Oklahoma!! OK!

 

So to be honest, I was dreading this ride.  For two reasons. One if you look at the map just above, you’ll see that the cue sheet for the ride today was very simple. Turn left from hotel, ride 72 miles to Guymon.  Do not pass Go,  do not collect $200.  

Second, the wind forecast a few days ago was horrible.

When you’re riding in the mountains, you pay attention to the number and severity of climbs. When you’re riding in the desert or in the plains, you pay attention to the wind forecast. And we were looking at 15 to 20 mile an hour straight on headwinds with gusts from 30 to 40 miles an hour.

I was moaning about this a few days ago and my friend John said. “It doesn’t really matter. You know we’re going to do it anyway.“

He was right, and I think that’s a really good reason to sign up to do hard things. Especially hard things that are very difficult to back out of. Because you get in the middle of it and some adversity appears and you just deal with it. You don’t have a choice.  At home, if I was looking at a wind up to 40 mile an hour forecast, I would decide it was a really good day to stay inside on the trainer. Or maybe just hit yoga. Or possibly a matinee with a large bucket of popcorn.  (Definitely the matinee…). Here, you turn left and ride 72 miles to Guymon Oklahoma.

I didn’t have my video going, which is a shame, because Oklahoma native Jim started belting out some Rodgers and Hammerstein as we got to that sign.

That’s Jim on the right with the chaps.  
I don’t know how he rides in those.

All that said, the wind was a bit calmer than the forecast. Maybe 10-12 mph with no horrible gusts. And we organized into a group that held a paceline together for all 72 miles. We didn’t go particularly fast, but took turns pulling for a mile or two or 3 miles.  It’s sort of amazing to watch your power meter when you’re at the front and then when you were in second or third  or eighth position.  There were times I was pulling at the front doing 220 W to keep us going 15 or 16 miles an hour. If I was in second position more like 140 W. If I was in fourth or fifth position as little as 50 W. For the same speed.

It was not particularly scenic along the line. So I have just a few photos.

Me with Big Tex

I don’t know the backstory of big Tex. But someone clearly thought it was a good idea to build a 20 foot high cowboy out of what looks like paper Mâché.  It’s not exactly Michelangelo’s David, but it certainly fits with the scenery.

I didn’t get my camera out in time but we passed by Oklahoma Panhandle State University

In a future post, I will be compiling names and logos on all of the obscure colleges and universities we roll by. It seems like a lot!

In other news, say what you will about Oklahoma, but they provide you with wide shoulders clear of debris behind a big rumble strip to protect you. Good work, OK state Department of transportation!

Even better, the best western plus where we are staying (the plus is underlined) had our rooms ready for us when we arrived. Getting out of wet clothes, showering, cleaning up and having time to relax before dinner is a luxury.

Final amazing news of the day. I haven’t checked my work email for sometime. And when I went to do that, I realized I don’t remember my password anymore. How great is that! My out of office message said I wouldn’t be replying to people until the end of June. But now, for real, I can’t get into the account.  Oh glorious neglect!!  I couldn’t be happier. 

And look at this progress…

Next stop... Kansas!