Monday 2nd August 1999

It’s here! Unpacked, assembled and tested. A bike that is XXL!

Friday 30th July 1999 -> Auckland -> Home

We arrived about 6-30am in Auckland. Both bikes were present and correct.

Getting them through customs was a challenge. I started off with 2 carts side by side but these would not fit through the customs alleyway. After blocking it and contemplating my next move, a customs lady came and helped. She pushed the single trolley while I dragged the triple.

I was then told that 6½% duty plus 12½% duty was 20½%! This was finally recalculated and paid at 19½% (as the 12.5% GST sits on top of the 6½% duty.)

The next step was to drag the boxes to Air NZ. These were checked in and my flight time changed to 8-25am. This flight also left late.

Arriving in Napier just after 9-30am, the plane was unloaded and NO bikes appeared! Great! Air NZ then advised they should be on the next flight so I arranged delivery direct to Hastings Cycles. They then advised that the triple must go via Wellington as it won’t fit on the Auckland – Napier planes. Once home, they phone and advise it will have to be trucked as it won’t fit on the Wellington plane either! It won’t be seen until Sunday / Monday. The GT should arrive this afternoon. It arrived!

Thursday 29th July 1999 -> no existe!

Wednesday 28th July 1999 -> LA, CA

A 5-30am rising lead to leaving for Boston’s Logan Airport just after 7am. We arrived at the United terminal around 8-30am.

My bike was charged an horrific US$88 surcharge but I was upgraded! After that, it was wait, loiter and wait until after 11-30 to board the plane.

The plane left late but arrived on time at 3pm. After a bit of wandering, I found Marcia. The airline had told her not to check the bike in until just before the plane left and the cost would be from US$176 to $352! We then left the airport.

We went to a Disney store to try and find a Mickey Mouse poster but had no luck. After that it was to an Irish pub for Jefferies 21^st birthday. I had another huge plate of nachos!

We arrived back at the airport about 8-30pm and I checked the bike in. After many, many false starts, the final actual payment was US$60! and the triple was carried away! The crowd did not know what to think!

The plane left about 11pm bound for Auckland with both bikes on board.

Tuesday 27th July 1999 -> Portsmouth NH

The final day began at 6-00am with breakfast at 6-30am. This was a poor buffet – French toast, fruit and cereal only.

We left about 7-20am and rode with 10 or so other riders. The bunch cruised through the many city street turns, attracting much attention. The pace was about 12-15mph.

Weather was again fine and sunny with little wind. Some roads were very rough and others were perfect. Scenery was city, woods, tree lined roads etc.

After the sag at 30 miles, we picked up the pace and cruised to the Rye Junior High to congregate for the final 3 mile escort to the Atlantic.

We left the school under storm looking clouds with a police escort at about 12pm, arriving soon afterwards. There were many photos, handshaking and backslapping. Some of the many packed beach goers were very interested in our ride.

After that, we rode into Maine, took some photos, saw a drawbridge go up and down while a yacht went through and then cruised on into the motel around 1-30pm.

Lunch was held at the restaurant across the road and then the afternoon was spent packing the bike, which after a false start with a too small and decrepit box, was fairly readily achieved, and sorting out my luggage appropriately.

The ride was complete! Today’s total ride was 65.3 miles in 4hrs 22m with a max of 34.5 mph. HR was 90-130 and generally 90-110.

Bike odo reading is now 20,701 miles (33,308km) which means that 3,867 miles have been added since 6^th June (6,222km). Not a bad two months training!!

We had dinner at the hotel across the road, complete with dessert and a 10% discount!

Monday 26th July 1999 -> Lowell MA

Removing a wire from a flat back tyre started the day. Breakfast was at 6am in Friendlys across the carpark. Service was slow and the food average.

I left about 7am under clear blue skies with little wind. This then turned to mist, to high cloud, to sun and back to mist. A few stronger breezes were also evident.

Some good solid hill climbs were made as we covered the 3,680ft of climbing for the day. Riding was on some really rough roads, especially one down hill, through tree lined roads and suburbia and towns.

The cue sheet was rather poor with most intersections not noted. I ended up on a freeway for a brief period but the mileage was about the same!

At about 35 miles my front tyre picked up a piece of glass. 17 punctures now! I fixed this and continued cruising to the sag at 48 miles. This was reached after 2 bottles of drink.

