June 7, 2011

Today's report from The Ride

Final Stats for today:



The wind strength at 5:15 am!  Ugh



NOTE: The wind was out of the SW 20-30 mph.  I was supposed to ride 80 miles SW from Hartington to O'Neill.  After 15 miles into this wind, I did the math in my head and realized that we could toss the bike in the van, drive 65 miles to O'Neill, I could ride back with the wind to the spot I quit, we could then drive 65 miles and STILL finish at least an hour sooner then if we just kept clawing our way through the wind!  So, that's what we did.  There's always more than one way to skin a cat.  I still rode the route at the end of the day.  So, there are two parts to the final stats tonight. 

      

           Started at 5:15 am and quit at 7:15 am (when we threw our bikes in the van). 

Covered 15 miles, ave speed of 9.5 mph.  Max speed - pathetic

Riding time - 1 hours and 31 minutes.  

Feet of elevation climbed - 400'. 

Wind - out of the S.  On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a -4.0. 



Started at 8:30 am (in O'Neill) and finished at 1:00 pm. 

Covered 65 miles, ave speed of 16.3 mph.  Max speed - 39.7 mph
Riding time - 4 hours and 2 minutes.  
Feet of elevation climbed - 2647'. 
Wind - out of the SW.  On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a +4.0. 

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day".  It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5. 

About today: Well, as you know from above, it was a different kind of day.  With a headwind like that I simply cannot go that far as keep my sanity.  Plus, I'm dealing with something I've never had to figure out before.  The back of my right ankle was getting VERY tender by the end of yesterday.  Well, the pain started right up when I got on the road this morning.  So, I called two of my Physical Therapy friends in Grand Island, Brian and Kurt for their valuable input.  I told them, "Hey, my foot fells like it's going to fall off.  What should I do?"  Their first suggestion was duct tape, which I thought was highly inappropriate given the amount of pain I was in at the time.  But, when they finally stopped laughing, they did give me some helpful input. 

They put me in touch with a PT in O'Neill, Dr. Elliot Neuheisel at St. Anthony's hospital.  Basically, I have an inflammed tendon.  Elliot worked his magic and now I'll have to take it easy (yeah, right!), use lots of ice, do gentle stretching, etc.  I'm curious to see how quickly (if??) it will mend.  I'm glad to have a rest day on June 9, although tomorrow will be a long one (145 miles)...  Thank you Elliot for seeing me at the end of your day. 

Some of the scenery today was just beautiful!! 

Closing thoughts for the day: 

Beautiful valley starting about 8 miles west of Creighton.  4 miles across!

Another really cool stretch was from Bazile Mills up to Hwy #84.  As usual, pictures can not do it justice!

From Bazile Mills for 5 miles north.  Gorgeous valleys and trees. 

Thank yous: To my host family, Jeff and Mary Jo Peterson, and their boys Nathan and Jacob!  Supper was delicious!!!!

Nia and LeAnn Karmen are my support drivers tomorrow.  Thank you ladies.  They are already here in O'N.   

Paul, Mike, Harry



And a HUGE thank you to Paul Seibert and Harry Eckerson.  These two guys gave and gave of their time, energy, resources, whatever I needed.  It's a humbling feeling to receive unconditionally as I have for three days from these two marvelous servants.  It's a great example of the kind of love that Jesus offers to us!  Thank you again, my new friends, for all you did to help me. 

Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

 

      For food – Matthew 14:13-21

Quote of the Day: 

“For instance, the bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon.” - Bill Strickland 

Spin Home Wisdom Story #7 -

"I Choose to Clip and Try Not to Tip"

So, I'll have to try to get it from home to post it later...)(SHW #6 was missing part of the story on my portable harddrive.  Hmmm...

As I've thought all along, tomorrow is going to be a key day, especially so now with my gimpy ankle. 

Forecast for the next day:

Not very favorable.  Wind out of the NW and the N.  Naturally, I'm heading N and W and NW.
On the positive side, it will be 25-30 degrees cooler tomorrow.  That will help a LOT!  It will be interesting. 

Route/Towns for the next day:

-　O'Neill to Spencer to Butte to Naper to Burton to Springview to Valentine 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
June　8