Wasted energy

DAY 04
Mineral, VA to Charlottesville, VA

If you're not familiar with cycling terminology, here's a brief crash course via Wikipedia. Drafting- a technique where two moving objects are caused to align in a close group reducing the overall effect of drag due to exploiting the lead objects slipstream. Slipstream- A region behind a moving object in which a wake (air) is moving at velocities comparable to the moving object, relative to the ambient fluid (air) through which the object is moving.  In practice the lead cyclist is breaking a path through the air while the air is whipping around and pulling the following cyclist along. In ideal circumstances this can reduce the energy required by the following cyclist by 40%. 

The five of us, Becky, myself, Allen, and our two new westbound friends Eric and Lauren leave camp together at 7 am.  56 miles into Charlottesville is our goal today. Becky and I pull up the rear as the other three power down the road. It's only day four and we are brand-new at long distance tour cycling. I have faith that our bodies will adapt and ultimately flourish at this new challenge... but not today.

I may not always be the best teacher, and she can sure as hell read the impatience on my face at times. But Becky knows how much I love her and that I always have her best interest at heart. On day two of this journey I began to lay the groundwork of showing and explaining how drafting works. On that day we got in an argument, where as the next conversation we had she casually asked if I remembered how the crazy woman last summer in Glacier National Park pushed her husband of eight days off a cliff. We didn't do any more teaching or learning that day. On day three I was riding Becky's slipstream, when she turned around and asked what I was doing. I replied "taking a break". A half hour later she crept up behind me and exclaimed, "this is a lot easier back here!". A perfect "I told you so" moment I kept to myself. 

Today on day four, all past lessons have been forgotten. I tried to stay with her, and would have pulled her along all day. However, Becky was on Becky time. When I'd slow to what felt like an excruciatingly slow pace, she'd align behind my slipstream, only to fall behind again complaining she'd used all her energy to catch me and didn't have anything left to stay with me. All I saw was wasted energy. Both of us breaking trail and no one conserving energy. It's not a race, we had all day to enjoy this journey, so in the end I sat back and enjoyed the ride... At Becky's pace.

Becky looking and feeling exhausted

Our new friend Eric had lined up a place to sleep and shower using the Warm Showers network. He graciously allowed us to tag-along. The woman's place we stayed at was surrounded by fraternity and sorority houses of the University in Charlottesville. Our host Amber did more than give us a roof and shower. We took over her whole apartment using her computer and kitchen. She was a wonderful trail angel. Thank you Amber.

Stats:
Miles: 64.03
Average pace: 10.5 mph