Bring it on home...........

Last big ride before race day..........

Monday was too unsettled two attempt Woodruff.  After last week, I wasn't in the mood to take any risks.  This morning was clear as a bell - and darn cold.  I postponed until a little after 07:00, hoping for a little warming, but it was still 40°.  Down in the river bottom, I'm sure it was mid 30's.  I added arm-warmers and took-off.  Hands were too cold to grip a water bottle for the first hour.  My toes were frozen all the way to MP 36.  I mean, I can gear up for those conditions, but riding unsupported for most of the day necessitates taking the very bare minimum.  After a couple hours, the arm-warmers had been rolled down for the rest of the day, as it started to get warmer going over the top.

Key times going over were ahead of schedule - nearly 15 minutes by the time I got to the campground.  As luck would have it, I had a headwind all the way into Woodruff, so I lost about half of my gain.  As is always the case, the wind changes directions between 10:00 and 11:00 like clockwork and I had a terrible headwind all the way back to Huntsville.  The climb back to the top was pretty long.  Fortunately, the air temperature was tolerable, but I was still going through fluids fast.  Over the top, I still had most of two bottles (one empty in my middle back pocket.  The winds required a ton of effort to get down, which left me with part of one bottle at the Causey Turn-off.   I decided to make a run at Causey and climb the spoke bender at the top - after I had about 108 miles - all climbing.  Knowing the wind was blowing harder as I got down Southfork, I was trying to make the last bottle last to Huntsville.  By Huntsville, it was blowing too hard to head for home, so I grabbed some water and did an 8-mile recovery ride while I waited for the pickup.  Call it 121 miles, and maybe 6,000 calories.  For the most part, it was satisfactory.  There is only so much you can do with the elements going against you.

I tried a different bottle mix this go-around, and it seemed to work rather well.  Zipfiz in the front cage, high protein with water only (no dairy) in the back cage, 50/50 Cytomax/Tang in the middle back pocket.  The protein made a huge difference, whereas I've normally had something like Propel in the back pocket.  This is important as the protein actually went down very easy and should be a big benefit on a couple of the long stretches come race day.  I just need to get a better electrolyte mix upfront.

Donations and support

The "porpoise" has really gained some traction.  Seriously, when I see the list grow as it is doing, it motivates me to push on.  This is the true meaning of our effort.  It's not about some guy on a bike, it's about all of you making a difference - a HUGE difference.  It brings a sense of humility to me personally - knowing this is so much larger than any one individual.  Ya'll are simply awesome!

Thanks to Becky for responding as you have.  When I saw your name appear, it struck me as the enormity of our effort.  I always had confidence the stuff would find the right folks - where ever they might be.  And in this case, I'm not yet sure from which part of the country you hail, but you are certainly a hero.  Thank you so much.

Stacy and Cory, I know are from a pretty solid group as well.  As often as I don't see you, I will make it a point to make sure I never forget your support.  You just can't tell anybody my real age - after all, I'm not really the "porpoise" (see the adjacent page).  Anyway..........  a sincere thank you to you both.

And then there's my brother Greg (kind of).  A stud all the way around, of which is unrivaled.  I think I owe you a kidney or something.  I'd better check, I may have promised that to Dan ............. either way, I owe you big time!  You guys up there are great!  I'm proud to have you all as friends.

Bitter Sweet

Something about making the final ride to Woodruff is hard.  Those folks over there are absolutely fantastic.  I love riding into Woodruff and hanging with them for a while.  The ride itself is beautiful -, especially in the autumn.  I would recommend to everyone - at least drive it this fall before the leaves are gone.  Swing into the Woodruff store, have a Snickers bar and a drink (if not lunch).  They have supported the "porpoise" for several years and have made those long rides possible.  Thanks to Robin and the gang.  The ride home is kind of melancholy as I know I won't be back for another 10 months (unless I drive through before the road closes).

So..........  a few picts from today.

From about MP52.  Follow that road another 4 miles over that pass way out there and you'll find the campground. 

MP 50, looking back toward Evanston - pretty steep right there.

At Causey, just over the spoke bender, looking up toward Keisel and Browning.

So here we are.  A lot to do before next week, but I'll update.  If nothing else, tune in just before race day.  I can't promise you anything, but I've got an idea.

Did I say bring it on home? Oh yeah............ click here and hang on.

Home stretch.  Ride HARD baby!