blog 2 go

Spent the day catching up and packing up... ready to go back home. After getting up at 5:30am to take Patrick to the airport the day slowed down. I took my bike apart-- a bit sad that winter is now going to take over my training schedule- a bit glad I can relax- and a bit excited to have a clean slate with new challenges ahead. It was awesome to see PR as I've never seen it before. Fortunate to have had the time with Patrick- frustrations, stories, and the laughs. The frog. Hot tub. Tequila shots. Braking. And splintering the peleton- especially that. Good times. I stayed with family and chatted the rest of the day away, got Jesus Ignacio screaming around on his bike again (fixed his flat) and ate as if there was no tomorrow. Nice, calm day. Plans are formulating in my head for next year, the next adventure, and future plans. For now I'm just sitting in the airport done with Wendys for a while. Saw some fellow riders leaving PR- sore and ready for rest. I don't think I'll sit around for long- Th comes and I'll be running a five miler, a teaser of sorts. Maybe go to Skyline for a short 60 mile ride. Next up - who knows.

More on the trip later.. 133 miles as we rolled into San Juan. Met some cool people. Saw some amazing places. Got a real perspective of things I've heard about for years. Hung out with a great friend. And biked some too.

..but really beautiful. Losing track of which images I've posted... We're at mile 85- only about 40 to go. Lots of great climbs and one amazing breakaway. Tons of fun. Better pace today- spirits high all around. Sure it's hot- nothing like Joshua Tree but then again the humidity makes it feel like the Amazon.

After drying our shoes out from the previous night (via the hair dryer) we headed out at 6:03am only to find out that the 100 most on time Puerto Ricans (ok, maybe 90) had already left! So with our bags in hand what to do? Luckily someone had their wife (with a car) along and so we dropped our bags with her and took off without even lacing our shoes. Fun, sure. Then we find out the group and gear truck were on the main road- about quarter mile out. All there hanging out. Crazy- why not bring the truck to the hotel and off the main road? Who knows. Maybe that would have avoided the car accident- trying to stop for the gear truck backing up across three lanes of traffic.



So then we were officially off at our "relaxed" pace. It was easy- HR around 85. And we took that to the Rincon Lighthouse. There was some bitching and moaning about the pace, the braking on hills, and before long we were teasing the peleton. Jabbing away at the pack and creating a stir. Fueling th efire really- everyone was ready (well, almost everyone) to throw the hammer and feel the exhiliration of a sprint. Patrick got the go-ahead to lead the group to breakfast... in order to appease our appetite to ride for real- this would come over the largest climb of the day. We flew away, destroying any cohesiveness there had been, and near the top I was holding on. It was awesome. We regrouped with about the next 10 riders to reach the summit and took them to the breakfast stop. Very nice. No lines at Wendys and time to relax.

In the driving afternoon rain storm we biked the last couple miles into town and to our Holiday Inn haven. As we walked in to the lobby we drained all over the floor - water everywhere. So no pix because all was drenched but it certainly cooled us off.

So getting here we went through some great little costal towns, awesome beaches, and extremely rough roads. There are a ton of potholes and cracks to keep looking for which has taken a huge toll on my bum and my hands. There are the occasional smooth roads that let you relax mentally as well as ease the strain of gripping the bars.

Now, going back to the day- P got a flat tire so we got a little catch up duty there and that was. We also took a wrong turn so we added to our milage. About 97 miles for the day. And just as I rolled into the wendys at breakfast I broke my chain again- in a new place! It was a close call because even though I was going slow I just about lost my balance as I was standing on the cranks and just about fell- but saved it somehow- I thought for sure I was going down, even though it would have been a minor fall good to avoid!

Its been interesting to see how as we total up the milage people are feeling the effects - the drain of each mile adds up. But the two of us are feeling good, looking for the next challenge or the next hill.

Air bags keep u safe. More on this later- ask Patrick.

We're in Cabo Rojo and went down a nice out and back stretch to the lighthouse. There was an awesome lookout tower that had spectacular views. Probably hard to see in these pix!

The riding for the most part has been slow. Too slow and has caused some flare ups among the chiefs and the riders. The breakaway earlier was not only fun but a great showcase in latin blood boiling over. Explatives here and there - all in good fun. Patrick was blamed only because he could not respond and I slammed the guy for his abusive nature- to a cheer from the crowd. Again all fun. Ironically he at fault for "breakin the rules" but hey.

Its frickin hot and sticky humid. But its fun.

On the road things are smooth and there was a short breakaway- havic in the group. Excellent.

