Tour Divide Blog 2008

Hey everybody Leighton White checkin' in from Atlantic City, WY. Couple of rough days. But it was beautiful coming over from Buffalo(?) this morning. If anyone has some climbing legs, they want to fed ex to me in Rawlins, I'll give you my number. I'm climbing like a snail with an elephant on its back. Any preschooler with a bike with training wheels could kick my butt going up a hill now. But ___ each day. The snow has been pretty entertaining there through MT and WY. Made the Pass through Ashton-Flagg Road at night by headlight in the muck. Anyone that follows me probably thinks there was drunken epileptic midget pushing a tricycle through there cause I was hoppin all over trying not to eat(?) it. I figured I could go through and make it to Flagg Ranch at a reasonable hour. But that wasn't the case with the mud and snow. So I ended going to bed at 2:30 in the morning 10 miles outside. I think that kicked me for the next day. I only made 85 miles the next day. Togwotee Pass. Then they send us on 515 Forest Service Road which was snow for 4-5 miles. I think a rough estimate of snow so far is about 14 miles. I'm in the Basin. Looks like there is a gathering thunderstorm so this is ought to be fun. I'll check in later. Bye (recorder time: 2008-06-24 16:12:03 EST. ) (Note: I had to guess at some of this. Lot of static on the line)

Good morning, this is Mike Dion. It’s Tuesday the 24th a little after 10 o’clock. I’m calling from outside Flagg Ranch. This is a call that nobody wants to make but I’m gonna go ahead and call it on the ride, on the race I guess I should say. The ride is absolutely amazing and as a ride I’d love to keep going, just not at a race pace. So I’m going to call it on the race, but its just absolutely amazing out here. The body has actually kind of pushed through. I think most of my issue is, the mornings have been going great, 25-35 miles, I’m cruisin’ strong, but then as the day goes on my legs start getting heavy and it feels like I’m biking through molasses with 5 pounds of pressure in the tires and then just to kind of keep going later in the afternoon just getting slower and slower and slower so to actually put any miles on the bike is getting more and more difficult as the days go on. I don’t want to be out here for 35-40 days but I sure could. But I just want to say – Tina, your support throughout this whole thing has been incredible and I appreciate that so much, you wouldn’t know. Being out here is just the most incredible experience anyone could ask for. The beauty and the scenery is just intense, its amazing. So its definitely a once in a lifetime experience. So anyway, I’m going to hook up with the film crew and continue with the project and the other racers and the route. So that feels good that I’m going to still kind of get to be out in it. But again support to everybody that has been with me – Tina, Dylan, Mikaila, you guys have been awesome and incredible and I can’t wait to see you again. All the friends and family that have been throwing support my way, thank you so very much. I’ve been feeling it, it’s been awesome. As far as the other riders go, you guys keep pluggin’ away and kickin’ butt. Mary, you’ve got to keep going.

Good Morning, Its Steve Gleasner. Its Tuesday morning, I’m calling in from Lima. Yesterday was a real bad day getting to Lima, I called in about it. The easy ride was not easy and today I’m feeling a little bit better. I’ve gotten a little bit of rest and I’m gonna move on. That’s my report. So, I’m packing up and moving down the road, and there we have it. Thanks for all of the encouragement. My wife read me some of the advice and that sort of thing and hopefully we can punch through this fatigue and get on with it. So down the road we go, bye. (recorder time: 2008-06-24 08:00:35 EST.)

Hi this is Reuben Kline calling in. It is Monday evening. Matt and I are in Colorado. I guess I should probably state what happened yesterday for the record and to let everybody know who is watching and who has been paying attention out there. I got into Rawlins at about 4 o’clock yesterday, maybe 4:30. For various reasons, I decided to wait for Matthew to catch up. Some of you understand that is what it was. Others are in the same boat as me trying to figure out why. I guess it has something to do with having companionship out there. It’s a long race. Getting tired of sleeping in a bivy sack in the cold. The desire to stay in the hotel Room and it was too early to stay in the hotel room without the catch happening. Film crew showing up at various times kind of motivated a little relaxation. They found me on the internet and looking at the map and they walked in and found me. But you know its nice having company today. Definitely tired like anyone would be at this point. A little bit of knee pain. A little bit of swelling in my Achilles that I’m concerned about. But you know, its all good. I’m satisfied with the decision to wait and reunite with Matt and ride together. I don’t think this is a record breaking year with the conditions. I’d rather ride with somebody rather than feel like I’m riding against somebody. Anyway. Hope you understand that. Keep on watch, checkin it out. Goodbye. (recorder time: 2008-06-23 23:04:47 EST.)