Punctures so far: 7
Everyday on this trip is full of surprises (and disappointments)
Alarm off at 5.45 am to the background of a violent thunderstorm outside. That in itself didn’t cause too much worry. We’ve been there before. But this one persisted. The arrangement last night was to pick up breakfast at Joey’s on the way. Torrential rain and continuous lightning and thunder put paid to that. Shuttle service provided to the café and no rush with the French toast and scrambled eggs. Staff worked on alternatives.
The radar showed a more violent storm moving in from the west that would persist for the day. Greg, our cyclist/meteorologist confirmed this reading for the day ahead. Outside the storm continued.
Back at the motel decisions had to be made. Safety was numero uno. Cycling in the rain was no problem. Dealing with lightning and thunder was something else. Cycling on busy highways with poor visibility for drivers and possible potholes hidden beneath water on the shoulder for me bordered on the irresponsible. Some decided to wait till the late afternoon to see if the storm eased but no one could set out unless America by Bicycle staff gave the all-clear. Their main concern is our safety.
Cyclists and bikes were to be shuttled to the motel in Indianapolis over the course of the day. Visibility on the road was as above. No place for a cyclist.
I was very disappointed to forego what was to be a most promising day…. a chance to visit the Roark cycle factory, an opportunity to cycle around the Major Taylor Velodrome and to go to the Indianapolis Speedway. Everyone was keyed up last night with the prospect.
Also for me I had planned a bit of investigation of my own. One small town on the route was New Ross and I reckoned there had to be a connection. A few queries about town should reveal something interesting.
Luggage was loaded well beneath the awning at the motel door as usual and I went to collect my bike (RW PACAT) from my room to be greeted by a flat front wheel…….a hotel flat or a lightening flat! At least now I had a bit of time to replace the tube.
However I considered safety and responsibility to myself to be of the utmost importance and also that there are 17 more days to go. I didn’t want to jeopardise those. A collision or a tumble would put paid to the rest of this wonderful adventure and challenge. The kids in Providence deserve the full journey and what it will raise for their school. I had looked forward to this ride today as I do every morning. Ah well! Hope there will be no more of these days.
When the bikes finally arrived at the Indianapolis Motel the front wheel was flat again. Was it just that the valve wasn’t sealed or does it count as another puncture. That would be two punctures in one day without throwing my leg over the top tube. That would be a record. We’ll see. Some riders stayed on and on in Crawfordsville and left around mid-day and luckily had'nt much rain and arrived just before Route Rap at 5.30.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy …… things could be an awful lot worse.
Shortly after 7 am all were ready to move out of Champaign on very quiet roads this Sunday morning. It takes a few miles for the muscles to warm up and for the various groups to form up. To-day was to be relatively short and with no hills worth mentioning.
As we moved along Bradley Avenue the cyclists were confronted with a long train stopped right across a level-crossing. It had been there for some time and some early departees had been waiting for a time. In our group, Deb and Gary knew of a slight detour to an underpass of 1.5 miles which we took and as we came back onto Bradley the train was still stuck on the crossing. Kudos to Deb, she owed me that since the Donner Pass day when I drew her back from navigational errors.
Once we got onto 1800 East we were in open country with the road to ourselves. It was a perfect morning for cycling – sunshine with cool air, deserted roads and good company. It was Sunday morning and at home we would all be doing this anyhow.
Still in very fertile country with corn dominating the crop scene as it has been for days. For the next 18 miles we turned left and right repeatedly as we threaded our way along the better surfaced roads of the horizontal/vertical grid pattern. By this stage the four of us moved along at a steady 17 mph and were making good progress.
Our first SAG at 30 miles appeared quickly and for the second time in two days it was located in front of a cemetery. Were we being told something? Was it that we were dead slow or were we to rest peacefully? Either way it was welcome especially with the sliced oranges. There was a run on sunscreen as the sunshine was getting stronger by the minute.
