Day 9 - Sayre to Ada OK

Well it is 5 am and I have only had about 5 hours sleep. I a very tried. This whole thing is ridiculous!!!

Yesterdays report...
The day dawned with the weather channel showing south to southeast winds at 10 – 25 mph. And guess what direction we were going? SE

When I took my bag to the car park the wind was already howling and it was only about 5.45 am. I spoke with Lon Haldeman (the organizer) and said it will be a tough day today. And he said, yes I was kinda hoping for westerly winds.

The tension in the car park was thick, not much talk and the everyone looking pretty buggered. At 6.15 we were off. I managed to keep with the front bunch but with the initial wind coming from the front across us the pack kept echeloning to the left, and some idiots actually riding across the line in the middle of the road. My only option was to get close to the front and stay there knowing that when I got dropped at least I could get picked up by the following riders.

I stayed close ( so as not to be pushed left) did not stop like yesterday and hung in for as long as I could. The group surged often but I did manage to keep up, and then eventually going up one of the hundreds of small rolling hills for the day I got dropped. The plan had worked though because I strolled along until I was caught by another and we rode together at a more realistic pace.

At the 1st stop I hooked up with Franz and Charlie who I have known from previous trips and we rode together. They had both been in the truck earlier on the tour. One of the vans arrived saying that there had been a crash behind us and one of the guys ( whose life long dream had been to ride across country) had come down in the bunch and was being taken to hospital. He smashed up his knee and is ok but going home. I had met him in Arizona in March.

SO the three of us went along battling the heads and cross winds. We were then joined by Stuart Levy who is a great guy. He had spent quite a bit of time in the truck since day 2 and was also experiencing dizziness the day before so had sat out the whole day. After the second stop the road turned due south and we were slowed to a dismal pace, all the while being reminded in our minds of the time limits we had to reach otherwise we would have been picked up. It was not fun. Along the way we were joined by three others but the group of 7 was too dangerous so we told them to leave and road as 4.

About 80km into the day we came up behind a small pack going directly into the wind ( so no echelon) and thought we could save some energy. That was until some one in the group put his brakes on and the group came together and as I was at the back I came down. Luckily I was able to get up and move off the road with only skin off. I had hit my head pretty badly on the road and cracked my helmet good but was ok.

We kept going until a support truck came a long where a quick bit of 1st aid and a borrowed helmet set me on the road again. My mates had stayed with me.

Anyhow the day just went on and on and the terrain was relentless, hundreds of small rolling hills struggling against the time limits and the winds, wanting to quit and be urged on by the other 3 who were determined that they would help me get in. At one point Stuart got dizzy again and sat by the side of the road waiting for a lift. He had some caffeine at the lunch stop and came good again to lead a lot of the last 110km, what a champ, we would wait as I struggled up the hills and would continually talk me into continuing and that HE would get me there.

We eventually got in at about 7 50pm. I was tired!

Bed came at about 11 after more first aid, dinner and getting ready for today.

Oh and about today, another 270km yes more head winds though the weather channel has them only at 5 – 10mph and 10,000ft of climbing with about 8,000ft of that in the last 80km on a road called the scenic Talamena Parkway into Arkansas. Small half mile rolling hills with grades of 15%. I cant wait.

Day 8 - Hereford to Sayre Oklahoma

Today dawned and I felt pretty shabby, yesterday was a bad day. It was overcast with the prospects of another long day, possible rain, tired legs and a sore bum.

Everyone left together as a group and we were roaring along at about 35kph with me in the middle of the bunch doing no work and feeling pretty good about things, maybe today would be ok. About 25km out I desperately needed to pee and new that if I stopped it was the end, contemplated the old pants trick, but finally did pull over.

With renewed vigour and strength that I did not think I had left I set out after the bunch knowing that not to catch them would mean a day by myself. I was powering along at close to 40kph but every time I seemed to be gaining on them they pulled away again. After about 20km I gave up and accepted my fate.

