My Virtual TransAmerica ride- a quick update

Ok I’m providing this quick update because I’m now 10 days from finishing my virtual TransAmerica ride.

I have ridden 38 out the last 39 days covering 2,459 miles or averaging 65 miles a day. Only 572 miles to go. Below is the remainder of my route. I’m right on schedule and expect I may finish a bit early.

I plan to be in Virtual Alabama tomorrow night and the into the Sunshine state on Wednesday.

But my ride almost came to an end this weekend. I exited the shower after a 70 mile ride with wet feet on our tile floor. The next thing I knew I was flat on my back watching the stars circle above me.

I laid there for a bit wondering what was broken. Slowly I took inventory of my parts and all seemed in place. Barb gave me a standing 9 count and declared no concussion.

Sunday I woke up looking like I had been beaten with an ugly stick and felt like I had been beaten with a club.

I was going to take the day off and do a short evening ride but we had a social distancing engagement so I decided to try a mid morning ride. It turned out to be 46 miles and I felt generally ok. Today I rode 70 miles for good measure. I have to start early. Stop around siesta time and then do a short early evening ride but it’s working out ok.

But it is really starting to heat up here. 100 degree days this week. Also humidity is so low you don’t realize how much fluid you are losing. On my 46 mile ride I drank a gallon of fluid, about a quart for every 10 miles. When I got home my jersey was dry. I knocked down another gallon of water, Gatorade, OJ, and Snapple that night.

I definitely have to focus on keeping hydrated and start early each morning before the heat of the day hits. My cardiologist said this was a must given my history of heart disease.

But other than that, I’m doing pretty darn good. No cramps, really no soreness other than from my fall. But heck the Tour de France riders crash at 40mph, get up get taped up, have the road rash patched and they are back racing. They are some tough boys for sure. I sure as hell was not going to let a bathroom fall derail me at this point.

I have been getting lots of encouragement from many sources. Below is a email I got from Larry Love the ride coordinator a week back.

That is awesome, Bob! When you make it (virtually) all the way to St. Augustine, I will have a special prize for you.

You are ahead of schedule. Now that you are in Del Rio, you will notice that the route gets a lot greener from here on out. You have made it past some of the roughest days, although the day into Ingram will be very hilly! Good luck!

Keep me posted!

Larry Love
Trans-America Cycling

Well Larry. It is getting greener but it still looks a lot like Az and probably will for the rest of the ride.

Anyway, the countdown begins. After tomorrow I’ll have less that 10 days to go. I am confident that I’ll prevail on this adventure.

So till next time, may you have smooth roads, the wind at your back and sub 100 degree days