Starting to feel like it’s REAL! 36 days before embarking on a cross-country bike trip. Feeling so grateful to be in the mix.

After a weekend of the Seattle to Portland (STP) ride, feeling pretty good and ready to GO. STP is 206 miles that is supported for 1 day and 2 day riders. Did the 2 day to simulate the X USA ride. Me, my training bud (Scott Brinkman) and 5000 of my closest friends. Not going to lie, Day 1 we did 140 miles and 3800 feet of ascending from Seattle to Castle Rock, WA. – kinda tough! Beautiful early with Mt. Rainier out in her shining glory, but then by 10:00 – hot, hot, hot, reaching into the mid to upper 90’s and even higher road temps. Yep – blazing! Day 2 was a mere 67 miles with only 1900 feet of ascending. Marine layer early and then hot getting into Portland. Lots of friendly folks all trying to have fun on a bike ride.

While this was a training ride, you still have to train to get to this point. So it is all about time in the saddle and miles on the legs. Plus need to train to figure out your hydration (water, electrolytes) and nutrition (bars, gels and gummies) before you go. Then adapt based on the weather conditions. Ya seems obvious, but it needs to be in your conscious mind – drink, eat, drink, repeat. For the weekend, it worked out great!!! Proved that I can do back to backs, so time to start amping up the mileage, back to backs and nutrition – geez, what a life!