Chad's spot for various thoughts, musings, poetry, ideas and whatnot

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Travelogue-Chapter 1

Having arrived in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake to prepare for the 2005 Masters national Time trial Championships in a bit over a week's time it was important for me to attend to the important details of the trip. Get the bike out of the box and get it put together and find some training routes. Coming in at 10:20 pm local time (12:20 am Georgia time) meant that things had to go smoothly for me to get things done. The bike arrived in great shape and Dad and I got it put together in no time with very little trouble. Then we went inside and discussed routes while looking at local maps of the region. I decided to follow my father's advice, "Go south, young man," and selected a course that woudl take me to towns with properly western names like Riverton City and Herriman.

As dawn broke, my body did what it always does at the sound of birds stirring and I awoke to cool temperatures and crystal clear skies. Sixty degrees and almost no humidity is something I could definitely get used to in June. I got my gear together and headed out. Living in a rural setting Iwas somewhat apprehensive about riding in an urban environment I was unaccustomed to but the urban planners here in the West Valley region of the larger metro area seemed to have cyclists in the back of their minds as evidenced by the wide parking lanes with no cars in them. As I headed south along the roads of the prefected laid out grid system, easily numbered to tell you how far south and west of the area's major religious landmark you were (as if knowing your distance from the self-proclaimed ecclesialogical center of the universe would help you if you lost your way in matters more than those geographical), I was inspired by the mountains on both sides of the valley. On my left, the Wasatch Range looking like nothing more than creases in a piece of paper partially crumpled by vast tectonic forces of great deliberation. To my right, the Occhre Range (as the locals call it) with foothills before the taller peaks in the not-so-distant distance.

As I rode I became aware of the wind which had been blowing here for days. Today it was from the south with enough force to make a rider take notice, even if he was in a time trial tuck. The rode undulated gently all the way out to Riverton City where I passed the village's high school, it's mascot the excellently chosen Silverwolves. Turning west, I expected the ride to get easier as I would no longer fought the headwind but was disappointed to find the road to be 7 miles of long uphill grade. At best it was false flat of 1-2% but at times, especially as I neared the foothills, the grade became crueler. Finaaly, as Iturned north to return to the vally I picked up the tailwind and descended off the low benches of the western range. It was exhilerating to ride at 40+ miles per hour with no switchbacks or interruptions. In my 54/11 I ticked out a 90 rpm cadence for nearly ten miles with little variance other than a few rolling hills. Finally I turn back towards the east and into the city.

I feel like it was the first jorney in my adventure out here. I don't know what tomorrow holds just yet. Maybe a trip to Antelope Island to look over the course and climb the beast. Maybe further south to the lake named after the tribe and not the mineral. Maybe into the Wasatch and its creased and folded terrain. New horizons to be explored for sure.

Thanks for reading.

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