August 30: Hot Springs, South Dakota to Newcastle, Wyoming
Ah, there’s nothing like starting your morning with a climb up a 700-foot hill on your bicycle!
That’s what I did this morning. I hadn’t even gotten to the one mile mark of today’s 81 mile ride to Newcastle when the climb started.
Highway 18 was my route this morning. It headed west out of Hot Springs towards the north end of town. To get there, I took a nice, quiet road along the Fall River in Hot Springs. Water in the Fall River is warm enough from the hot springs that empty into it that yesterday morning — a fairly cool morning — the river had a light fog rising from the water. I should have gotten a picture of it when I had the chance because this morning was not a cool enough morning for the fog. What I did see though was a number of deer who had come down to the river to drink. There was one small deer who was not frightened off by my presence. Maybe he was mesmerized by my multi-colored Dream Tour jersey. He stayed in one place long enough for me to get my camera out. Just as I pointed it, he bolted. I had to quickly follow him with the camera and click the shutter, hoping that it would turn out.
The first 20 miles this morning was a very quiet ride through the south fringes of the Black Hills. At about the 20 mile mark, I started a long descent down to the town of Edgemont. By the time I reached Edgemont, the hills and cliffs and pines of the Black Hills had given way to vast treeless plains with gently rolling hills. It was this type of terrain that I had the remainder of the day.
At about 37 miles into the ride today, I crossed the border into Wyoming. Wyoming becomes the forty-first state that we’ve visited. As I was stopped to take a picture of the sign welcoming you to Wyoming, a car pulls up behind me. The man driving rolls down the window.
He asks “Taking pictures of road signs, are you?” as if it was an activity that called into question my sanity.
I replied that I take pictures of the sign welcoming me to each state that I visit and that this was the forty-first state on my 10,000 mile bicycle tour. There was a gasp from the woman in the front passenger seat.
“How long have you been at it?”
“Since March,” I reply.
Another gasp.
We continued the conversation for a short while until the man decided I was not in need of assistance or maybe he had heard enough, so he turned onto a side road that said “No Outlet.”
This is a typical example of a conversation Pat and/or I have with people we meet on The Dream Tour. The longer we’re on the road and the closer we get to completion of The Dream Tour, the bigger and louder the exclamations of amazement get. It’s getting to be more and more fun to tell people what we’re doing just to see what their reaction will be.
| Total distance: | 80.58 miles |
|---|---|
| Time: | 5:20:37 |
| Average speed: | 15.1 mph |
| Maximum speed: | 39.0 mph |
| Total calories: | 5476 |
| Average heart rate: | 127 bpm |
| Maximum heart rate: | 169 bpm |
| Total ascent: | 3434 feet |
| Total descent: | 2418 feet |
| Ride profile: |  (Click on image for a larger version.) |
| Ride comments: A gentle south wind most of the day. High temperatures were in the mid-80’s. |
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I didn’t write an entry yesterday which was a rest day that we spent in Hot Springs, South Dakota. I did, however, upload some pictures. Here’s a link to those photos:
Photos from rest day on August 29 in Hot Springs, South Dakota
August 30th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
I really like your adding the data from the computer. I guess I shouldn’t be amazed at your average heart given how much you have ridden since March. How is your equipment - bicycle etc holding out? Do you have any idea how many tubes and tires you’ve been through?
One last thought - I worked in Chugwater, WY on wheat harvest - we were on high plateau and had to truck our wheat down into town. It will be interesting to see if you have to cross a plateau before you get into the Mtns. Of course I can say interesting since I bike in relatively flat Mississippi.
May the road drop before you and the wind be at your back (my vision of heaven) Robby
August 30th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
Hi Robby!
Your question about equipment is well-timed because the last few days have been very difficult due to the weather conditions. Generally, the equipment is holding up well. Yesterday, I had the eleventh flat on the tour — all of them have been rear tire flats. I haven’t been repairing tubes on the tour, so I’ve used eleven tubes. I’ve replaced the rear tire maybe half a dozen times. Usually, it’s due to a large hole of some kind when I get
a flat, but once I replaced it because it was getting a bit thin treadwise.
The chain squeaks now and then, but not much because I’m on a pretty strict schedule of re-applying chain lube every three days.
Other equipment? I’ve worn out one saddle which I replaced when I was in Minneapolis. I’ve replaced my Look cleats I think five times. The pedals are getting near the end of their life. The platform is pretty hammered and the bearings have a bit of play in them now. Fortunately, I have a spare set of pedals that I can throw on whenever I’ve had enough
of the current set.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Peter,
I beleive Wyoming is the least populated state next to Montana. Have fun!!!! Actually it will be some of the most peacefull riding you have done yet, with exception to the winds. Enjoy!
Hope you and Pat are doing great,
Brad Gulker