Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 8

Day 7:	Hereford TX to Sayre OK
Mileage/Ride Time:	177 miles 9:00	Time Lv/Arr:	6:30am/4:30pm
Climbing:	3500ft	Avg Speed/Work:	19.6mph/3859 kJ

Although I finished at 4:30pm, today I felt kinda fatigued. I was really glad to see the Americ Inn in Sayre OK.

Things began brightly in Hereford TX at 6:30am. There was a glorious fast paceline on a good road surface into the rising sun, uninterrupted for the first 30 miles, and after a hiccup (wrong turn), to the first water stop at mile 35.

After that things broke up. I tried to stay as long as possible on Chris Block's wheel as he attempted to reclaim the lead pack. I probably pushed a bit too hard and got dropped. However, in the end, we both ended up riding with a smallish 2nd group (at a sensible speed) on the road against a quartering headwind. It all went smoothly and excellent time was made until lunch at mile 106.

Tom Rosenbauer indicated the profile looks like a "parabola". We'd lose 1500ft of elevation after lunch. On paper yes, but it really didn't reflect the reality on the road. Profile:

I left the lunch stop alone expected to cruise in way ahead of the time cut. I found Rieks Koning (from Holland) who pushed relentlessly for 25 miles until we caught up with a small group of 6: Vernon Smith, Chris Block, Charles Breer, Peter Beeson, Richard Waugh and Eric Hallam, who were riding at a sensible pace.

Historic Route 66's pavement in Oklahoma (at least) is far from smooth. I took a real beating despite the group riding it at a fairly quick but conversational pace. It has almost no traffic, having been superceded by I-40, but I cannot recommend it for cycling unless you have a full suspension mountain bike.

Coupled with the rising headwind as we made steady progress, I seriously doubted the existence of Tom's Parabola and the purported loss of 1500ft from the lunch stop. Numbers don't lie, but sometimes they don't tell the real story either.

Furthermore, although it was only 82F, the humidity felt high.

Course (MapSource and Google Earth):

Instead of it being a "recovery day", subjectively, it felt like a pretty long day and I was glad to get in.

I am really worried about tomorrow's leg to Ada OK. It's the longest day at 206 miles. And it begins extra early at 6:15am.

Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 7

Day 7:	Roswell NM to Hereford TX
Mileage/Ride Time:	164 miles 9:25	Time Lv/Arr:	6:00am/5:40pm (+1 Central Time)
Climbing:	2000ft	Avg Speed/Work:	17.3mph/4130 kJ

The 164 mile question is this: can you call a 164 mile ride a recovery ride?

I think there is a trick to riding the Elite Southern Transcontinental efficiently (for those who are not toast). This trick is don't ride on your own.

There was a quartering headwind all day. For those riding solo, it's a very tough and long 164 miles.

The trick basically means: (1) hammer in the morning, don't get dropped, (2) stay in a pack that makes good time untll lunch, so the time cut is not a problem, and (3) complete the miles without killing yourself after lunch, leaving yourself well recovered for the next day.

Easier said than done of course. If you haven't recovered from a bad day or have heavy legs, even step (1) sounds impossible. And if there are big hills to be climbed, fuggetaboutit.

Today, physically.my right glute wasn't giving me pain. It's not going to be perfect, that takes days off the bike to achieve, but as the massage guy Jon put it: at least, it's not getting worse. I found it painful to sit in the saddle at times, but that's another story altogether.

As for the implementation of the plan: I tried to stay with the pack from the 6am start. Lasted 19 miles before being tailed off. However, I stuck with a 2nd pack until the 22 mile water stop. This was a lifesaver.

After that first water stop, a group of about 8-10 people formed, including Jeff Linder, Richard Waugh, Don Magie, Chris Block, Brad Haslam, and Stuart Levy. Rotating on basic half mile pulls, a sensible tempo was maintained to lunch (106 miles). There were two flats in the group but everyone patiently waited. This meant nobody had to fight the quartering headwind on their own. The group managed to reform after lunch as well. So I spent the whole day this way.

So, although I started the day with heavy legs, I didn't feel so beat up by the end. Also, there was only 2000ft of climbing.

And so perhaps I can cautiously claim it was a "recovery" ride insofar as a 164 mile day can be. It's all relative though. Some people in the group seemed to have really fresh legs. The sprint for the Dairy Queen at mile 141 (free ice cream for PacTour riders) was hotly contested.

Two riders were ordered to sag in 2 water stops from the end. This is what can happen even on the easiest of days given cumulative fatigue.

