Day 2

First, I want to mention the bike techs that are on the ride. They are fantastic. Yesterday, before the ride, one of the techs adjusted my gears so they weren't scraping. Then, at the end of the ride, as I was entering the hotel, I heard a periodic clanging sound. "Sh!t, I broke a spoke." But none of the spokes seemed broken. This morning, all was fixed. The rear derailure had bent in and was clanging against the spoke. During today's ride, I lost my lowest gear with the same problem, and the techs are once again working on the bike.

The support for the ride is AMAZING. There are always vans and cars with roadside aid (haven't had to use that, knock wood), "sweep" vehicles to take riders between rest stops or to the next rest stop, and sac vehicles for riders that can't do anymore.

My knee acted up most of the day. Still, I averaged 14MPH on very hilly terrain. There were numerous climbs, and without a lower gear, I did have to walk the bike a bit a few times. My riding partner is still Alan, and I am a better climber than he is. Alan enjoys passing me when I am walking the bike. My revenge is to pass him immediately after. I enjoy riding with Alan. We're starting to exchange dessert recipes.

The ride was 112 miles today. Alan and I did 90. His neck and my knee plus time constraints, well, we decided we had had enough. Francesco's knee is also bad, so he came back with us. Ya, we feel bad that we didn't do the whole ride, but we have another 80 miles tomorrow, and it was for the best.

Today's route took us through Lancaster, into Montgomery, Berks and Buck's counties in PA. After the second rest stop began the climbs. Two big ones, like a roller coaster. As soon as you came down off of one, another started. After lunch was another huge climb and a steep descent into the Schulkill river valley. After crossing the river, the climb out went on forever. Up, a bit down, more up, a bit down, more up. It was fun, but with a bad knee and no lower gear, it was a bit of a challenge. When we pulled into rest stop 5, we were told it was closing. We needed to get back on the road if we wanted to have time to complete. Without food, I began to zonk -- the second time today. Luckily I had a candybar, and Alan and I split it. Francesco caught up to us and we decided this next rest stop would be our last.

Many of the rest stops are held in parks, and the scenery is very beautiful This is a wonderful ride.

Today, I spoke to another rider about the two men she is riding in memory of. One was a roommater, the other her best friend. One man talked about losing his brother, he and his mother hugging his dying brother as he took his last breath.

I've decided to do the ride again next year. I hope there is a Team Google to ride with.

More tomorrow...