Update 7:25 EDT:
Just some miscellaneous things…Brad’s parents met up with the team outside of Indianapolis.
By Eddie’s count, there have been eight flat tires in the last 36 hours. They stopped by a bike store today and bought ten more.
The storms have cooled things off and lowered the humidity to a more comfortable level.
Sandy has landed in Indianapolis and is heading towards Troy in a rental car. She was about an hour later than expected due to delays caused by storms.
The team which Team Nor’easter has spent the most time near is #201. Interesting that this is the team who’s R.N. came to Ken’s aid after the accident. Team Nor’easter and Cheniere’s Making Cancer History Team have been within ~30 minutes of each other for the last 700 miles.
Dave P. reports the following: “Last night around midnight we passed a power station along the Missouri River. Dave N. was riding and he said the noise from the stations was a low bass like hum. Kind of like the aliens were coming through the fog to get us.”
Dave P. also writes something along the lines of what I have been thinking all along: “This is a real trip. I can’t believe the will power of the boys to to get back on the bike every hour. Greg has been great, as Dave N. said, we should stop abusing the poor kid. I think about the times I have gone for a twenty mile ride and then was spent for the rest of the day. These guys are doing that every hour.”
I remember passing 201 on the road east of Collins, MO. The rider looked really worn. We rolled down the window and Dave gave him a thumbs up. I thought to myself that we should yell “looking good” or something, but that the guy actually looked terrible. Greg, on the other hand, looked amazingly strong.
Reading the teams progress is quite inspiring. Good luck to all. Watch out for the Appalachians. They can be every bit as difficult or more so than the Rockies. I rode some of the same routes (Pagosa Springs, CO to Alamosa, CO) over the Rockies and the Appalachians (Gormania, WV to Hancock, MD) to what you’re route is. I found that the total climb going up and down the shorter Appalachians was just a little higher than going over the Rockies. I’ve got confidence that you’ll make it!