Where's Lance (not Al)

The Tour of California is in LA and we went downtown to see the time trial.

Unfortunately, no Lance as he crashed out a few days ago.

However, Levi and George were there.

I biked a quick 66 miles today before heading downtown. I hope to bike to the last day of the tour tomorrow which will be a few more miles and some climbing. Watching those guy bike is amazing. They are moving so fast for such a long period of time. Truly inspiring and makes you want to put in a better effort.

Update: I did end up biking today. I climbed to the top of the Tour of California course and watched the competitors bike up there.

Bike to work week

This week is Bike to work week. I have biked to work each day this week. Monday, I created a raincoat out of a hefty bag (apparently I did learn something from last year's ride) as it was drizzling on my way home. Tuesday, it was drizzling a little harder so I took a rain coat. After some of the biking in the rain last year I am confident in my ability to bike when the road conditions are a little wet. Today, the morning clouds made it a nice day to ride and I rode an additional 5 miles.

Today biking to work I passed a store and in honor of one of our fellow riders last year, Good Luck with the continuation of your bike trip across America.

Rest Day

I have gotten into a nice little training schedule similar to last year. Longer rides on the weekend and shorter rides commuting to work on weekdays. I am averaging a little over 200 miles for the past 6 weeks which is keeping me in shape.


Yesterday I rode the same route I did a few weeks ago. A little over 90 miles with some pretty long climbs with a total elevation gain of 6,000 feet. I felt much better than the last time, but that might have been partially due to the sun not being out for the first few hours of my ride. I prefer to think of it as being in better shape. I was even able to do a little over 60 miles today with reduced climbing, but was happy that I could do back to back days of climbing.


With the XC10 group leaving from the Pier last week, it was the official end of the XC09 year and I could not feel a little bit of sadness. I have managed to poach from another website, some photos from Flagstaff last year.


Arriving at the hotel

Nancy (taking picture, Harry (with the Bud light), Champ and I eating lunch at the Beaver Street Brewery.

Bittersweet

Happy Mother's Day Mom



With the one year anniversary of the start of the cross country tour, this weekend I decided to increase my mileage. On Saturday, I biked 109 miles and on Sunday an additional 66.

Yesterday I received an email from Harry and I thought he was doing the ride again !!!.

Harry's license plate below makes him and XC09 or CX09 Cross Roads adventurer.

I biked down to Manhattan Beach Pier and I met Jim down at the Pier and we waited for the XC10 group.

However, before they arrived, the SAG Vans driven by Mack and Tracy pulled into the parking lot.

I asked Mack, if I could get a Bump to the next SAG.

XC10 arriving at the pier.

XC10 up the Pier.

Good Luck to all of the XC10 persons and hope you enjoy as much as the XC09 group did.

On my way home, I ate a PayDay.

Finally, Tom D of last year's tour will begin a new bike adventure this Tuesday, May 11. You can follow him via his blog (address below). Good Luck to you, Tom.

http://www.xclifeintheslowlane.blogspot.com/

Roommate

When I signed up for the trip last year I knew I was going to be sharing a room with someone for 50 days. I was a little apprehensive about sharing with someone that I did not even know.

It could have not turned out better. Peter was so kind and considerate. I will always remember our conversations before going to bed about what was going on in our lives. And little did I know that Peter modeled bikes (See picture below)

It is Peter's birthday this Monday and I want to wish him a very Happy Birthday.