The balance of the day was flatter with more and more city roads. Some roads had little signage so navigation was hope and pray! One sign did say “Blind Drive” though!

I arrived at bout 12-31pm after 86.8 miles in 5hrs 07m and a maximum if 41.0 mph. The first 20 or so miles were ridden with Tod as it was his birthday. I tried to keep the HR100-130 all day but failed on some of the early hills!  It sat on 100 as I rode with 5 or 6 others for 2 or 3 miles at 17-18mph.

Dinner turned out to be a poor buffet for the final “banquet.” Food was green salad, corn, bread, soup, meat and tacos plus a small dessert. That is all!

Certificate and awards were handed out to riders and brief? comments made on the ride by each rider.

Sunday 25th July 1999 -> Greenfield MA

We had to cycle back up the road to breakfast off the menu at “Friendlys” at 6-00am. Service and food were adequate.

After a false start, I left about 6-45am under a clear blue sky with virtually no wind. The road went up and down through tree lined roads. A couple of good climbs, which were not overly steep, one was 4 or so miles long, were climbed in the 53:24/21 gears to sag 1.

The Massachusetts state line followed just after the sag. Riding was more of the same, including a 6 mile climb to sag 2 and a summit. Another 2.6 miles lead to the final summit.

A long gentle descent of about 20 miles with a few small uphills then followed. We then took a “scenic” bypass through a small town, climbed up a few more hills and then descended the final 2 miles into the motel to arrive at about 11-25am.

With the mountains, the wind swirled in all directions but had no noticeable effect in any of them! Total climbing was about 5,200 vertical feet and this was done at 8-12mph with HR150-160.

Total cycling for the day was 79.3 miles in 4hrs 22m with a maximum of 40.1 mph at a surprising 18.1 mph average!

Cycling for the week was a modest 776.8km (482.8 miles) in 26hrs 37m with a maximum of 64.5kmh^-1 (40.1 mph) and an average of 29.2kmh^-1 (18.1 mph.)

Dinner was an adequate meal for 4 at a chinese restaurant across the road.

Saturday 24th July 1999 -> Albany NY

The morning dawned heavily overcast and damp underfoot. Breakfast at 6-30am was a standard in house buffet.

I didn’t leave until about 7-20am as Tod found he had a puncture in his back tyre – it turned out to be a little wire, barely noticeable.

The road was initially wet but the clouds lifted and the sun partially came out. There was virtually no wind. As we rode on virtually flat roads with a few small hills among houses and trees etc, the road dried out.

Arriving at about 11-25am, the hotel room was actually ready and all the luggage unloaded! The hotel room is also the largest and newest yet – complete with a business desk, chair, pencil, stapler etc.

The total ride for the day was 70.8 miles in 3hrs 51m with a maximum of 31.1mph.

Dinner was a complete buffet at “Olde Country” which we vanned to and from – it was about 1.5 miles from the hotel! Great food and drinks!

Friday 23rd July 1999 -> Little Falls NY

A 6am breakfast in the hotel of fruit, no cereal, oatmeal, eggs, pancakes and scones with orange juice, led to a 6-20amish departure under a clear blue sky with little wind.

The first few miles were all through downtown Syracuse with some very heavy traffic and bad roads. We turned most of the day and crossed under and over the interstate at least five times! This confused the little wind so we had some head / tail and cross wind, all of less than 10kmh^-1 and barely noticeable.

Road conditions were generally good. After the no show sag at 52 miles, about a mile of road had been dug out to the shingle. Great cycling!

Scenery was a few crops, houses and many tree lined roads. There were one or two rolls before we descended into the valley where the town is located.

My HR was generally 100-130 for the 896.3 miles in 4hrs 38m with a maximum of 33.3mph and I arrived at the hotel just before 11am. It was again mild – about 85°F.

Dinner was a standard in house buffet with sponge cake, chocolate coated with custard centre, for dessert.

Thursday 22nd July 1999 -> Syracuse, PA

Breakfast was at 7am at Denny’s off the menu. Some people had to wait over an hour for service. The food was usual quality.

I left about 7-45am under an overcast sky with a gentle wind. The road was generally good but included some “grooved road.” We turned a few times and had a few stretches of noticeable head and tail winds – nothing more than 10kmh^-1.

A big rig gave me a bit of a tow through a town for about a minute up to 29mph. Scenery was more of the same – a few crops, houses, tree lined roads etc. Nothing exciting at all!

