(Above)The evening celebration included dancing to the music of the Fireants - a Wyoming cajun band |
(Below)This sign was posted in a Buffalo restaurant. The owner found out the hard way that cyclists work up quite an appetite |
The conditions bringing on such glee included a 15 mph tail wind, brand new pavement closed to all motorized vehicles, and a long gradual downhill. Each individual component gives a pleasant bicycle moment, but to have this convergence of all elements in one stretch of highway created a real adrenalin rush.
A special thank you to the Wyoming Department of Transportation
Mark Gillett, District Engineer Wyoming Dept of Transportation Box 668 Sheridan, WY 82801 |
Our first day’s route for the six-day Tour de Wyoming began in Dayton and passed through Sheridan before popping out on Interstate 90 for the final 12 miles into Buffalo. For half those final miles, we had construction on the Interstate. Amazingly, since we were biking on a Sunday when workers had the day off, our 330 cyclists were allowed to use the closed section of the interstate. We ran our bikes on a strip of brand new pavement; it was like having a 20 ft wide bicycle path all to ourselves.
Getting a bike up to 40 mph with minimal effort and few risks – no rough pavement and no cars – is a real giggle. I grinned the entire six miles and the adrenalin rush kept me hyped all the way to our day’s destination at Buffalo High School.
As Tour Director of the event, there is nothing better than seeing participants arrive with smiles on their faces and twinkles in their eyes. Positive energy abounded as riders grabbed their luggage from our transport truck and set up “camp” for the day around or inside the school facilities. Others, preferring a more civilized mode, headed for local motels. We gathered later at the City Park for an excellent dinner of pasta, salad and ice cream provided as a fundraiser by the school band. Our added treat, made possible by a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council, was a performance by the Wyoming Cajun band, the Fireants.
So began the 10th Tour de Wyoming. The event, put on entirely by volunteers to promote safe cycling in the state, has grown from its initial 45 riders. Now rider numbers are capped at 330.
I approach such a physical challenge by considering it in segments. We had rest stops, complete with food and drink, at regular intervals on the route. Over the seven hours it took me to bike the 64 miles (including 7,774 ft of climbing!), I focused only on the next rest stop – a distance I knew I could complete.
With that mental method, I eventually made it up to Powder River Pass where I danced a bit of a jig before heading off the mountain to Ten Sleep.
By the end of the day, my legs were mush but I felt like a million bucks.
Our wonderful hosts in Ten Sleep provided a barbecue dinner and, as a special treat, we were entertained by Ten Sleep’s own artist and songwriter Jalan Crossland, renowned for his guitar and banjo finesse.
By mid afternoon temperatures approached triple digits. The heat was oppressive and draining, but we pressed on to the cozy community of Meeteetse.
The surprise there was the cloud cover caused, not by thunderstorms, but by the nearby Little Venus forest fire. While the flames were a good 30 miles away, ash, resembling snowflakes, fluttered down in town making for labored breathing and dusty clothing.
As I neared town and found a nice downhill run, I had the silly goal of getting my bike speed high enough so that I actually had to slow down at city limits to meet the 30 mph speed limit. It was a goofy little target but I inched my speedometer up to 33 mph, thus requiring me to ease off to meet the posted speed limit. I let out a hearty “Ha!” as I entered town, grinning all the while. I probably appeared a bit deranged to any non cyclists in the vicinity.
In spite of the welcome cover caused by real clouds, I dripped sweat on the grind up the mountain. Moisture formed beads down my face, and a final dripping point off my chin.
The other riders inspired me to keep plugging away. Out of 330 cyclists, nearly 300 made it up on their own power.
It was an awesome day for all of us to crank it up the mountain, one painful pedal at a time – and then celebrate at Granite Pass. The pride of accomplishment made it all worthwhile.
