No More Tour Divide

Last night's cycle consisted of 10 minutes feeling good, 1 hour feeling bad, 10 minutes good, 1 hour bad ..........      The brakes were driving me mad - every time I came to stop I would pull the brake and nothing happened.  Its just how I usually stop - unclip my left foot and brake with my right hand. Its just how I do it!  Of course then I wouldn't actually stop just end up dragging  my foot along the ground while I remembered what was happening.  Just had to think about it!!
Get to the top of a  climb - downhill - just take it easy! Then there would be a track so I would let myself go and then there would be a sharp corner which I would end up skidding around, just about managing not to fall! It just meant I had to go slowly down a really good downhill - I remember this particular one from last year - when I lost my flip flops - it was a great one - so I was bummed to have to take it slowly.  
Everything now hurts - being annoyed and upset seems to make my ankle hurt even more - I have mouth ulcers, numb hands, cuts on my face and nose - feel like a complete mess.  
At the bottom of the hill I sat under the bridge for a while - not too sure why but I did. Had another muffin and looked at the route.  I knew the next hill would be horrible.  I remember it from last year - up a grass bank to the top of the mountain and then straight down a grassy bank the other side - more an animal track than a trail.  This was the one the guy in the bike shop warned me against - he said I would have to hike it down.  A hairy descent!!    While  looking at the map I noticed the highway underneath would take me back to Butte and looked fairly flat.  Then I also realised that I still had a hotel room in Butte that I had already paid for as I had checked in in the morning.  Butte also had an airport with flights to Denver.  Then I also realised that I was not going to finish this ride........  I could go on further but would probably still have to stop assuming the problems with my bike were going to continue.   Best case scenario would be to take a few days off to get my bike repaired but that would put me so far behind my planned time for this ride and I simply could not afford those extra days - there is no point for me to just carry on just to say I have finished without worrying about how long that would take.  Realistically I now knew I was not going to finish - and the further I went the more difficult and expensive it would be to get home again.

Nothing seems to be working out for me on this trip and that seems to be emphasising the pain my body is feeling.  If my bike was working I could cope with my ankle and everything else - maybe if my ankle was not so bad I would cope better with my bike?   I just feel like throwing my bike off the cliff just now!  

So - two o'clock in the morning and I decide I have had enough - I ride back to Butte and check into the hotel again.

Next morning everything hurts!  Maybe my body is just not up to this ride? I dont mind riding for months on end as long as I get to eat well.  Eating has been a huge problem for me.  Some people on the trail can get by on a power bar for breakfast, ride a few miles and have a good meal and then ride again till its time to camp and then get up for their power bar!!  Not me!  The night I camped I had 3 sandwiches and tons of snacks and still woke up in the morning feeling hunger sick!!  i then stil had to stop every 10/20 minutes for a snack till I found somewhere for breakfast!! Camping out for prolonged periods requires too much food - so maybe I am just not suited to this sort of ride - I thought I woull dbe but it seems not!  Well - thats how I feel right now anyway!!  

I feel happy enough with my decision and manage to book a flight home to Denver.  Going to take a few days to recover and get my bike sorted out!  One thing I have realised is that I am quite good at riding non stop for 24 hours straight - so I am going to try a few 24 hour bike races and see if I am better suited to them.  There are actually three races I have my eye on.  I also rather like the idea of the Colorado Trail Race - sam kind of idea as the Tour Divide but only 500 miles - might be better. People complete in 4 - 8 days.  Will set my expectations a little lower and just see how I get on.

Thank you very much to everyone for their support again - mum and dad have been wonderful - always supporting me in my stupidity. Also thanks to a great friend who I talked to every day and who helped me through it all.

Am already looking forward to the next challenge!!