I arrived about 11-20am at the hotel which is miles from town. This was after 64.2 miles in 3hrs 22m with a maximum of 38.4 mph.

Along the way I met a man taking his weed eater for a walk – better than a chainsaw!

Dinner was the usual standard buffer in the hotel plus bottomless coke and or iced tea.

Wednesday 21st July 1999 -> Canandaigua, NY

We had breakfast at 6-30am at Bob Evans off the menu. Food and service were average.

I left about 6-50am under a heavily overcast sky with a noticeable head wind. The only sag was at 53 miles after gentle rolling country, good quality roads, cereal and corn field with three etc and many houses dotting the countryside. It was mild.

The rest of the ride was more of the same and I reached the hotel about 12-30pm after 95.5 miles in 5hrs 23m with a maximum of 37.9mph. Many names are European e.g. Avon, Hamburg but we also passed through Lima today!

I also got a tow behind a tractor and trailer for a mile or so – starting at about 19mph until he saw me and sped up to 25-26mph. It was a good change!

Dinner was a buffet plus chicken / fish / steak from another misnamed “steakhouse.” The food was of average quality and variety. Dessert was meager but adequate.

Tuesday 20th July 1999 -> Hamburg NY

Rising at 6am, we had a bare minimal breakfast of fruit plus cereal plus pancakes if you waited at the hotel.

I left about 6-55am under an overcast sky with a medium head wind and mild temperature. We crossed the state line after just 19 miles. I was met by a man walking down the road with a chainsaw that was going! He had no apparent need for a chainsaw!

Sag was at 47 miles and was again late although the mechanic set up a temporary one. From there, we had an unscheduled detour around a bridge that had been removed!

The road was basically flat, of average quality and went basically along the lake front, though the lake was mostly out of sight, with a few vineyards and trees as the scenery.

I arrived about 12-30pm to find the rooms were not ready. After a short excursion to Dennys for lunch, I had cycled 86.7 miles in 5hrs 01m with a max of 28.4mph.

Dinner was an off the menu affair at Bob Evans a little bit down the road. Food quality and quantity were average.

Monday 19th July 1999 -> Rest day

Breakfast at McDonalds, a walk down to the lake front which was dirty and full or weed and writing of postcards lead to lunch at a chinese buffet. After lunch, a bus ride to a mall lead to a branch library and e-mail, a pet shop and some chewing gum purchases followed by a return to the hotel and dinner at Arbys. Erie appeared as a rundown, dirty and dark city – part of the “rustbelt” I’m told.

Sunday 18th July 1999 -> Erie, PA

Breakfast was at Dennys off the menu about a mile down the road and off course. The food was solid and service reasonably prompt. I left about 7-20am.

There was a light mist in a virtually still day. Road surfaces were generally good and the scenery was a few corn fields with tree lined roads and increasing suburbia.

The only sag stop was at47.5 miles in an old, disused, covered bridge. This was also off route! I pushed the last 2.5 miles at 24-25mph into the sag and cruised the rest of the basically flat day with just a few rolls. HR was 105-130 and to 150 when pushed.

A wind picked up later in the day and it was head / cross or tail wind depending on which road we were on! Its effect was not great in any case.

I arrived about 12-30pm after 92.5 miles (plus to Dennys) in 4hrs 52m with a max of 31.0mph to find the hotel room not ready until 3pm! Great service from another state – Pennsylvania.

Cycling for the week included over 657km in just the 4 days Thursday – Sunday inclusive – the rest day will be welcomed by most riders! Total riding was 894.1km (555.7 miles) in 30.0 hours with an average of 29.8kmh^-1 (18.5mph) and a maximum of 62.4kmh^-1 (38.8mph). An interesting week!

Dinner was an average buffet in the hotel, including dessert.

Saturday 17th July 1999 -> Niles OH

Rising at 5-30am for a 6am breakfast, it was still dark, misty and mild. A surprisingly good buffet of sausages, eggs, French toast, cereal, fruit, orange juice etc was breakfast at the hotel.

I left about 6-30am into another still day. There were again many turn and a few gentle rolls. Road conditions varied from superb – clean black top – to many miles of rough as guts that vibrated the whole bike.

Scenery was tree lined roads with less corn and soybean crops – in fact, not many crops at all. A few houses but no towns or shops punctuated the landscape.

I cycled 96.3 miles in 5hrs 17m with a max of 38.8mph. This was not bad considering the legs were still feeling the previous 2 days! HR was around 110-130. A tail / cross wind was just noticeable in the last hour or so.

