"These boys are incredible. I'm not sure they are human!" Lee's conclusion after finishing 67 miles in less than 6 hours today. Today's riding conditions were perfect! The guys got an early start at 7 am under sunny skies, no wind, with temps in the mid-60s most of the day. The road had big, wide shoulders that appeared to be swept clean almost the entire route.They had to climb 1,000 feet today. As usual the boys waited for their Uncle Lee at the top. Lee said that throughout the day Zhenya and Sasha take off riding and set a good pace, riding for 8-10 miles before stopping for a short break. Then they hop on their bikes and start pedalling again. Never complaining, never asking "when will we get there?".
Sasha's handle bars came loose today and flopped down due to road vibration. Lee got out the really cool mini bicycle road kit and fixed his handle bars for him. The only other road fix they have had to date is a tire in Yellowstone that Zhenya popped off when he was disconnecting his BOB trailer. They have made numerous adjustments to their brakes, as you would expect. Lee, Zhenya, and Sasha have 3 great new bikes for this trip. Thanks to Jason and the guys at the Cycle Works in Wrightsville, PA for outfitting our guys and training them on bicycle maintenance.
Early starts allow for much fun at the end of the ride. They finished at 1 pm and celebrated with a trip to Dairy Queen. Then it was off to their hotel to get rid of the bikes and the BOBs and change into clean clothing. They took a bus into Cody (a 3 mile ride) and toured the Buffalo Bill Museum. After that Sasha chose Japanese for dinner. They finished off the evening with the movie "Up". The only downside to the evening is that the bus service ended before the movie was over so they had to walk the 3 miles back to their hotel. Those three are going to be in excellent shape by the time this trip is over!!
DAILY STATS:
67 miles from Red Lodge, MT to Cody, WY
7:00 am to 1:00 pm, sunny and 65 degrees
Total elevation gain of 1,000 feet
397 total miles to date
As the days go by Sasha and Zhenya have gotten into the routine of getting ready to begin riding in the mornings. They know what needs to be done to prepare the bikes and the BOBs and they help Lee without being asked. Morning departures are quicker and easier as the three of them work as a team. That is fellowship at its finest! Thank you for continuing to pray for road safety, smart riding, and good fellowship. Tomorrow they are riding from Cody to the eastern border of Yellowstone National Park (an entrance they have yet to ride through).
