire to my sleeping bag and wonderful pad in Steph's backyard. Tomorrow we have another century (100 mile ride) and will be crossing our first border going into New Mexico!
Peace and Love,
Tailwind Tito
Day 4-Driving For the Cure
Sweetwater, TX to Post, TX
Distance: 87.28 miles
Today, I drove. It made for an interesting day. It started off well and I thought it was going to be an easy day, but I was sorely mistaken. It all started when I tried to find a spot to set up my second rest stop, the third overall for the day as there are two drivers each day responsible for setting up rest stops every 18-20 miles, alternating between drivers. We are getting into very flat land here, and it is starting to look more and more like the desert, so there were not really any good places to have a rest stop on the side of the highway we were on. After much searching, I decided on the entrance to a ranch, the "Covered S Ranch" to be specific. I noticed that my water coolers were somewhat low, so I decided to drive down the dirt road to the ranch to see if I could use their hose. Right before I got to the house, I came up on a small horse/donkey who was standing in the middle of the road and would not move no matter how much I honked or yelled at it. So I went a little off road and went around him. I then parked the van at the gate and went to knock on the door. Nobody answered, so I decided I should leave. However, when I returned to the van, there were about six horses and the previously mentioned horse/donkey standing around, sniffing the van and trailer. I tried making noises to scare them off but it did not work. I then got in the van and honked at the horses and even moved the van as if I were going to run into the horses, but they were not to be moved. Instead, they stuck their heads in the window and began sniffing me. It was a cool experience, but I needed to get water and set up a rest stop for the riders as soon as possible. Finally, I escaped the curiosity of those beautiful animals, was able to fill up the water cooler, and went to set up the rest stop.
From there, the day got a little busy, running around, trying to support all the riders, but I will not bore you with the details. A group of 8 riders went to get some food in Snyder, TX on the way and ended up getting radio interviews on two different local stations this afternoon, which was awesome. Following the interviews, we were getting many more honks on the road, and the friendly kind at that.
We finally made it to post and set up in the First Baptist Church. We had somewhat of an impromptu hair styling party after dinner as Emily and Shelley buzzed their heads and Oleg got some sweet custom lightning bolts cut in the sides of his mohawk. Hopefully soon I will have a cool design in my mohawk to rival Oleg's. Oh, and I lied, Emily buzzed all of her head but the bangs and two tufts in the back of her head. She looked like a goth/gangsta, and it was quite interesting to say the least. Many laughs and good times were had. This summer continues to get better and better.
Peace and Love,
Mohawk Miggy
Distance: 87.28 miles
Today, I drove. It made for an interesting day. It started off well and I thought it was going to be an easy day, but I was sorely mistaken. It all started when I tried to find a spot to set up my second rest stop, the third overall for the day as there are two drivers each day responsible for setting up rest stops every 18-20 miles, alternating between drivers. We are getting into very flat land here, and it is starting to look more and more like the desert, so there were not really any good places to have a rest stop on the side of the highway we were on. After much searching, I decided on the entrance to a ranch, the "Covered S Ranch" to be specific. I noticed that my water coolers were somewhat low, so I decided to drive down the dirt road to the ranch to see if I could use their hose. Right before I got to the house, I came up on a small horse/donkey who was standing in the middle of the road and would not move no matter how much I honked or yelled at it. So I went a little off road and went around him. I then parked the van at the gate and went to knock on the door. Nobody answered, so I decided I should leave. However, when I returned to the van, there were about six horses and the previously mentioned horse/donkey standing around, sniffing the van and trailer. I tried making noises to scare them off but it did not work. I then got in the van and honked at the horses and even moved the van as if I were going to run into the horses, but they were not to be moved. Instead, they stuck their heads in the window and began sniffing me. It was a cool experience, but I needed to get water and set up a rest stop for the riders as soon as possible. Finally, I escaped the curiosity of those beautiful animals, was able to fill up the water cooler, and went to set up the rest stop.
From there, the day got a little busy, running around, trying to support all the riders, but I will not bore you with the details. A group of 8 riders went to get some food in Snyder, TX on the way and ended up getting radio interviews on two different local stations this afternoon, which was awesome. Following the interviews, we were getting many more honks on the road, and the friendly kind at that.