Dinner was at a chinese restaurant buffet across the road. The food was good, complete with dessert.

Friday 16th July 1999 -> Wooster, OH

Rising at 5am for a 5.30am breakfast it was still pitch black as it was 4-30am due to the time change! It was a bare minimum breakfast served up by an 81 year old woman – cereal, toast and pastries.

I waited till 6-20am, when it was barely light, before setting out into a fog with barely a touch of wind.

The fog was patchy and lasted an hour or so. The road rolled gently and also quite harshly in places with some steep climbs – 3,800 feet vertical climbing for the day. Scenery was tree lined roads, corn fields and soy bean crops. It was warm – 86°F.

It took me 109.1 miles in 5hrs 57m with a max of 38.4mph to complete the 105 mile day! HR reached 176 while grinding up one of the many hills in the 53: 24 / 21 / 19 gears. Any wind was a slight cross / tailwind.

Dinner was at the hotel and consisted of b-b-q chicken plus the usual buffet with cookies and lemonade. O.k. overall.

Thursday 15th July 1999 -> Marysville, OH

The day started at 5an as we crossed into Ohio and daylight saving time after 2.7 miles. Breakfast at 5-30am was a solid buffet in the hotel with the usual fare – eggs, pancakes, sausages etc.

I left the hotel about 6-10am and stopped at the state sign with others for the now mandatory photo. It was sunny and mild with virtually no wind.

At about 25 miles, the cue sheet got many people lost. I gained an extra ½ mile or so! The sag 1 driver got lost but all 3 vans ended up at sag 1 with none at sag 2! This meant I cycle about 65 miles on 2 bottles of Gatorade and no food! I was not impressed.

The road was basically flat with a few small undulations. Corn and soy bean fields dominated the scenery along the generally good quality and quiet roads.

After 110.7 miles I completed the 105 mile day! (a couple more minor excursions plus cue sheet variances!) at about 1-15pm Ohio time. It took me 5hrs 48m with a HR of generally 110-130 and a max of 32.9 mph. The tail/cross wind picked up as the day progressed but was still very light (less than 10kmh^-1 max I’d say!)

Dinner was off the menu at “Big Boys.” It was a typical restaurant choice and we had mains plus salad and dessert!

Wednesday 14th July 1999 -> Richmond IN

Breakfast was off the menu at 6-30am and food and service was average.

I left about 7-10am under a clear blue sky with virtually no wind. The road was generally in good condition and basically flat. Scenery was suburban mixed with corn fields and small towns.

My HR was sitting on about 105-120 as I cruised at 19-20mph. Some riders passed me so I joined them at 20-22mph. On a little rise, I reached the front and they were all gone by the top, not to be seen again until the hotel!

After cycling 69.1 miles in 3hrs 30m with a max of 32.9mph, I reached the hotel at about 11am and had to wait an hour for the room. Three of us then went to a Pizza Hut buffet for lunch.

Dinner was a good solid buffet only at an inaptly named “Steakhouse.”

Tuesday 13th July 1999 -> Rest day

Breakfast at Burger King, 2-4 mile walk to 2hrs of e-mail at a branch library, lunch at KFC on the return walk, reading, dinner at Arbys and that was the day!

Monday 12th July 1999 -> Indianapolis, IN

Oatmeal, cereal and pancakes was the breakfast offering at 6-30am in the hotel.

The day was gain fine and clear with a gentle head / cross wind with one or two all to brief tail wind sections in the roundabout trip of the day.

Cycling was on variable quality roads through more small towns and gentle rolling hills and flats with corn fields etc. We also rode through tree lined roads, including the Eagle Creek Park.

At 52 miles, we reached the Indy speedway and went in and had a brief look around. The grandstands were huge and can reportedly hold 400,000 people!

We then rode to the Major Taylor outdoor concrete velodrome and rode a few laps. Interesting stuff on the steep angled track, especially at the top of the curves! The track was about 500m long and 25mph was not overly difficult on the straight.

After much winding through town, total cycling, including the track, was 78 miles in 4hrs 36m with a max of 32.1 mph.

Dinner was average menu plus salad and dessert.

Sunday 11th July 1999 -> Crawfordsville IN

Another day, another state. No time change as they don’t observe daylight saving in Indiana!

Breakfast at 6am was off the menu. Service was about average with good solid food – eggs, ham and potatoes.