Route (MapSource and Google Earth):

Profile:

Notes:

• We crossed into another time zone today (Central Time) when we entered Texas.
  Each time the time zone changes as we move from west to east, we lose an hour of sleep. However, tomorrow, the start is at 6:30am, so we "only" lose another 30 minutes.
• It has been 7 days of riding. An intense week.
• I put on a new chain at the end of the day.
• We have covered more than 1000 miles. See the map:
  
  
  
  
• Tomorrow, it's 170 miles to Oklahoma. We just keep trucking

Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 6

Day 6:	Socorro NM to Roswell NM
Mileage/Ride Time:	170 miles 10:07	Time Lv/Arr:	6:00am/5:21pm
Climbing:	5000ft	Avg Speed/Work:	16.9mph/4416 kJ

I really didn't feel like riding this morning.

First time I've contemplated not starting since the Elite Tour began on Sunday. Not getting recovery and still having to put in long hours on the bike was getting to me.

However, I did start:

• Jon Jahant, the Elite Tour massage therapist, worked on my right glute for 30 mins last night. I hope the pain I've been experiencing is reduced.
• Afterwards, I sat in the spa for 15 mins as well.

• Plus, at breakfast I was given the purple pig to carry today. It's a plastic toy that squeals when squeezed. Rather embarassingly, it was squealing like crazy when I was trying to squeeze it on top of my Moots bag while Lon was giving last minute instructions at the start.

(Why I was given it remains a secret between me and the pig for now.) And that was a big incentive to finish. I'm told not everyone gets to carry the pig. I guess since there are 17 days and we started with 50 riders, that must be true.

Anyway, today, I was praying for any sign of improvement. If I can't find a way to recover, I'll be riding myself into the ground and be totally wasted every day, raising the ire of Susan. To my great relief, today was a better day. Not a great day. But let's just say the purple pig had a good ride.

The plan was 170 miles to Roswell NM plus 5000ft of climbing:

I started off in the big pack. And managed to stay there for 15 miles of rollers averaging a bit over 20mph before I fell off the back.

This is a big deal for a tired rider because even though you get tailed off on a climb, there are smaller groups behind that you can surf for a while, rather than battling it out alone. I reached the first water stop this way by sucking the wheel of Jeff Linder (of Bike Friday) and Fred Matheny.

Leaving the first stop, there was a strong sidewind component as I headed south. The weather forecast for the area had indicated a 14mph wind from the east and high temperatures around 90F for the day. I was by myself at first but fortunately, I was passed by Scott McIntosh (who didn't say much but) provided steady shelter. Again, for a rider who needs recovery, this is a much better strategy than letting the pack go and grinding out 170 miles by yourself.

My right glute locked up fewer times today, so I was riding a bit stronger (or more accurately, less weak) than yesterday, but I still got seriously tailed off on every climb of course. You do what you can in the circumstances. I even managed to ride at the back of a group with Lon on his single speed for a while. I felt halfway like a rider.

As a result of extra minutes spent surfing wheel after wheel that passed me, I arrived at the lunch stop comfortably ahead of the time cut and didn't feel ready to die. Even Susan Notorangelo was pleased. I posed for a picture with the pig at the 106 mile lunch stop. Having made the cut, I decided to back off a bit on the last 65 miles. This is a luxury I haven't had for the last few days.

The profile looks favorable but you wouldn't think so. Since we were heading more or less due east, there was a strong headwind coming into lunch and all the way into the finish in Roswell.

I rode carefully for a while, then joined Chris Block (whom I know from the Boston Brevet Series and Boston-Montreal-Boston) for the last 40 miles or so.

Course (MapSource and Google Earth):

Tomorrow, we leave New Mexico and head into Texas. 160 mile day. Hopefully, Jon can work some more on my right glute tonight. The PacTour operation just keeps moving forwards. Gotta stay with it or leave.

Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 5

Day 5:	Springerville AZ to Socorro NM
Mileage/Ride Time:	154 miles 8:28	Time Lv/Arr:	6:00am/4:32pm (+1 MTN time)
Climbing:	4000ft	Avg Speed/Work:	18.1mph/3286 kJ

I got read the riot act by Susan Notorangelo this morning.

She said: "See this board? Those are the time limits.
I'll be at the first stop (22 miles).
If you don't make it, you're in the van."
(I was 3rd last of those who finished yesterday.)
Well, she definitely put the Fear of God in me.

I needed to recover from overextending myself yesterday.
But I also needed to make the time cut.
And there was climbing before that checkpoint.
Which means, I'm not going to be able to hang in a paceline.
And if your legs don't go, you don't go.