We finally made it to post and set up in the First Baptist Church. We had somewhat of an impromptu hair styling party after dinner as Emily and Shelley buzzed their heads and Oleg got some sweet custom lightning bolts cut in the sides of his mohawk. Hopefully soon I will have a cool design in my mohawk to rival Oleg's. Oh, and I lied, Emily buzzed all of her head but the bangs and two tufts in the back of her head. She looked like a goth/gangsta, and it was quite interesting to say the least. Many laughs and good times were had. This summer continues to get better and better.
Peace and Love,
Mohawk Miggy
Day 3-To West Texas
Coleman, TX to Sweetwater, TX
Distance: 85.67 miles
Time: 5:29:25
Max Speed: 38.3 mph
Average Speed: 14.3 mph
I am exhausted. At the same time, I have never had more fun than I am having right now. I need to go to bed seeing as I must wake up in four hours because I am driving tomorrow and my duties begin at 4:45 AM. Yikes!
Today's ride went well. It was mostly uphill the whole way, but never too steep, so it was very manageable. The worst part was definitely the road; it was very bumpy the entire way and caused my rear end to be very, very sore. Not to mention that I was already sore from yesterday's 130 mile ride. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. The highlight of the day was definitely a seemingly endless 3 mile climb that was pretty grueling. But at the top, or at least when it was less steep, the land opened up and there were wind-powered turbines as far as you could see across the plains. There were also oil pumps scattered amongst the monstrous turbines. It was the epitome of West Texas and the first real change of terrain/region we have seen.
Tonight we are staying in the gym of Sweetwater High School. It is the second night in a row we have had showers! How wonderful. Tomorrow is an 83 mile ride to Post, which I am disappointed about missing, but it will give me time to rest my shoulders, which are still sore, and my hip which began to hurt today.
Anyway, I must be off to bed. I will write more tomorrow. Wish me luck driving and setting up rest stops tomorrow. Hopefully I won't screw up terribly and make everyone hate me. That would suck.
Peace and Love,
Turbine Tito
Distance: 85.67 miles
Time: 5:29:25
Max Speed: 38.3 mph
Average Speed: 14.3 mph
I am exhausted. At the same time, I have never had more fun than I am having right now. I need to go to bed seeing as I must wake up in four hours because I am driving tomorrow and my duties begin at 4:45 AM. Yikes!
Today's ride went well. It was mostly uphill the whole way, but never too steep, so it was very manageable. The worst part was definitely the road; it was very bumpy the entire way and caused my rear end to be very, very sore. Not to mention that I was already sore from yesterday's 130 mile ride. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. The highlight of the day was definitely a seemingly endless 3 mile climb that was pretty grueling. But at the top, or at least when it was less steep, the land opened up and there were wind-powered turbines as far as you could see across the plains. There were also oil pumps scattered amongst the monstrous turbines. It was the epitome of West Texas and the first real change of terrain/region we have seen.
Tonight we are staying in the gym of Sweetwater High School. It is the second night in a row we have had showers! How wonderful. Tomorrow is an 83 mile ride to Post, which I am disappointed about missing, but it will give me time to rest my shoulders, which are still sore, and my hip which began to hurt today.
Anyway, I must be off to bed. I will write more tomorrow. Wish me luck driving and setting up rest stops tomorrow. Hopefully I won't screw up terribly and make everyone hate me. That would suck.
Peace and Love,
Turbine Tito
Day 2-My Longest Ride EVER
Lampasas, TX to Coleman, TX
Distance: 130.90 miles
Time: 8:56:09
Max Speed: 34.1 mph
Average Speed: 14.6 mph
I cannot think of a time I was ever this exhausted. 130 miles on a bike is a lot of riding. But I did it. We did it. It really wasn't that bad, but now my shoulders hurt like crazy and it is uncomfortable to sit. Getting in the saddle tomorrow will be very interesting. Not looking forward to that one.
Today we rode from Lampasas to Coleman, parting ways with the Rockies route this morning. We had a ride dedication as an entire team for Carson, the little boy who Jordan and Claire visited in Memphis this past week. Following the dedication, we had a huge group hug followed by everyone exchanging hugs and goodbyes to the riders of the other route. It was a very heartfelt moment and many tears were shed. I was rather surprised of some of the people I saw crying, but it was good to know I am not the only one on the team who really loves everyone else on the team. Not that I thought that, but it was still good to know. This is the most dedicated, passionate, and fun group of people I have ever been a part of. I might even cry at the end of the summer when we all leave Alaska.