I

Reflections from a Ditch

Things are finally getting better.  I am sitting in a ditch in the dark at the top of a mountain.  Finally started to feel like I want to be here again and stuffing my face with a muffin.  10 to 11 - I've had one hell of an afternoon.  
Bumped in to John again at another restaurant while I was waiting for my bike which was really nice. then I headed off to the bike shop to get my repaired bike and get back into this race!  Bad news - bad, bad news!!  They have been working on my brakes the whole time, but the problem was that they had not been set up correctly.  The pad was only rubbing on half the disc so half had worn away - the other half was rubbing on the other pad. So when i squeezed by brakes the two pads were simply touching against each other and nothing was actually happening - no braking that is.  The more I have been squeezing has cause the pistons to bend - so they couldn't move in and out.  They thought they had managed to sort this but when I tried the piston then got completely stuck and would not move in or out.  They were able to get the piston so that i tis now permanently stuck in - in other words I have no front brakes.  Unfortunately they had no spares in the shop or any other suggestions except "Good luck"  So after another 4 hours I am no better of.  So I headed off down the road knowing the situation is not idea - and I am destroyed headwise.  Up the road now and everything is annoying me about the bike. The gears continually make aso much noise and shift themselves every now and then. The bottom bracket is broken probably from me standing so much to try to alleviate the  gear problem. It makes a clickety click noise. My bike is quite musical in fact - but not in  a good way.  One hell of a struggle all round - thought about giving up, turning round, looking for a highway, stopping in Colorado.  Really struggling.  After 4 hours of this I finally feel a little better. I want to try not to stand so much (apart from damage to the bike its killing me) - try to carry on pedalling in a lower gear and pedal easier.  That grinding noise - feels like the gears are adding resistance to an already heavy bike - and thats whats really annoying me.  But thats how it is - cant be helped right now!

 So here I am in the middle of nowhere, no lights to be seen, pitch black - but at least quite open for a change rather than in trees.  But I know coming up soon I hike up a mountain and there is a very steep downhill the other side - I remember it from last year and was also warned about it by the guy in the bike shop. He told me I woul dhave to hike down it without any front brakes.  So - theres a challenge to look forward to!!

Trouble with Brakes

Every time I am climbing one of these passes I am expecting it to be the one I really hated last year!  With an awful section on the other side!! So I never know until I go across the top!!    Anyway I was quite enjoying myself and the three passes went well and there was a good downhill into Helena where I stopped at Hardees and ran into a few other riders.  I ate with them - one had a broken pedal, the other a swollen knee!  They were going to get a hotel room.  Then I saw the English guy ride by again - I knew he was going to stop also as I had passed him earlier and he had a slow puncture!!I ate and then got ready to set off - my plan was to ride all day and all night - I felt pretty good leaving town - a guy that did it last year came and chatted for a while which was nice and then another couple of ladies had a sign and were out cheering - again that was really nice.  Kind of fun!   There was a good dirt road climb out of town and a really cool sunset - orange colours bouncing off everywhere.  The it got dark and things began to get  lot more interesting.  The climb took a right hand turn which I couldn't see so had to hunt around for that for a while.  Ended up on a 4 wheel drive trail - big rocks everywhere - difficult to ride. Big valleys where the water drained.  Bit of a disaster to ride in the dark.  My dynamo light is great - trouble is when you stop in the pitch black in the woods the light goes off of course - all I had was  tiny LE light - all in all a bit unnerving - I was a bit afraid up there in the total darkness all on my own.  Wondering where on earth I was.  I pushed and pushed to get through and eventually made it out of the woods.  Looking at the map I was expecting 2 more ups and downs - they were hard work. And then on a downhill my front brake stopped working completely.  I tried to take a look at it in the dark using my little light - took it apart - put my water bottle down at the side. Realised it had not been set up properly - not much I could do about it now so I put it back together and set off again.  Of course I left my water bottle behind!!  Struggled to get over the next hills - really was not having a good time.  Kept expecting a downhill. expecting a downhill which never came, it never came.  Finally there was a good downhill into Basin.   Only half of my night's ride completed.  I was exhausted.  However at least the second half from Basin to Butte was a lot easier - followed a nice path along the highway for a while, then a train track through a tunnel and then out on to a rod next to the highway. The sun had come up by now and I was just exhausted.  Struggling to pedal, had to keep stopping to warm my hands, in a really easy gear.  Really hungry and thirsty.  57 miles had taken 12 hours - I had enough food and drink for about 9/10. When the sun came up the temperature dropped - had to keep stopping to warm my hands .  Finally there was a bit of a downhill into Butte - went straight to Dennys for some food - poor lady there must have wondered what was wrong with me.  After breakfast I found myself a hotel room and passed out!!  I remember the staff kept asking to clean my room - I'd only just checked in!!!!   After a good sleep I am now up and have just taken my bike to the shop. Front brake is not working at all and they know nothing about my gears in there. They say it might take some time to repair the brakes - great!!  So I am just off to the Ace Hardware store to buy some more screws to sort out my aero bars - then hopefully I will get my bike and be ready to set off again!!

