Ride the West: Battle Mountain to Elko, NV: A ride in 4 stages

Monday, June 11, 2018

Battle Mountain to Elko, NV
Day 9
74.6 miles
2,474' climbing
5 hours, 2 minutes
2,531 calories
14.8 mph average speed
40.5 mph max speed (Screaming down Emigrant's Pass on I-80)

Out 9th consecutive day of travel.
A ride in 4 stages.
Stage 1
After finding ourselves in a pack of 8 or 9 riders going at the same speed, we just hung together and paired up and swapped cycling and other life stories with each other. We rode along a fairly deserted frontage road (Muleshoe Road) for about 20 miles. Met Ole, a Dane living in SoCal, talked about people we know with cardiac issues and their struggle with big medicine, the good and the less desirable, Diane, business owner in vacation property rentals and avid mountain biker, Carl, retired ER Dr who rides because he wants to before his time runs out. He has great insight on current health care system in US, Matt, Retired TSA director out of Logan, (no stress there, right?), Charlie, investment management guy from midwest now living in Singapore,...

Anyway we all just enjoyed a leisurely 16.5 mph pace chatting away from the noise and rumble strips of the interstate. Before entering said interstate again, we went under a bridge to find a mass of Cliff Swallows. Looking up we saw a mass of nests. Pretty cool. But time to enter the Interstate again for...

Stage 2
We entered I-80 breaking up into single file riders, for a 4 mile jaunt to our first SAG at a Rest Stop commemorating the California Trail. Leaving there we began a 12 mile climb up to Emigrant Pass. The shoulder where we had to ride was punctuated with rumble strips every 100th of a mile. That's ten rumble strips for every 1/10th of a mile. I tend to count things to measure my progress up long grinding climbs. Sometimes I count my blessings, sometimes rumble strips. Depends. At the top of Emigrant Pass we begin Stage 3

Stage 3
Wide open screaming downhill on I-80 for 8 miles. with perfect visibility far ahead, there was nothing to do but tuck, squeeze top tube with your knees for stability, and let it fly. I was surprised I only hit 40 mph. But that's as fast as I decided to dare today. Found out at dinner tonight that my buddy Matt, from MD hit 43, and American Jerry, hit 50 mph. The road was that good.

Stage 4
After the downhill insanity and noise of I-80, we had to exit to avoid a long dark tunnel hat went through a mountain. This detour took us through a quiet bike route along a river canyon. What an idyllic respite it was. We did have to enter highway after rounding the mountain but it was only for a short bit until we exited in Elko. Immediately proceeded to DQ, chowed down, then checked into hotel.

Riding was one of the best overall day's I've had. Check the boxes. Comradery, Work, Play, Scenery.
Got a load of laundry done at hotel, called home to check in on the excitement there (another blog entry entirely!), shuttled to dinner and back.

Concerned about next two days. 107 miles, some climbing, and end on Mountain time in Utah. Following day 118 or so miles and end up in Salt Lake City. Weather says blazing sun expected for our cross of the Bonneville Salt Flats. And unfavorable winds. Turning in now...