ALC8 Day Four: Evil Twins and Riding Solo
June 3, 2009
Sadly today my Garmin died before lunch so I can’t give you my super fascinating data. But, suffice to say, the ride was supposed to be 94.1 miles, I got lost for a few miles, which means my ride was somewhere between 96-98 miles.
Basically I got lost because I’ve not had to look at my route sheet one single time on this ride – there are roadies at pretty much every possible stop you could get lost at, so it’s just not necessary! However, there was this one point near the end of the day where there was no roadie and the turn was .1 miles after the previous turn, which means I totally didn’t see it! But anyway, that’s getting ahead of my story…
So Michael and I did a better job today and got out by 6:40-6:45. And that was the last time I saw him until we were both back in our new camp.
So today is known for the “evil twins” which are two back to back climbs that start at (if I remember correctly) mile 10. I didn’t really know what to expect because when I hear “evil twins” I think of something like friggin Tunitas or worse… page mill! (because let’s face it… page mill is a friggin BIATCH). But I was happily surprised – both hills maxed out at around 7% but were very steady.
Oh! But before that! So remember how yesterday I said I felt sort of “blah” with food and stuff? Well today my super special monthly visitor decided to show up a week early! So that was a happy surprise this morning. So biking from camp to the climb was really uncomfy because oh god my cramps were bad. So I decided to stop at that rest stop and ask the medic for some Vitamin B (IB that is) 
. A little while after that I felt a lot better.
Anyways, the rest of the ride was pretty solo. Climbing really separates people out a lot more, so it’s not surprising to be solo for ten or fifteen mile stretches.
The only complaint about the whole solo thing are the freakin headwinds and crosswinds! Oh dear gods they were strong today! I definitely missed having Chris there to take the worst of it 
And I also missed Chris a bit because when heading into the last fifteen miles I smelled the MOST delicious cinnamon rolls. But, by the time I smelled them I had just passed the little restaurant and, being alone, couldn’t get myself to turn around for them. But I just KNOW that if Chris smelled them he would have stopped us in our tracks and turned our booties around! And oh boy it would have been worth it! When Topher got into camp tonight he mentioned that he stopped there and I sure was jealous!
When I got into camp Michael and Ryan PC yelled to me from their chill spot in the grass. So I went to say “hello” before my shower (PS: since Michael gets in soooo way before me he actually lugs my luggage to our tent for me! Isn’t that awesome?!)
After dinner the three of us went to Burger King so they could get their ice cream fix and I ate my fair share of fries.
I just heard them say that tomorrow is 67.7 miles – and it’s red dress day (the day when everyone gets all dolled up in, yeah you guessed right, crazy red dresses).
Now it’s time to get ready for bed – I mean it’s already 7:45!!
Comments
6 Responses to “ALC8 Day Four: Evil Twins and Riding Solo”
Got something to say?
Hey Feather: glad i got to say hi to you for a sec on IM. Glad the evil twins weren’t bad. Hope your evil visitor isn’t too rough on you
You seriously better install google video chat when you get back. It would have been nice to see your face. I miss you. Glad you are having fun. Did the Bears have red tutus on today? Any cool costumes today? Love you. Mom XXXOOO
All that hill training is paying off after all, hehe. And you better believe I wouldn’t have passed up the cinnamon roll place! See you in a couple of days!
So, um, I guess the good news about riding with cramps is knowing that you’re not pregnant? lol
I hope you packed your camera in order to share the beauty that must be a plethora of red-dress-dressed riders! Those are blog-worthy shots if ever there were some. Does your tutu have pockets?
Hey Heather! Wow - the daily rides sound intense, but so cool! Sorry about the cramps - that’s never good
But I hope red dress day is fun!
Go Heather go!
Evil twins and Red Dresses…so sad but it sounds like you kicked butt. I love all the fast food you guys are eating. LOL. You could probably eat just about anything right now and not even think about it. I think I would be starving after all that riding. Can’t wait to see what tonites post brings… XO
These are great posts, Kiddo! And just like with free speech, while I may disagree with the motivation behind riding a bike for days and days and days. . .and days in a row, I defend your right to do so!
Can’t wait to see the photos as well. Will you be uploading them upon your return? And speaking of return, how will you get back home? Bike again?!?!