Day 56 - Vernal to Duchesne, UT

The landscape has changed yet again from towering snow-capped mountains to arid, red plateaus. We are getting farther and farther along in our journey. Utah is our 10th state. After we leave here, we have Idaho, Oregon, and finally California. We are slowly but surely making our way to Santa Cruz. 

Today's ride was only 63 miles, shorter than I expected. My legs did not feel very strong right off the bat. The century from the day before had them shot. It still blows my mind how strong everyone on the team is. A century on the bike is like running a marathon. Normally, after you ride a century, you take the next week or at least a few days off the bike. On Bike and Build, we get up the next morning and do it all again. 

Luckily for my legs, shortly into the ride, there was a five mile or so descent which allowed me to recover just enough to warmup. In continued with JD, Emma, and Josh to lunch at mile 40. The next 24 miles of the ride were pretty uneventful. We were all pretty excited to get to the host because we were going to be camping out at a state park on a lake. We were all joking about how we were going to ride our bikes straight into the lake. 

We stopped for a little while in a cafe and ate some burgers and drank chocolate milk. We digested the ride together. Most of the trip today had been on a very busy road and we were all slightly stressed. It wasn't anything we hadn't dealt with before, though. 

Five miles later, we rode into Starvation State Park. We immediately stripped down to our chamois and ran into the cold water. It was so refreshing! We swam out to the dock and laid on the warm planks as storm clouds rolled in. 

It was only 1:45 when we got in so we had a lot of free time! We were all so hungry but dinner wasn't until 5:30 so we set up the tents and blew up our thermarests and five of us jammed in one tent and cuddle-puddles for hours. It was awesome after a long ride and swim. 

Dinner was leftover lasagna and Subway sandwiches that Travis DMed. Later, we had s'mores and slack lined the night away. 

Cooking s'mores! Notice Emma's look of concentration...

Laini challenged most of the guys to "What Are the Chances" and all of them lost. One by one, all the boys had to paint their toenails. Kevin was probably the funniest one. He refused to let any of the girls help him and he picked out a pretty shade of pink. Later, when asked if he wanted to go in the lake to jump on the water trampoline, he replied in all seriousness, "I can't. My nails are still wet." 

Kevin, concentrating on his big toe

Dan's finished product! So cute!

Now, we're all sitting by the lake listening to Dan play guitar. Another perfect end to a wonderful day. 

Day 55 - What is Bike and Build?

As I was riding today, I realized that a lot of my readers may not know much about the purpose of Bike and Build and the mission of Habitat for Humanity, the affordable housing organization that my route works with exclusively. 

Bike and Build's mission is two-fold: one is to raise money and awareness for the need of affordable housing. The other is to empower young adults and to encourage them to commit to a lifetime of service. 50 cents of every dollar we raise goes directly towards affordable housing, 35 cents goes toward supporting the bike tour which is the "empowering young adults" portion of the mission. The other 15 cents covers overhead costs. The funds that support affordable housing are distributed in four ways: 1) They are distributed in the form of grants that related organizations can apply for. 2) We donate a portion of the funds to an affordable housing organization of the choice of our host sites in their name. 3) The funds are used to sponsor a specific project, ours was the Klein family's house in Colorado Springs. 4) Each rider has the chance to donate $500 to an affordable housing affiliate of their choice. 

Habitat for Humanity is a commonly misunderstood organization. Habitat does not give away free houses. They give "hand-ups," not "hand-outs." The houses are made affordable due to volunteer labor and donated building materials. The homeowners pay off their house with no-interest mortgage. The monthly payments are less than what the family would have been paying before their Habitat home for housing. 

So that is Habitat and Bike and Build in a nutshell. I barely scratched the surface so if you have any specific questions, please feel free to email me. 

Today was another great day. We cruised so fast for the first 40 miles because it was mainly downhill and a tailwind. After first lunch, it was a little slower but still doable. We stopped for ice cream in Dinosaur, CO and then we crossed into Utah. 

Ice cream!

The awesome Utah state sign!

Mike had a crash today after he accidentally crossed tires with another rider. Luckily, they were going uphill at only about 8 mph but he got some great battle scars!