I left about 6-45am under a virtually clear blue sky with the odd cloud and a very gentle head / cross wind. After 2 or 3 miles, my left pedal collapsed internally and made pedalling more difficult. I then missed a turn and gained some bonus miles!

While riding through the slight and gentle rolling corn fields etc at a slow pace, I managed to contact the mechanic and had a new pedal fitted just before sag 1 at 28 miles.

To sag 2 at 56 miles, I pushed my HR to 130-140 and pulled in many riders. From there, it was more of the same before reaching town just after midday.

I had lunch at the hotel among numerous Sunday church goers all dressed up. Typical small town America I’m told!

Total cycling for the day was 82.2 miles in 4hrs 40m with a max of 29.1 mph, one broken pedal and no punctures!

For the week, I covered 833km (517.7 miles) in 28hrs 14m at an average of 29.5kmh^-1 (18.3 mph) and a max of 63.2kmh^-1 (39.3 mph.)

Dinner was average - salad, pasta, lasagne, mashed potatoes and sponge cake dessert.

Saturday 10th July 1999 -> Champaign IL

Surprisingly, breakfast was worse than yesterday! Late with cold French toast and waffles. I left after doughnuts and cold toast and waffles.

Leaving at 6-50am under another clear blue sky, we rode all day into a medium strength head (mostly) and cross wind. It was very frustrating!!

It took almost 2hrs to reach sag 1 at 32 miles over a few gentle rolls but essentially flat country of corn field and soy beans? The wind and scenery continued all the way into town.

Overall, it took 5hrs 19m to cover 89.2 miles with a max of 27.1 over essentially flat country – 17m more than yesterday and 16.8 miles less – yes, I could feel the wind!

Dinner was a chinese buffet at the Fortune House just down the road. It was a good change of food with superb service – we all left full!

Friday 9th July 1999 -> Springfield IL

The hotel earned its status as the worst to date – breakfast was also late! I only managed cereal and scones before leaving the hotel about 6-30am, despite dire rain and thunder storm warnings!

Our hotel room had a badly sticking front door, very little room, fleas in the carpet, right next to a busy road, faulty sink plug, no fan in the shower, faulty toilet and a leaking ceiling. A great place!

After 4 miles of town, the road rolled gently through tree lined and crop paddock lined roads. The sky was heavily overcast but no rain fell all day. A light breeze was a cross and tail wind all day.

The 1^st sag was at 45 miles and after this, the road was mostly flat and the wind pushed me through more field of corn etc. I arrived in town about 11-50am as the 2^nd sag was no where to be seen!

Cycling for the day was 106.0 miles in 5hrs 02m with a max of 39.3 mph. HR was generally 120-130 with up to 160s pushing up some of the hills.

Dinner was again served late and was the absolute minimum – salad, bread, past, sauce peas and turkey.

Thursday 8th July 1999 -> Quincy, IL

Another day, another state! Breakfast was an average buffet at 6-30am in the hotel.

The morning was clear and virtually still. I left about 7-10am on the basically flat ride with a few small rolls and farmland for scenery.

A swarm of black bugs covered my face, arms and legs on the way. We crossed the Mississippi river just as we entered Quincy after 73.1 miles in 3hrs 57m with a max of 32.1mph.

Dinner was served late and was the minimal – salad plus pasta plus sauce with ice cream. Just as well I had gorged on a huge plate of nachos at lunch!

Wednesday 7th July 1999 -> Kirksville, MO

Pancakes plus cereal plus doughnuts etc with frozen juice pottles was breakfast at 6.30am. Luggage was loaded at 7am.

I left at 7-10am under a clear blue sky with the slightest touch of a head/cross wind. The road was generally o.k. and rolled all the way – some were quite steep but it was big chain ring all the way. HR 110-150⁺.

Sag 1 was at 25 miles in a beautiful park in the small town of Brookfield. Sag 2 at 47 miles was in the wops.

I reached town, nothing to it!, about 11-35am after 75.4 miles in 4hrs 04m with a max of 39.3 mph. Scenery was very NZ – paddocks and trees, crops etc.

Dinner was a solid buffet at the hotel – salad plus pasta and mince plus bread and lasagne and dessert.

Tuesday 6th July 1999 -> Chillicothe, MO

Breakfast was again the hotel complimentary (doughnuts + cereal + muffins) as the arranged place had a broken water main.