Smelly!

Having another break!   Have just realised it's pretty impressive how disgusting I smell - even though I stayed in a hotel last night and took a shower.   I guess its my bike gear thats really smelling!  It's windy so I keep catching a whiff as I am riding - phew!!   Since I last blogged it has been a steady climb in the sun - rather nice - but I am now hungry.  I didnt expect that little detour so am now really looking forward to my next meal!!

My New Frame Bag

A reminder to self:  next time you buy a cheeseburger to go and plan on keeping it in your pocket for two days, don't get lettuce!!  
So this morning met John the English guy again - keep bumping in to him - yesterday we had dinner together - in fact I think the tyre tracks ahead belong to him! We had breakfast together which was nice ( he had camped the night before in the Pass and got soaked riding in to town). Anyway he left and I went to the Post Office to pick up my supplies and frame bag. In my room I fitted the bag - fits perfectly - only trouble is I now have too much room - I dont know what to do with all the extra space.  So I end up repacking and reorganising every bag - bit confused for a while!!   I also had to reposition my water bottles on the suspension fork because the strap was in the way.  All this took ages.  Finally left to go to the hardware store to buy some waterproof gloves - also wanted to make my aero bars higher.  In the store I got carried away with the lady trying to find the correct screws to use that I completely forgot about the gloves.  So at last I set off - flat road for about 10 miles - then the rain came - typical.   This is when I realised I had forgotten the gloves.    For some reason I had my head down and my GPS on data instead of the map - I climbed a wet, slippery, muddy road - hard to get any traction - slipping all over the place.   Finally reached the top to find a bathroom - brilliant!  So I go in and put some warm clothes on, hanging out a little - then of course I look at the map and realise I am in the wrong spot.  I was going completely the wrong way - so  I turn round for the 5 miles back to  the turning I should have taken!!    Funnily enough I remember looking at that turning - don't know why I didn't think to check the map at that time.  So - on the right road again - pretty hard - steep and slippery.  However as soon as I got to the top the sun came out - like being in a completely different place - glorious sunshine!!  Really good long downhill - although I was a bit worried about my bottle holder zip tied to the suspension fork.  Maybe I can sort that out at the next hardware store and remember the gloves this time.   My hands are freezing.  Just met a nice man at the side of the road - said how he likes to watch the riders - and there were two people just ahead of me.  Also showed me a well where I could fill up my water bottles with some clean water for a change!!  Then I did a few more miles along the road and now I am having a picnic.  Very windy though - strong headwind and my ankle hurts a bit.  I need food and some ibuprofen!!

