Another massive THANK-YOU to everyone who has supported this latest cycling challenge through Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, and helped us fundraise a STAGGERING £6,900 for Brain Tumour Research!!! I hope you enjoy looking through the photos of this amazing 5 day, 300 mile cycle from Cameron to Las Vegas.....
We met an amazing group of people on this event, all with their own reasons for taking part in this challenge, and it was very humbling to hear many of those stories. It was an honour to cycle with each and every one of the participants, all of whom had dedicated their own time to train-for and then take part in the ride to raise money for Cancer related causes, and we thank each of you for sharing the adventure.
Scroll/Mouse right down to the bottom, for the beginning of the story!
We met an amazing group of people on this event, all with their own reasons for taking part in this challenge, and it was very humbling to hear many of those stories. It was an honour to cycle with each and every one of the participants, all of whom had dedicated their own time to train-for and then take part in the ride to raise money for Cancer related causes, and we thank each of you for sharing the adventure.
Scroll/Mouse right down to the bottom, for the beginning of the story!
Day 6 - Zero miles (at least, nil by bike!).
Free day, so back to Death Valley to show Adam the route me and Mike cycled 2 years ago...
Free day, so back to Death Valley to show Adam the route me and Mike cycled 2 years ago...
On this challenge, we had a full "free" day before our flight back to the UK. We could have spent it lounging by the pool all day, or going to see a show or some of the sights along the Las Vegas “strip”. Thankfully, about a year earlier Mike emailed me to suggest something way more interesting: "How about we hire a car and take your Adam out to Death Valley, and re-trace the route his old-man and me cycled two years ago, and show him how crazy it was!?" He offered. Sounds like a brilliant idea "Mike, I'm in!!".
So, an early breakfast and we set-off to Beatty - pronounced "bay-tee", just under 3 hours drive from Vegas, and the "town" we stayed in prior to our first day's cycling, back in November 2015.
Just a few short miles out of Beatty, a side road leaves the main road and heads up a hill to the once-thriving mining town of Rhyolite, home to 8,000 people at the turn of the 1900's, mining, Rhyolite from which the town gets its imaginative name! Now deserted, there is just a tiny visitor centre (shack) manned by a local artist selling his paintings, photographs and sculptures. It’s a fascinating place with really interesting history. I have no idea how I missed seeing it two years ago and simply cycled along past the side-road, it could only have been due to the excitement I perhaps was feeling back then after my first few miles cycling on the Death Valley ride.
From here, we headed down the mountains and to the valley-floor, past the Mesquite Sand-Dunes where some of us had “Dune-Boarded” back in 2015, and on to Stovepipe Wells (our overnight stay on night 2 back then), and had ourselves a great lunch. We jumped back into the car and turned left out of the car-park and started the long, gentle climb uphill, constantly ascending, for 17 miles! Since we were in a convertible with the roof down, we kept looking behind us as Mike called-out the miles travelled since the lunch Stop - 4 miles, 6 miles, 7, and amazed ourselves with just how high up we'd come, looking at the salt glistening in the valley floor below. But we still had 12 miles to go to the top!! As we neared Towne Pass at the top, 4,956ft above sea level, I recognised the bends where 2 years earlier strong gusting winds pulled me off the bike and a broken elbow resulted, although that was only diagnosed upon my return to the UK, and I carried on and completed the ride ignorant of the break). On we climbed (thankfully through the efforts of the Ford Mustang and not our weary legs), I still can't quite believe that we cycled 17 miles uphill to the summit back in 2015...
Having handily brought along an empty water-bottle, the effect of the "air-pressure" difference between 5,000ft and sea-level, was clearly to see (see the pic!).
From here, we descended back down to the valley floor and then along past Furnace Creek and out to Badwater Basin, a natural salt-plain 282ft below sea level, which stretches about 6 miles across the valley floor to the other side. We walked just 300mtrs out along it!
We then raced back to "Artist's Palette" - the pictures really don't do it justice, but the way the sun catches the different colours of rock and mineral deposits, and of course all this changes constantly according to the time of day, are incredible. I'm really pleased we got the chance to see it as a work-colleague had said before we left the UK that it really was a must-see. We now moved-on to Zabriskie Point - again another fantastic viewing point across rock formations and out to the valley.
The sun was dropping fast now, but Mike was keen to take us on up to Dante's View - I was very happy we had the Mustang & thus no space for him to have stashed a bike in the boot (trunk!) & dare me to cycle up! It’s down as one of the toughest cycle climbs, and just when you've neared the end of the 15 miles or so at around 12%, it kicks-up for the last mile/mile and a half to well over 20%!! Next time Mike!!
A fantastic day's sightseeing and good company - and Annie came along with us for the day, but by the time we got back to Vegas we were absolutely shattered. Somehow though, we mustered a second-wind and headed out along the Las Vegas strip and enjoyed a great dinner. Me and Mike had been planning to spend the free day in this way for over a year, but when the time came it was even better than I'd imagined.
Saturday - "we fly home day". But Mike felt we HAD to see the Hoover Dam proper, and providing we didn't mind another early start, offered to drive us the 45 mins from Vegas to it. With another of our cycling-group, Ian, along for company this time, we headed back out to Arizona.
Many of you will have seen the dam on TV, movies or in pictures, but it's simply another "you have to see it with your own eyes" spectacle.