At about 6-20am, I left the hotel for plan B – the 90 mile ride (as opposed to 71 miles.) The sky was initially heavily overcast, with thunder cells, but cleared up after about 11am. The wind was medium strength and mostly a cross/head wind with some tail wind pushes.

The road rolled up and down and was generally of good quality. No punctures for the day! But, about 10 miles out, the back STI stopped working so I was stuck in 9^th gear. Great for trying to pedal downhill!! Anyway, it started working again about ½ a mile out!

While completing the 91.8 mile ride in 5hrs 12m with a max of 35.5, we passed through Jamesport which is a town surrounded by the largest Amish community in the state. No horse drawn wagons were sighted!

Scenery was NZ like – as on Sunday – animal paddocks and crops etc.

Dinner was another Golden Corral menu plus buffet – good stuff!

Monday 5th July 1999 -> Rest day

I walked up town and around a shopping centre, read a book, went to an average movie, “The General’s Daughter” and a brief trolley bus tour up town, reportedly put on by the local chamber of commerce. The town has plenty of old houses, including Hallmark cards 1998 “Haunted House”.

Sunday 4th July 1999 -> St Joseph, Missouri

Breakfast was an adequate hotel buffet at 6am. I left the hotel about 6-40am under clear, sunny skies with increasing heat and a wind of 10-20mph, mostly cross with a tail wind component.

The first 50 minutes was spent traversing the first 11 miles out of town through red lights and intersections. From there, the country rolled as moved north east.

A couple of nice hill climbs punctuated the day, with a 1.5 mile climb through a park. I picked up 2 pieces of glass – 2 more punctures, with less than 9 miles to go, to give me 15 to date!

Total cycling for the day was 89.6 miles in 4hrs 34m with a maximum of 38.4mph. Another week completed!

Total riding for the week was 565.7 miles (910km) in 30hrs 03m at an average of 18.8mph (30.3kmh^-1) with a maximum of 42.8mph (68.9kmh^-1).

Sizzler buffet plus menu for dinner rounded off another week.

Saturday 3rd July 1999 -> Topeka KS

A 20-30mph wind greeted us for breakfast at 6am. The breakfast was a full buffet, minus a poor service of orange juice and milk.

I left the hotel at about 6-30am. The first hour or so was spent riding into the wind and up and down some gentle rolling country.

The rest of the day was spent with a cross and always too short tail wind stretches. The road was generally good and rolled along with NZ type scenery, always turning and twisting.

I arrived at the hotel at about 12-30pm after 108.3 miles in 5hrs 40m with a max of 42.8 mph. The luggage truck broke down and did not arrive until 4-30pmish.

Dinner was a hotel provided “reception” – better than many buffets we have had – fruit, cheese crackers, bread, chicken, meat balls, Mexican things plus unlimited drinks.

Friday 2nd July 1999 -> Abilene KS

Breakfast was surprisingly pitiful – cereal plus cereal plus cereal plus oatmeal plus pikelets if early.

I left about 7-25am under an overcast sky with a southerly wind. This was a cross wind for 22 miles until we turned north and started to fly! The first 22 miles took about 1:08 and the next 41, including the town and red traffic lights, 1hr 12m! It was great to finally have a tail wind.

The hotel was reached at about 10-30am after 63 miles in 2hrs 40m with a max of 38.4km (on the flats!, well, gentle rolling country!)

Half the mileage for the trip was passed at sag at 31 miles.

The afternoon was spent up town, by hotel shuttle, at the post office, e-mail at the library and the Eisenhower centre. It was hot - 94°F (34°C) and sunny.

Dinner was another buffet plus menu. It was again a complete range.

Thursday 1st July 1999 -> McPherson KS

A heavy overcast morning greeted us with a head wind! Breakfast was an average buffet affair.

I left town about 7-25am and just cruised. Burt then caught up and we picked the pace up into the sag at 27 miles. The roads were wet.

After sag, I caught Burt and we again pushed on. About 10 miles out, we were enveloped in a heavy, misty fog. This lasted all the way to town at just after 11am but lifted and became sunny early in the afternoon.

Cycling for the day was 63.8 miles in 3hrs 21m with a maximum of 27.3 mph. The wind was basically unrelenting!!

Dinner was another superb steak / fish / chicken plus full buffet, including dessert.

Wednesday 30th June 1999 -> Great Bend KS

Breakfast at the hotel of average quality at 6-30am heralded another day. It dawned with heavy fog, supposedly 97% humidity and the Kansas head wind!

