Agreements:
During our call on May 10th, we started talking about:
1. making sure that, on the days where we don't have cell service, we come up with a buddy plan and/or Susan drives the route a couple of times to make sure no one is left behind
2. arranging water drops throughout the day
3. let's keep it fun
4. each rider should carry a personal first aid kit
5. Susan will carry a first aid kit in the car as well as pain killers, water, power bars, and whatever else is needed ... vaseline????
6. ride start with dipping tires in the SF Bay on Day 1
7. We will ride over the GG bridge and then put the bikes on the rack and head to Vallejo..
Hi All;
During our call on May 10th, we started talking about:
1. making sure that, on the days where we don't have cell service, we come up with a buddy plan and/or Susan drives the route a couple of times to make sure no one is left behind
2. arranging water drops throughout the day
3. let's keep it fun
4. each rider should carry a personal first aid kit
5. Susan will carry a first aid kit in the car as well as pain killers, water, power bars, and whatever else is needed ... vaseline????
6. ride start with dipping tires in the SF Bay on Day 1
7. We will ride over the GG bridge and then put the bikes on the rack and head to Vallejo..
Hi All;
The below is the current plan for the trip. I spent quite a bit of time getting the stuff together here AND Im for sure willing to have someone else take a look at alternative accoms or stopping points.. whatever. The reservations in these places are contingent upon some pre-cancellation penalties, but generally, they are only really fussy in a couple of the places. Namely, the Kit Carson Lodge and the hotel in Baker.. Lectrolux cafe.. cool right? Looks like those two are hip anyway and on the National park lands so don't figure we should change them anyway. The basis of my decision making was about google feedback of every hotel in the neighborhood, price, and gut feeling. some places may be nicer, but didn't see the reason basis on the often Zanny feedback from google.. At this moment, all but a couple of the reservations are made, and will finish up today or tomorrow. Basically, I have reserved 3 rooms in each hotel. In Kit Carson and Lectrolux land, we have 2, but there is plenty of room in those places. Thats the deal. All the scoop is on the blog.. Really glad that you guys are coming and Im really looking forward to the adventure of our journey together..
Day 1; Sunday July 8th: Sf to Sacramento: 68 miles. Flat. We dip wheels at Fort Point and then ride across the GG bridge (good idea Steve). Sue then meets us in the visitors parking lot on the north side of the bridge and we put the bikes on the 4 runner and drive to the base of the Benicia Bridge. From there, we start our trip to West Sacramento. Not great options otherwise. We will be staying at the:
2761 Evergreen Avenue
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 372-6900
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(booked)
Day 2: Monday July 9th: West Sacramento - Placerville: 61 miles. 2000 ft climbing. This will be the first day of getting out of the sea level dwellers world and beginning our ascent of the Sierra. We will bike path our way in the morning and move upwards as the day progresses. We will be staying at a little flea bag hotel, but has good reviews on the internet and the patron was very nice. We can use the pool next door to the hotel.
1970 Broadway
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 622-2906
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(booked)
Day 3: Tuesday July 10th: Placerville - silver lake near kirkwood ( lake Tahoe). 68 miles 6000 feet climbing. OK, now we are getting serious We will have had plenty of time to get in shape and be ready for the grinding uphill. Actually, shouldn't be too bad, but just a long 3.2% average ascent up to Silver lake. We will be rewarded by a lovely evening at Kit Carson lodge where I have pre-paid two rooms at a sweet little lodge. Wine tasting on this night, with swimming, boat rentals, and beautiful views from the rooms. A campfire that night should be sweet. We will need it. Anyone for a long hike? Oh.. and if you like to fish, apparently this is the place.
United States
(209) 258-8500
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(booked)
Day 4: Wednesday July 11th: Silver lake to Carson city: 60 miles. Up 1500 feet straight out of the shoot, then lose 3500 feet over 20 miles and then flat to Carson city. Will be a nice start uphill in the morning, but a nice easy ride the remainder of the day into Carson city.. Here, we will gamble, smoke cigarettes and stay up all night drinking whiskey and mortgaging our houses.. or be in bed by about 9 pm like Sue and I will be!
2171 Us Highway 50 E
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 885-9000
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(booked)
Day 5: Thursday July 12th: Carson city to Fallon Nevada: 62 miles. Generally down hill. Nevada is the most mountainous state in the nation. Didn't know that. Its topography created through the subduction residue of the formation of the west coast. The terrain will always look like: Ridge, basin, Ridge, basin, Ridge basin.. over and friggen over again. Oh yah.. At a party the other night, my friends Ian and Meg (formally residents of Las Vegas) laughed until they about peed their pants as I told them of the ride. Ian looked at me and said "people die out there man.. And in JULY? Are you DAFT"... Yep.. came my reply. So, we will be riding in the hottest driest part of the year. Im ready and Im also reminded of the Pony express riders who did this in 1860. If those "wiry" guys can do it with no SAG support, we can certainly make it with cellphones and a lovely SAGELLA driving a well equipt forerunner.