The ride went well, it was a good route, if there is such a thing as a good 120+ mile route that is. It started off a little rocky with some people having bike issues and others getting dropped or left behind. I ended up backtracking about 3.5 miles to find my buddy, Mike who had stayed behind to help Eric with some shoe issues. I then ended up sweeping for a portion of the ride as a couple of people had been dropped by their group/buddy. It was really nice to just ride easy for a while, keeping my heart rate nice and low. I was the very last person to leave the second (of 5) rest stop, and between the second and third, I stopped my sweeping duties. I caught up to the lead group at rest stop 4 but waited until after they had left to continue on. At rest stop five I met up with them again, but this time Jordan convinced me to ride with them for the final stretch, about 20 miles or so. By this time we were all exhausted and our rear ends had been rubbed raw. This was at mile 100, mind you. Actually, I did about 7 extra miles because I went back for my buddy, so I was past the 100 mile point at rest stop 5. But anyway, I did the last stretch with the first group. Jordan and I pulled a double paceline for a while, and then I pulled alone for a while before Jordan took over. We could see a storm approaching and lightning in the distance so we picked up the pace to try and finish before the storm got to us. There was a large flash of lightning right above us, so we decided to pull over to take some shelter. Of all places, the first place we came upon was a welding shop where everything was metal. An interesting choice in a lightning storm, but it was shelter nonetheless. The mosquitoes were also awful there, but no matter.
At this point, we thought we were about 5 miles out and really did not want to have to get a ride back in. We wanted to complete the ride; we were so close. One of our awesome hosts for the night came and found us in his truck and told us the school we are currently staying at was only 2 miles up the road. Hearing that, we waited for the rain to stop and rode in. It was a wonderful feeling, minus a little wipeout on some slick pavement in front of Sonic. Not only was today my longest ride ever, but it was also my longest ride to go without a flat!
Our hosts are amazing. We are in a junior high school, sleeping in the gym, with showers and laundry machines for us to use. It's like a 5-star hotel to us. After not having showered for 3 days, being clean feels awesome. Our hosts cooked us an awesome pasta and salad dinner and had really good tea. In the morning, they are providing us with breakfast too. We are living like royalty, here in Coleman, Texas.
Peace and Love,
Tubular Tito
Distance: 130.90 miles
Time: 8:56:09
Max Speed: 34.1 mph
Average Speed: 14.6 mph
I cannot think of a time I was ever this exhausted. 130 miles on a bike is a lot of riding. But I did it. We did it. It really wasn't that bad, but now my shoulders hurt like crazy and it is uncomfortable to sit. Getting in the saddle tomorrow will be very interesting. Not looking forward to that one.
Today we rode from Lampasas to Coleman, parting ways with the Rockies route this morning. We had a ride dedication as an entire team for Carson, the little boy who Jordan and Claire visited in Memphis this past week. Following the dedication, we had a huge group hug followed by everyone exchanging hugs and goodbyes to the riders of the other route. It was a very heartfelt moment and many tears were shed. I was rather surprised of some of the people I saw crying, but it was good to know I am not the only one on the team who really loves everyone else on the team. Not that I thought that, but it was still good to know. This is the most dedicated, passionate, and fun group of people I have ever been a part of. I might even cry at the end of the summer when we all leave Alaska.
The ride went well, it was a good route, if there is such a thing as a good 120+ mile route that is. It started off a little rocky with some people having bike issues and others getting dropped or left behind. I ended up backtracking about 3.5 miles to find my buddy, Mike who had stayed behind to help Eric with some shoe issues. I then ended up sweeping for a portion of the ride as a couple of people had been dropped by their group/buddy. It was really nice to just ride easy for a while, keeping my heart rate nice and low. I was the very last person to leave the second (of 5) rest stop, and between the second and third, I stopped my sweeping duties. I caught up to the lead group at rest stop 4 but waited until after they had left to continue on. At rest stop five I met up with them again, but this time Jordan convinced me to ride with them for the final stretch, about 20 miles or so. By this time we were all exhausted and our rear ends had been rubbed raw. This was at mile 100, mind you. Actually, I did about 7 extra miles because I went back for my buddy, so I was past the 100 mile point at rest stop 5. But anyway, I did the last stretch with the first group. Jordan and I pulled a double paceline for a while, and then I pulled alone for a while before Jordan took over. We could see a storm approaching and lightning in the distance so we picked up the pace to try and finish before the storm got to us. There was a large flash of lightning right above us, so we decided to pull over to take some shelter. Of all places, the first place we came upon was a welding shop where everything was metal. An interesting choice in a lightning storm, but it was shelter nonetheless. The mosquitoes were also awful there, but no matter.