Pushing into the fog and head / cross wind after leaving at 6-48am, I took about 2hrs 20m to reach sag at 36 miles!

After a photo at Kinsley, mid point USA and snacks, I pushed the HR to 130-140 and covered the 25 miles to sag 2, still with a cross / head wind, in about 1hr 15m. From there, the last 24 miles were more of the same – wind, wheat and corn fields.

I arrived at the hotel just after 12pm and beat a heavy shower and a substantial thunderstorm, complete with heavy rain. The streets ran like rivers and trucks sprayed 3 or 4m of water!

Cycling for the day was 86.2 miles in 4hrs 52m with a max of 26.1 mph.

Dinner was standard pasta etc at the restaurant across the carpark. Service was about average!

Tuesday 29th June 1999 -> Dodge City KS

Sleeping in to 6-30am for a 7am buffet breakfast was a luxury! The range of food was adequate but not spectacular.

I hit the road at about 7.30am under an overcast sky with yet another stiff cross to head wind.

I missed the only sag as I was pulling into the wind and trying hard to avoid all the stones! The road was generally clean and good. Terrain was basically flat with some small rolls. Scenery was corn fields and cattle feed lots, complete with odour!

I managed no punctures and rolled into town at about 10-37am. The ride for the day was a modest

 50.9 miles (+ a bit) in 3hrs 07m with a maximum of 22.8moh.

Dinner was another superb buffet plus a menu choice and bottomless drink.

The evening was spent at a show at the Boot Hill museum. It was of average quality with singing and can can.

Monday 28th June 1999 -> Garden City KS

The day dawned overcast and people said it would rain. The wind was blowing fairly steadily.

Breakfast at 6am was mediocre – pancakes, cereal and oatmeal with orange juice. The pancakes ran out as fast as they were brought out.

At 6-30an, I left the motel. The wind blew and swirled – the majority of the day was a frustrating cross head. Odd spurts were a tail wind and some was head on.

The road varied in quality and quietly rolled along. Where there was no shoulder on the road, we were targets for the trucks!

I managed 3 flats and the long valve tube ex the mechanics was too long for the 3^rd one so I patched a tube – an inside hole. That gives me 13 to date – it must be a ride record!

It was a frustrating day with the wind and the legs still felt yesterday so I just cruised along for the 103.9 miles in 5hrs 49m with a max of 27.7mph.

A couple of miles was easy with a HR of 100 or so as a combine harvester drove next to me at 18-19mph and took all the wind. The weather soon cleared and it was another clear and sunny day.

Dinner was a full buffet plus shrimp, chicken or steak. It was an excellent selection. A bottomless drink was also provided. The range of desserts included pumpkin pie, ice cream, nuts, chocolate, nut pie etc. Just what cyclists need!

Sunday 27th June 1999 ->Lamar CO

The longest day started with breakfast at 5-30am. By 6am, I was on the road after an adequate breakfast.

It was again a clear sky, sunny and warm. The wind early on picked its direction – cross then head all the way. It was at least 10-20kmh^-1 in strength.

We rolled through plains with nothing of real interest. Just after the 2^nd sag at 62 miles, my back tyre deflated. I fixed that and it went down again. Fixed that and about 10 miles further, down again! At this time, Mike the mechanic caught up and we then rode in a paceline with Dan and Helen. Further on, Andy joined in for about a mile and then Maria jumped in. After some hard riding, Dan and Helen, who started with Mike, fell off at about the 80-90 mile mark. Maria lasted till about 95 miles.

After the 3^rd sag, my back tyre was again flat. Another 10 miles of pacelining with Mike and I had flat #5 for the day! Rim tape says Mike – all faulty! From there, we made it to town at 2pm,again too early for rooms, so cruised into town for a very leisurely KFC with 3 or 4 drinks!

The total ride for the day, mostly into wind, was 127.3 miles (204.9km!) in 6hrs 59m with a max of 33.7mph. To town average 18.4mph (29.6kmh^-1).

At the end of another week’s riding, I’ve double the number of flats to 19! Total riding for the week was 829km (515.2 miles) in 29hrs 09m with a maximum speed of 72.2kmh^-1 (44.9mph) with an average of 17.67mph (28.4kmh^-1). Again a Jason record!

Dinner was a buffer in the hotel – a very mediocre offering of salad, pasta, mince and sauce with bread.

