Ultracycling: Idaho West to East Record

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Ultra Cycling Records
Idaho Bicycle Record
West to East (2001)

"I remember thinking not all improved roads on a map can be trusted."
by Christi Hall

I remember clearly my intentions: get plenty of rest (to bed by 8:00 p.m., arise around 2:00 a.m.). My goal was to be ready to go the day before, rest up and ride the fastest I could across the state. We all know . . . things change!

In reality, I never got any sleep, the crew and I were still making last minute preparations until well into the night and next day. At 2:00 a.m. on August 18, 2001 we began the one-hour drive to the starting point at the Idaho/Oregon border.

The Start! The start

By 3:27 a.m. I had started the journey! The night was cool and crisp, I was pumped up and the lack of sleep was not a factor (yet). After sunrise I soon felt the familiar heat that races across the desert, followed shortly by slight headwinds. I reminded my self to eat and drink. I also began to ask myself, "What am I doing?"

The first half of the ride I was intent to keep pedaling, keep drinking my Sustained Energy, and eat as much as possible. The course seemed to be never-ending rollers, with a few small climbs thrown in to keep me awake. This first 200 miles or so were pretty uneventful, two flats and 100 degree weather along with a little traffic was all I had to bear. The second half was quite memorable with the pothole roads, wildlife and strong headwinds. I remember thinking not all improved roads on a map can be trusted. I am sure I must have traveled on the road maintenance department's training road for filling potholes. Most were filled, but also left with heaps of fill. Then later on as we left American Falls heading toward Pocatello, I traveled the road they forgot to fill. This definitely kept me awake!

By the time we got close to the Chubbuck/Pocatello area I was shot. The fight of winds, heat and rough roads along with lack of sleep had really taken it's toll. The crew convinced me to take a sleep break. This was tough for me to do, as I have never in all my ultra ridings taken a sleep break before!

An hour later I was awakened to ride again! I felt worse, I was sleepy still, and had a hard time getting started. Also to my disappointment the still night when I went to sleep had been replaced with horrific headwinds that tormented me for four hours! I have a hard enough time climbing hills, but did the man upstairs really need to give me the winds with the hills?

The Hand-off! Taking a hand-off

I did my best to stay awake through the next night and constantly told my crew when I was feeling sleepy so they could do a song and dance to keep me going. The wildlife helped out as we got into the eastern Idaho mountains. Deer would run across the road right in front of me, owls flew by in an elegant silence, and a strange noise once in a while in the bushes seemed to keep me on my toes!

By the next sunrise I was close to finishing (well, within 80 miles). I knew this journey was to end and I would make it all the way. Two cyclists even rode up on me, after talking to with crew, and were amazed I had ridden so far. They even offered a draft, but of course I had to decline and watched them as they rode away with such freshness I had only remembered having several days before.

Finally, shortly after noon I reached my destination: Freedom, WY. My thoughts . . . I was now Free from my bike! What an adventure! I learned a lot, will never ride that course again, and have my crew to thank for my success.

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