We'd seen the "bath-ring/tidemark" around the edges having cycled to, and then around [part of] Lake Mead over days 4 & 5, but here up close you could get a better sense of scale for the 100-120ft drop in the water level - and remember that's across the whole surface area of Lake Mead, which isn't exactly small. The Lake feeds parts of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and astonishingly, as far away as Los Angeles to the west. The water-level drop illustrates the continued urban sprawl of some of these areas, sucking-up ever more water resources.
As we captured pics of each-other, some with us wearing our Brain Tumour Research cycling jerseys, and the highway bridge we'd cycled across 2 days earlier, we crossed the quiet roadway on the dam and who's car should stop at the crossing to let us across, but a lesser-spotted Andy Cattle, also in a convertible Mustang! Andy was staying-on in the US for a week with friends, and decided to get out and see the dam too.
Our drive back to Vegas ready for our pick-up held one final surprise: whilst Adam & I had leapt out of the car upon arrival to the Hoover Dam to save some time whilst Mike parked-the car in the vast multi-story car park, he'd written out a load of notes to remind Adam of all the "firsts" he could now tick-off from this challenge and the trip - great fun and very thoughtful touch!
So, we'd done it and reached the end of our challenge and latest adventure.
Booked-up over two years ago immediately upon my return from the Death Valley event, and as it now seems, an absolute age-ago before Adam's seizure episodes and subsequent diagnosis and treatments.
I have said it many times in the narrative you've already read if you've followed each day, and on the captions on many of the photos, but I make no apologies for repeating the sentiments: I am incredibly proud of Adam. We signed-up for this challenge and chose Brain Tumour Research as our charity, in memory of my mum Janet - Adam's grandma - who we lost to a brain tumour 15 years ago when she was aged just 57. In a cruel twist the way that life sometimes does, Adam underwent his own battle with a brain tumour.
Everything since has been about his strength and determination to move forward - and thats before we got to coming out to the US for this.
Going through all the phases of his treatment & recovery were all aspects of moving-forward: getting the green-light from his consultant and medical specialists to come out to the US and do what he could on the challenge, was another massive boost. Actually cycling every one of the 5 days, beating the distance-targets he'd had in his head, as well as surpassing the total mileage he'd achieved all year in training, was simply astounding.
I was proud to watch-on as he simply “was himself”: laid back, taking it all in his stride in his usual easy-going manner, and also inspiring so many of those riding on this challenge. Indeed, Adam's determination to still head out and take this on, despite the twist of 18 months earlier, was the reason 3 people signed-up and joined us on the event.
I have no doubt that completing this has been a massive boost to him, but I also believe it has been very necessary for him to accomplish, since it had been a goal for 2 years. Completing it as planned, is another [massive] "tick in the box" as Mike would have put it. And as much as for himself, Adam was determined also to do it for all those back home in the UK who have stood-fast and supported him through these last 18 months.
And I'm just a guy who can count himself very lucky indeed to be his dad, and who got to share in this incredible adventure with him and all the other amazing people we met on this challenge.
So, an early breakfast and we set-off to Beatty - pronounced "bay-tee", just under 3 hours drive from Vegas, and the "town" we stayed in prior to our first day's cycling, back in November 2015.
Just a few short miles out of Beatty, a side road leaves the main road and heads up a hill to the once-thriving mining town of Rhyolite, home to 8,000 people at the turn of the 1900's, mining, Rhyolite from which the town gets its imaginative name! Now deserted, there is just a tiny visitor centre (shack) manned by a local artist selling his paintings, photographs and sculptures. It’s a fascinating place with really interesting history. I have no idea how I missed seeing it two years ago and simply cycled along past the side-road, it could only have been due to the excitement I perhaps was feeling back then after my first few miles cycling on the Death Valley ride.
From here, we headed down the mountains and to the valley-floor, past the Mesquite Sand-Dunes where some of us had “Dune-Boarded” back in 2015, and on to Stovepipe Wells (our overnight stay on night 2 back then), and had ourselves a great lunch. We jumped back into the car and turned left out of the car-park and started the long, gentle climb uphill, constantly ascending, for 17 miles! Since we were in a convertible with the roof down, we kept looking behind us as Mike called-out the miles travelled since the lunch Stop - 4 miles, 6 miles, 7, and amazed ourselves with just how high up we'd come, looking at the salt glistening in the valley floor below. But we still had 12 miles to go to the top!! As we neared Towne Pass at the top, 4,956ft above sea level, I recognised the bends where 2 years earlier strong gusting winds pulled me off the bike and a broken elbow resulted, although that was only diagnosed upon my return to the UK, and I carried on and completed the ride ignorant of the break). On we climbed (thankfully through the efforts of the Ford Mustang and not our weary legs), I still can't quite believe that we cycled 17 miles uphill to the summit back in 2015...
Having handily brought along an empty water-bottle, the effect of the "air-pressure" difference between 5,000ft and sea-level, was clearly to see (see the pic!).
From here, we descended back down to the valley floor and then along past Furnace Creek and out to Badwater Basin, a natural salt-plain 282ft below sea level, which stretches about 6 miles across the valley floor to the other side. We walked just 300mtrs out along it!
We then raced back to "Artist's Palette" - the pictures really don't do it justice, but the way the sun catches the different colours of rock and mineral deposits, and of course all this changes constantly according to the time of day, are incredible. I'm really pleased we got the chance to see it as a work-colleague had said before we left the UK that it really was a must-see. We now moved-on to Zabriskie Point - again another fantastic viewing point across rock formations and out to the valley.