Saturday 26th June 1999 Rest day

Had a free continental breakfast, changed the back tyre and cleaned the bike. The main frame had a splattered moth stuck to it!

I wandered about 1.5 miles to the nearest shopping centre and read books in a book shop, checked my e-mail (@ 20c/min) and visited a huge petshop which had very birds but everything for cats and dogs. The rest of the day was spent reading and watching tv. It was hot!

Friday 25th June 1999 -> Pueblo CO

Arriving just before 6am for breakfast meant we were served fairly promptly for an order off the menu meal. The place was about a mile back up the road!

At about 6-10am, we set off under a clear blue sky with little wind. The road wound down through a gorge for miles. There were again many Rockies riders out early!

Sag 1 at 36 miles we not there. Shortly afterwards, I caught the Santana tandem but they raced away downhill so I cruised with a HR of 110-130. As the Rockies turned right, we climbed a fairly steep hill and the tandem was gone.

A long and steep descent into Carson City resulted in my speedo sitting effortlessly on 32-33mph for a few miles.

After Carson City, the mountains were gone and huge plains opened up. The road rolled along and a gentle tail wind to no wind to a touch of head wind led to the next non-existent sag at 73 miles.

From there, it was more of the same and I arrived at the hotel at 10-30am! This was too early so I cruised around a bit and was then told no rooms till 2pm! I suggested they might like to try and we finally got a room about 12pm after drinking many glasses of their free orange juice and reading the paper.

The total inter-town ride was 93.4 miles with an average of 22.0mph in 4hrs 14m with a max of 44.9mph on some good roads.

Dinner was at Western Sizzlin (sic) and was a full buffet plus trout or chicken or steak plus bottomless drinks. A great feed all round!

Thursday 24th June 1999 -> Salida CO

The sign outside breakfast at 6am showed 45°F. This not overly cold though! Breakfast was of average quality – quite surprising given the dinner fiasco – some food poisoning has been reported!

I left breakfast at 6-15am with the sun barely risen. It hid behind mountains and clouds which made it crispy at times!! As we got further into the Rockies, the scenery became more Canadian like – forest with a high snow line.

I was first to leave sag 1 after 29 miles of rolling country with no huge climbs. The Rockies riders were keen and I reeled in more and more all day.

The 9 mile climb to Monarch Pass at 11,312 feet took almost an hour of climbing, a fairly gentle gradient. I kept the HR as 110-130 generally with a maximum of 141.

After photos etc at the top, I set off down the mountain before traffic got crazy. About ½ way down, my back tyre picked up a tiny wire and deflated – puncture no 5! This fixed, I continued downhill, with a rough road in places, right into town with a slight tailwind.

The max speed for the day was 44.9mph, in 4hrs 6m and 66.1 miles in another fine and sunny day. Afternoon temp was about 83°F.

Dinner was at Pizza Hut at 4pm – all you can eat pizza and salad. It was a good ½ mile walk from the hotel.

Wednesday 23rd June 1999 -> Gunnison CO

Arising pre-dawn at 5-30am so the bed could be packed away, we rode to another excellent buffet breakfast.

Leaving town just after 6-20am, I rode into another stiff headwind and the first of 2,000⁺ Ride the Rockies cyclists. The 1^st hill climb was reasonably steep and combined with the wind, a 7⁺ mph 1^st gear grind.

It took over 2hrs to reach the sag at 28 miles. Unfortunately I beat it there so carried on.. There were only a few riders in front of me by then, all Rockies. Another much longer and gentler climb (with much less wind) lead to the summit for the day. A couple of good downhills and a slight tail wind in the last 30 miles raised the average speed quite considerably.

Scenery varied – very Canadian like in places while others were low scrub bland areas. A lake which we rode along and crossed was very Canadian.

The roads varied wildly – some good shoulders to none at all. The last few miles were very rough.

I cruised at HR 110-130 as I did not want to arrive too early. At 10-24am I arrived at the hotel with no luggage truck visible. So, I cycle to the airport, about the same size as Napier, and then up town. It is a one road town with most places a mile or more from the hotel.

The ride to town was 63.3 miles in 4hrs 4m with a maximum of 38.4mph.

Dinner was not only over a mile from the hotel (walked), in a room of about 45 capacity (75 to feed) but also limited in choice to green salad, lasagne, pasta and strawberry shortcake with cream. A very poor effort all round!