Ovando to Lincoln

Just before arriving in Ovando there was a sudden torrential downpour which put a bit of a dampener on my determination to carry on to Lincoln.  Didnt even have time to put my rain gear on so I got soaked.  However after food and talking to the others I felt a lot better!  
So - 40 miles to Lincoln - hopefully would arrive by 1am.  I bought myself a cheeseburger to go and packed it in my backpack. At least I would have some food when I arrived.  Headed out - feeling really sore for the first section - waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in.  But at least it was a fairly flat smooth road and so I arrived in good time.  We had been told by a guy we met travelling in the opposite direction on our last hike that that was it - no more snow!  Really hope this is the case - we must have hiked more than 20 miles through the snow so far!   Huckleberry Pass will be the test.  Turned out to be a nice steady climb - I felt really strong climbing up giggling to myself at the difference in how I felt.  This morning I just wanted to go to bed, quit, go home - stupidest thing I had ever done in my whole life. By late afternoon I was convinced that this is great/awesome and if I just try a little harder I can even catch the leaders (OK so that part is now delusional I know) - but you get the gist.     2 hours to the top of the climb - I couldnt believe it - rolled over the top as it is getting dark.  Then it started to rain - bit of a bummer.  Put my rain gear on and then there was a good downhill in the dark including two small climbs so made it to Lincoln in plenty of time - just after 11 pm - couldnt believe it.  Found a hotel, asked about food - answer was no. Well I always had my burger.   However a very nice lady offered to do some hot dogs for me - with beans!!   I was then ready for a good night's sleep!!

More Snow!

By this stage sitting beside the bonfire I had made I am feeling really sorry for myself.  I had had enough!  What was I doing?  This is stupid.  My ankle hurts.   Every negative thought you can think of.   The fire cheered me up a little - I grilled my cheese sandwich and I slowly started to feel better. I pretty much repacked my bike and I was there for quite a while - probably a good hour - just messing around - playing with stuff.   Finally I felt good enough to leave - and rode pretty well from then onwards.  It wav a fairly good rolling road and I made good time all the way through the rest of the day.  Then I came to the section where I got super lost last year - so I really concentrated and made my way through easily.  Then I realised we weren't actually riding the bit I got lost on after all!!  It was a different route!  
Had a good climb - a big one - up and up until I hit the snow.  I am so fed up of hiking through snow.  My bike's not light and its just way too much hard work!   So trudging uphill thinking I have to climb 200 maybe 400 feet in this.  This snow was different to the rest - more sunbaked.  But the hike went OK. On the way up I was caught by two other riders - one of them was also suffering from a swollen ankle so we were able to compare notes!   Over the top of the hike and the down was quite steep.  But at least it is a sunny day!  We got a bit lost at the top.  Then we were able to pick up speed - hopped on the bike at the end of the track and flew downhill.  Then the trail flattened out and I was able to ride well into Ovando feeling really good.   I pulled into the cafe I remembered from last year only to find it closed - but a helpful guy ran out and directed us to another place up the road.  It was a mini Tour Divide reunion.  Several guys who were cyclo touring round the US - two of them fellow Brits - and then 4 more riders arrived - everyone is talking about making it to Lincoln - about 40 miles away over Huckleberry Pass - a 5/6 hour trip.  So I am just eating and then getting ready to do just that!!

 

Cabs and Campfires

Morning of Day 5:              After an interesting night's sleep in the beat up old truck I got up and was just freezing.  I had set my alarm to wake me after 2 hours but that never happened.  I was so cold and really couldn't move much inside the cab - it was so small.  There were two seats with a huge gap between them and a gear lever in the middle which I managed to lay across all night.  No idea how.  I guess when you're that tired you can sleep anywhere!!I then rode for a while this morning - unfortunately my ankle is killing.  My ankle always hurts on these rides and its normally my achilles and usually hurts for a couple of days - I ignore it and the pain goes away.  This time its different - feels as though I may have twisted it - maybe hiking through the snow or maybe it is my achilles which has caused the whole ankle to swell.  I remember it being really swollen when I rode Land's End to John o Groats - but I could ignore that knowing I was nearly finished.   So I dont really know what to do - keep struggling on I guess.  Rode with another guy for a while.  Then stopped to eat my cold cheese sandwich.  then I decided I would find a good spot to stop and build a little fire, warm up my sandwich for breakfast.  So that's what I am doing right now.   Then I plan to try to repack my bag - get rid of some stuff I don't need.  Then there's a pretty good hill coming up this afternoon so I'd better get on with that!!     BYE!