The sun was dropping fast now, but Mike was keen to take us on up to Dante's View - I was very happy we had the Mustang & thus no space for him to have stashed a bike in the boot (trunk!) & dare me to cycle up! It’s down as one of the toughest cycle climbs, and just when you've neared the end of the 15 miles or so at around 12%, it kicks-up for the last mile/mile and a half to well over 20%!! Next time Mike!!
A fantastic day's sightseeing and good company - and Annie came along with us for the day, but by the time we got back to Vegas we were absolutely shattered. Somehow though, we mustered a second-wind and headed out along the Las Vegas strip and enjoyed a great dinner. Me and Mike had been planning to spend the free day in this way for over a year, but when the time came it was even better than I'd imagined.
Saturday - "we fly home day". But Mike felt we HAD to see the Hoover Dam proper, and providing we didn't mind another early start, offered to drive us the 45 mins from Vegas to it. With another of our cycling-group, Ian, along for company this time, we headed back out to Arizona.
Many of you will have seen the dam on TV, movies or in pictures, but it's simply another "you have to see it with your own eyes" spectacle.
We'd seen the "bath-ring/tidemark" around the edges having cycled to, and then around [part of] Lake Mead over days 4 & 5, but here up close you could get a better sense of scale for the 100-120ft drop in the water level - and remember that's across the whole surface area of Lake Mead, which isn't exactly small. The Lake feeds parts of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and astonishingly, as far away as Los Angeles to the west. The water-level drop illustrates the continued urban sprawl of some of these areas, sucking-up ever more water resources.
As we captured pics of each-other, some with us wearing our Brain Tumour Research cycling jerseys, and the highway bridge we'd cycled across 2 days earlier, we crossed the quiet roadway on the dam and who's car should stop at the crossing to let us across, but a lesser-spotted Andy Cattle, also in a convertible Mustang! Andy was staying-on in the US for a week with friends, and decided to get out and see the dam too.
Our drive back to Vegas ready for our pick-up held one final surprise: whilst Adam & I had leapt out of the car upon arrival to the Hoover Dam to save some time whilst Mike parked-the car in the vast multi-story car park, he'd written out a load of notes to remind Adam of all the "firsts" he could now tick-off from this challenge and the trip - great fun and very thoughtful touch!
So, we'd done it and reached the end of our challenge and latest adventure.
Booked-up over two years ago immediately upon my return from the Death Valley event, and as it now seems, an absolute age-ago before Adam's seizure episodes and subsequent diagnosis and treatments.
I have said it many times in the narrative you've already read if you've followed each day, and on the captions on many of the photos, but I make no apologies for repeating the sentiments: I am incredibly proud of Adam. We signed-up for this challenge and chose Brain Tumour Research as our charity, in memory of my mum Janet - Adam's grandma - who we lost to a brain tumour 15 years ago when she was aged just 57. In a cruel twist the way that life sometimes does, Adam underwent his own battle with a brain tumour.
Everything since has been about his strength and determination to move forward - and thats before we got to coming out to the US for this.
Going through all the phases of his treatment & recovery were all aspects of moving-forward: getting the green-light from his consultant and medical specialists to come out to the US and do what he could on the challenge, was another massive boost. Actually cycling every one of the 5 days, beating the distance-targets he'd had in his head, as well as surpassing the total mileage he'd achieved all year in training, was simply astounding.
I was proud to watch-on as he simply “was himself”: laid back, taking it all in his stride in his usual easy-going manner, and also inspiring so many of those riding on this challenge. Indeed, Adam's determination to still head out and take this on, despite the twist of 18 months earlier, was the reason 3 people signed-up and joined us on the event.
I have no doubt that completing this has been a massive boost to him, but I also believe it has been very necessary for him to accomplish, since it had been a goal for 2 years. Completing it as planned, is another [massive] "tick in the box" as Mike would have put it. And as much as for himself, Adam was determined also to do it for all those back home in the UK who have stood-fast and supported him through these last 18 months.
And I'm just a guy who can count himself very lucky indeed to be his dad, and who got to share in this incredible adventure with him and all the other amazing people we met on this challenge.
Grand Canyon Final Day: Hoover Dam to Las Vegas - We've gone and done it!!!
34 miles, 1,700ft ascending.
No broken limbs this time! and an emotional finish....
So, today's the day. The final short (34miles) ride from Hoover Dam Lodge on the edge of Lake Mead, along a lakeside path for a few miles before turning and cycling a handful of miles up a gentle-winding cycle path through barren land to the edge of the Las Vegas suburbs.
It doesn't matter that we've all had a good breakfast this morning, we are powered purely on adrenaline today!
Spirits are high and the banter is once again first-rate. But a little sadness is creeping-in that today is our last day's cycling always a sad point on these big multi-day cycle challenges.
With a dozen or so miles behind us, we all then gathered together at the day's one and only water-stop - today isn't about pace, it's about riding these last 20-25 miles (from the stop) together as a group, through Henderson and the outer city-limits of Vegas, to journeys-end which for this challenge is Freemont St.
It's another chance to ride alongside those new acquaintances now friends, and share anecdotes from the last few days' adventure!
After a slight scenic detour by the small group that were foolishly following me!, we get onto one of the main-roads that will take us dead-straight for 15-20 miles into Vegas.