My heart rate felt high when I woke at 5am. Not a good sign. On the bike, I had a narrow range of 110-140bpm to work with. My heart rate just wouldn't go higher no matter how I huffed and puffed. That meant I was toast - not recovered from the previous day's 11000ft of effort.

Well, I was relieved to make the time cut.

I have Dan Fuoco of Florida to thank. Strong but cool. Never hurries. Recovers well each day. Very relaxed demeanor at the stops. And still makes good time. He is the reason I made it today.

Although it was 154 miles, and if you're tired it's still a long way, nevertheless Route 60 in New Mexico is absolutely beautiful. It has rollers to make the 4000ft of climbing. But,as you can see from the profile, there were two gorgeous descents over 10 miles long. And a tailwind for long portions. That really, really helped.

Profile:

Course:

Notes:

• I have developed a taste for beef jerky. Feels satisfying to chew a little something while riding.
• We crossed the Continental Divide today. Mile 72.7 (7,729ft) after 3000ft of climbing. It was wierd to see the sign, and then start climbing more.
• Since I was always near the back, never saw any watermelon at the stops. Price to pay for being slow.
• I wonder if I can do better tomorrow. However, if there is one word to describe the Elite Southern Transcontinental, it's INTENSE. No chance to recover if you dig yourself a hole. Day 6: 172 miles and 6000ft.

Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 4

Day 4:	Globe AZ to Springerville AZ
Mileage/Ride Time:	144 miles 10:40 (est)	Time Lv/Arr:	6:00am/6:40pm
Climbing:	11,000ft	Avg Speed/Work:	14mph/5000 kJ (est)

[Estimates because my SRM PC V quit on me today after 10 miles.]

Today was a very, very rough day indeed. I thought I was going to be asked to get off the road and into the (leapfrog) sag van.

The Elite Tour has cutoff points for reaching certain water stops. The idea is that there should only be a two hour spread. And I was falling behind schedule.

I woke up in trouble: dead legs. There are no rest days in the Elite Southern Transcontinental. If you have knee pain or trash your legs, you still have to get up at 5am and go the next day.

We began climbing right away on this "Queen Stage", which reaches 9200 ft in altitude (highest point in the Tour, passing in front of Arizona's Sunrise ski resort). There is also a total of 11,000 ft of climbing, some of it into a headwind. Profile:

I found I had muscle pain in my right glute as soon as we left the hotel and started climbing. I was going backwards. I watched everyone disappear up the road. And I mean, everyone.

I was immediately in time trouble. All day long I saw the tail end of the operation. I was passed many times by PacTour vans shuttling people, equipment and bikes from water stop to water stop. Eventually, I started to catch some riders. But they were in trouble too. I was dreading arriving at a water stop and being told I had to get in the van.

I ended up finishing 3rd last at 6:40pm. I am amazed I was allowed to finish at all.

Other info: Attrition

• Yesterday, Ed Pavelka of Bicycling Magazine fame touched wheels and broke his hip.
• The only tandem team is gone. I wrote about them on day 2.
• I'm told about 10 people sagged in today.

Course:

Pactour Elite Southern Transcontinental: Day 3

Day 3:	Gila Bend AZ to Globe AZ
Mileage/Ride Time:	143 miles 8:52	Time Lv/Arr:	6:00am/4:18pm
Climbing:	6000ft	Avg Speed/Work:	16.0mph/3784 kJ

I was nervous and a bit uncertain after a very tough day yesterday.

Only got 5 hours of sleep last night. I was wondering how my legs might respond given that there was significant climbing today.

Fortunately, the first 80 miles to the lunch stop was basically flat largely without headwind. I participated in several pacelines, making the job easier. After lunch, the climbing begins through Superior onto Gila, then down to Globe. I climbed solo. I find it's always better that way when the grade gets as steep as it did today.

Profile is here:

Route 60 was scary in places. High speed truck traffic plus a 800 ft uphill tunnel (shown below) with cars passing at > 60 mph.

There was a water stop just beyond the tunnel. I really needed it. I drank 48 fl oz in 18 miles.
Up against the rocks for almost no shade:

Overall I had a pretty good day considering. No punctures (unlike the 4-puncture nightmare of yesterday). Legs weren't completely toast.
Onto I-8 early in the morning, it seemed like someone was stopping every few minutes with a puncture. Tomorrow is a big climbing day: 11,000 ft and the Salt River Canyon.

Course (MapSource and Google Earth):

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.