Riding.. Flat tire, broken chain again, mile 30

We made it to Ponce- 155 miles from the start- about 13 hours after we started. It was a long day and getting into town in the dark was one of the harriest rides I've been on. But we are all safe and in our hotel looking forward to acold beer and dinner- right after the shower! (Patrick got first pick).

On the climb out of the lighthouse (#3) just 50 yards out, I cracked my chain. No joke. So I look for the tech truck and shortly find out that the truck broke down and they have no idea where it is. Shit. I tell Patrick to head out- the group is already in motion and I have no choice but to SAG. how could it come to this but really there was no option.

A minute later as Patrick is leaving, the tech van shows up. Sweet. The chain tool is out, a couple new links are in place and it appears to work. I have limited gears because the chain is now shorter- but that's just the way it is. I get on ginerly- trying not to use all my strength up the hill- as if it might break again.

We were about 15 minutes back from the peleton so we headed down the road full speed- it was almost a blessing in disguise. We were cruising up and down all the curves. Then the van gave us an escort at about 24mph- we were stylin. It was a blast. After about 10 or so miles we caught up and went back to a calmer pace. Soon after we stopped at wendys (again) for a fried apple pie, frosty, fries, and a cheeseburger. Things were looking good except we were running out of daylight.

It was a faster pace as everyone started to get the idea- we had about 50 miles with about an hour and a half left. The pace grew from 16 to 20 to 21 to 22 until they asked us to lead the peleton.. We drove them at 25mph. As you can imagine there were people getting dropped and others hung on. We came into Ponce in the dark- missing potholes by chance and not slowing much. The healthy group left was pushing to get done. And as we rode into town all the yells and hollers started to cry into the festive christmas decorated town center. We were done... For the day.

More to come. But dinner and that illusive beer come first.

Big huge climb of the day... And Patrick & I took first and second as we red lined all the way up. St Croix beast- ha!, this was at least twice as long and right in the heat of the day. It was a welcomed challenge at close to the 100 mile mark. Then the view.. These pix don't do it justice at all. Breathtaking really. And the downhill was superb- all the way down to the third lighthouse of the day. The beaches desolate, the palms wild and over grown, the dogs tired from the heat and not a contest, the roads ok. We've gotten police escort part of the way and for the most part cruis thru all traffic on completely off the beaten track roads.

The pace has been maddeningly slow so far...10 mph with stops so far. However we got a full breakfast at wendys and the food at the stops is good. I just hope we get to ponce by 10 pm tonight. Wahoo!

About 50 miles into the day, two lighthouses later (this is the Lighthouse Tour after all) and we're finally stopping for breakfast. Totally starved! Pancakes and hot chocolate at Wendys- no joke. Hot chocolate- and its not bad! Pace so far has been relatively slow with re-grouping to stay as one peleton- about 100 riders, maybe more. Everything going smooth... 100 miles 2 go today.

Rounding the hills to the Fajardo lighthouse.

Here we are bright eyed and ready to go. Its still dark. "18 minutes to go"

After an awesome dinner (churasco steaks & rice and beans) we hit the bed pretty hard only to wake up at 4 am about 5 hours later... Time to go!

Got in, got the jeep, made it to Vivians house-our host "hotel", and put the bike together. Everything is just about ready. Went to the airport and picked up Patrick- smooth sailing and no problems. We'll be gettin up around 4 in order to get us and our stuff to the start point by 5am. Then it all gets easier- just ride all day.

The humidity is certainly a factor- I mean its heavy even at night. Should be an awesome time. Just a little anticipation- nothing like racing- this is a fun ride, a payoff for the endless training hours this year. A time to let go and enjoy the ride.

Got up at 5:30 and headed out to Dulles- flight is full. I'm not feeling great- as it turns out my legs feel fine but I'm coming down with a cold. That's not what I thought I'd be worried about. Been eating well and gettin as much rest as I can. I'll stay on it, hydrate and fuel myself so it doesn't get worse- not too bad right now. Its raining now here, looks like a dreary day for staying in or sleeping late- hopefully the sun will be out in PR. Funny how the season comes to a close and thoughts of a training schedule disappear without a fuss. Just slip away into relaxation mode.
-- electronic devices off -- on my way.

Let's see... 85, 85, & 86 - 30 % scattered t-storms. Yep that's about right. Hot and humid. I'll leave the tights and arm warmers at home.

So here we go.. Got the bike back in one piece only to take it all apart. But at least the extra pound of dirt from my drive train is gone, and the wheel is once again round. Why didn't I do that last week before the race!? Need to check the weather and make sure I won't need any cold weather gear.. Roight!