As we settle-in to riding in a close, long group and happily chatting, I notice I'm not the only one reflecting on "why" I've put myself through this - not only ridden the last 5 days on the challenge, but all the training miles in the months beforehand, and I spot a few moist eyes here and there:
...and then I look up and ahead and spot my very own "reason why" - chatting away to others, smoothly rotating his cranks, shifting cogs and ensuring his wheels are turning, moving ever-forward - isn't that the only direction?
A fitting metaphor I’ve previously read many times comes to mind: "Life is like riding a bike - to keep your balance you have to keep moving forward..."
Of course, Adam will tell you he just likes the feel of the wind through his beard!
We get within a few miles of the end now, and Adam has been put on point-duty up near the front by UK Alex - his job is to be pace-man to keep us together despite the best efforts of countless junctions (oh alright then, "intersections") and traffic SIGNALS... Or so I believed that was why he was now up at the front...
Out of our earshot sometime earlier, a suggestion was raised by one of our group, wasn't it, Andy C, that it would be very fitting for young Adam to lead our peloton in to the finish. Everyone had agreed, and so there he goes, as the final few hundred meters are covered, Adam opens-up a 25-30 bike-length gap and leads us all home.
The end of one small journey for all of us, but the continuation of a much bigger one he's on...
After warm-downs, drinks, lunch, hugs, congratulations and photos, we transferred to our hotel and it was great to grab a shower and change out of not into, lycra!
As is customary on these challenges, we all regrouped for a celebratory dinner. Medals were handed-out, our US guides were finally able to let-off some steam - cue US Alex being given 4 tequila shots to down (he doesn't really drink!) and then speeches followed - some more coherent that others! Mr Cattle had prepared well for this, and kept us all entertained during his recap of the challenge, and of course, leg-pulling at the expense of others!
Once again I can't but write just how proud I am that Adam has not only come out to the US to do this, but as our American hosts would say: "smashed it out of the park" with his efforts. That so many others have been inspired by him as he's chatted with them during the week and offered them encouragement, reminds me of how much he simply takes in his stride. But then I remind myself too of the incredible support he has from his family back in the UK...
So, our free day tomorrow. About THAT hill.....
It doesn't matter that we've all had a good breakfast this morning, we are powered purely on adrenaline today!
Spirits are high and the banter is once again first-rate. But a little sadness is creeping-in that today is our last day's cycling always a sad point on these big multi-day cycle challenges.
With a dozen or so miles behind us, we all then gathered together at the day's one and only water-stop - today isn't about pace, it's about riding these last 20-25 miles (from the stop) together as a group, through Henderson and the outer city-limits of Vegas, to journeys-end which for this challenge is Freemont St.
It's another chance to ride alongside those new acquaintances now friends, and share anecdotes from the last few days' adventure!
After a slight scenic detour by the small group that were foolishly following me!, we get onto one of the main-roads that will take us dead-straight for 15-20 miles into Vegas.
As we settle-in to riding in a close, long group and happily chatting, I notice I'm not the only one reflecting on "why" I've put myself through this - not only ridden the last 5 days on the challenge, but all the training miles in the months beforehand, and I spot a few moist eyes here and there:
...and then I look up and ahead and spot my very own "reason why" - chatting away to others, smoothly rotating his cranks, shifting cogs and ensuring his wheels are turning, moving ever-forward - isn't that the only direction?
A fitting metaphor I’ve previously read many times comes to mind: "Life is like riding a bike - to keep your balance you have to keep moving forward..."
Of course, Adam will tell you he just likes the feel of the wind through his beard!
We get within a few miles of the end now, and Adam has been put on point-duty up near the front by UK Alex - his job is to be pace-man to keep us together despite the best efforts of countless junctions (oh alright then, "intersections") and traffic SIGNALS... Or so I believed that was why he was now up at the front...
Out of our earshot sometime earlier, a suggestion was raised by one of our group, wasn't it, Andy C, that it would be very fitting for young Adam to lead our peloton in to the finish. Everyone had agreed, and so there he goes, as the final few hundred meters are covered, Adam opens-up a 25-30 bike-length gap and leads us all home.
The end of one small journey for all of us, but the continuation of a much bigger one he's on...
After warm-downs, drinks, lunch, hugs, congratulations and photos, we transferred to our hotel and it was great to grab a shower and change out of not into, lycra!
As is customary on these challenges, we all regrouped for a celebratory dinner. Medals were handed-out, our US guides were finally able to let-off some steam - cue US Alex being given 4 tequila shots to down (he doesn't really drink!) and then speeches followed - some more coherent that others! Mr Cattle had prepared well for this, and kept us all entertained during his recap of the challenge, and of course, leg-pulling at the expense of others!
Once again I can't but write just how proud I am that Adam has not only come out to the US to do this, but as our American hosts would say: "smashed it out of the park" with his efforts. That so many others have been inspired by him as he's chatted with them during the week and offered them encouragement, reminds me of how much he simply takes in his stride. But then I remind myself too of the incredible support he has from his family back in the UK...
So, our free day tomorrow. About THAT hill.....
Grand Canyon Day 4: Kingman to Hoover Dam. 70 miles, 2,700ft ascending.
Today was most definitely a day of two halves:
First half very very good, second-half very very tough!, but last 15 miles were a wonderful antidote to the middle bit!
Wait a minute, “middle-bit”?, that's 3 "halves"...
