Long ride 5/22/09
Today was a long ride. 70 miles. Before today the most I’ve ever ridden in one day is 60. Our cumulative after 5 days is 300 so we’re right on our average of 60 per day. Stats so far: 829 churches 0 synagogues. Road kill is too many to count but it includes possums, raccoons, birds, snakes, deer, and unrecognizable. I had my first crash, actually it was just a fall over. I stopped and got one foot out of my pedal, but my weight was leaning slightly the other way. No harm done. We started with 10 miles all up hill, but at a grade that was not hard, then 3 miles straight down. I learned some new braking technique called feathering. It’s done by alternating between front and back brakes. The concern on this type of hill is that the wheels get so hot a tire bursts. Something I’ve never been concerned with before. The rest of the day was gentle rolling hills which was very pleasant. I did my first but probably not the lasr dumb thing this morning. I left camp forgetting to make lunch. Luckily we rode through Lexington( home of washing ton and lee plus Virginia military institute. I was able to get a great sandwich which I enjoyed in the shade on a picnic table I located at a gas station that I was also able to acquire a very cold diet coke and reese’s peanut butter cups . we’ve had some very good food in camp. Everyone so far has come with great recipes. One of my goals has been to eat ice cream every day, but today expecting a camp store that didn’t exist so I guess one day without will be o.k. tomorrow is only 55 miles, but supposedly big hills. Will advise, but may have to wait as we’re in a church tomorrow night so probably no internet.