My lips are chapped and cracked from the stupid wind the last two days. I really hate headwind. You probably caught on to that.
Today will consist of puttering around, napping, watching TV, visiting a bike shop, eating and maybe some stretching. I need to pick up a better pump because of the Ely incident I don't have confidence I could fix a flat without resorting to an inner tube and that is a last resort. 16 years ago I remember the roads in Utah were crappy and rough with lots of debris. From what I've seen so far not much has changed. I expect to see some sealant leaking out of the tires this week.
As I meet other riders and we talk I usually mention a few things that I have figured out over various trips that they find useful. Here are few of Leo's Pro Tips:
Number 1 ... Travel light. Don't carry anything you don't need and if you find you don't need it mail it home. Cotton is comfortable but bulky, heavy and hard to clean. I have one shirt, one convertable pants and a bathing suit that doubles as shorts. Everything can be washed in the sink, pressed in a towel and worn.
Number 2 ... Freeze your water. If you have access to a freezer - most hotel rooms have one - as soon as you get cleaned up put your bottles for the next day in the freezer. If it gets frozen solid you will have ice cold water until noon.
Number 3 ... Start at dawn. Today was the first day I ate the free breakfast at the hotel. It is tempting to wait for it but you burn at least an hour of the best riding. I love it when it works out that I can start at dawn, ride for 2-3 hours and find a nice breakfast spot. Riding in the heat of the day really wears you down.
Number 4 ... Elastic cargo nets. You can get them in all sizes and stretching them on the outside of your seatpost pack or handlebr bar give you a place to quickly stash random things. I keep my shoes and jacket handy by keeping them under the netting.
