Ass Kicker

Sunday was the official start to the Tour de Kota. Saturday some of us rode to the ride. We loaded up our touring rigs, or trailers, and made our way South to Elk Point.

The route I picked was seventy (70) miles. We had a very nice tail wind. When you can maintain twenty miles per hour (20 MPH) with a fully loaded touring rig, you know you have a nice tail wind. Four (4) hours of riding, plus a stop for lunch, we arrived in Elk Point. We checked in and set up camp.

Sunday we got up, I made coffee using the Jet Boil, and we found breakfast burritos. The morning started calm and temperatures in the mid fifties (50’s). We broke camp and were on the road at about seven (7) A.M.

The route started flat and the winds were non existent. However, both were to change. We got into some roller hills. The winds kicked up pretty good and only gathered strength. It was looking like headwinds all day long.

I’d been battling a cold for several days. That did not help matters. It was going to be a grinder.

The winds managed to slow our pace to single digit speeds. We stopped at the rest stops for drinks and calories. I’d like to say I kicked the route’s and headwind’s collective asses, when in fact, they kicked mine.

We elected to modify the Tour de Kota official route to get back to Sioux Falls (the ride was actually going to Tea, SD) more directly. It was a wise choice. I don’t think there was a single (1) body part on me that wasn’t hurting. Eight (8) hours and twenty-five (25) minutes of saddle time later, I was finally home.

The bike was unloaded, the stuff was put away (more or less, mostly less), and some rib eye steaks were grilled to the point of being done enough to probably not pass along any food borne diseases. Steaks consumed, beers downed.

I took a shot of NyQuil to insure slumber and was asleep by 7:30 PM. The 6:30 AM alarm came much too soon.

Wednesday I’m off again. I’m riding loaded to a nearby town to catch a ride to get in on the last two (2) days of the Tour de Kota. I’ll be riding those loaded as well. The evening of the last day has me camping in a State Park. On Saturday I bike to my parents where a car has been planted.

I like touring. But, Sunday was a real ass kicker. The combination of many hours in the saddle and a probable sinus infection has me craving more rest.


Ride On.