Wrapping Up. Taking Stock

A week from tomorrow I fly to Banff.  I've only had a few pangs of nervousness but I'm sure the worst will be getting on that plane without the other Sheila.  I'm trying not to have expectations, but instead to be open to the flow of the divide.
Yeah, whatever.  This is just weird.  We've become like an old married couple always knowing what to expect from the other and providing each other encouragement all along the way.  SheilaT tackled the divide alone in 2014 when I came home.  She did great.  I'm going to channel that.

Down to business.  Training has really sucked the past month.  Weather in Texas has been terrible and quite frankly, I'm sick of training.  I'd love to take my Willits to the desert and shred some dry trail.  I've entertained myself by tackling some local hills on the loaded bike just to see if I could and by cruising around downtown Austin.  In 2011 and 2014 we were still in drought so there were plenty of opportunities to take the loaded bike on trails to see how it handled.  I've done some gravel but everything is so wet this year.  I'll just work it out as I go.

I'm still waiting on a couple of items to come in.  Wool socks and glove liners mainly.  The coolest addition to the kit is a pair of custom poogies SheilaT made to protect my hands on the hoods.  Descending Galton Pass in the wee hours was so horrible for both of us in 2014.  Thank goodness for the plastic bags we had and were able to use as wind breaks.

So just over a week to go and I'm still in a shoe quandary.  Manufactures mostly make shoes for men or women with larger feet.  My heels are narrow and I just can't find anything that fits properly that will work for this application.  My backup plan is to use my 2013 Pearl Izume Enduro III - no longer made.  I have 4 pairs of shoes that I have tried that did not work.  My latest test in the morning will be to add heel pads to the best fitting of the lot (held in by moleskin) and see if they are comfortable enough.  Contact points - hands, butt, feet.  Have to be perfect.

I have managed to work in some rides and have tried to have some fun while I get this all together.  Finishing and printing my cues and putting the .gpx onto my Etrex are my last really big things.

Sultry climb up Scenic Dr. over Lake Austin @ race weight

Lovely time with paddling friends getting ready for Texas Water Safari

The Sheilas.  And yes.  We. Are. Awesome!

And lastly.  The Fargo used to be in that spot.  Work your magic Bicycle Sport Shop.

To The Nitty Gritty

Now the middle of May and some things could be farther along - like my weekly mileage.  If it's not one thing it's another.
And my cues.  My cues could be way farther along.  I have a full set of edited cues from 2011, edited to use again in 2014.  I "assumed" I could start with those and just add all map addenda since that time.  Never assume.  The first thing I noticed was addenda dates that were June 2014.  Definitely added after SheilaT and I had put the finishing touches on ours.  Good think there was nothing major as SheilaT completed the route fine.  I've decided a start from scratch method is best.  2015 Addenda have been downloaded.  Such a long process but helps for route review.

And gear.  I am actually surprised that my entire rig is not totally dialed in at this point.  Last month's GG showed me the cockpit needed adjustment so I put on a higher stem with much improvement.  I've been using a loner Fizik Vesta successfully so one is on order.  I'm not loving my Salsa Ti seatpost.  It seems to ratchet back too easily and I'm not strong enough to adjust it with the mini muli-tool I'll be carrying.  Well a shout out to #Erickson who did a fine job of refurbishing my 2011 Sweetpost.  She is lovely and ready to go.  Still working on shoes.  Sure wish manufacturers would make narrow shoes for women and not just smaller mens designs.  



 What would a blog post be without photos.

Sun up on pedestrian bridge over Town Lake

 

Professor Al and Teach Sheila To Not Be Stranded - Part 1

Sleeping out for an early roll to see my friends finish the Texas Water Safari Prelim.  Ride - Martindale, Texas to Victoria, Texas

Below Mansfield Dam on a "Dam Loop"

Fly to Banff in 23 days.  #TourDivide2016