Friday, June 23, 2006
Day 5 - John Day - 23rd June 2006
Weather: Sunny 89
Location: John Day, Oregon (from Prineville, Oregon)
Miles per day: 117.6
Average miles per hour: 11.83
Flat tires to date: 1
Blizzards consumed to date: 3
This will be short as there is limited internet access at the hotel. Today was full of highs and lows. We started out with a 2500 foot climb with a strong headwind (which makes it VERY difficult). Cyclist talk about the 3Hs... Heat, Headwinds and Hills. Today we had it all.
With a 100 plus miles, this is known to hardcore cyclists as the Century. For a novice such as myself, I can only describe it as incredibly challenging. On picking this tour, the itinerary is summarised with location and number of miles. As I reviewed it, I concluded the easy days would be the long mileage days and the difficult days would be the short mileage. As it turns out, the distance is simply determined by where there is an available hotel. Hence, a long day can have difficult hills. Today was such an example. We came out of Prineville and it was a straight shot on Route 26 to John Day. The initial terrain was pine tree forest, some showed signs of fires from previous years (see photo). The air was cool and the ride was very pretty which compensated for the constant uphill climb for nearly 30 miles. We then went through Ochocco Pass (elevation 4720 feet) and descended for nearly 7 miles. Seeing the 7 mile descent sign makes a cyclist day (see photo). It was a wonderful drop going about 30 plus mph. But what goes down must go up.... it was followed by a brutal 5 mile climb at 5% plus grades. Once up on the plain, it then descended to flat terrain along the John Day River into John Day.
I took a brief break to check out the rocking chair. The natural wood furniture was amazing (see photo for website). Tell em the crazy bike crowd sent you!....
Today, was personally challenging and I learned that cycling can be a real mental sport. Starting out with 29 miles of hill and head wind, my mind often drifted to the option of the 'Sag Wagon' which will take you to the hotel. I mentally had to beat off those thoughts mile after mile. I am happy to say, both focus and distractions helped me throughout the day. I had alot of support from other cyclist. Small words of encouragement or rest stops with small talk about anything but how long we had left to go made the time go by quite quickly. And of course, with the sighting of the Dairy Queen (DQ) sign with 2 miles to go, I managed to pick up the pace and finish the last few miles at 20 mph!
Tomorrow is a lower mileage day - just 82..... But with the weather holding and my endurance strengthening, things are getting easier.
Location: John Day, Oregon (from Prineville, Oregon)
Miles per day: 117.6
Average miles per hour: 11.83
Flat tires to date: 1
Blizzards consumed to date: 3
This will be short as there is limited internet access at the hotel. Today was full of highs and lows. We started out with a 2500 foot climb with a strong headwind (which makes it VERY difficult). Cyclist talk about the 3Hs... Heat, Headwinds and Hills. Today we had it all.
With a 100 plus miles, this is known to hardcore cyclists as the Century. For a novice such as myself, I can only describe it as incredibly challenging. On picking this tour, the itinerary is summarised with location and number of miles. As I reviewed it, I concluded the easy days would be the long mileage days and the difficult days would be the short mileage. As it turns out, the distance is simply determined by where there is an available hotel. Hence, a long day can have difficult hills. Today was such an example. We came out of Prineville and it was a straight shot on Route 26 to John Day. The initial terrain was pine tree forest, some showed signs of fires from previous years (see photo). The air was cool and the ride was very pretty which compensated for the constant uphill climb for nearly 30 miles. We then went through Ochocco Pass (elevation 4720 feet) and descended for nearly 7 miles. Seeing the 7 mile descent sign makes a cyclist day (see photo). It was a wonderful drop going about 30 plus mph. But what goes down must go up.... it was followed by a brutal 5 mile climb at 5% plus grades. Once up on the plain, it then descended to flat terrain along the John Day River into John Day.
I took a brief break to check out the rocking chair. The natural wood furniture was amazing (see photo for website). Tell em the crazy bike crowd sent you!....
Today, was personally challenging and I learned that cycling can be a real mental sport. Starting out with 29 miles of hill and head wind, my mind often drifted to the option of the 'Sag Wagon' which will take you to the hotel. I mentally had to beat off those thoughts mile after mile. I am happy to say, both focus and distractions helped me throughout the day. I had alot of support from other cyclist. Small words of encouragement or rest stops with small talk about anything but how long we had left to go made the time go by quite quickly. And of course, with the sighting of the Dairy Queen (DQ) sign with 2 miles to go, I managed to pick up the pace and finish the last few miles at 20 mph!
Tomorrow is a lower mileage day - just 82..... But with the weather holding and my endurance strengthening, things are getting easier.
Comments:
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Annie,
Your dialogue gets better and better. We feel like we're on the trip with you. Great daily photos also. Can't remember if we went through that Pass or not coming west out of Jackson Hole. I suppose if we pedaled up it we would've remembered.
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Your dialogue gets better and better. We feel like we're on the trip with you. Great daily photos also. Can't remember if we went through that Pass or not coming west out of Jackson Hole. I suppose if we pedaled up it we would've remembered.
# posted by 
: 6:04 AM
: 6:04 AM << Home