It was a long 110 mile ride today! When we got to the host site, everyone passed out on the floor. The couches looked too nice to be sitting on them in dirty shorts so we all just laid on the floor and fell asleep. I woke up on the floor and looked around and everyone else was snoring peacefully. It was really funny!

Soo sleepy!

Tomorrow is a 77 mile ride to Duchesne, UT! I can't believe we only have 3 weeks left!!! :(

 

Day 54 - Ups and Downs

Bike and Build is an experience that is filled with extreme highs and lows. One day, your legs feel spectacular, the ride is beautiful, the wind is at your back. Other days, your body feels miserable, rain and wind impede your journey, you do not want to ride your bike. However, I speak for all of us when I say that none of us would trade this experience for anything else in the world. We have learned so much about ourselves and the human spirit and we continue to learn more as the journey continues. One day, as I was riding, I saw that one of my teammates had chalked these words on the ground:

"When your body is tired, bike with your mind."

A few miles later, an additional line was chalked:

"When your mind is tired, bike with your heart."

These words are dead on when it comes to Bike and Build. There are many times when we are physically and mentally exhausted; however, our hearts remain strong and loyal and we remember what we're biking for. We're biking to give others a chance to live our their dreams so that they can use their bodies, hearts, and minds to accomplish their goals. They will in turn help others do the same!

Today was another day of ups and downs. We climbed for nearly 30 miles and we rewarded with an easy 16 miles down into the town of Meeker. Tonight is out last night in Colorado. Tomorrow, we'll cross into Utah, a bittersweet state line. 

I've got one more thing to share tonight. A few weeks ago, Kat, Sarah, Marcus, and I made up a song that we sing during those low time. It is an adaptation of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. It's everything that we like on Bike and Build!

Dry lube on chain rings and playing with frisbees

Bright neon chamois and applying sunscreen

DMing dinner and lots of ice cream

These are a few of my favorite things

Contrasting tan lines and host sites with cookies

Pulled pork at lunches and grease marks on rookies

Feeding the donkeys and horses peach rings

These are a few of my favorite things

Tattoos on Tuesdays and build sites with nail guns

Blue Gatorade and friends giving back rubs

Descending mountains when it's not raining

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dogs chase

When the sun burns

When I'm feeling sore

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so poor!

Cycling in tail winds and dancing at state lines

Possessed baby dolls and deer cane roadside finds

When dinner's provided and feasting like kings

These are a few of my favorite things

Speeding up hills with refried bean charged farts

Exploring cool places like Decatur and Stuttgart

Giant group hugs when everyone sings

These are a few of my favorite things

When the quiche molds

When my knees hurt

When I'm getting vanned

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad!!

That's all! 109 miles tomorrow with a 4:30 wake up! Gotta be on the road at 6!

Day 53 - Build Day in Silt

We had a build day in Silt, Colorado. They were prepared for our group: they broke us up into 5 different groups assigned different jobs. I worked with Rachael, JD, Austin, and Ethan. We were framing the second story of the house, which means building and raising the walls. I love framing because I like seeing the house in the beginning stages, just a skeleton of what it will be. They had a few nail guns which we used instead of hammers. Definitely more efficient! 

We had lot of fun joking around while working. We kept singing " Higher" really obnoxiously because Austin is a big fan of Creed (and pretty much no one else.) I'm sure the supervisor wanted to push us off the roof but it was pretty funny. Also, Chris proposed to Hawa for prom! 

The Habitat houses in Silt are the most unique ones I've seen. They were duplexes, two houses built on one lot and the architecture was very different than most other Habitat houses. I should have taken a picture but I forgot to. Also, the houses were Leed Platinum certified, which means they are almost entirely sustainable in their energy usage! That's incredible! We got to meet a few families in the community and they were all excited about our trip. It was definitely a cool build day! 

48 miles to Meeker, CO tomorrow. There have been so many short rides recently! Hopefully, we'll be prepared for the 109 mile day from Meeker to Provo, UT in a few days!

Day 52 - Shredding!!!!!!

Girl power!! We love the U.S.A!

