Lon's Route Description
Another day of big rolling grades. There are several three to five mile climbs. Over the final 30 miles the road drops from the mountains into the prairie. By the time we reach Roswell the only thing alien to us will be the feeling of fresh legs.
McDonalds Locator
Weather
Socorro Forecast
Roswell Forecast
Another day of big rolling grades. There are several three to five mile climbs. Over the final 30 miles the road drops from the mountains into the prairie. By the time we reach Roswell the only thing alien to us will be the feeling of fresh legs.
McDonalds Locator
Weather
Socorro Forecast
Roswell Forecast
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Elite Tour
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Tom Rosenbauer
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Elite Tour
PA Randonneurs
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Contact
Tom Rosenbauer
Ride Recap
As I clipped in today, I wondered if today would be the day that I wouldn't be able to finish under my own power. The headwinds today, made making the cut-off time for each rest stop a real challenge. My 20-minute time cushion going into the 3rd rest stop was nearly wiped out by my first flat. It took a bit longer to fix this flat since it was caused by a tiny wire shred from the countless blown-out radial tires that litter the shoulder we ride on. If you don't find and dig out the wire, you're guaranteed to get another flat very soon. On one nasty stretch, I joined up with Alan Stokes, Richard Ruge, and David Soloman to join forces against some stiff crosswinds. Alan and I also rode the 2004 Northern Tour together. The wind was completely uncooperative all day: it was in our faces on the flats and at our backs on the climbs, making us climb in dead air. The long descent starting around mile 90, was not steep enough to offset the wind. The descent was through a very long and narrow valley. The wind seemed to be funneled through this valley and pushed us back up the hill, when we wanted to be going down. For this last stretch, I was happy to meet up again with Jeff Weible who towed me for several miles to the finish hotel. Towards the end, Jeff also flatted from a metal splinter. We were second to last, but we did finish just a few minutes past the 12-hour goal for this day (I forgot to turn off my computer, so the statistics above show a longer ride time).
As I clipped in today, I wondered if today would be the day that I wouldn't be able to finish under my own power. The headwinds today, made making the cut-off time for each rest stop a real challenge. My 20-minute time cushion going into the 3rd rest stop was nearly wiped out by my first flat. It took a bit longer to fix this flat since it was caused by a tiny wire shred from the countless blown-out radial tires that litter the shoulder we ride on. If you don't find and dig out the wire, you're guaranteed to get another flat very soon. On one nasty stretch, I joined up with Alan Stokes, Richard Ruge, and David Soloman to join forces against some stiff crosswinds. Alan and I also rode the 2004 Northern Tour together. The wind was completely uncooperative all day: it was in our faces on the flats and at our backs on the climbs, making us climb in dead air. The long descent starting around mile 90, was not steep enough to offset the wind. The descent was through a very long and narrow valley. The wind seemed to be funneled through this valley and pushed us back up the hill, when we wanted to be going down. For this last stretch, I was happy to meet up again with Jeff Weible who towed me for several miles to the finish hotel. Towards the end, Jeff also flatted from a metal splinter. We were second to last, but we did finish just a few minutes past the 12-hour goal for this day (I forgot to turn off my computer, so the statistics above show a longer ride time).
Our crew, at the end of each day, are busy getting ready for the next day.
Here's one of the support vehicles, packed with snacks, gatorade, water, ice, and spare parts to support a SAG stop.
On the right, one of the heavy-duty vans, packed with supplies. The vans also are used to pull the two huge trailers.
