Eastward Ho!
Week one - California to Nevada
Week one - California to Nevada
Day 1 Sunday June 9 San Francisco to Fairfield 81 miles
Wow! What a first day! It was long, beautiful, challenging and
the end of the ride for one of one riders. We dipped our wheels
in the Pacific Ocean, rode across the Golden Gate Bridge, and
ended up in the central valley. It was a good preview of the entire
ride as we had hills, flats, lots of traffic, and some deserted roads.
The weather was gorgeous (OK, a little less wind would have
been all right.) Unfortunately, one of our riders was clipped by a
pick-up truck accidentally and he crashed and broke his leg. He
obviously won't be able to finish the ride. Our total elevation
climb today was about 3,200 feet although we started at 12 feet
above sea level and ended at 30 feet.
Day 2 Monday June 10 Fairfield to Sacramento 57 miles
This was supposed to be an easy day but someone forgot about
the wind - it was gale force! Much of the day was in agricultural
country with no wind breaks at all. The best part of the day was
a nice lunch in Davis and my first Ben & Jerry's stop - ice cream
with no guilt! Only 800 feet in vertical climb today.
Day 3 Tuesday June 11 Sacramento to Auburn 51 miles
Today was the easy day we were all expecting yesterday. It was
a beautiful ride out of Sacramento on a bike trail that followed the
American River for more than 30 miles. Our vertical climb today
was 1,800 feet and there was no wind, so it was a very pleasant
day. I had a strawberry soda at an old time soda fountain.
We can see snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the
distance, and tomorrow will be a killer day!
Day 4 Wednesday June 12 Auburn to Truckee 76 miles
I thought that I would have lots of pictures from our ride into the
Sierras today, but it took all of my energy just to ride! This was
the most vertical climb of any day on the ride. We climbed a total
of 8,200 feet, some of it on Interstate 80 with an 8% grade. We
also had one hill with an 11% grade, but for those of you familiar
with the Palm Springs Tram Road, these hills were a piece of
cake in comparison (note my obsession with food). However, we
were cheated! Just as we exited I-80 (not a fun road to ride, but
the only game in town) and were to begin our descent - the
reward for all of the uphill effort - we learned that the Highway
Patrol had closed the road to all traffic so someone could film a
commercial, and the CHP would not let us back on I-80, so we
had to be shuttled about four miles. A couple of purists on the
ride decided to risk the Interstate, and apparently didn't get
stopped by the CHP. We did, however, have another gorgeous
day of weather.
Day 5 Thursday June 13 Truckee to Sparks, NV 50 miles
Another arduous day with two climbs - one for five miles and
another for eight miles - with a vertical climb of 4,600 feet. The
good news is that then we had a 16 mile descent. Several of the
riders got over 40 mph coming down, but 35 is the upper limit of
my comfort zone. The climbs today were relentless, but the views
were spectacular as we could see Lake Tahoe and the snow-
capped Sierras. Our fifth day and still no clouds! And we left
California and are now in Nevada - one state down and 12 to go!
Day 6 Friday June 14 Sparks to Lovelock 91 miles
Today was my longest ride ever! It was a relatively easy day, and
I am happy to say that our Swiss rider and I were the first two
riders to reach Lovelock, in just under six hours, including two
SAG stops. The ride wasn't very interesting because we were on
Interstate 80 almost the entire way (we will be until we reach Salt
Lake City), but with a tail wind and slight descent or flat terrain,
it was a fast ride. Yes, I have a sore butt, but no worries, there
won't be any pictures to illustrate that topic. I have a lovely
product called "chamois butter" to, how shall I say, ease the
friction. Three of our riders are a father and his two teen-age
sons from Maine, and the older son took a spill today and has
serious "road rash." We'll hear more at "route rap" tonight at
dinner, but the story I heard is that he looked back to check on
some other riders and missed seeing a board on the road which
he hit. He is in rideable condition, but his bike is not.
Day 7 Saturday June 15 Lovelock to Winnemucca 73 miles
Another relatively easy day (if you count about five hours on a
bicycle as an easy day). We had 25 miles on a quiet, rural road
and about 50 miles on I-80. The Interstate has caused a lot of
flats because as the tread from truck tires flies off and disinte-
grates, it leaves a lot of fine steel wires from the steel belts in the
tires which cyclists pick up.