I got lost in the town of the first stop but eventually got back on track and arrived at the stop last or near last. And that was the story for the first 170km, riding alone.

Luckily the wind was not head on but from the side and with the scenery improving I was quite relaxed about things. I did think this was all silly and contemplated riding to Amarillo, the home of the Big Texan Steak Ranch and the 72 oz steak, if you can eat it all in an hour its free. This was my big chance. Oh and while I was there I was going to rent a car and drive the rest of the way to the east coast. Of course I did not do it though wanted to.

The farm, land in this part of the Texan panhandle was nice and the riding was OK. I then met up with 2 stragglers at lunch and I had company for the final 110km though did most of the work at the front of the 3 of us. Quite a bit of this section was done on the old route 66, with virtually deserted towns, and pretty shitty roads, mostly old concrete, wit cracks and bumps, not great on a sore bum.

We arrived into the motel well ahead of time but virtually the last to arrive. Winds today were kinder more cross than head. We also lost elevation most of the day so this helped.

Tomorrow will be a big day, about 330km.

Day 7 - Roswell to Hereford Texas

Well yesterday I was quite happy and feeling confident. You may also recall my last sentence “But hey who knows it may all change tomorrow with a 250km day into a head wind!“ The only good thing about today was that the temperature was in the 70’s most of the day. Apart from that it was horrendous. Flat boring country, smelly cattle feed lots, and a howling head wind ALL DAY.

I was ok to the second drink stop and then just felt terrible, no energy, legs felt like blocks of wood, and I struggled. AT lunch I was very tired and seriously considered calling it quits. What made me feel even worse was that the guy Alan that I had been riding with, who was very strong was sitting there, he had caught the bus! I was shocked. He said that he just had no power left and was going to take a day off. This really mentally affected me.

I left lunch with my friend from Toronto who is now just beginning to recover from the effects of day 2, and we rode very slowly, lucky to be doing 20kph, which would have meant a long ride to the motel.

We were caught up by Andrew the other Australian and Richard, who did team RAAM with the Jonathan Page from Sydney last year, and they led for quite a while helping Franz & I to the next stop. I seemed to regain some strength then and managed to finish ok. Had a big Mac Fires & Shake (bought through the drive in on my bike) before going to the motel.

So we are now in Hereford Texas, Beef Capital of the world. Tomorrow another 270km into Oklahoma, GREAT!

We lost an hour as we are now on central time and I had to rush to get everything done in time.

I now feel very mentally challenged, actually a physcological wreck! I do not want to fail and will try again tomorrow and hope my legs bum & mind can face the challenge..

Day 6 - Socorro to Roswell

My cold was no worse this morning so I was quite happy We set off through some rural country side and crossed the Rio Grande about 20km from Socorro. Then the ride turned ugly. I stopped for a pee and was left alone to catch up to the mate I was riding with. The terrain then became this vast plain, barren apart from the road which went straight to the horizon about 40km I struggled against a head wind coming at a slight angle to my left.

It took over an hour to eventually catch up and we rode an echelon which made the miles pass easier. Between the first drink stop and the second and the base of a short steep climb at about 100km I punctured and again lost my mates.

From there on I rode most of the rest of the day alone. The days scenery varied from the massive plain to some pretty countryside between 120 & 200km then a desert prairie for the last 70 km into Roswell. Even though a lot of the trip from the 140km mark was downhill, with the bad head wind it was often hard to do more than about 18kph. It was tough. The good news was that the temperature for the first half of the day was in the 80’s and only up to 100 the second half.

The last 30km I rode in with my friend from Toronto and his wife, pulling most of the way. He suffered badly on day 2 and is still recovering and she is crew. I have been on a number of trips with them, really nice people.

Tonight’s dinner was at this Mexican place next door, great food, Steak, enchilada’s, beans rice & salad all washed down with a big margarita! The bad thing about the place is that there is a band playing and it is right outside my bedroom which is why I am writing at 9.15pm.