Bike Shop and Beyond!

So I carried on hiking through the snow - I clocked it so know that it was 2.8 miles, followed by a short  section where I could ride and then another trek in the snow to make it about 4 miles of hiking at that time.   Was quite nice in the snow though as it was a lot brighter - before that it was pitch black - couldn't see anything at all.  There could have been a bear right next to me and I wouldn't have known! So at least in the snow I could see around me a little more.  After that there wasn't much of a downhill - it was more rolling.  Finally I was out on to a tarmac road and feeling pretty good - I was making sure that I ate a snack every half hour and drinking a bottle every hour - seemed to be working.  Made it into town and found a bike shop although it was too early to be open yet - looked up and there was a cafe across the road.  Ordered breakfast and then went to the washroom where I found a laundry machine - brilliant!! - my morning couldn't get any better!!  Did my laundry and took the bike to the shop for repair - they let me sleep in their storeroom while they worked on it - for about an hour and a half. I didnt actually sleep but lay down and rested.

Then I headed back out on to the trail.  It wasn't actually a great morning riding - struggling against a headwind - but felt happy enough - riding past a lady all geared up and sporting the British flag made me smile - we said "hello" briefly!!  It was hard work and my stomach didn't feel great again - I was struggling to eat - which was a shame after feeling so good last night.  Lunchtime I found a restaurant but again struggled through a bowl of chicken noodle soup. 3 more bikers came in and I chatted with them - they said there was a campground about 50 miles along - the next town was 127 miles away. The campground sounded like a plan so i headed off again.  Finally felt a little better - sticking to my previous eating plan - so am feeling pretty good again.  It was a long ride - I was looking for the camp site and getting a little worried - there were a lot of bear droppings everywhere and I am carrying a lot of food with me so I do not want to camp by the side of the road.  Can't really remember where the campsite should be - so when I turn a corner and see a big old truck I think to myself "That could be good". I try the door and it opens.  So right now I am inside this old truck in the middle of a field ready to bed down on the front seat - I feel nice and safe!!  I am planning on grabbing 2 hours sleep and then continuing.  There is a big Pass to go over and then down to the next town.   I have ridden quite a lot in the last 24 hours and so am ready for some sleep before I start riding again!!

Day 3 Still No Bears!!

Well I decided to tell you about my day as I travel along  - its 5.30 in the morning and I am currently at the top of a mountain, hiking through the snow on day 3 of the TDA - whoops I mean Tour Divide - get the right trip Paul!!    ( I am recording this blog and will later email it to mum for her to write up!). 

Woke at the casino after an hour's sleep feeling dead - so tried to get a room. Nothing available at the first place I tried so went for breakfast instead with a lady who was also sleeping in the casino!  After breakfast she headed off and I found a room. Everything I have was soaked so I strung it all out around the room and went to sleep. Woke at about 12 and was going to start riding then but thought about it and decided that would mean that I would arrive at about midnight ( it was about 100 miles to the bike shop and there was no point trying to go further until my bike was repaired!). At that time everywhere would be closed.  So I decided on a change of plan - I would sleep all day and leave at about 8pm and plan on arriving at about 8am.  This way I would be able to find somewhere for food and then drop my bike off for repair - hopefully they would be able to fix the hub for me!!   

So I went back to bed - I still had left over pizza from the night before so every time I woke I would have a slice of pizza and a drink!! So by the time I actually got up I felt pretty good. Ate a sub and set off at 8pm feeling good.  I also made a plan to make sure I had something to eat every half hour all day and drink a bottle of water every hour!! I've been sticking to that plan all night and I do feel a lot better.  It's been a good ride - kind of strange totally in the dark - seen a lot of signs warning about bears and bear poo all over the road - luckily haven't seen an actual bear though!! 

