Wednesday, June 23, 2010

One-day's update! (Read: I am appropriately expressing my displeasure with trucks)

So since I had such an epicly long update yesterday, today's going to be sorta brief.

Just want to let you all know that the sweep rider who had the iv fluids left the hospital safe and sound the same night. Riding like this definitely does take a toll on your body though - people are discovering all sorts of body/health limits - blood sugar problems, knee problems, bladders that speed up along with metabolisms, wrist/hand nerve issues, feet/shoe-fit, not eating well enough, just general soreness, etc. For me, the biggest problem seems to be that getting a lot of sun really exhausts me. I bought 85 spf sunscreen a few days ago and that seems to make a big difference, as does making sure that I'm drinking the right fluids when riding. If you're in the sun and sweating/exerting yourself this much, water goes right through you - you need salt and whatever else they put in gatorade/propel to make it more worthwhile. Interesting to learn all of this. Fortunately we have two nursing students and a really experienced EMT on the trip.

As far as bike upkeep goes, of course people are discovering lots of things wrong with their bikes. I got a rip in my tire at the very start of today's ride, and another flat because I messed up when replacing the tube. Also lost (and Brittany found) the cap on the end of the quick-release bolt at the same time. We're lucky to bike past a lot of bike stores on our routes, and to have a former bike mechanic (leader Gabe) on our trip. There are a few people who know a lot about bikes as well. We all clean our bikes every day or two or so, so there's always a crowd outside cleaning and tuning their bikes. Some bike stores are pretty helpful - a big thanks to the one in Wellsboro, PA for donating a new bike pump today!

Today's ride. Basically just 55 miles on US-6. Not much fun - almost entirely a hilly 2-lane highway full of trucks - at least 75% trucks - either big, wide, dump trucks or long tractor-trailers, a few 'Oversize-Load's but not many. There's a lot of construction going on around Wysox and this general area because a huge natural gas deposit was discovered under the rocks a year or two ago. Locals at the Vesper Church in Wysox yesterday said that the highway used to be traffic-free, but since the gas has been discovered, it has been really busy, especially around rush hour...Most of the construction trucks seem to just exude dust and salt and it gets all over you - WISH WISH WISH I had Spencer's picture of the contrast between the part of his legs under his socks and the part outside of his socks - just covered in road grit today. We were all pretty gross. And the trucks come really fast and almost all of them forget how narrow the shoulder we're on is, so they barely give us any room - it's really hard to believe no one got clipped today. Sarah put it really well when she said, "Yea, when a truck gives me a berth of space, I just want to shout out and thank them, since that almost never happens!" (or something like that). Ugh seriously though, everyone reading this, BE REALLY NICE TO BIKERS ON THE ROAD. BE REALLY NICE TO BIKERS ON THE ROAD. BE REALLY NICE TO BIKERS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE. PLEASE. AND THANK YOU. because it's pretty terrifying being this vulnerable about once or twice a minute for four hours every day. THANK YOU!!!

ps, Wellsboro PA is really cute. Also thanks to their bookstore for giving me a 15% discount (for Bike and Build) on 'On the Road'. Yep, that's right, I'm literate, I don't just spew out stuff.

Also, what i was trying to explain yesterday - you all can follow us via our route tracker here: http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/route.php?route=P2S&year=2010

where you can see pictures, read blog updates, see maps and mail drops, etc. Ok bye guys

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