More "Rest"

on March 18, 2010, Doug wrote:

 

Another relatively easy day--60 miles--from Salome, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ, which is quite a little tourist town.  On U.S 60 all day, a beautiful stretch of road.  Great pavement running right through the middle of a valley with moderately-sized mountains on both sides of us. Lots of wildflowers and Seguaro cactuses (cacti?) 

 

Ran into 3 other X-C riders today.  First, a couple heading west from Phoenix to San Diego then up the coast to Washington, fully loaded, who seemed a bit daunted by what they'd bitten off.  They said their bikes weighed 70 lbs loaded, and I'd be daunted by the thought of pedaling all that up the mountains they'll be getting to shortly too.

 

The other guy, Fred Hines, represents the complete opposite end of the spectrum.  He's 30, very fit, says he's done some Ironman triathlons, and intends to do the entire crossing west to east in three weeks--that's 150 miles a day with no rest days!!  We left Sunday and he left Tuesday and he already caught us!!  Most amazing was how little stuff he has with him.  We're the most lightly packed riders we'd seen up till now, but Fred had nearly nothing more than we'd want for an all day ride except pants and a shirt for the evenings.  I doubt his extra stuff weighed 5 lbs!  If he gets caught in the rain or the weather's cold in the mountains, he'll really suffer.

 

We're supposed to get our first--and badly overdue--taste of tailwind tomorrow, another "easy" day into Phownix, where we plan a day off.