Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 2

Day 2:	El Centro CA to Gila Bend AZ
Mileage/Ride Time:	188 miles 11:03	Time Lv/Arr:	5:30am/7:05pm
Climbing:	2300ft	Avg Speed/Work:	16.9mph/4694 kJ

I'm so tired. On paper, today is a flat day, only 2300 ft of climbing over 191 miles. A basic 300k brevet. The day began with breakfast at 5:00am. Mass start at 5:30am.

However, there were two factors at work.

1. It reached 104F.
   
   I drank so much fluid I lost track. Nevertheless, I must have finished quite dehydrated.
   Althought I didn't cramp during the ride, I cramped up afterwards.

2. I had FOUR flats on the rear tire. I carry 2 spare tubes.
   

   The first time there was an loud bang at the lunch stop. Prior to that, I had been making good time.

   The ride for me went to pieces after that. 3 more flats, meaning I had to ride on a flat for 5 miles. Plus it's no fun changing a tire in 100+ degree heat with no shade with the asphalt too hot to touch.

As a result, I depleted myself totally and didn't make it in until 7pm. Didn't feel like eating. This meant for example I was unable to blog until 11pm (after dinner, massage and preparation for tomorrow).

(I'm told quite a few people sagged in. And there were riders coming in even after me. A logistics nightmare for the crew.)

Course (MapSource and Google Earth):

Profile:

Tomorrow, there's serious climbing. Hope I can recover a bit tonight.