job or pharoah?

[fastrog]

Somebody tell me it gets easier. Started  the Transam east to west recently and so far have had 102 degree day, the route barricaded by flooding, what some tell me is the most severe single climb -- steep switchbacks to Afton/Rockfish Gap and the scariest downhill I have ever done -- steep, sharp slalom Blue Ridge Parkway to Vesuvius, Va. with some seriously useless disc brakes by the bottom.  Unavoidably, I started late and trained in flat Florida, but i still feel some plagues are falling on me. Not giving up, but seriously hope better days are ahead.

[jamawani]

Dear Fastrog -

I will not lie to you.
There are many times on tour that I suspect I need my head examined.
But - - -

The bad times beget the sublime moments that make it so worthwhile.
Give yourself time and I am sure the Red Sea will part for you.
Perhaps not now, not next week - but eventually.

Kentucky can be tough, too. Enjoy the Baptist Church hostel in western Ky - great folks who run it.
Missouri can be tough, also. Kansas and eastern Colorado can stretch endlessly - and bake.
(Gawd, this guy is really a bummer, no?)

Then you save dessert for last. The Colorado Rockies are stunning - and you will be super fit by then.
If you can, give yourself a little extra time to enjoy Grand Teton NP - camp at Jenny Lake and hike a bit.
In Yellowstone, consider looping via Lake and Canyon rather than the direct shot from West Thumb to Madison.
Ride early to avoid traffic - great hiker/biker campsites, esp. at Canyon - the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is worth it.

The mountains aren't as high in Montana, but the wide open spaces and sparkling air are worth the wait.
And Missoula is simply the super-dooper-est college town in the USofA.
Next up - Idaho - seriously try to camp near, then soak at Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. Across the pack bridge.
And the rugged canyons of eastern Oregon are really sweet - consider the route via Smith Rocks State Park.

<<<>>>

East-to West is hard - esp. starting in June. Hot, humid, grueling.
Just keep plugging away - you can do it.
Slow down, smell the petunias, and if you are frazzled - - stop for a long break or for the day.
I don't care whether you ride 29 miles or 92 miles. But 92 miles can make for a really grumpy cyclist.

Give yourself permission to wing it and have fun. - - Jama

[fastrog]

thanks, jama. feel better already. i lived in missoula and oregon, so agree on the nice things to come. grew up in kentucky, so have some idea of what to expect. virginia, so far, has been rougher than i had expected, in part to bad weather, late start, training in the flats and being older than i used to be.

[jamawani]

It's shocking - - but I'm older than I used to be, too!  ;-)

[staehpj1]

Hang in there.  I definitely found Virginia, and Kentucky to be the hardest part of the TA with Missouri to be pretty hard as well, at least as far as the riding went.  I was going the opposite direction though.

For me the hot weather was probably as much of a challenge as the terrain.  We hard record highs what seemed like the whole trip.  This year looks to be similar in that regard.  Stay hydrated and get a lot of your miles in early.  Take it easy in the hottest hours of the day, either don't ride then or at least take it easy then.

Have a great trip.  It is a wonderful route.

[Pat Lamb]

Weather never seems to be average when I'm there; but it was a week of 100+ days in Kansas that got to me.

I don't remember Afton as being too bad, but the road down to Vesuvius was ... memorable?  I don't think you'll see anything quite that bad for the rest of your trip.  Does that help?

[fastrog]

yes, that helps. vesuvius descent still the worst and afton the worst. pat of afton's issue was heat and new. loose chip seal. lots of slipping on the little gravel.