With or Without You

Some days (or segments), you want to ride with a group and some days (or segments) you want to ride alone.  Several factors play into this decision.  On headwind days or segments, you definitely want to ride with a group.  This allows you to ride in a pace line and expend less energy while those in front of you bear the brunt of the wind.  You take turns throughout the ride so everyone has a chance to lead and follow.
Other factors that determine whether you ride with others and who you ride with : when you get up, when you eat breakfast or what sightseeing you want to do... The good news is that even if you ride alone for part of the day, you will likely happen upon others or have others roll up on you - either during the ride or at one of the rest stops. It is also fun to mix up who you ride with - some groups are more relaxed, some more chatty and some hammer from stop to stop.

7/13 -  Glendive, MT to Wolf Point, MT - 104 miles
On this particular morning, I started out with a group at breakfast and took a nice long stop at R1.  I rolled out listening to a mix of James Taylor and podcasts that I needed to catch up on...but my pace was leisurely for sure!

After rest stop 2, I was riding by myself and the headwinds were brutal.  I tried to text the van to let them know that I was lagging and where I was...unfortunately no service!  I watched the mile markers on the side of the road tick off in slow motion...unbearably slow....embaraasingly slow...was I going backwards??  I though I just saw that number...  I felt that I was likely last for the day and told the van that they could bring me water if they wanted to head to camp.  (Again, no service so txt was not received)

Just when I thought I couldn't go any slower, I pulled over for a break from the wind...the 3 musketeers (Mason, Catherine and Ron) and Ryan rolled up.  They had stayed in the last town to see a World Cup game and they were also cursing the head winds.

They said it was time for a break...which they were trying to take every 10 miles.  By break, they literally sit or lay down at a pull off on the side of the road...or in the grass..and relax and snack for 10 min before moving on... As we sat there, they told me how the game went and pulled a crazy amount of snacks and drinks from their bike jerseys to share...

I was so glad to see them!  We paced the rest of the way, stopped for Popsicles at rest stop three (thx for waiting Duncan!)...and were able to see a cool bridge and some amazing views as the sun was setting on our way to Wolf Point.

Ron and I picked up dinner at a grocery store and pedaled back to camp to feast.  One of the self contained riders that we have bumped into since New York, also joined us for our evening meal...and Kate and Justin ambushed me to help me put up my tent in 2 minutes.

Despite the mid- day wind...this was another great day on our adventure.