The Grind
Today we rode 100 miles from Dennison to Clive, Iowa. We climbed 3,766 feet. We went over the 2,000-mile mark for the trip.
Another day, another century. Everyone that started today's ride finished. We had a teammate complete his first century. A good day, if challenging.
We started promptly at 0700 and got underway. We would have had a fire department escort, but they didn't show up until 0720. Obviously they'd never heard that "time, tide, and formation wait for no man." Yesterday's topography rolled into today, and we spent the first sixty miles repeatedly climbing then descending. We had a mixed bag on everything today-roads, winds, drivers. We had consistent good weather, sunny and mild, if a bit windy at times. At about mile 60 we left the road and joined the Racoon River Valley Trail (www.racoonrivervalleytrail.org). Known as "Iowa's claim to trail fame," the trail has 89 miles of paved trail, but we only rode it for about 30 miles. The trail was roughly 10 feet wide and made of perfectly smooth concrete. By the time we found it, afternoon winds had picked up and we were grateful for the sheltering bushes and trees of the trail, which gave us protection. The last eight miles or so were through the streets of Clive, a surprisingly large city despite its unassuming name. We arrived at our hotel, unpacked the truck, checked in, and got dinner. Time for bed.
Tomorrow we will ride from Clive to Oskoloosa, Iowa. We will cycle 84 miles and climb 3,775 feet.
Totals to Date
Miles: 2,050
Elevation Gain: 67,627
Flat Tires: 30
States crossed: 5
Centuries: 6
