Tandem and training hard.

[will dehne]

I am training for a SAG supported Fast South Cross America Ride in April. To do that we wintered in FL for two months. Part of the training was 70 miles in the AM followed by 30 miles in PM.
While doing that we were joined by two interesting people. Mel and Marlene from Davenport Iowa. He is 73 and she is 70.
We were pacing at 17 MPH average regardless of conditions because that is what the tour requires.
Remarkable is that Mel and Marlene kept up with us. Yes, they were drafting but it is still quite an accomplishment.
Here are some pictures:
http://images.photo.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43237%3Enu%3D3245%3E977%3E596%3EWSNRCG%3D323346877296%3Cnu0mrj

http://images.photo.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43238%3Enu%3D3245%3E977%3E596%3EWSNRCG%3D3233469%3A%3C289%3Bnu0mrj

http://images.photo.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43238%3Enu%3D3245%3E977%3E596%3EWSNRCG%3D323346876%3A7%3A4nu0mrj

[dbg]

I'm looking forward to retirement. These things sound so cool.

(btw, I grew up in Rockford and still have family there (Greens and Keelings)

[sch]

Your posts of the last year ride were very interesting, looking forward to blow by blows
of this years ride. For those who missed the thread, Will joined a group that rode from
Cal to IIRC South Carolina, Pacific to Atlantic and averaged 100-120mi/day last year and
posted a daily account in the 50+ forum. This is not
a wine and cheese tour as most days only 6-8 hrs were spent on the bike. I haven't
appreciated that your wife is as accomplished a rider as you are. Which couple is on the
tandem?

[will dehne]

Your posts of the last year ride were very interesting, looking forward to blow by blows
of this years ride. For those who missed the thread, Will joined a group that rode from
Cal to IIRC South Carolina, Pacific to Atlantic and averaged 100-120mi/day last year and
posted a daily account in the 50+ forum. This is not
a wine and cheese tour as most days only 6-8 hrs were spent on the bike. I haven't
appreciated that your wife is as accomplished a rider as you are. Which couple is on the
tandem?

For those interested:
The tour is a Fast tour at average 120 miles/day. Some days 160 miles.
You are supposed to be able to do 100 miles in six hours to participate.
It is 3000 miles from John Wayne airport, CA to Tybie Island, GA.
SAG supported.
I did that tour in 2006. There were no Tandems but two Recumbent (struggling to keep up).

The above top picture is me and my wife and our Tandem. She did train with me on some days but she cannot do the tour due to a problem with over-heating. No solution has been found except dropping a lot of weight which we do not want to do. I like her the way she is.:D
I did most my training on Trek Madone as did Mel, the other couple on the second picture. She has a Trek Postal Edition.

[will dehne]

I'm looking forward to retirement. These things sound so cool.

(btw, I grew up in Rockford and still have family there (Greens and Keelings)

Yeah, I recommend it. All you need is your health and a bit of money.