At this point, we thought we were about 5 miles out and really did not want to have to get a ride back in. We wanted to complete the ride; we were so close. One of our awesome hosts for the night came and found us in his truck and told us the school we are currently staying at was only 2 miles up the road. Hearing that, we waited for the rain to stop and rode in. It was a wonderful feeling, minus a little wipeout on some slick pavement in front of Sonic. Not only was today my longest ride ever, but it was also my longest ride to go without a flat!
Our hosts are amazing. We are in a junior high school, sleeping in the gym, with showers and laundry machines for us to use. It's like a 5-star hotel to us. After not having showered for 3 days, being clean feels awesome. Our hosts cooked us an awesome pasta and salad dinner and had really good tea. In the morning, they are providing us with breakfast too. We are living like royalty, here in Coleman, Texas.
Peace and Love,
Tubular Tito
Day 1-A Very Successful Day
Cedar Park, TX to Lampasas, TX (2007 ATLAS Ride)
Distance: 69.66 miles
Time: 3:49:13
Max Speed: 33.8 mph
Average Speed: 19.2 mph
Humidity is awful. I'm laying, no, sticking to my sleeping bag right now under the cover of the pavilion at Roadhouse BBQ and I think the air is about 99% humidity right now. My notebook is damp, most of the clothes in my bag are damp, I'm slowly sweating everywhere, it is wonderful. Suddenly I am reminded of why I did not enjoy camping in Boy Scouts when I moved from El Paso to the Ft. Worth area. I cannot wait for the desert, oddly enough, where at least there is a break from the heat at night, and the heat is dry. Once we get to Lubbock, it should get better.
Enough whining. Today was the ATLAS ride from Cedar Park to Lampasas. I believe there were just under 100 participants who joined us on the official first leg of our journey. The route was amazing. The hills were few and moderate at worst, and the clouds provided relief from the sun to accompany the nice breeze. For the last 12 miles of the ride, I did not go under 20 mph. It was beautiful. I was afraid I was going to bonk today after eating gummy bears & PB&J last night for dinner, but I felt good all day and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was actually the first 2007 t4k rider to make it to the finish, which was a pretty cool feeling. The finish was at Roadhouse BBQ, where we are currently camping. Yet another on my list of strange places I have camped. We had delicious brisket, some of the best I've ever had, and sausage, as well as sides such as coleslaw, beans, potato salad, and macaroni salad. It was a glorious meal with some interesting music by two different bands to go with the meal. Apparently Rhett Butler had to cancel this morning for some family issue, so he did not play. I got to the finish line around 1:10 or so and we did not really do anything until well after 6 PM. I am hoping all summer is similar: arriving early in the afternoon and then relaxing and eating to prepare for the next day's ride. It was a great day. Enormous thanks to Emily and the ATLAS committee for making it happen. I know they will sleep well tonight, exhausted and stress-free at last.
Tomorrow will be a different story. Very different indeed: a story of a 125 mile ride to Coleman, TX. Assuming all mileage estimates are correct, tomorrow will be my longest ride ever, by about 20 miles. I hope I ate enough tonight in preparation, but I don't want to eat so much PB&J that I can't take it by California. It looks like we are going to be eating a lot of it this summer. We were also spoiled today with the rest stops, stocked with fresh fruit, cold water, cookies, pretzels, and even Smoothie King at the third rest stop! I know the rest of the summer will not be like that, but how I wish it were. Oh well.
After tomorrow we will be over 200 miles into our trip and only 68 days from Alaska. It already feels like the summer is beginning to pass quicker than I would like. I must find a way to slow it down. I suppose 125 miles on a bike will be a good way to make you feel every minute of the day.
Tomorrow will be long, very long. But our destination is a gym with showers AND laundry facilities, which I am quite excited about! For now, I must sleep and dream of bicycle wheels dancing in my head.
Peace and Love,
Trek Tito
Distance: 69.66 miles
Time: 3:49:13
Max Speed: 33.8 mph
Average Speed: 19.2 mph
Humidity is awful. I'm laying, no, sticking to my sleeping bag right now under the cover of the pavilion at Roadhouse BBQ and I think the air is about 99% humidity right now. My notebook is damp, most of the clothes in my bag are damp, I'm slowly sweating everywhere, it is wonderful. Suddenly I am reminded of why I did not enjoy camping in Boy Scouts when I moved from El Paso to the Ft. Worth area. I cannot wait for the desert, oddly enough, where at least there is a break from the heat at night, and the heat is dry. Once we get to Lubbock, it should get better.
