Gator Blog: Day 6 The 2006-2007 Tour

It's amazing how the human body adapts to hard work. What initially starts out feeling difficult becomes routine. And so have things progressed at Gator Week. With six days under our belt, we've covered nearly 620 miles.

And it's beginning to feel like just another day on the bike.

Of course, when you have nothing to do all day except ride 100 miles, it really isn't that difficult. Break it up into fairly equal segments of 25-30 miles, and suddenly you just have four easy, short rides each day.

"Easy for you to say, Gerlich! You've been doing this for years."

"Not true," I retort. "We've got several first-timers out here this year who are burning up the road...and they aren't an old fart like me."

Which all makes me very happy. Our group has over a 30-year spread in age, and everyone is covering the ground with equal vim and vigor. Today we rode from Winter Garden to Bartow, an interesting route that included segments of several bike paths, extremely hilly riding through Clermont, rolling hills through the orange groves between Haines City and Lake Wales, and a return to table-top flat land the last 20 miles into Bartow. All told, we rode 105 miles, starting in a chilly light rain, and wrapping things up in mixed sun and clouds with temps in the low-70s.

This afternoon we bid adieu to Todd S. (Lexinton), and Tom, Robyn, and Ross R. (Chicagoland) as they completed their 4-day half-tour option. The remainder of our troop heads mostly south tomorrow for 112 miles to Lake Placid. Tom A. (Chicagoland) will conclude his 5-day option tomorrow as well.

I continue to be impressed by the riders in our group. I know that Becky and Mark on the crew find this tour to be quite easy to care for. It makes crewing so much easier when everyone is congenial and riding well. They get into a rhythm much like we do as riders: wake up early, prepare breakfast, head down the road for two sags and a lunch, and then arrive at the motel, check in, and set up the post-ride hangout.

Sometimes they get creative, like with today's Mango Tango slush drinks served at the afternoon sag.

And that's something my body could get adapted to quite nicely, thank you.

Nick "Brain Freeze" Gerlich