Think I am getting to the end of this hike and then it should be 30 miles downhill to White Fish and breakfast time which I am really looking forward to.  Feeling much happier and looking forward to getting back on track when my bike is repaired.  The gears are still all messed up so I have simply not been using those ones - I stay in the good ones and stand up when I need to go up a hill.  Seems to work OK - however hopefully I will be able to get them fixed as I don't think that strategy will work in Colorado!!  Bye!!

Tour Divide Day 1 Part 1

Started the day with a breakfast sandwich at the same bakery Tori and I ate at last year. Unlike last year I was actually able to eat and enjoy this time! Super excited!  Town is funny - bikes loaded up everywhere - outside every shop and restaurant - people all over the place.  Looks like there are going to be a lot of people out on the trail.    So I headed on up to the Y.  There were people everywhere - every sort of bike you could think of - some with tons of stuff and some with not very much.  There was a guy with a trailer, a couple on a tandem - it was great!  Guy called Larry who set us off last year took a photograph ( who was that who stood up in front of me just as it was taken??) He rode us out last year but seems his bike is broken so someone else had the honour.  We left early at about 10 to 8.  Me on my brand new bike - which I haven't had a chance to try out! Almost immediately I am aware the gears do not sound quite right. The day before I had concentrated on setting up my lights and USB phone charger and all sorts of other stuff.  When I rode a little it was in the higher gears which were fine so I didn't even consider there might be a problem.  Of course it is the lower gears which are grinding like crazy.  Probably at this point I should have returned and got it sorted but of course I didn't - I carried on.

I felt great and had a good first day - felt really happy.  It was a tough day however - raining as soon as we got a little higher.  Good trail down to the rest stop though. I had forgotten where it was - thought it was earlier  then thought I had missed it so stopped to fill my bottle from a tap only to find the stop just round the corner.  Didn't really matter - by this time it was pouring with rain - I stopped in the washroom to put on my waterproofs.  It was pretty miserable.   Made it to Elkford - last year I stopped at a restaurant here - this time I carried on past to the garage to buy some snacks.  There was a crowd at the garage trying to decide whether to carry on or not. We were told it was snowing up at the Pass - I carried on.  I don't remember the hill out of Elkford being anywhere near as  long - seemed to take forever.  And then on to dirt - a long dirt road down to Scarwood - probably about an hour ahead of last year at this point.  Did push pretty hard though as I was trying to keep to 10 mph - but feel I probably pushed a little too hard and suffered later.  When I arrived at Scarwood I really wanted to find some food but there was nothing open and that's where I suffered.   So I found a hotel room and went to bed!!

Tour Divide Day 2 in the Snow

I had planned on leaving a lot earlier but that never happened and in the end I woke just in time for breakfast so worked out well! All my gear was really soaked somI hadmhadmtomwash and dry it - it wasn't quite dry when I got up so I just hung out for a while to give it a little more time! As I headed out my bike really began to sound bad - gears 1 through 8 were grinding. Feels like on a spin bike in the gym - that sort of resistance. I also notice that my chain is really slack - not sure why but it needs adjusting. The worse thing today is that I just didn't seem to have any energy - maybe because I didn't eat last night - although I had a good breakfast and have plenty of snacks with me. In fact I have been eating them like crazy all day and yet still don't seem to have any energy. Tried to ride a little more cautiously than energy - maybe I was a bit too quick? But just can't seem to get going. Then I reached Pass 1 with a great hike through the snow with more falling. There was then a good descent to another long winding road and then another challenging pass where I had to push the bike up through the snow, hike across the top and then down. I knew it was a 100 mile day and I kind of thought at was the end of it - assumed there would now be a gravel road all the way to the border and although I was a little slower than planned I was pleased with my progress. Couldn't have been more wrong! the trail went further and further down and then suddenly there was a sharp right hand turn onto nothing more than an animal trail it seems. I can see one set of tyre tracks so I continue - end up wading across two rivers and thinking to myself this just can't be right. Getting worried. The weather all day has been miserable and I am soaked to the skin and I am now wading through more water. So I turn around and go back. And end up on a dirt track that seems to parallel where I want to go- turns right when I want to - just seems to be about half a mile off - I assume I must have dean my line wrong in my GPS. Then it turns completely the wrong way and starts heading in the opposite direction to where I want to be and now I am getting really really worried - why would the be two trails so close? And then this one dead ends!! I nearly burst into tears at this point - I was having the worst day ever anyway and now I had gone the wrong way!! So I turned round and rode as quickly as possible to try to get back to the right path before it got dark. I now see another set of tyre marks so am happy this is the right path. I decide now would be a good time to have something to eat and just as I stop I get a flat - my back tyre just exploded! Could this day get any worse? My bike sounds awful ........... Anyway I fix the tyre, have some food and head off again. It's a hike - across the rivers, then up through the woods - impossible to ride - its a hike - and then it goes straight uphill! It would have been a difficult hike with poles and walking boots - just imagine it with a laden bike! Anyway I eventually ended up on a road which was great. Of course all this time in the woods I am scared of bears so I have been ringing my bell, blowing my whistle and singing to myself - just making as much noise as possible. Good to be on the road again!  

