Oacoma to Mitchell
Today was a very similar to yesterday, only hotter, but also blessedly shorter. We covered 76 miles.
It was a welcome change to get to our quarters before 2pm, affording me the opportunity to do laundry and catch up on correspondence. As busy as our days are, on the bike 7 to 8 hours a day, having a short day was welcomed relief.
Everyone was still somewhat jarred from the heat and distance of yesterday’s ride. Today was somewhat akin to an active recovery ride. We continue to be tormented by a quartering wind, but again we had a strong group that shared the work load, allowing us to move along at a reasonable pace. We are beginning to have a very good understanding of the nuances of of individual riders, which is important when riding in a tight peloton at 20 mph. Once that learning occurs, the peloton can resemble a school of fish, in that a seemingly imperceptible action causing a rider adjacent to you to move slightly is easily adjusted to by the other riders in moving with the flow. That said, beyond gaining that sixth sense of motion, the most important favor you do for your fellow cyclists is to be predictable. Above all, beyond strength, beyond pulling power, a predictable cyclist makes for the best mate.
Until tomorrow…sleep tight!
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