Wow! What a first day! It was long, beautiful, challenging and
the end of the ride for one of one riders. We dipped our wheels
in the Pacific Ocean, rode across the Golden Gate Bridge, and
ended up in the central valley. It was a good preview of the entire
ride as we had hills, flats, lots of traffic, and some deserted roads.
The weather was gorgeous (OK, a little less wind would have
been all right.) Unfortunately, one of our riders was clipped by a
pick-up truck accidentally and he crashed and broke his leg. He
obviously won't be able to finish the ride. Our total elevation
climb today was about 3,200 feet although we started at 12 feet
above sea level and ended at 30 feet.
Day 2 Monday June 10 Fairfield to Sacramento 57 miles
This was supposed to be an easy day but someone forgot about
the wind - it was gale force! Much of the day was in agricultural
country with no wind breaks at all. The best part of the day was
a nice lunch in Davis and my first Ben & Jerry's stop - ice cream
with no guilt! Only 800 feet in vertical climb today.
Day 3 Tuesday June 11 Sacramento to Auburn 51 miles
Today was the easy day we were all expecting yesterday. It was
a beautiful ride out of Sacramento on a bike trail that followed the
American River for more than 30 miles. Our vertical climb today
was 1,800 feet and there was no wind, so it was a very pleasant
day. I had a strawberry soda at an old time soda fountain.
We can see snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the
distance, and tomorrow will be a killer day!
Day 4 Wednesday June 12 Auburn to Truckee 76 miles
I thought that I would have lots of pictures from our ride into the
Sierras today, but it took all of my energy just to ride! This was
the most vertical climb of any day on the ride. We climbed a total
of 8,200 feet, some of it on Interstate 80 with an 8% grade. We
also had one hill with an 11% grade, but for those of you familiar
with the Palm Springs Tram Road, these hills were a piece of
cake in comparison (note my obsession with food). However, we
were cheated! Just as we exited I-80 (not a fun road to ride, but
the only game in town) and were to begin our descent - the
reward for all of the uphill effort - we learned that the Highway
Patrol had closed the road to all traffic so someone could film a
commercial, and the CHP would not let us back on I-80, so we
had to be shuttled about four miles. A couple of purists on the
ride decided to risk the Interstate, and apparently didn't get
stopped by the CHP. We did, however, have another gorgeous
day of weather.
Day 5 Thursday June 13 Truckee to Sparks, NV 50 miles
Another arduous day with two climbs - one for five miles and
another for eight miles - with a vertical climb of 4,600 feet. The
good news is that then we had a 16 mile descent. Several of the
riders got over 40 mph coming down, but 35 is the upper limit of
my comfort zone. The climbs today were relentless, but the views
were spectacular as we could see Lake Tahoe and the snow-
capped Sierras. Our fifth day and still no clouds! And we left
California and are now in Nevada - one state down and 12 to go!
Day 6 Friday June 14 Sparks to Lovelock 91 miles
Today was my longest ride ever! It was a relatively easy day, and
I am happy to say that our Swiss rider and I were the first two
riders to reach Lovelock, in just under six hours, including two
SAG stops. The ride wasn't very interesting because we were on
Interstate 80 almost the entire way (we will be until we reach Salt
Lake City), but with a tail wind and slight descent or flat terrain,
it was a fast ride. Yes, I have a sore butt, but no worries, there
won't be any pictures to illustrate that topic. I have a lovely
product called "chamois butter" to, how shall I say, ease the
friction. Three of our riders are a father and his two teen-age
sons from Maine, and the older son took a spill today and has
serious "road rash." We'll hear more at "route rap" tonight at
dinner, but the story I heard is that he looked back to check on
some other riders and missed seeing a board on the road which
he hit. He is in rideable condition, but his bike is not.
Day 7 Saturday June 15 Lovelock to Winnemucca 73 miles
Another relatively easy day (if you count about five hours on a
bicycle as an easy day). We had 25 miles on a quiet, rural road
and about 50 miles on I-80. The Interstate has caused a lot of
flats because as the tread from truck tires flies off and disinte-
grates, it leaves a lot of fine steel wires from the steel belts in the
tires which cyclists pick up.
The ride down to Truckee
Not another food stop!