Tag: windy

Day 12

Plan: There are 120 miles left to go, but I want to do 80 on Monday, so today, I’m only doing about 40 miles.

IMG_20160625_082439426_HDR

Outcome: The wind was 25-30 mph for most of the day.  Cold too, about 50°F when I started.  It knocked me off Uni so many times, I couldn’t stay on.  I even tried to crouch down so I wasn’t as much to hit by the wind.  It helped, but not enough.  Every part of my body ached.  I had to call it a day after 2 hours of fighting through it hard core.  But on the bright side, I will be well rested to do 100 miles on Monday!  Canada, here I come!

 IMG_20160625_100052543_HDR     IMG_20160625_100132753

Day 12 Stats:

Started at 7:55am in Great Falls, MT

Ended at 9:55am in Vaughn, MT

2 hours of riding

14 miles

Random Fact:

Not so much about unicycles, but I was born deaf and grew up oral (talking, not signing).  I learned American Sign Language when I was 14, going to junior high school.  I never knew how much I would continue to use it throughout my life.  I love it!

Day 6

The beautiful day began with moving tables for the garage/yard sale our friends were having.  Then back to Idaho Falls, Idaho where I began my ride at 8:00am.  It was going great!  And then about 30 miles out the highway turned into a dirt road and my wheel kept flipping under me.  Don’t worry, Uni and I are just fine and kept going.

Day 6 blown over

We ate at a taco truck in Hamer, Idaho.  So good!  Homemade tortillas and everything!  I love Mexican food.

IMG_20160618_122339251_HDR

IMG_20160618_125916033

There was even a wild(?) white turkey across the street!  It seemed as though he wanted to keep looking at himself in the glass doors.  Haha!  In the picture it’s running away from me on the left…the tree is blocking its head.  Sorry.

IMG_20160618_124727046

Later, the wind picked up hardcore and I was on a loose gravel road.  It was no fun.  There were tons of cows, though.  And anytime I tried to get close to them, they’d run away!  I ended the day in Dubois, Idaho after about 58 miles at 3:30pm.  Whew!  Not too far from Montana now!

Day 6 cows

Day 6 cow run

Day 6 Stats:

Started at 8:00am in Idaho Falls, ID

Ended at 3:30pm in Dubois, ID

6 hours of riding

58 miles

Random Fact:

The One Wheel Man bought his 36-inch unicycle on KSL from a man for just $70 back in 2014.  It needed a lot of fixing up (i.e. pedal fell off while riding it).  But it was the best $70 spent!

Day 4

Alright.  Time to keep going!  I’ve learned in order to recover appropriately and quickly, you need some proper sleep.  We were staying a ways away from where I ended yesterday in Malad City, Idaho, that I got a little bit of a later start, but not too much.  7:50am and super cold at 55°F.

IMG_20160616_151946779

I thought it’d warm up fast…but it was no more than 65°F the whole day.  And windy too.  Bugs kept hitting me (face, legs, jersey, etc) like roadkill.  Dragonflies, flies, beetles, butterflies, you name it.  But I have to admit that the ride, though hilly, was very pretty.  Great scenery.

IMG_20160616_081713922

Sadly, Uni started giving out again and made it difficult to ride.  Luckily I made it to Pocatello, Idaho by 3:45pm after 52 miles.  We stayed nearby at a good friend’s house.  They were so awesome (just like all the others we’ve stayed with thus far) and gave great hospitality.  You rock Halls!

IMG_20160616_090532495

We tried to put our new frame on…but soon came to realize it was the wrong size.  Dang it!  The frame was too wide to fit onto the wheel bearings, and also the seat post has a bigger diameter on the new frame.  Things weren’t looking so good.  We might have to overnight ship a new unicycle altogether.  But we’re going to keep going!

Day 4 Stats:

Started at 7:50am in Malad City, ID

Ended at 3:35pm in Pocatello, ID

6.25 hours of riding

52 miles

Random Fact:

The One Wheel Man started riding a 20-inch unicycle at the age of 15.  He wanted to be a clown since he’d been doing so well at pantomiming.

Day 3

Okay!  Day 3 of riding a unicycle long distance.  I can do this!  It was a cold morning at 7:40, but I soon warmed up.  The first 20 miles were really windy.  It makes it kind of hard to stay on and do hills…

IMG_20160615_080717785

I made it to Idaho!  Now to just finish the stretch of the longitude of Idaho and I’ll be in Canada.  Just 10 more days of riding…

IMG_20160615_133121666

I passed a lot of cows (Idaho, go figure).  But remember, cows smell like manure.  I was reminded of childhood memories of my dad rolling down the windows and driving slow by these kinds of fields.  He grew up farming and loved the smell.  I didn’t.  I tried to ride as fast as I could through those parts.

IMG_20160615_083830637

I made it to Malad City, Idaho at 3:30pm.  57 miles and two states, not bad.  In training, I did about 150 miles a week.  Now I’ve done it in 3 straight days and 3 more to go this week!  My legs are on fire!

Day 3 smile

Now on to more hills!  It’s all about the climb, right?

Day 3 Stats:

Started at 7:40am in Brigham City, UT

Ended at 3:30pm in Malad City, ID

6.25 hours of riding

57 miles

Random Fact:

The diet of athletes, at least One Wheel Man:

60 grams of carbs and 25 grams fo protein within 1 to 2 hours before and after workout.  PLUS 60 grams of carbs every hour during workout.

If One Wheel Man cycles 6-7 hours a day, you do the math.  It’s a lot of work!