Americas Best Value Inn 
1051 West Williams Avenue, Fallon, NV 89406
(800) 266-6059 (888) 315-2378
(booked)
Day 6: Friday July 13th: Fallon to Austin: 112 miles. Yep. Century day boys. Just nothing in between. 4500 feet of climbing on this day. Up and down, but we end this day at 6600 ft having left Fallon at 4000. This one is the one where we just ride nice and easy. double up on the shorts and have a few stops along the way... like 20 or 30! We will have at least 4 water stops on this day, and maybe more. Lunch for sure at some point along the way. Hydrate up men!
maps.google.com
40 Main Street Austin, NV 89310
(775) 964-2471
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(booked June 22)
Day 7: Saturday July 14th: Austin - eureka: 70 miles. Up and down day. Long 35 mile gradual downhill to eureka. But an 800 ft climb into eureka. Should be a good day to just sit back and enjoy the scenery.. stretch out the legs and laugh about yesterdays century.. 70 miles will feel like a warm up ride.
maps.google.com
60 North Main Street Eureka, NV 89316
(775) 237-5334
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(Booked June 22: No credit card)
Day 8: Sunday July 15th: Eureka - ely: 78 miles. Up and down all day. Both towns at the same 6600 ft elevation, and there are 3 climbs this day over 7300 ft. OK.. enough funny business, this day will be tough for sure. Relaxation last night on the road turns into a big challenging day for us here. No bigge but take it easy and stay hydrated.. this one will hurt at times. No way around it. Cool little hotel to look forward to..
www.bristleconemotelelynv.com/
700 Ave I Ely, NV 89301
(775) 289-8838
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Day 9: Monday July 16th: Ely - Baker 60 miles. Two peaks over 7500 ft, and baker is about 1500 ft below ely. Downhill day right. Pain is over from yesterday, and this one is only gonna hurt a little bit now and then. slow and easy with a coast into the end of our day. Very interesting hotel coming up and we are beginning to smell the sweet fragrance of success! This is also the heart of the great basin national park and we are staying smack dab in the middle. Lovely place where all the rainfall stays within the basin. In other words, quoting Bobby J., "all roads lead to the bilge"... no rivers out of the great basin.. another stunning outcome of the tectonic majesty of the subduction of the pacific plate (and a bunch of other smaller stuff)..
Silver Jack INN & LectroLux Cafe @Great Basin National Park on the Loneliest Road
Baker Nevada Lodging
RT 487, Baker NV 89311
Terry Marasco, owner, on My 1998 Honda Shadow Aero
(booked on email.. confirmed)
Day 10: Tuesday July 17th: Baker - Milford: 84 miles: ( no rest for the wicked). 3 climbs today, and nice long 15 mile downhill into Milford. We start the day at 5500 and end at 5000. Figure 3400 ft climbing this day. NOW we can literally see the end in sight.. Long day, but taken easy, we will be doing it no problem.
777 West Highway 21
Milford, UT 84751
(435) 387-5266
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Day 11: Wednesday July 18th: Milford - cedar city Utah: 62 miles : 1 long 1500 foot climb which we will hardly notice over 30 miles, then more or less downhill to cedar city. The last true night on the road where we are heading east.. The end is in sight boys.. Clearly in view. And fittingly, like on the yellow brick road, we stay at a mythical little dive! Welcome to Cedar City UTAH!
www.crystalinncedar.com/
1575 West 200 North Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 586-8888
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Day 12: Thursday July 19th: Cedar city to Panguitch: 59 miles. Of hell. One climb. 4500 ft up (to over 10500 ft elevation) and then a long downhill into panguich. Liken it to about the worst climb of the entire trip across america. Like mt diablo here in my backyard but another 40 percent more elevation. Very steep. Downhill for 25 miles at least. All the way to the end hence the interest in finishing in that way. We will drive back a bit that evening. Perhaps staying in Baker if we all see that as the place. I figure we can figure out accommodations from the road. Will see how we feel cause getting some miles under our tires heading West on this day, lessens the pain of the remaining journey. CONGRATULATIONS!
Day 13: Friday July 20th: the drive home. Total mileage with day 12: 869 trans America route. 3700 ish. Ahead of mileage requirements for 5 trips. 4 could do it potentially with a slosh more on a couple other future rides.
Sample Packing and Equipment List:
ReplyDeletehelmet
2 pairs of glooves (i also have spares)
3 pairs of socks
1 pair of pants for after riding time
1 pair of shorts for after riding time
3 pairs of biking shorts (general idea is that you wear two each day and have a spare for the next day). I have some extra, but not sure if they will fit you.. else, we can get you some down here if needed
2 riding jerseys.. 3 is preferable
sun glasses
riding jacket. should be windproof and somewhat warm.. Could be mornings when its a bit coolish. Me; I don't like being cold. That might not mean anything to you
riding tights..I have several pairs if needed
bike shoes
small bike tool kit if you can swing it. Needs appropriate allen wrenches, a chain tool, small adjustable wrench, small pliers, small lubricant (we will get the lube here prior departure)
Water bottle
Backpack water system: 100 oz. water capacity is preferable + some extra space for your other stuff.
Pump (high pressure type). Make sure it works.
couple of tee shirts
Casual shoes for after riding time.
IF your riding shoes are NOT SPD type, bring some very light flip flops / slip on slippers for the road.. This is my situation.. road peddles vs. Shimano.
bike computer
cell phone & charger
Maps for the trip..
a good & easy reading book for the road.
I pod & headphones
4 pairs under wear
i sweatshirt or a second jacket
duffle bag for tossing all your gear in. We will be putting everything into a giant soft bag system which we will be putting on the top of the 4runner daily. Duffles will work best. No hard suitcases.
ID of some sort.. Insurance card Sue will be holding copies of everyones information incase of any emergency. Thanks.
toothbrush, razor and a comb if you use it… Else, the hotel will have everything. We will have plenty of tooth paste..
tire patch kit
2 spare tubes (double check that they have the right length valve stem for the wheels you have)
bike lock (for use in the hotel and while on the rack). small cable one is best if you can swing it.
Good list. I think I have most of this. Know of any place to buy "stamina"? Just curious if there was an easy way. Guess not?
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