Wednesday - 08/29/2001 - 10:09 PM - Pre ride report
It's getting late enough in the evening that my left side of my brain is telling me to hit the sack early to get some good shut-eye in... but the right side is going about 200 mph thinking of all sorts of things. Did I get everything in my bags that I'll need for four hard days on the bike? Do I know how to get to the ride start location? What is the first day going to be like? These are the kind of nervous questions you can't answer with any kind of intelligence... just a simple waiting game and trying to keep a cool head about you. I wonder if an ice pack would help?
Had a chance to talk to friends and family all day long through email and phone. What a treat! A big thanks goes to all that chimed in and gave your well wishes. Robyn even surprised me this evening with a great gift that will hang on my tent each night. It's an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet with all sorts of pictures from friends and family. I'm hoping any DALMAC rider that passes by the tent and looks at the sheet will ask me who all the people are so I can have a chance to brag about my cheering section!
The plan is to leave from a friends house just south of Grand Ledge at around 8. All the other riders will be leaving from the main DALMAC start location which is just south of MSU. One of the riders I'll be riding with is featured in the October issue of Bicycling Magazine as "the best chic legs in the US." If you happen to have the issue handy, look for her, her name is Chris Lawless from Grand Ledge. Rumor has it she will sign copies if asked! :)
Each rider going on a 4 day route is required to sign-in either this evening or tomorrow morning prior to leaving. This gives riders a chance to drop off and load the two bags your allowed to take on the tour and get the required arm band needed to get into meals and other events throughout the tour. Since your 100% responsible for loading your own bags on the trucks, it's MUCHO important to put your bags on the correct routes truck. Put it on the wrong truck, and you will spend the next four days in the same shorts and jersey (ouch!). When you sign in you are also given the route book that describes the route in detail. Since this was my first DALMAC I was not sure what to expect regarding maps and directions. I knew it was going to be good, but after browsing the huge book each rider gets describing each segment of the route, I was amazed at the detail! Even to the point of marking where the major hills were! WOW!
Well, I think I've run the right side of the brain down enough to at least get my body in bed... Who knows if I'll be able to sleezzzzzzzzzz....
night night everyone...