Enough whining. Today was the ATLAS ride from Cedar Park to Lampasas. I believe there were just under 100 participants who joined us on the official first leg of our journey. The route was amazing. The hills were few and moderate at worst, and the clouds provided relief from the sun to accompany the nice breeze. For the last 12 miles of the ride, I did not go under 20 mph. It was beautiful. I was afraid I was going to bonk today after eating gummy bears & PB&J last night for dinner, but I felt good all day and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was actually the first 2007 t4k rider to make it to the finish, which was a pretty cool feeling. The finish was at Roadhouse BBQ, where we are currently camping. Yet another on my list of strange places I have camped. We had delicious brisket, some of the best I've ever had, and sausage, as well as sides such as coleslaw, beans, potato salad, and macaroni salad. It was a glorious meal with some interesting music by two different bands to go with the meal. Apparently Rhett Butler had to cancel this morning for some family issue, so he did not play. I got to the finish line around 1:10 or so and we did not really do anything until well after 6 PM. I am hoping all summer is similar: arriving early in the afternoon and then relaxing and eating to prepare for the next day's ride. It was a great day. Enormous thanks to Emily and the ATLAS committee for making it happen. I know they will sleep well tonight, exhausted and stress-free at last.
Tomorrow will be a different story. Very different indeed: a story of a 125 mile ride to Coleman, TX. Assuming all mileage estimates are correct, tomorrow will be my longest ride ever, by about 20 miles. I hope I ate enough tonight in preparation, but I don't want to eat so much PB&J that I can't take it by California. It looks like we are going to be eating a lot of it this summer. We were also spoiled today with the rest stops, stocked with fresh fruit, cold water, cookies, pretzels, and even Smoothie King at the third rest stop! I know the rest of the summer will not be like that, but how I wish it were. Oh well.
After tomorrow we will be over 200 miles into our trip and only 68 days from Alaska. It already feels like the summer is beginning to pass quicker than I would like. I must find a way to slow it down. I suppose 125 miles on a bike will be a good way to make you feel every minute of the day.
Tomorrow will be long, very long. But our destination is a gym with showers AND laundry facilities, which I am quite excited about! For now, I must sleep and dream of bicycle wheels dancing in my head.
Peace and Love,
Trek Tito
Day 0-On the Road At Last
Austin, TX to Cedar Park, TX
Distance: 30.76 miles
Time: 2:33:49
Top Speed: 57.4 mph
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
I still remember being interviewed for the Texas 4000 quite vividly. Sitting down with two '06 riders wearing their jerseys, feeling intimidated because they had done something so much greater than I could have ever hoped to achieve. I had no idea what I was supposed to say in an interview for a 4,500 mile bicycle trip to defeat a disease I knew next to nothing about other than the fact that it is bad.
10 months later, here I am, laying on a sleeping bag in the grass, in front of Cedar Park High School next to a somewhat large road. It is undoubtedly the most odd of all the places I have camped. However, I have no idea what this summer has in store for me, so I have the feeling that this will son change as I can only imagine the places we will be sleeping en route to Anchorage.
The past week has been mayhem to say the least as we made all the final preparations for the trip, trying to to eliminate as many unknowns as possible. As the semester dragged on, one could feel the tension and anxiety growing in the weekly meetings, especially in the last couple months. Needless to say, it is an immense relief to be on the road at last. Free from the shackles of society, sporting my week-old mohawk, wicked tan lines, and spandex, and I don't care how many people stare at me or what they think.
I took two weeks off at the end of the semester, only one of which was intentional. But then things got too crazy and I did not have the time or energy to ride. During those two weeks, I really started to freak myself out, wondering what I was doing and if it was something I really wanted to do. But then, upon returning to Austin, I went for a nice short ride to get myself back on the bike, and it only took 15 miles before I remembered how much I love to ride and how amazing this summer promises to be, regardless of what happens.
Today we spent a large amount of time with family and friends on the steps of the UT tower, one of my favorite places in Texas, from about noon 'til 2 PM. After much sitting around and waiting, we departed, heading south to the capitol, circling it twice, and then heading off for Cedar Park. The ride was pretty easy, around 30 miles, with a few hills that got the blood pumping. Otherwise, we took it pretty easy, enjoying the glory of ridig in a group of 40 riders, practically owning the streets, knowing we were beginning something that is sure to change our lives forever, but not knowing how it will do so. Also, for the first time ever, we had several people honk at us in encouragement, rather than the usual angry motorists telling us to get out of the way or just expressing how they truly feel about cyclists, with no reasoning to back it up.