Second SAG was in Veedersburg a small town on Route 136 but with a café that was exquisite in pies and in speed of service. It was located on a corner across the street from our stop and did well as a result. I had a beautiful Almond Joy and two glasses of cool lemonade for only 2 dollars. We filled half and locals filled the rest of the seating. The place was a tonic just for the atmosphere. Pity that the photo didn’t come out clearer…flash was turned off.
The soil at this stage seems to be more sandy and less organic but the corn is still thriving. Roads weave and twist with an amount of tree cover affording some shade to weary travellers. At this stage we had only twenty odd miles to go and still cranking it out at 18 mph on the level.
Our group of four pulled into the Holiday Inn Motel at 2.15 very happy with our day’s cycle and there were high fives all round for Forest, self, Deb and Gary. I headed off to the room to ring home for the Leinster final result. If it had been different it would have capped off a wonderful Sunday. Ah well, the dream of the double isn’t over yet.
As the sun rose on Springfield the morning after the Independence Day celebrations, we trooped to Bob Evans for a hot breakfast before today’s cycle. It was either oatmeal or a fry…pity it couldn’t have been both for the perfect start.
The iconic Route 66 passed through Springfield as it threaded its way across 8 states from Chicago to Santa Monica in California. It was a symbol of freedom and the American Dream. Established in 1926 it was decommissioned from the highway system in 1985. Parts of the original concrete paving remains in places and tourists still follow the route as much as is practicable.
Small towns and stations trade on its popularity. During my visit to Tipperary, Missouri, Rick Stanford showed me the 1960 Corvette he is restoring with a view to driving from Chicago to the pier in Santa Monica. We wish him the best and safe driving.
We left directly after loading and headed out by Lake Springfield, a man-made lake and owned by one of the public utility companies. Already a number of anglers were out for a Saturday morning spot of fishing and gave us a wave.
Within a few miles we faced into a very recently removed bridge. A detour was suggested by passers-by but a more direct approach seemed more attractive. It did mean hauling the bikes through the soft mud but it was a novelty on a day that we knew would present very little in scenic terms.
After crossing Gary and I set off together as arranged and we kept up a strong pace passing through never-ending fields of corn with some soya beans thrown in. This is very fertile countryside for both crops. We alternated taking the front though there was very little wind. In still air it is reckoned that the one behind uses 1% less energy for each mph. In no time at all we arrived at the first SAG in the Lincoln Trail Mmorial Park on the banks of the Sangamon River at the 31 mile mark. Nearly a third of the way.
Shortly after the SAG a group of about 8 riders caught up and we were asked to join in to benefit from the paceline set-up. It did make a mighty difference. Previously Gary and I had been making very good progress at 15.5 mph and alternating at the front. When we joined into the larger group and drafted, with actually less energy being expended we moved along at 17.5 mph. I hadn’t ridden in a paceline since the year I rode with the Carrick Touring Club and had forgotten the benefit. Today I cycled 40 miles with that group keeping up the pace and savoured it. The miles were clocking up on the odometer with great speed.
The group kept well together also after the second SAG and with the 80 mile mark approaching all seemed well.
The 1700N ran directly for 8 miles into Champaign (pronounced like bubbly) with the usual soya and corn planted right out to the road. I took my time though still moving at 13 or 14 mph but on the lookout for a good shot.
A large water treatment plant was being developed in the area and stacks of their pipes lined the road. I had a good long look at the field of soya as if down the barrel of a gun. Another good from dropping/being dropped off the paceline.
Champaign and Urbana are side by side and between them have a population of 100,000. In summer temperatures often go over 90 degrees and over the winter they receive 30 inches of snow. Today’s scheduled ride was 97 miles, but as anyone knowing me realises, I’m a sucker for going that extra mile. Another century was on the cards especially as I felt so fresh. I did a bit of a tour of the city around the motel and eventually clocked in at 101 miles
