:: shift7 ::

:: north/south adventure ::

after the ride:

day +01
it was a day of travel. certainly a different kind- the commercial pace. drive from yuma to phoenix in about 3.5 hours at 90mph. the scenery didn't really change. there were about five places to get gas between the two cities- not many considering the distance. you couldn't really grasp how hot it was or how the day began to warm. we started at 6am in order to drop thomas off and get me to the airport on time. the bike was packed- disassembled. everything was in containers and the trip was already becoming a story. remember that, and remember this. but the stories will live much longer than the trip. the laughs and the pains will be enjoyed as if they were yesterday- even years from now.

the weather in minneapolis (where i had a lay-over) was rainy and cold- totally overcast- it almost looked weird. it only took 2.5 hours to fly from there to here. it was in the low 100's in phoenix. it was all brown and dry from the sky, not a cloud could be found when i left. it all changed so quickly. it was like a different world. the pace at which you can't notice the details- it's just two different places, that's all. there is no in between.

it's been in the works for a long time. and now we finally enjoyed it. my dad and i have wanted to take a bike trip together for years, and after various tries and various obstacles it became reality. it's not something i can put into words right now. but i know as i was riding, as i saw him ride, it was something that went deeper than even i knew at the time. and it also goes without saying that it was awesome to be involved with the entire team.

it was also a trip i've had in my mind for years as well. places that i kept wanting to go. areas i had no idea about. stories i wouldn't even think about making up. it was good. it was what i thought it would be- a sequence of events that could only form themselves. sure we had a plan, but that was the outline.

my ankle is fine. i'd say its about 98-100%. the more i biked the more everything started to work. it took 23 days to get everything just right. the only physical worry now is that i'll cramp up at work sitting around all day. my day to day will be tough. even today i felt like spinning my legs. as if they were restrained when i was just sitting in the car or on the plane. they're not really doing anything. how could i be so cruel to them after what they've given me?

the wheels on my bike are splitting from spoke to spoke- something i wanted to ignore the last couple days and hope they made it. i kept a close eye on it but had no real options to fix it. it's one of those things that once it goes you need another wheel. and where would i get another wheel around there. they made it- and on the last day with the heat and the bumps and cracks in the road it was like rolling raw eggs on gravel. easy does it. the shifter made it too- although i didn't use it the last two days (only high gears). i guess it's repair time. clean it up, get it running smooth again, and start thinking about the next adventure- but wait we already have a list of ideas. we started thinking about those on mile 3.5 (the first day from canada) after the initial shock had turned to adrenaline. to sign-up email eric@shift7.com

watch for the upcoming top ten list from the team.