I don't mind admitting that after a good nights’ rest and breakfast, it was good to be heading out of Dodge - I mean Kingman, the first big town we'd seen since setting off from Cameron, and out into the familiar wide-open landscapes. Did I really just type that!?
Once again, bright blue skies are peppered with a few fluffy white clouds for some visual interest, and long open roads with very little in the way of other traffic. This morning was a real blast, riding along at a really strong pace and chatting with so many others, sharing some proper belly-laughs as well as some more serious stories, as we rode.
Adam, with 3 solid day's mileages under his beard, had already decided yesterday that he'd accompany Mike in the pick-up for most of today: he had his heart set on cycling today's final 15 mile leg from the last water-stop in the afternoon to the mighty Hoover Dam. Which put me in a bit of a dilemma: our US guide leader had announced at breakfast that since our first day's ride was cut short (due to wind and lack of permit to allow large group cycle in part of Grand Canyon National Park), we could add on some miles to today - raising the day's total to 105. I really wanted to go for this - heck, I've done a few “centuries now”, and last year on L2P 24hr managed 147 from Dieppe to Paris (only-just mind-you!). So with frequent stops and plenty of fluids & food, and the support of our crew, I was really up for this. But I was mindful of the sorry-state I was in as I lumbered-along for those last 8-9 miles into Kingman yesterday....
So, do I go for it and feel better about myself, but risk depriving myself the chance of riding alongside Adam for that last 15 mile stretch and what was sure to be spectacular scenery? In the end, the decision was made for me. After what was I think our second water-stop, and a fantastic morning at good pace with even faster-paced humour & banter, playing "chicken" with long-horned cattle (clearly I'd ignored all those road-signs warning me!), and then riding past a rattle-snake basking on the road inches from where I passed, we had a climb of around 12 miles - didn't look much like a climb, or initially feel like one: again just a few measly percent of gradient, but in heat of over 30C and with a bit of a strong breeze pushing back, it started to take it's toll.
Mike kindly offered me his wheel frequently, but the fact was I couldn't hold it. No matter, Mike kept stopping or dropping the pace, which would have been murder on him - I'd learnt for myself yesterday just how difficult it was to ride more slowly and below your own pace, to give someone else your wheel. But Mike kept easing back as my speed continued to slow to barely above walking pace at points, and increasingly frequent stops. No amount of me telling him just to go would do. We realised some of the difficulty was a slow puncture increasing the drag. Although I had spare tube and a CO2 canister in my kit, what we really needed was a track-pump – so a big thumbs-down to the next support vehicle to pass - the agreed signal requesting assistance. We were somewhat in disbelief when it simply blasted-on past (must have mistaken the thumbs-down for some weird UK custom, and not a symbol that assistance was desired!). So, 10 more mins pass and we flag down another one of our passing support vehicles – successfully this time! But no track pump! So we bite the bullet and re-inflate the new tube in the rear tyre with the small hand-pump, and intend to hit it with the track-pump at the lunch stop, sounded like a good plan.
But just a few more miles up the hill into the wind, and it is really clear that I’m totally cooked. I begrudgingly announce to Mike that I’m going to have to get on the support vehicle to catch a lift to the lunch-stop, and Mike is much-relieved to hear it – clearly he could see what I couldn’t, or wouldn’t admit – that I was really struggling. So, I instruct him to stay-safe (watch-out for the assassin cattle!), and we’ll catch-up at the lunch-stop, and watch him head up the hill at a decent pace again now he’s not hampered by me. Just a short 10 mins later and Matt is approaching in one of the pick-ups – now here’s a guy who can spot a thumbs-down signal when given – top man!
With my bike safely hoisted onto the rack on the roof, we’re off. I was pleased to be heading closer to lunch, just a few miles away, but became really frustrated with myself to see that the climb continued for only another couple of miles, and then it was down-hill for 3 more to the lunch-stop. I had massive regret racing through my head. The brutal reality though was that it was probably still 2 miles I’d not have been able to do unless I’d walked and pushed the bike…
Lunch at Dolan Springs really hit the spot, and whatever drugs were lathered onto my chicken-burger, certainly did the trick! I was fit and ready, for the last 15 miles to Hoover Dam (after our transfer on the support vehicles), and more-importantly, I’d be riding it with Adam: It had been a very difficult decision to stop earlier in the day, but I reminded myself that had I not done-so, I may not have achieved this last stint with him. That was it's own reward.
We cycled on the hard-shoulder of the busy highway heading for the Hoover Dam, and we had a good couple of stints where we were going downhill for a mile or two, dropping several hundred feet of altitude, so the pace was up to 40-45mph which felt great! Even made the following uphill climbs worth it. Having stopped on the highway bridge to marvel at the Dam, and take numerous pictures - including one of my feet, one in each state (Arizona:Nevada) I set-off again to catch-up with Adam and Annie who'd not stopped on the bridge.
Now then, what's this we see as we rolled-into the vast open car-park of the Hoover Dam Lodge where we're staying tonight? No, not a glimpse of Lake Mead, but a helicopter tour company set-up in the corner: cue a surprise heli-flight for Adam to take in views of the Hoover Dam that he'd be unable to stop to see earlier!
First half very very good, second-half very very tough!, but last 15 miles were a wonderful antidote to the middle bit!
Wait a minute, “middle-bit”?, that's 3 "halves"...
