It’s morning in Delta and the sun is shining and the sky is clear.  This will be sort of a rest day.  Just out for a short 60 miler, to keep the muscles loose.  I rode the first 30 miles with Jeff and the next 30 alone.  The other guys did the 50 miles from Delta to Eureka.  The group has plenty of sore muscles, sun burned body parts, puffy lips, aching backs and tender bottom brackets to go around.  Yet, all are out peddling away on this ‘rest day’.  What a great group to have spent a week with.  These are life changing experiences with people who will now be friends for life.

One interesting problem that develops on long rides like this is how do you keep up with the demand to provide 6-7000+ calories per day with proper nutritional balance to keep the body functioning.  How many energy bars at 210 calories each does it take?  And can you stand to eat that many?  For old guys like me, stuffing down enough food during the day to keep the fires stoked poses a problem for the digestive system.  There comes a point when eating is no longer enjoyable, but you know you have to stuff it in anyway.  The thought of another bottle of energy drink is not appealing, but down it goes anyway.   That Snickers bar use to taste good, down it goes in three bites.  The group stops for a short rest at the support car, you refill the two water bottles with energy drink you are carrying on the bike, you stuff your jersey pockets with a fresh supply of energy bars, shot blocks, or what ever sounds the best at that moment, wolf down a sandwich or candy bar or what ever and it’s back on the bike and do this several times a day.  Then by the time the body gets use to dealing with prodigious amounts of food the trip is over and you are left with a raging appetite and no way to burn it off.

Another interesting observation – we all deal with riding our bikes in different ways and with different strokes.  Jeff is a fast stroke guy, I’m a slow stroke guy.  To show the difference I estimated the number of times both Jeff and I will have turned over the crank from Reno to Delta.
Larry’s number of strokes = 119,000
Jeff’s number of strokes = 164,000

At age 65 many people question my sanity for singing on for this ride.  I just tell them; it’s not about me it’s about cancer and especially about those people whose names I carry.  Think of them not me and take some action today that will make their life a little easier.  There is no end to the things you can do to help – just think about it for a few moments.  If can’t be financial support for organizations like the Huntsman Cancer Institute, then it can be time.  Take some time to help with some laundry, clean a kitchen, help with a meal, mow a lawn, weed a garden, do some shopping, etc.

Today’s Stats:
Miles: 60  [OK for a rest day]
Time: 3 hrs, 23 mins
Avg Speed: 15.6 mph for first 30 miles, 21.7 for the second 30 miles.
Avg Heart Rate: 99 for the first 30 miles, 122 for the second 30 miles
Climbing: 900 ft  [pretty flat riding)