2021 Southern Transcon Day 11: Clovis NM

 

Leading a train!

The Epic Ride Weather forecast was for headwinds for the first 15 miles, crosswinds for the next 40 miles, and building tailwinds for the last 55 miles. The actual weather was very close to the forecast! Let's see how it turned out!

We called Tim from the parking lot to see how he was doing, and give him a hard time, before we rolled out. "Hey Tim, we're in the parking lot, where are you?"

He is doing great, they discharged him from the hospital and he is in Austin TX with his wife and visiting his granddaughter. He broke a rib or two, so if we see him, it will be near the finish.

Jeff and I rolled out together and caught a few riders, and several caught us, so by the time we reached US70, we had a huge train behind us! Turning right, the wind changed from head to cross, and a  bunch of riders launched  off the front. No worries we continued at our own pace to the first SAG.

First SAG

The first SAG was at the top of a rise you could see from 10 miles away. It was a rise, not a hill, because according to the Garmin, there were no named climbs today! We reloaded and headed right out.

Photo worthy?

The view was so flat and empty for miles, abandoned building/ruins made the cue sheets!

Elida lunch stop

Another great lunch!

We rolled into Elida, nearly a ghost town, and enjoyed a great lunch in a shaded event arena. The temperatures were building, but so were the tailwinds, so we made it another quick stop and got back on the road.

Jeff's first flat

Leaving Elida, the views improved with more irrigation/agriculture. The winds also increased, but so did the heat. We were able to ease off the effort, but maintain speed! We needed to stop to fix a flat, but we teamed up on it and quickly got it changed!

Portales NM

Ed and Steve B

We caught Ed and Steve B. in Portales traffic/lights. We jumped on their train for a few miles out of town, but they were riding harder than we wanted to so we dropped of and continued to dial our pace back with the increasing heat.

Jeff had one more flat less than two miles from the hotel, but we still rolled in about 3pm. We put those 110 miles in the book in less than 8 hours!

Clean bike-body-kit routine, but since its Saturday, I get a cab to Our Lady of Guadalupe church for the vigil Mass. What a way to end a great day!

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Pasta meal with Jeff after church and this day is in the books! Tomorrow is Texas, so saddle up partner!