Tomorrow is our ATLAS ride from here in Cedar Park to Lampasas. It is officially the first leg of our trip and it open to anyone who wishes to participate. We end the ride at a BBQ music with live music from Rhett Butler. Perhaps Scarlett will be there as well... On Sunday we have a grueling ride around 125 miles, which I am not looking forward to. I think it will probably be one of the most difficult things I have ever done physically, so it should be interesting.
My phone has been off for many hours now, I have not checked my e-mail since Noon, I have no keys, and all my belongings for the summer fit into a 12"x12"x24" duffel bag, save my bike, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. I love it.
Now it is time to sleep, something I have not done much of all week and most likely will not do much of tonight either as we must awaken early to prepare for the ATLAS ride.
For now, I leave you with the image of me emerging from a high school bathroom, wet cycling shorts in hand, with a mohawk and wet sleeveless shirt, walking through a hallway of mothers with their 8 year-old daughters at their dance recital dress rehearsal. The looks on their faces were priceless.
Until next time, Peace and Love,
Mighty Miguel
Distance: 30.76 miles
Time: 2:33:49
Top Speed: 57.4 mph
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
I still remember being interviewed for the Texas 4000 quite vividly. Sitting down with two '06 riders wearing their jerseys, feeling intimidated because they had done something so much greater than I could have ever hoped to achieve. I had no idea what I was supposed to say in an interview for a 4,500 mile bicycle trip to defeat a disease I knew next to nothing about other than the fact that it is bad.
10 months later, here I am, laying on a sleeping bag in the grass, in front of Cedar Park High School next to a somewhat large road. It is undoubtedly the most odd of all the places I have camped. However, I have no idea what this summer has in store for me, so I have the feeling that this will son change as I can only imagine the places we will be sleeping en route to Anchorage.
The past week has been mayhem to say the least as we made all the final preparations for the trip, trying to to eliminate as many unknowns as possible. As the semester dragged on, one could feel the tension and anxiety growing in the weekly meetings, especially in the last couple months. Needless to say, it is an immense relief to be on the road at last. Free from the shackles of society, sporting my week-old mohawk, wicked tan lines, and spandex, and I don't care how many people stare at me or what they think.
I took two weeks off at the end of the semester, only one of which was intentional. But then things got too crazy and I did not have the time or energy to ride. During those two weeks, I really started to freak myself out, wondering what I was doing and if it was something I really wanted to do. But then, upon returning to Austin, I went for a nice short ride to get myself back on the bike, and it only took 15 miles before I remembered how much I love to ride and how amazing this summer promises to be, regardless of what happens.
Today we spent a large amount of time with family and friends on the steps of the UT tower, one of my favorite places in Texas, from about noon 'til 2 PM. After much sitting around and waiting, we departed, heading south to the capitol, circling it twice, and then heading off for Cedar Park. The ride was pretty easy, around 30 miles, with a few hills that got the blood pumping. Otherwise, we took it pretty easy, enjoying the glory of ridig in a group of 40 riders, practically owning the streets, knowing we were beginning something that is sure to change our lives forever, but not knowing how it will do so. Also, for the first time ever, we had several people honk at us in encouragement, rather than the usual angry motorists telling us to get out of the way or just expressing how they truly feel about cyclists, with no reasoning to back it up.
Tomorrow is our ATLAS ride from here in Cedar Park to Lampasas. It is officially the first leg of our trip and it open to anyone who wishes to participate. We end the ride at a BBQ music with live music from Rhett Butler. Perhaps Scarlett will be there as well... On Sunday we have a grueling ride around 125 miles, which I am not looking forward to. I think it will probably be one of the most difficult things I have ever done physically, so it should be interesting.
My phone has been off for many hours now, I have not checked my e-mail since Noon, I have no keys, and all my belongings for the summer fit into a 12"x12"x24" duffel bag, save my bike, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. I love it.
Now it is time to sleep, something I have not done much of all week and most likely will not do much of tonight either as we must awaken early to prepare for the ATLAS ride.
For now, I leave you with the image of me emerging from a high school bathroom, wet cycling shorts in hand, with a mohawk and wet sleeveless shirt, walking through a hallway of mothers with their 8 year-old daughters at their dance recital dress rehearsal. The looks on their faces were priceless.
Until next time, Peace and Love,
Mighty Miguel
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