With gravel crunching beneath my tires, I sped along a bike path going about 25 miles an hour. I breathed deep, filling my lungs with thin mountain air and focused on the path ahead, the beautiful scenery blurred as I pedaled hard. I listened to my gears turn and I felt my bike grab the  path underneath me as I pulled up and pushed down on the crank of my bike in a cylic motion that utilized all the muscles in my legs. The noise of the Rio Grande nearby, crashing over rocks, was drowned out my the sound of my wheels spinning and the wind rushing past my ears. I felt at peace. It was easy to concentrate on the here and now and to forget all other things on my mind. It was a great morning for a solo ride. The wind was at my back and the path was downhill. 

The gravel road was a refreshing change from the asphalt we usually ride on. The path was made up of a finely crushed limestone which was easy to ride on but it also caused me to keep my mind on my bike and maintaining control of it, especially when the gravel was deeper in some places. I concentrated on the feel of my wheels turning in the gravel and on the pressure of my hands holding the hoods of my handlebars. 

I rode alone for 20 miles, just taking the

morning to reflect and clear my mind. On the team, we are always surrounded by 27 people so it is refreshing to get some alone time on the bike. At mile 20, there was a snack stand set up for us by Whole Foods so I sat and enjoyed some muffins and oranges with my team. Apparently, Lance Armstrong who lives nearby in Aspen had ordered some meat from that Whole Foods so we were joking  about what we might say to him if we saw him. 

I got back on the road with a big group of girls. It was Kat, Nyx, Amanda, Kendra, Sarah, and me all riding together. I love riding in a group of all women. It is so empowering! We were so happy and the scenery was so beautiful that we started singing songs together at the top of our lungs. The bike path was all downhill so we barely had to pedal as we sang and said hello to everyone we passed on the path. They must have thought we were all insane (which I guess we are!)

All my favorite ladies!

It was a very easy ride! It was literally downhill the entire way. I don't think I've ever bike an easier 60 miles ever!! Our legs enjoyed the rest and all of us had in on such an enjoyable day! We didn't get to see Lance, but we heard that he was mean anyways. Now, whenever we see a male cyclist, we yell, "Lance???" just in case. We are a wacky group but I love everyone here!

Build day tomorrow! It will be fun!

Day 51 - Independence Day!

Music blared at 5 am. The songs all had a theme. "It's all about the climbbbb!" encouraged Miley Cyrus. "Can you take me higher?" asked Creed. "How am I supposed to breathe with no air?" cried Jordin Sparks. We woke up laughing at the song selection and eager to conquer the biggest climb we would have all summer, Independence Pass. It was a climb that would take us up past 12,000 feet, high above the timberline. 

Kat and I were sweeps today so we patiently waited for everyone to leave while dancing to our own song selection. We danced to calm our nerves and get pumped as well as to warm up. It was a very cool Colorado morning and we had on our arm warmers and an extra long sleeves layer on to stay warm. 

Finally, Kat and I started off and began the 19 mile climb up Independence. The grade was not to bad but the climb was relentless. We stopped often to catch our breath and take pictures. As we rose higher and higher, the mountains seemed to become more and more beautiful. I can't even describe it, you would have to see it yourself to understand. 

The road leading to Independence, very early in our climb

The closer we got to the pass, the steeper the grade got. We reached the base of mountain, where the switchbacks began, and looked up at the road we would be taking. Cars came down at what seemed to be an impossible angle. It was really intimidating, but we knew we had to climb it. 

View from the base of the mountain

We went around the first switchback and started the real climbing. It wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be! Slowly, we zig-zagged our way up the mountain, taking breaks to catch our breath and eat snacks. A few times, we caught up with other riders and rested with them as we tackled the pass. The switchbacks grew closer and closer together as we neared the top. Kat was killing it! I shouted words of encouragement to her between pants as we pedaled and pedaled. "C'mon, Mama!" I called to her by her nickname. Even though our legs ached, the only way to go was up. 

Words of encouragement spray-painted on the road

Suddenly, we heard a shout echo across the valley.  We looked up and saw all of our teammates standing at the top of the pass, cheering us on. They looked like ants! But their encouragement spurred us on and we tackled the last few switchbacks knowing that there was a party waiting for us on top of the mountain. 