Today’s graph is attached. The good thing about today was that I rode with in myself and made it with time to spare, so as long as my back knees and legs hold up, and barring any crash’s I now believe that I can make it. But hey who knows it may all change tomorrow with a 250km day into a head wind!

Day 5 - Springerille to Socorro

Today was going to be a recovery day as It was the last of the short days, (if 248 is short). From here on the days are longer. The second climb out of town I started a coughing fit and could not breathe properly and felt like shit.

I really thought I would have to stop. The thought really was terrible after all the training etc. I pushed on very slowly to the first drinks stop. The organizers had had a go at the riders in the morning telling them that they were all to slow and that this was an Elite tour and they had to increase there pace or they would be picked up. They gave us cut off times for each of the stops.

It must have put the fear of god in many as the pace from town was frantic. I thought fuck it and just rode at my own pace knowing that they would slow down eventually. As the day went on I got over the mental hurdle of not feeling great and ended up feeling quite strong.

The scenery today was quite good. We rode through a huge plain with many large satellite dishes used as and electonric telescope. The roads here have been incredible, at some points you can look straight ahead to the horizon and see the road dissaper. It may take 2 hours to reach a point on the road that you picked out.

It is vast, We are now in New Mexico. Tomorrow to Roswell, where in the 50’s it is believed the US shot down a UFO. The heat on the ride today was ok but in town at the end it was very hot. I felt the effects of my cold again sore thoat, ears etc. A good meal at a brew pub next to the motel, including a small dark beer.

Day 4 - Globe to Springerville

Today was hard, very hard. We virtually started climbing as soon a s we left the hotel. At about 45km there was a great descent into the Salt River, (photo attached), Then it was up & up, The scenery was great and the views spectacular.

We climbed for the next 110 km with the last 15 a descent into town. Total climbing was 3500m more than a 1/3 of the way up Mt Everest, to quote my mate Barry. Another hard hard day, Many people affected by the sedond days heat are still recovering, with some people not getting to the hotel till dark.

Andrew from Adelaide, who did very little traiing, (he was on the Nullarbor ride) is riding well and has made all the days and looking strong.

Dinner was shitty beef fajitas and a salad which repeated on me for a big part of the next day.

Day 3 - Gila Bend to Globe

Leaving Gila Bend the temperature was hot again, I think we left at 6, my memory of this day is now vague but was initially through the last of the desert and then some big climbs for the last 60km.

Another hard day. About 200 yards from the hotel, I went strange, I think maybe dehydration or something, because I had to stop at a gas station and have a Gatorade, felt better.

The scenery Improved with the climbing, but the temperature was still hot, 95 – 100. Dinner was a shitty steak, fries, salad & plain pasta, all with salt at the restaurant at the hotel.

Day 2 - El Centro to Gila Bend

We left at 5.30 am and within an hour the temperatures were near 100. The first 150 km was into a head wind and it was flat boring country, desert.

I teamed up at the second stop with a guy I had met on the last crossing ans we rode together for the rest of the day. We mad some additional stops at gas stations along the way to ensure we had enugh to drink etc as some of the stops were 50km apart. At the last stop we were told that many people behind us were in trouble and that the vans and cars were picking people up.

We arrived in Gila Bend at 5.30 pm and went straight to McDonalads, devoured a large coke and took a big mac quarter pounder and large fires and shake back to the motel and ate as soon as we got there in the car park. Some 15 – 20 people were effected by the heat, many really strong riders.

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Day 1 - Elite Tour 2007

Hi Kristian

Day one out of the way, I took it very slow, finished in the middle of the group. IT was cool leaving San Diego, and heated up as we climbed then really got hot as we descended into the desert. There are some seriously good riders here, a number that have done other elite tours as well as RAAM. Tomorrow will be a tough 300km in the desert...David

To see the Elite Tour Schedule click here.