Camping in City Park & Saddle Soreness

Stats Monday, Aug 9 – Austin to Eureka; day distance 70.2; ride time 4 h 50 m (6 h); ave speed 14.03; total climb 2,907; total distance 516.4.

Last night we slept in the city park – for free! I had read journals of other previous transcontinental cyclists who have done this and been awakened by the automatic sprinkler system. We slept on a concrete picnic area that had a canopy. So, we thought we were pretty safe. After having gotten up about 5:15 the sprinklers came on at 6:00. They shot water partially on the area on which we slept. Rising early has its advantages!

Within the first hour of our ride today we noticed this home site from an earlier era. Mickey, being an owner of rental properties in Texas, is thinking of expanding his holdings (J). In 2005 this place would have qualified as a CA fixer-upper for $999,999. Not anymore.

In reality we imagined the history of this home – the laughter, the tears, the worries, the blessings that took place there as a family “did life.”

Today was a relatively easy day. A couple of climbs coming out of Austin. Then we enjoyed a 35 mile flat to slightly downhill section with a tailwind. This part of Nevada has numerous mountain ranges running north and south with valleys in between. The valleys may be 10, 15, or in today’s section even 30 plus miles wide. Cresting a pass you can see the next mountain ridge 20 or 30 miles away. EXPANSIVE understates the valleys! Photographs cannot portray their scope. Entire cities could be situated in them.

We’ve been on the road now for a week.

We are learning a few things. Like how to deal with one’s derriere. This was a concern of mine as in the past on some century rides I had experienced some saddle soreness. After century rides at home usually I am off the bike for the next two or three days. That’s not an option now. Being on the saddle six to seven hours a day (everyday) has its consequences.

In case you were wondering here’s how we’ve dealt with it. Products (such as Chamois Butt’r) are available to ease the friction and pressure points. However, using this after the first two days it was not a panacea for saddle soreness. I thought to myself, “Guess I’m going to have a sore rear for the next six weeks.”

This is a topic that one can discuss openly with others who are on the road touring. Ryan and Ryan from Chicago gave some excellent tips. Adjust your seat up or down or forward or backward a little every two or three days. This puts the pressure on a slightly different area. Another tip - get off the bike throughout the day. They were on the road sunup to sundown but they might be off the bike as much as five hours a day. So we’ve been stopping every 20 miles and taking a break for 10 minutes – allowing the pressure spots to get circulation again. Also, it helps to stand pedaling. Feeling sore? Just stand up for two minutes. Saddle soreness has not gone away completely. But our backsides are doing pretty well now. One can also shift position and weight on the saddle to one side or the other. Additionally, for us, getting an early start is great. We try to be pedaling no later than 7:30. The last couple of days we’re done by 1:00 or 2:00.

Tonight (as we did in Austin) we are camping in the city park of Eureka. Free. Checked in with the sheriff’s office. They have clean, nice bathrooms. I showered outside with a hose. A city employee came by and adjusted the automatic sprinkler system to come on at 8:00 instead of 7:00. Don’t know if she just “happened” to come by or if she was informed by the sheriff’s office that a couple of cyclists are in the park tonight. Probably was tipped off.

Eureka’s population? 630. The sign outside Eureka advertises itself as the friendliest town on the loneliest road in America.

They’ve done us good!