| Distance | 89.64 kms | 55.92 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 549 meters | 1,801 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 5.88 | - |
| Avg speed | 9.4 kph | - |
| Avg climb | 2% | - |
| Max grade | 9% | - |
| Distance | 25,994.79 kms | 16,152.54 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 272,102 meters | 892,723 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 1,836.51 | - |
Wednesday, April 16th, 2014
I continue along the dirt track that parallels the highway - it gets pretty rough at times but eventually I run into the exit for Westwater. I was shooting for that last night but I ran out of time. I've got an east wind in my face all day. Ugh. I have traveled west so infrequently on this trip that when I do I feel like it is almost my right to have the wind at my back... but of course the wind has other ideas.
I cross the Colorado state line and get off the highway at Fruita. The Colorado visitors center gives me a plethora of maps for free, then I head into the town. Stops at a few bike shops don't turn up any 11-34 cassettes. I'm going to have to call ahead to a bike shop somewhere down the road to have them order me one.
It's a short trip into Grand Junction from Fruita on the back roads. I check out a few more bike shops a guy in Fruita told me about just for kicks and giggles but no cassettes there either. Grand Junction seems like a pretty cool town, lots of sculptures around, a nice Main Street, friendly people. At the last bike shop I get talking to an employee for a while. He has toured with his wife in Europe on a tandem. He recommends a cheap motel down the street so I get a room as a base of operations for my electronics shopping spree.