I don't mind admitting that after a good nights’ rest and breakfast, it was good to be heading out of Dodge - I mean Kingman, the first big town we'd seen since setting off from Cameron, and out into the familiar wide-open landscapes. Did I really just type that!?
Once again, bright blue skies are peppered with a few fluffy white clouds for some visual interest, and long open roads with very little in the way of other traffic. This morning was a real blast, riding along at a really strong pace and chatting with so many others, sharing some proper belly-laughs as well as some more serious stories, as we rode.
Adam, with 3 solid day's mileages under his beard, had already decided yesterday that he'd accompany Mike in the pick-up for most of today: he had his heart set on cycling today's final 15 mile leg from the last water-stop in the afternoon to the mighty Hoover Dam. Which put me in a bit of a dilemma: our US guide leader had announced at breakfast that since our first day's ride was cut short (due to wind and lack of permit to allow large group cycle in part of Grand Canyon National Park), we could add on some miles to today - raising the day's total to 105. I really wanted to go for this - heck, I've done a few “centuries now”, and last year on L2P 24hr managed 147 from Dieppe to Paris (only-just mind-you!). So with frequent stops and plenty of fluids & food, and the support of our crew, I was really up for this. But I was mindful of the sorry-state I was in as I lumbered-along for those last 8-9 miles into Kingman yesterday....
So, do I go for it and feel better about myself, but risk depriving myself the chance of riding alongside Adam for that last 15 mile stretch and what was sure to be spectacular scenery? In the end, the decision was made for me. After what was I think our second water-stop, and a fantastic morning at good pace with even faster-paced humour & banter, playing "chicken" with long-horned cattle (clearly I'd ignored all those road-signs warning me!), and then riding past a rattle-snake basking on the road inches from where I passed, we had a climb of around 12 miles - didn't look much like a climb, or initially feel like one: again just a few measly percent of gradient, but in heat of over 30C and with a bit of a strong breeze pushing back, it started to take it's toll.
Mike kindly offered me his wheel frequently, but the fact was I couldn't hold it. No matter, Mike kept stopping or dropping the pace, which would have been murder on him - I'd learnt for myself yesterday just how difficult it was to ride more slowly and below your own pace, to give someone else your wheel. But Mike kept easing back as my speed continued to slow to barely above walking pace at points, and increasingly frequent stops. No amount of me telling him just to go would do. We realised some of the difficulty was a slow puncture increasing the drag. Although I had spare tube and a CO2 canister in my kit, what we really needed was a track-pump – so a big thumbs-down to the next support vehicle to pass - the agreed signal requesting assistance. We were somewhat in disbelief when it simply blasted-on past (must have mistaken the thumbs-down for some weird UK custom, and not a symbol that assistance was desired!). So, 10 more mins pass and we flag down another one of our passing support vehicles – successfully this time! But no track pump! So we bite the bullet and re-inflate the new tube in the rear tyre with the small hand-pump, and intend to hit it with the track-pump at the lunch stop, sounded like a good plan.
But just a few more miles up the hill into the wind, and it is really clear that I’m totally cooked. I begrudgingly announce to Mike that I’m going to have to get on the support vehicle to catch a lift to the lunch-stop, and Mike is much-relieved to hear it – clearly he could see what I couldn’t, or wouldn’t admit – that I was really struggling. So, I instruct him to stay-safe (watch-out for the assassin cattle!), and we’ll catch-up at the lunch-stop, and watch him head up the hill at a decent pace again now he’s not hampered by me. Just a short 10 mins later and Matt is approaching in one of the pick-ups – now here’s a guy who can spot a thumbs-down signal when given – top man!
With my bike safely hoisted onto the rack on the roof, we’re off. I was pleased to be heading closer to lunch, just a few miles away, but became really frustrated with myself to see that the climb continued for only another couple of miles, and then it was down-hill for 3 more to the lunch-stop. I had massive regret racing through my head. The brutal reality though was that it was probably still 2 miles I’d not have been able to do unless I’d walked and pushed the bike…
Lunch at Dolan Springs really hit the spot, and whatever drugs were lathered onto my chicken-burger, certainly did the trick! I was fit and ready, for the last 15 miles to Hoover Dam (after our transfer on the support vehicles), and more-importantly, I’d be riding it with Adam: It had been a very difficult decision to stop earlier in the day, but I reminded myself that had I not done-so, I may not have achieved this last stint with him. That was it's own reward.
We cycled on the hard-shoulder of the busy highway heading for the Hoover Dam, and we had a good couple of stints where we were going downhill for a mile or two, dropping several hundred feet of altitude, so the pace was up to 40-45mph which felt great! Even made the following uphill climbs worth it. Having stopped on the highway bridge to marvel at the Dam, and take numerous pictures - including one of my feet, one in each state (Arizona:Nevada) I set-off again to catch-up with Adam and Annie who'd not stopped on the bridge.
Now then, what's this we see as we rolled-into the vast open car-park of the Hoover Dam Lodge where we're staying tonight? No, not a glimpse of Lake Mead, but a helicopter tour company set-up in the corner: cue a surprise heli-flight for Adam to take in views of the Hoover Dam that he'd be unable to stop to see earlier!
Grand Canyon Day 3: Seligman to Kingman. 86 miles, 1,270ft ascending.
Well today started with another coach transfer, around 30 miles from our overnight's stay in Williams, by highway to Seligman.
