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I've Got Something to Say
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| Ride Stats |
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Time: 07:56:54
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Distance:
123.70 miles
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Max Speed:
44.40 mph
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Avg Speed:
15.50 mph
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Route:
PAC Tour Central Transcontinental
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Weight:
0
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Category: training: general -
solo
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Fuji Newest Road
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| Club: Commuter Cycling Century |
| Weather Conditions: |
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Before I start today’s journal entry, I want to warn you that this one is going to have a different slant to it. This one is going to be more philosophical in nature, not narrative as the previous entries have been.
The title I chose for today’s entry is not original; it is actually part of the title of a book written by/about Lance Armstrong. Just so I don’t assume everyone is on the same page, let me give a brief background. About eight or nine years ago Lance was an up and coming athlete in the world of bicycle racing. He had won a few stages of the Tour de France (and didn’t even complete all of the stages of the race), and won some other races – he was being groomed to live up to his potential. Then he was diagnosed with cancer, testicular and on the brain, went through months of treatments, and then not only recovered his health, but went into training to compete in bike races and has won the Tour de France the last seven years. In my opinion, there are a few miracles there, but that I not what I am here to discuss.
I was very pleased last night (Friday) during dinner when someone mentioned how neat it is to not just see America by bike – the slower pace scenery changes, etc. – but that we can taste it, hear it, and smell it. At that point in the conversation, I drifted off into my own little world to identify with that observation. I could really reflect on the hear it & smell it aspect. Just that morning, as I was making my way out of Sedona, I could hear the creek as it rippled down the rocks not far from the road I was climbing. I could hear my tires rolling along the pavement – not as loud of a hum that car & truck tires make. I could hear myself gasp for breath I pushed down on the pedals in order to propel the bike up the road. I could smell the dead skunk lying in the road. A little while later, I could smell a skunk I could not see. I could smell the exhaust of the cars, trucks and buses as the passed by me on the road. I could feel the cool (40/50 something degree air) chill my body. Some of these things you could experience from inside a motorized vehicle – but more than likely you would not hear what I heard or felt what I felt.
On bike tours like this, one thing that is stressed over and over again is to enjoy the ride. During training for such an event as this, or even while experiencing it, it is easy to loose sight of the purpose of the event. Training rides can become distasteful, because it is something that has to be done. Most, if not all, spare time is consumed with getting in shape for the tour, that it becomes a very demanding life style. Then on the tour itself it is sleep, ride, eat, and get ready for tomorrow – all this needs to stay balanced in order for the adventure to be enjoyable. With such a routine it is easy to lose track of what day of the week it is, what today’s date is, what state we are in, what time zone are we in, etc.
Mean while, readers like you, are still in your day-to-day grinds (I wish I had a lighter term to use), and schedule of events, like in my house. My 15 and one half year old daughter, Andrea, gets up at 5:15 A.M. during the week to get ready for school. She has marching band rehearsal after school a couple days a week. My wife, Jacque, gets up around 5:30 to make sure Andrea has what she needs to get off to school, then focuses on getter herself off to work (and me to get off to work when I’m not out on a bike tour). Jacque also works a second part time job (8-12 hours/week) and on days like today make sure Andrea is where she needs to be for band and church events. Not to different from most households with young children or teenagers.
Where am I going with all this??? Well, as I was finishing the last 20 miles of Friday’s jaunt, I also was mulling over a decision Jacque & I had to make about our nine and one-half year old Chocolate Lab, Duke. He has not been eating well for the past several weeks, and after a couple vet visits, the situation was not getting any better. Duke had another appointment on Friday, the prognosis was not good. He had a tumor on his liver about the size of a fist, and it was forcing his stomach to occupy the space of a walnut. At the last rest stop of the day I was given the results of the vet visit and Jacque & I needed to make a decision on the course of action. Without getting into any more details, we came to the conclusion that it was best if Duke was put to sleep. Now the hard part for me is that I am not in St Louis to help with this process – I helped in the decision making, but not in the follow through of it. I am not available to comfort my wife as she would go through the steps that needed to take place. I am not available to comfort my daughter has she goes through this mourning process. I am not able to be comforted by my wife or daughter, physically – we can give words of comfort over the phone – as the reality of this process takes hold in my mind and heart. Ironically, though, my wife mailed a card to me (via USPS) that I received when I got to the hotel last night, and on the front of it read, "HUG, HUG, HUG, HUG, HUG, HUG, HUG." Open it up and it says, "One for each day of the week." Well that’s what I needed then and there, was an actual hug. That is what I felt I needed to give Jacque, was an actual hug. But, in the circumstances we have today, that just is not possible.
Reading these journal entries over the past week, and over the weeks ahead, is a chance for you to see what I see, hear what I hear, and feel what I feel. It is not just an opportunity to see how many miles I get go in how short of time on my bike. It is not about the bike.
Today’s photo album will not contain any captions – it will be a silent slide show in memory of Duke. Enjoy the ride!
Friday’s stats:
Got on the bike starting at 6:40 A.M.
Got to the hotel in Chinle at 4:15 P.M.
Total travel time: 9 hours 35 minutes
Distance traveled: 123.91 miles
Amount of climbing: 3,300 feet
Actual time on the bike 7 hours 37 minutes and 1 second
Average speed (on bike): 16.2 mph
Max speed attained: 43.7 mph
Saturday’s stats:
Got on the bike starting at 6:35 A.M.
Got off the bike and into SAG vehicle 20 miles from the hotel in Cortez at 5:00 P.M.
Total travel time: 10 hours 25 minutes
Distance traveled: 123.7 miles of 140
Amount of climbing: 4,000 feet
Actual time on the bike 7 hours 56 minutes and 54 second
Average speed (on bike): 15.5 mph (was 17.0 after first 2 rest stops – 60 miles)
Max speed attained: 44.4 mph
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