MORGAN HILL, CA (BRAIN)—The 17 riders who left Morgan Hill for Las Vegas yesterday were off the breakneck pace Specialized’s Chris D’Alusio predicted, but they still managed to cover 141 miles at an average pace of 14.8 miles per hour.
On Tuesday, before the group left Morgan Hill, D'Alusio suggested an average pace of 17.6 miles per hour for the first leg of the 604-mile voyage.
BRAIN’s publisher, Marc Sani, who is along for the five-day ride to Interbike, called the Specialized group “animals” and praised the five retailers on the ride for “hanging right in there.”
The riders enjoyed beautiful weather, with temperatures in the 80s and some wind across the Central Valley. After tackling the steep grade of Mt. Hamilton, they enjoyed a screaming descent and rolling hills through the countryside.
After logging nine-and-a-half hours in the saddle, the riders got a sweet reward at Lake McSwain where they took a dip in the man-made resevoir.
The group spent last night camping next to the lake. They’ll need a good night’s sleep for the next leg of the ride.
Sani said he couldn’t imagine a harder route than the one the first day, but riders have an equally tough day ahead of them.
Today’s ride will gain more than 19,000 feet in elevation over 126 miles. The group will travel through the Sierra Nevada range passing by Yosemite, up and over 9,945-foot Tioga Pass, before descending into the historic town of Lee Vining near Mono Lake.
The group will roll into Demo Day on Monday.