You're sure to have heard of it. No? well Seligman is your typical US town that is on old Route 66, and when they built the Interstate, the town basically died, bereft of the passing trade it once thrived on. It is also the inspiration behind the Pixar movie "Cars".
After looking around and taking our pics, it was time to saddle-up and move on out. Adam was still feeling the cold, so layered-up again.
Once we were out of town, the road opened-up and we were chasing it all the way to the horizon again. Frequent stops for Adam to de-layer, meant we were soon bringing up the rear, but we had good company in the form of UK Alex, a Global Adventure Challenges guide I'd met on the Death Valley cycle challenge in 2015.
Today's initial pace was good though and the miles seemed to pass well. Lunch was a very welcome stop when it came, and a chance to rest up a little while. We met a small group from France cycling part of route 66, who'd also stopped at the same place for lunch, they were keen to hear more about our challenge and wished us all well. The afternoon proved to be another real challenge though - mostly flat, but the final 20-odd miles felt never-ending, especially as the road was virtually arrow-straight to the horizon which never seemed to arrive, and just-enough of a slight constant gradient to pull at the legs. I was pretty-much running on empty for the final 8 or 9 miles and it was a huge relief to reach our hotel for the night.
A piece of paper was passed around at dinner tonight - no names or charities mentioned, just “add your number down on the paper and pass it on” - your fundraising total so far: at this point, with 2 days yet to go, our group of 44 had raised a staggering £131,000 for the various charities we we're supporting. How amazing it felt to be a part of that...
You're sure to have heard of it. No? well Seligman is your typical US town that is on old Route 66, and when they built the Interstate, the town basically died, bereft of the passing trade it once thrived on. It is also the inspiration behind the Pixar movie "Cars".
After looking around and taking our pics, it was time to saddle-up and move on out. Adam was still feeling the cold, so layered-up again.
Once we were out of town, the road opened-up and we were chasing it all the way to the horizon again. Frequent stops for Adam to de-layer, meant we were soon bringing up the rear, but we had good company in the form of UK Alex, a Global Adventure Challenges guide I'd met on the Death Valley cycle challenge in 2015.
Today's initial pace was good though and the miles seemed to pass well. Lunch was a very welcome stop when it came, and a chance to rest up a little while. We met a small group from France cycling part of route 66, who'd also stopped at the same place for lunch, they were keen to hear more about our challenge and wished us all well. The afternoon proved to be another real challenge though - mostly flat, but the final 20-odd miles felt never-ending, especially as the road was virtually arrow-straight to the horizon which never seemed to arrive, and just-enough of a slight constant gradient to pull at the legs. I was pretty-much running on empty for the final 8 or 9 miles and it was a huge relief to reach our hotel for the night.
A piece of paper was passed around at dinner tonight - no names or charities mentioned, just “add your number down on the paper and pass it on” - your fundraising total so far: at this point, with 2 days yet to go, our group of 44 had raised a staggering £131,000 for the various charities we we're supporting. How amazing it felt to be a part of that...
Grand Canyon Day 2: Grand Canyon Village to Williams. 56 miles, 2,000ft ascending.
Our hotel room is just 10 mins walk to the edge of the Grand Canyon, so we take a look before breakfast - stunning views again with a different light as the sun begins its climb into the sky, so much colour popping out of what some would view as simply a big gouge in the rocks.... Or as my cycling-buddy Stretch back home in the UK has commented, "amazing to see my photoshop skills have come such a long way, to make the Cheddar Gorge look so much like GC!!".
Today feels like we're getting into the challenge proper - bigger distance today, 56 miles (although yesterday's uphill 35 miles into 30mph gusts was no easy introduction!).
It was quite cold too for the first hour or so, - despite the bright skies - and since Adam is generally feeling the cold as a result of his chemo etc, he was wrapped-up like Eskimo Nell, much to the disbelief of others in our group who couldn't understand how he wasn't cooking under all that layering. Honestly, he HAD brought a kit bag and WASNT wearing the entire stock of clothing he'd brought!
Lunch stop was a welcome sight when it came, and as you can see from the photos, was opposite an RV park called Bedrock! There were quite a few hot-rods parked up too, but I was more interested in my burger and fries!
We're getting a good experience of the vast wide-open spaces and empty (ish) roads for sure now, although we met a guy from the Netherlands who was pulling in to the same stop at lunchtime, en-route to LA having set-off from Miami: he was about 2,000 miles into his journey.
Oh, another highlight of today is that we peaked at around 7,200ft above sea-level - certainly the highest altitude I've been on a bike!
Having fooled us all yesterday with his "nice and steady" approach, Adam tore up the American tarmac and smashed-out 40 miles before jumping in one of the support vehicles with Mike, one of our 4 US guides: DOUBLE his biggest training ride of the year.
Hmmm, I think we've all be hoodwinked!!
Today feels like we're getting into the challenge proper - bigger distance today, 56 miles (although yesterday's uphill 35 miles into 30mph gusts was no easy introduction!).
It was quite cold too for the first hour or so, - despite the bright skies - and since Adam is generally feeling the cold as a result of his chemo etc, he was wrapped-up like Eskimo Nell, much to the disbelief of others in our group who couldn't understand how he wasn't cooking under all that layering. Honestly, he HAD brought a kit bag and WASNT wearing the entire stock of clothing he'd brought!