The road begins to get steeper and steeper and I realise its another up and over!  Up and up until I am in the snow again - this time the worst of the lot! Trekking through a foot of snow, in the dark as the snow continues to fall - still ringing my bell!   I passed some people camping at the side of the trail - but I am determined to make it through - I do NOT want to camp - everything I own is soaked through.  I did open my bag earlier to pull out my down jacket and thats when I realised that everything - sleeping bag - everything - is absolutely soaked - there is no way I can camp  - I would freeze to death!  So I keep pushing, hiking for hours through the snow - and finally get out the other side to the downhill.   My gloves were soaked so I took them off - but my fingers were so cold they feel like they are going to fall off. I go as fast as I can for a mile or so and then stop to try to warm my fingers in my pockets - and repeat the process. I finally make it to the border and cross at 2am.  The security officer asks what I am doing at this hour - "Same as all the other riders" I answer!!He tells me the bar closes at 2am so I quickly run across and luckily just in time - a very kind lady let me buy some crisps and a can of pop or soda or whatever its called here in the US!!! Too tired to know!  So then I set off to complete another 15 miles to Eureka hoping to find somewhere to dry out!  My bike is now sounding really bad but I arrive safely - however I couldn't find the promised 24 hour garage to buy some food and the hotel was closed. However I then find another hotel/casino with an open door and inside I find a couple of riders in a corner in their sleeping bags and  the cleaning lady said I was welcome to also sleep there on the floor but we would have to move at 5am when the manager arrived!  It was 3.30am!  She then offered to get me a pizza - brilliant I thought. However I ended up having to wait half an hour for this pizza - and I was SO tired - but eventually lay down for an hour!!

Tour Divide Day 1 Part 2

Part 1 will be added later!!! A little about my bike- at the end of the first day I am really liking it. The only thing is that the bottle cages managed to work loose - exactly the same thing happened on the first day last year funnily enough!! So I had to stop to take them off and then reset tightening all the screws etc. Then I realized that my dynamo light that runs off the front hub, although it works wonderfully, the only trouble is that where I placed it when I turn on my suspension as it bounces my bag then pushes the light down so that it is shining straight at my front wheel. This meant I couldn't use my suspension - I am going to have to alter that as soon as I get a chance! Also as I was in a hurry when I put my aero bars on I didn't quite get the pads at the right angle so when I lean on them it feels as if I am falling off!! So yes a few last minute adjustments which I would have been able to sort out if I'd had my bike back earlier and actually practiced on it!! But all in all it seems really good and I am enjoying it. Must be a very different angle than my other bike though as my bum hurts in a different place ........ Ah well!

