Stupid Hurts

Cypress Fl.-Brundidge, Al.

This morning got off to an awesome start. All the previous days injuries seemed to be gone and I fell into my pace fairly easily. My phone has been dead for a bit so that meant no music, but I was feeling so good it didn’t really matter.

During the first ten miles of my day I was pedaling along thinking to myself, “I have got this far with out a flat tire, amazing.” Unfortunately I must have said it out loud. Somewhere around the 25 five mile mark my rear tire went flat. Less than a mile from the Alabama state line. I didn’t even have time to get my back wheel off my bike and start swapping tubes out. Before someone had stopped to offer me a ride up to the [tag]Dothan[/tag] [tag]Wal-mart[/tag] so I wouldn’t have to waste my spare tube. Made as much sense as any. Well I crossed the state line in the back of a car, not exactly what I had in mind, but it was still early in the day.

I made it to the Wal-mart and outside was a squad of guys in a roped off area assembling bikes for the [tag]Christmas[/tag] rush. I talked to them about the area while I swapped my tube out. I think my skills impressed them, because they offered me a job traveling with them doing bike builds. I declined because I have other things in mind right now.

From there I rode the 231 north for a while. But that presented two major issues.. The first is there are long stretches of the [tag]231[/tag] that don’t have a shoulder, and after someone in a van actually cut over and physically pushed me off the road I decided to walk till the shoulder restarted. I ended up walking ten miles before I got a semi-ridable shoulder.

Surprisingly the shoulder on the 231 is textured with ripples that are about an inch deep. Riding over these on a road bike is not at all unlike riding a washing machine with two cinder blocks and an angry Doberman inside of it

20 miles of constant jarring vibration and I wanted to die. But then I saw this shimmer up ahead.
there was a 20 foot tall chrome [tag]chicken[/tag] staring at me from the darkness. That was all I needed, I couldn’t be defeated by a simple road.

My bag felt more like a [tag]superhero[/tag] cape, and the light rain that had been following me for the past few miles suddenly didn’t mater. The road was mine to do with as I pleased. It felt awesome. I ended up pounded out a few more miles before the rain got to heavy for me to feel comfortable with my computer.

The tale of the tape
Miles for the day: 72.9
Average Speed: 12.5
Top 30.5
Total: 454.1

Mayo-Talahassee

“I can’t find the road,” was my first thought of the day as I stuck my head out of my tent and looked around. last night I had snuck onto a Tree farm to find a place to pitch my tent. After a little wandering around I did eventually find the road, and once again my adventure was under way.
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The first place I stopped had a display case full of fried chicken prepped. As i was stepping to the counter to get a few pieces, the clerk chose that exact moment to practice her Jedi skills on a large number of huge flies. I quickly changed my mind and just got a soda. That proved to be a huge mistake. I wasn’t going to pass a store for another 20 some odd miles.

When I did finally reach a gas station somewhere outside of Eridu. (don’t worry it isn’t on my map either) I stepped up to the counter with a can of beefaroni. Where I asked the clerk “is there a food place nearby?” His response was less than encouraging, “Well Tallahassee is only 30 miles away.” hmmmmm I guess I will need two cans then,

This was the first stretch of my trip where there was literally nothing for long stretches at a time. This road seemed desolate compared to some of the other roads i had traveled previously. State road 27 was an alternate route proposed by the person who helped me with my map at Sun City Cycles. Most A.C.A riders go up through Monticello which adds about 5-6 mlles to the trip into Tallahassee. She told me she couldn’t remember why everyone went through Monticello, and that I should be fine running straight in on 27. Looking at my map I guessed it was just for the sake of a supply stop due to the lack of places between Mayo And Monticello.

Regrettably I was wrong. The reason the ACA says avoid 27 is that there are no shoulders on the road from Jefferson county until you get into Tallahassee city limits. I actually found myself off my bike an walking in the dirt for several miles to avoid getting hit.

Even with that bit of excitement I did eventually make it into Tallahassee, Once in town I quickly called a Warmshowers.org member in an effort to line up a place to stay. I was given directions to All Saint’s Cafe near the FSU campus. this place was awesome. it was elbow to asshole crowded inside. With bikes hanging from the front and a full bike rack and on the side. My host for the evening was Danny. He rides a awesome looking fixed gear bike, and was full of great information about the city, he promised tomorrow will start off with a tour of the town before I leave
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After a shower I felt like am entirely new person. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.

Reading back over this it sounds like the journey has been really easy. All in all it really has been, Riding long distances isn’t as much of a physical stretch as I thought it would be. The first few miles of the day seem to be against your body as you warm up and work out the previous days kinks. But once you are warm and stretched the rest of the battle is almost entirely mental. Maintaining the focus needed to keep riding, and to will to make it over the next hill and the one after that, and the hill after that has been tricky at time. Luckily for me encouraging words and mental crutches have just been a cell phone call away.
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While riding in Jefferson county my right knee went and I didn’t get off to take care of it right away like I should have. I kept going and told myself “this hill is mine it will not win.” In the end that hill was mine, along with the few dozen others that came after it. Now I am walking with a severe limp in my right leg, It doesn’t really want to support weight right now. Since I refused to stop to tend to it earlier odds are I will pay for it later, But right now I doesn’t matter I am still extremely happy. And most importantly I beat the hills.

The tale of the tape
Miles today: 85.77
Average speed:14.4
Top Speed: 31.3
Total Mileage: 318