Lunch stop was a welcome sight when it came, and as you can see from the photos, was opposite an RV park called Bedrock! There were quite a few hot-rods parked up too, but I was more interested in my burger and fries!
We're getting a good experience of the vast wide-open spaces and empty (ish) roads for sure now, although we met a guy from the Netherlands who was pulling in to the same stop at lunchtime, en-route to LA having set-off from Miami: he was about 2,000 miles into his journey.
Oh, another highlight of today is that we peaked at around 7,200ft above sea-level - certainly the highest altitude I've been on a bike!
Having fooled us all yesterday with his "nice and steady" approach, Adam tore up the American tarmac and smashed-out 40 miles before jumping in one of the support vehicles with Mike, one of our 4 US guides: DOUBLE his biggest training ride of the year.
Hmmm, I think we've all be hoodwinked!!
Grand Canyon Cycle Challenge for Brain Tumour Research UK -
Day 1: Cameron to Grand Canyon Village. 35 miles, 3,000ft ascending.
Over a big-ole American breakfast (seriously though, they need to work out what proper bacon is!!) we enjoyed chatting with some of the other 42 people on this event whilst our guides & crew unloaded our bikes and started adjusting them.
Once all sorted, American Alex gave a briefing on the days' distances to the waterstops & lunch, and general info on keeping safe - ride on the other side of the road being the key point to take away!
Briefing over, and off we go! 2 years waiting for this, and even more special to have Adam cycling alongside, as had always been the plan.
And it was fantastic to reunite and to be riding again with so many others we've met on past events: Annie from London to Paris 2014, Martin & Steve from London to Paris 2015, and Andy C, Ben S, Dave & Mike of Death Valley 2015 infamy!
Proud again later in the day that Adam decided "enough" for the first day after a very creditable 18 miles uphill and into gusting winds: his biggest ride in training all year was a single 20 miler, so a sterling effort but a mature decision to ensure he can ride again tomorrow.
Long, open roads stretching to the horizon, and our pics don't do the landscapes justice, let alone the views of Grand Canyon.
Needless to say that I'm a very proud dad at the end of this first day's leg-warmer!
Once all sorted, American Alex gave a briefing on the days' distances to the waterstops & lunch, and general info on keeping safe - ride on the other side of the road being the key point to take away!
Briefing over, and off we go! 2 years waiting for this, and even more special to have Adam cycling alongside, as had always been the plan.
And it was fantastic to reunite and to be riding again with so many others we've met on past events: Annie from London to Paris 2014, Martin & Steve from London to Paris 2015, and Andy C, Ben S, Dave & Mike of Death Valley 2015 infamy!
Proud again later in the day that Adam decided "enough" for the first day after a very creditable 18 miles uphill and into gusting winds: his biggest ride in training all year was a single 20 miler, so a sterling effort but a mature decision to ensure he can ride again tomorrow.
Long, open roads stretching to the horizon, and our pics don't do the landscapes justice, let alone the views of Grand Canyon.
Needless to say that I'm a very proud dad at the end of this first day's leg-warmer!
On our way - Newcastle to Gatwick & flight to Las Vegas!
If you've read my homepage, you'll understand that it has been quite a journey just getting to this point, the departure for our Grand Canyon cycle challenge, signed-up for at the end of 2015. Or to give it its Sunday title - "the Unite & Bike Against Cancer Grand Canyon Cycle Challenge!". I'm so proud that Adam is heading out with me, as always planned.
Well, the challenge lays ahead of us, and one can only imagine the stories and reasons behind each of the other 42 participants for heading out to the US and taking on this event - we'll learn more over the days, miles, laughs and struggles, and I wonder also of the staggering amount raised in total so far for our respective charities....
A humbling discovery as we shared breakfast in Gatwick airport before our flight, having reunited with some of our past cycling adventurers: young Adam is the reason at least 3 more of our party signed-up for this one...
So USA, look-out: there's a whole peloton of us heading your way with a mountain of reasons and bloody-minded grit & determination to cycle the 300-odd miles of Arizona & Nevada, to reach Las Vegas.
It was a great, smooth flight across the Atlantic to the US. We'd deliberately not slept on the plane, to try and ensure we did when we got to our motel later that evening. However the 5 hour coach transfer to Cameron, our destination for the night before the first day's cycling tomorrow, would have been more comfortable on a bike saddle - left me wondering whether the coach seats had actually been rejected by RyanAir for being too comfortable and affording too much leg-room!
Well, the challenge lays ahead of us, and one can only imagine the stories and reasons behind each of the other 42 participants for heading out to the US and taking on this event - we'll learn more over the days, miles, laughs and struggles, and I wonder also of the staggering amount raised in total so far for our respective charities....
A humbling discovery as we shared breakfast in Gatwick airport before our flight, having reunited with some of our past cycling adventurers: young Adam is the reason at least 3 more of our party signed-up for this one...
So USA, look-out: there's a whole peloton of us heading your way with a mountain of reasons and bloody-minded grit & determination to cycle the 300-odd miles of Arizona & Nevada, to reach Las Vegas.
It was a great, smooth flight across the Atlantic to the US. We'd deliberately not slept on the plane, to try and ensure we did when we got to our motel later that evening. However the 5 hour coach transfer to Cameron, our destination for the night before the first day's cycling tomorrow, would have been more comfortable on a bike saddle - left me wondering whether the coach seats had actually been rejected by RyanAir for being too comfortable and affording too much leg-room!