Canada At Last June 7 2012

Eventually arrived at Tori's last night - she gave me the handle bar bag she had made (great!) and lent me a half frame bag - so bike is now looking really good with all the bags fixed.  Was still worried about my lights and USB charger - just couldn't get it all to work properly - but thinking about it in bed I finally figured out a way to attach them securely and so did that this morning!  Also I was worried about controlling the lights - thought I might have to add a switch - but I worked out that I had to stop it to make it stay off (I know that doesn't make sense but I know what I mean) - I will tell you more about my set up later down the road!          Anyway after wiring everything up Tori gave me a lift to Banff - we stopped off at a bike shop she knows on the way and they gave me some shims for my tri bars as they were being held on with inner tubes and were wobbling a bit.  After leaving me at my hotel room Tori returned to Calgary and I was able to play around with a few things on the bike - the tri bars were still wobbling but eventually I found a washer which seemed to do the job!      So am happy with that!  Just also added some  little leashes to all my water bottles so they don't fall off on the road!  The bike is ready to go!   It's funny here in town - there are bikes and bags all over the place!  Just returned from eating steak and eggs and am getting ready for   good night's sleep!  8am start in the morning!!!!

Stuck in Seattle June 6, 2012

Spent a very hectic day (yesterday) in Denver trying to get the few last minute things together - a few items I never did receive in the post - am missing a phone holder, a watch and most importantly the frame bag I ordered - rather an essential piece of equipment!!  Found out the frame bag is still at the bike shop so they are going to forward it to me en route!!   Finally picked up my bike about an hour before I had to leave - rode it the mile home - it seemed great but obviously couldn't really tell!!  Let's hope!  Arrived at the airport to find my first flight had been delayed - however when I checked the board again it was no longer delayed - nearly missed it!   However when I arrived at Seattle I discovered my second flight really was delayed due to bad weather - eventually set off to spend an hour in the air flying through turbulence only for the pilots to decide we needed to turn round and fly back through the same turbulence to Seattle!    So now here I am stuck in Seattle - spent the night in a hotel and I should fly out later today at 3pm.   Rather annoying as I am sat here in a hotel room with a million things to do but unable to do any of them! So I will just have to hang out for the day - should get to Calgary to meet Tori at about 6 pm this evening, when hopefully I can start  to put my bike together properly and get myself ready!  
 
  Of course my phone charger is packed in the box with my bike so it will soon die.  All I have with me is a small backpack with my passport, wallet, phone and GPS - not even a toothbrush!!  What a fun 24 hour layover!! Rather crazy - makes me laugh really - tried my best to get there early and have plenty of time to get ready - and then all this happens!! Ah well - I will just have to spend today eating!!

Last Minute Preparations

The last few days I have been busy trying to get my bike and supplies ready for the Tour Divide.  I eventually managed to get the maps sorted and transferred to my Garmin  - despite the fact my computer has been in pieces the last few weeks - I plugged what was left of it into my TV screen and a miracle happened!!     As mentioned in my last post I have signed up for the time trial at Vail Pass next Sunday - thought it woul dbe fun and wanted to compare my time with the pros - as they did the same TT course in last year's US Proc Cycling Challenge.  Should be fun - its quite short - about 10 miles - so about an hour or so!!.  Then that will probably be my last chance to ride until Canada.  Unfortunately my new bike i sstill at the bike shop - just waiting on a few things - which is a shame as I was hoping to actually ride it a few times before the Tour!!  But doesn't look like that is going to happen - so fingers crossed it all works!!                
         
By the way - well done mum and dad for completing their first 5K run today!!!

Vail Pass

Last Sunday itwas a friend's birthday and to celebrate a group of us decided to ride Vail Pass.. We set off from Edwards - it was about a 30 mile ride - but the middle section would be where next week's time trial is to take place - so it was good to see the course and how big the climb is.   Super windy on the ride though - strong headwind on the way up - and my friends warned me it would be the same on the way down !  No way - couldnt possibly be - but guess what? Somehow they were right and there was indeed a strong headwind on the descent also!!  Pretty tiring ride overall - I didn't realise how tiring till after the shower when I got home - I was exhausted!!  But it was fun - really great to ride with a group again!!  And yes - the birthday party afterwards was great fun also!!