COLORADO

Difficult to tell, but it appears that the boys arrived in Colorado somewhat on schedule. Perhaps its a function of their superb route planning, thorough preparation and the intense support of their back-up crew - more likely to be the result of having not been able to find a bar in Utah. 

Cellphone and blackberry service has been a bit spotty so I'm not sure exactly where they got to and when, but the big issue appears to be how they will traverse the Rocky Mountains with snow predicted to start falling soon. The picture here is of two random blokes who look quite well prepared for cycling in the snow & should not be confused with Sumo & Bugs.

Lets not forget that there are also other risks & sure enough, things started to 'kick off' on October 2nd - from here on to be known as the first real "Daybacle" of the Tour;

"Lads,

Massive day yesterday.
Disaster finally struck.

We broke down in the desert (Buggys back wheel buckled and pretty much collapsed so it was unrideable) somewhere around the Utah / Colorado border. We were 50 miles from the nearest shop or town behind us and 70 miles forward. Ironically this was the one day with the longest stretch of nothing - where the guide book says don't set off unless you're certain you can make 120 miles and have enough water, supplies etc. We broke down more or less in the middle. 90 degrees, baking hot and we were by the side of the road in fairly dire straits. Sultans of Swing mungus. Desperately dire straights really with no tent or anything to stay in the desert and we hadn't seen a car for well over an hour. Buggy hopelessly trying to mend something with his bare hands that was unmendable in,vI have to say, a remarkably picturesque setting (got some good photos..).

Eventually got picked up by the nicest bloke I've ever met, in a pick up truck who took us to the next town, then we transfered to the pick up truck of his son who drove us 80 miles out of his way (plus he had to go 80 miles back) to the nearest bike shop where we could get a new wheel. Plus on the way he insisted on taking a sightseeing detour to show us some indian settlement ruins in a canyon a few miles off the road. I nearly chinned him for making us clamber over rocks in our cycling shoes. Then he took us to the bike shop and then to find a motel!

So we went out last night and got absolutely langered. It had to happen sooner or later. At one stage we had the whole bar chumming in around a map planning the next stage of our route - just woken up with umpteen napkins and beer mats with alternative routes on. Buggy commandeered the barmaid's stereo, did his Jagger on the bar, rounds of shots with the local sherrif, etc etc etc

We're now somewhere near Cortez, Colorado with hangovers waiting for the bike shop to finish servicing the bikes (rebuilding in Buggy's case). From here its a big climb as we approach the foothills of the Rockies.

Buggy has just unveiled his latest master plan to reduce weight and increase daily mileage - ditch our luggage and the racks on the back of our bikes and just have a small handlebar pouch with spare inner tubes and passports and just wear our cycling gear in the evenings.. Bearing in mind we've ridden in the same gear for 13 days without washing it and we only have 1 set of 'evening wear' anyway there's not a lot of scope for movement. Might have first shave soon. Buggy now looks like Brian Blessed.

The debacle continues...
Sumes"

October 5th Update-

After making it through the above, CT & Paul have now arrived in the foothills of the Rockies in Pagosa Springs & it appears that the weather is not cooperating. Despite a trip to Walmart to buy some warm gear, the Lads are in feverish debate with each other (& several local so-called experts) about whether to take on Wolf Creek Pass which is at high altitude. Apparently during Winter in the US, you are more likely to encounter snowstorms on the top of a mountain than in the foothills - who knew???

Anyway - the debate seems to have polarized people into two camps. In the "Lets go for it - what do they know anyway?" camp is one P Evans. Everyone else is in the Captain Cautious, "Lets avoid a helicopter rescue" Wuss clique.

Doppler radar is now engaged to determine if they can ascend tomorrow... Stay tuned.