Reports from Jamie's latest tour

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day 70

the case of the disappearing behind

Actual Date: 2007-07-13
Uploaded: fri, 13 jul 2007 18:11:19 -070
Distance: 123.00 km

Ironwood, Michigan to Iron River, Wisconsin.

Yes, I've just left the great state of Michigan. What an awesome place with fantastic people! This tour again reconfirmed my belief in that state as my favourite US place to bicycle tour.

I started riding today much earlier then yesterday and as a consequence invoked another head wind avoidance strategy by getting out before the wind grew in strength. By eating during the ride I was able to complete 60 km in low wind conditions with a nice 250 metre downhill and an average speed above the teens (km/hr) before the headwind, hill climbing, lower speed and daily ice showers came back after I passed Ashland.

After the past five days there is no doubt that Lake Superior is a much more rugged cycling experience then the other lakes. Rather then any one particular thing it's the combination of hills, storms, winds and temperature swings that take their toll. It's interesting pushing your limits and finding out what you can do. Soon I turn a corner and hopefully at least one of those elements will work with me and join the team! :)

Until today I've always enjoyed the sight of a power-generating wind propeller. I guess perspective changes when the wind that's whipping the blades around is your own personal headwind!

I neglected to mention meeting two cross continental cyclists yesterday. They've already crossed the US this year and are currently working their way back via Saulte Ste Marie and the Trans Canada highway. I also met a motorcyclist yesterday who took my Michigan backroads maps off my hands and another cyclist today who took over my high level Michigan map. Another pound or two of weight lifted from the bike and in a very good kharma kind of way!

Not surprisingly my body is starting to react in various ways to all of this exercise. I've noticied that my butt seems to be shrinking based on how loosely the chamois liners are now fitting. Most people (especially women for some strange reason) would like to experience the same problem but like all roses it too has it's thorn. Loose clothing can lead to chafing and that can become painful if not watched. One strategy is to use some baby powder. Another one is to use some bag balm at night and of course you could always downsize your liners assuming that you either brought a smaller size or can find some to buy.

Bag Balm is an agricultural product that is designed to be used on animals, especially cows. It's main purpose is to quickly heal chapped teats so that milking can continue before the cow experiences too much pain or stops producing milk. It does contain an anti-sceptic of some kind.

Although not tested on or intended for humans, cyclists seem to use this stuff to fix an entire assortment of problems including those related to the rear-end.

I've taken a small container of Bag Balm on every tour but my Lake Ontario one. By day three of that tour my primary focus was to find some so I am unlikely to make that mistake again.

Bag Balm can cause issues with your Brook's leather saddle so if you have that kind of saddle and decide to use Bag Balm keep the saddle protected with some kind of cover.

I've tried really hard on this tour to grow a beard but after 15 days of itchiness and irritation I am back to the roman, clean-shaven look. Now I just need to get a hair cut!

From the second state of this tour where headwinds are again forecast for tomorrow (from the NW this time) and where it's great to be riding the good life...

~Jamie N

Interested in bicycle touring? www.bicycletouring101.com

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Tour Statistics

(Based on riding days only)

Number of Riding Days: 34
Overall total so far: 3840.10 km
Daily Average: 112.94 km
Shortest: 53.00 km
Longest: 163.00 km

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