Look close and you can see the ant-people aka out teammates at the top 

As we came up the final slope, the team lined up on either side of the road and made a tunnel for us. "Sweeeeeeps!!" they shouted, hailing us. They were going absolutely insane, screaming for us, jumping, and swinging their jerseys around their heads. Kat and I rode side by side through the tunnel and everyone went wild and closed in on us like we were finishing a stage in the Tour de France! As we finished the climb, our teammates surrounded us and ran with us as we pedaled up the peak. It was the most amazing welcome I have ever experienced!!!!!! 

After we got to the top, there was a giant (and smelly) group hug followed by a dance party. We sang and danced to "All These Things That I've Done" by the Killers, which is a Bike and Build theme song. The whole team had waited for the sweep riders to summit so that everyone could party together at the top. We took tons of pictures with the summit sign!

Kat, Sarah, and me posing with the sign

View from one of the switchbacks

The descent was awesome. Picturesque mountains landscapes flashed by at 40 mph as we undid all the work we just completed by cycling up he mountain. We had a lot of extra time, so we stopped to sight-see at some ice caves and went cliff jumping at the Devil's punch bowl, a waterfall that flows into a deep rock "bowl." 

Some people getting ready to jump into the punch bowl

We descended all the way into our destination city, Aspen. We ate pizza, shared stories, and even attended an awesome rock concert in Snowmass in the evening. It was a glorious day, definitely one of my favorites from the trip so fad! I wish we never had to leave Colorado but our days in this state are growing short. We must enjoy it while it lasts!!! Tomorrow is another cruiser, 60 miles and rumor had it that it is a gradual descent all day! Goodnight all!

The road to Independence Pass, snaking along the side of a cliff

Day 50 - Purple Mountains Majesty

I awoke this morning to the riding sun and the chirping of the birds. I looked over and saw some of my favorite people still curled up in their sleeping bags underneath the picnic shelter that we slept under. It was a short day, only 54 miles to Twin Lakes, so we it got sleep in until 6. Today was rumored to be one of our most beautiful rides so we were excited to get going. 

The mountains did not disappoint. We climbed up Trout Creek Pass first thing and took a lot of pictures! I taught Kat, Amanda, and Ethan how to do the "flag" on a pole so we all took pictures posing on the summit sign. 

Watch out! It's windy!

We pedaled for a while on level ground and then began to descend into Bueno Vista. Rock formations flew past us and mountains surrounded us as we leaned into turns and tucked into aerodynamic positions to gain more speed. It was yet another amazing day in our new favorite state. 

We had a great lunch in Bueno Vista. Our leader, JD, has connections with the Habitat in that city so they hooked us up with some Subway and pulled pork sandwiches. We sat under the shade in a lovely park and rested, chowing down on chips and humus. I headed to a bike shop a block away because my bottom bracket had started acting up and I had a part to replace it. The guys at the bike shop installed it for free! After that, Black Beauty is riding like a dream yet again, my trusty steed!

After Bueno Vista, we cruised parallel to the Collegiate Peaks, a range of mountains named after prestigious universities. Ethan had worked around the area before and could point out every peak and name it. The scenery was gorgeous. Kat and I took tons of pictures but none do Colorado any justice. We wish we could take pictures with our eyes!!

Nyx and Ethan chatting while cruising 

In no time, we rode into Twin Lakes which seemed like a place out of a fairy tale. We pulled up along the lake and the sight took my breath away. A pristine lake framed by towering mountains lay quietly in a valley. We stopped alongside the road and thanked God for having the opportunity to visit such a beautiful place. 

I wish I could capture the magic of this place in a picture!

When we got into town, the first thing we did was go for a swim! The water was freezing but the view was so amazing from the lake that it was worth it. 

"Hurry up and take the picture! We're freezing here!!!"

Twin Lakes is a tiny town but full of beauty and personality! I hope I get to visit here again. Tomorrow, we climb Independence Pass, a daunting 12,000+ foot mountain, and descend into Aspen. I wish we didn't have to leave Twin Lakes yet but Independence Pass will be epic!!!

Part of the team during a meeting