She's currently doing what??

About 8 months ago my sister started looking into fixed gear bikes. (A "fixie" only has one gear that is fixed, meaning you can never coast because the pedals are always moving. You can't shift up or down if you have a big mountain to climb or are descending fast.) She would call up enthusiastically every time she placed a new bid on a bike posted on ebay. She eventually got a fixie that was an old Shogun 10-speed from the 1980s that got turned into a fixed gear in the winter of 2008-2009, she named it "Phoenix" because it's an old bicycle being born into new life. 

With her new fixed gear obsession she decided what could more fitting than to ride the great Continental Divide between Canada and Mexico, and become the first ever to finish all 2, 745 miles on this type of bike. Riding on the Continental Divide is a completely self-supported race where the rider is responsible for finding their own food, water, and place to sleep each day. It is 2,745 miles of rain, snow, mud, huge head winds, intense heat, animal encounters, drunk driver run ins, etc. It is viewed as the hardest self-supported mountain bike race possible, not to mention that nobody has ever successfully completed it riding a fixie. This was the type of challenge that beckoned her to go and test her ultra endurance limits both emotionally and physically.

Now she has been riding for more 20 days and had ridden farther than anyone before on a fixie! We can't wait to see her cross the finish line in Antelope Wells, New Mexico!

To keep updated on her progress check out:

http://mtbcast.com/wordpress/?page_id=578 (To hear all of her call-ins)  

Update as of Tues Jul 07

Deanna has about 50 more miles into Abiquiu, New Mexico. Once she arrives there her total count of miles will be about 2,100. 

Her last call in was from Del Norte, CO where she rode into electrical wiring near the cattle guard, she was upset about it, but has no injuries.

 

 

Update as of Wed Jul 08

She called in late last night saying she got lost and is somewhere near El Rito. She didn't make it to Abiquiu which was the plan and will head off this morning. It sounded like she stayed at someone's house in a small town north of El Rito.

She mentioned that she had some rough days in Colorado as she came into New Mexico.

*******************************************************

Deanna's Mom ended up talking to the couple she stayed with last night, Mr. and Mrs. Suazo. They were really happy to have met Deanna. They said they have never seen anyone eat 5 peanut butter sandwiches in one sitting! She ate, showered and slept like a baby. Then early this morning they loaded her up with dried apples, oreo cookies and the best well water around.

Update as of Thurs Jul 09

Deanna called in from Cuba this morning and said she spent last night with the baked rainbow gatherers in the forest. They offered her dinner of rice noodles, refried beans, and stir-fry vegetables, a weird combo, but hey free food. She enjoyed hanging out with the hippies listening to their views, "They are cleaning up the forest being stoned".  These vintage hippies are alive and well!  She then left really early in the morning headed to Grants.

A few nights ago as she came from CO border into New Mexico she ran into some drunk teenagers and got lost for a certain amount of miles...this began her "suffer fest".  The suffer fest continued as she ate year old stale oreo cookies that she paid $2.30 at the last gas station, needed water and found some standing water with some with sick particles floating around with cow hair mixed in. Then she got lost in Placitas not knowing if she needed to make a turn by the new or old post office. Her suffer fest did get better once she asked Mr. and Mrs. Suazo about the post offices and they offered her to stay with them for the night, "they were really nice".

She left her glasses at the camp spot last night, "I have to be kinda close to signs to be able to read them, but I'll be fine."  She also has a slow leak in her front tube that sometimes keeps air and sometimes doesn't that she hopes will be okay until Grants. 

Update as of Fri July 10

Deanna rode 150 miles yesterday making in time to eat 5 burritos at Taco Bell in Grants before they closed. She was able to make up some time from being lost since those 95% of those 150 miles were pavement and the ratio she is running 46x17 was perfect for that terrain. She met up with Brad and other GDR racer. On her way into Grants she almost crashed into a horse from the Indian res. She thought it was just going to stay by the fence and eat grass but it moved 10 feet in front of her and she had to hurry and brake. She's glad that she didn't hit the horse and die. Her adrenaline was pumping hard after the close encounter! 

She is going to drink a lot of water and ride into Pie Town today.

 

Update as of Sat Jul 11

Deanna left Pie Town this morning and arrived at the Beaverhead Work Center (free camping, water, coke machine, and restrooms) about 7:30pm MST. Deanna rode with Brad Mattingly about 100 miles today. They have about 80 miles to Silver City, which is the next destination. Then we will see if she decides to camp there or will push through the night to Antelope Wells. Only time will tell...the finish line is only 200 miles away!

 

Update as of Sun Jul 12

At 6 pm MST (they Deanna and Brad) rolled into Silver City. Deanna found the Taco Bell and.......they are staying in Silver City tonight and will make it to Antelope Wells tomorrow!

*******************************************************

It's 4:00pm MST and Deanna is almost in Silver City, NM. We are wondering if she will feel up to do the last 130 miles push to the finish line in Antelope Wells, or will stay in Silver City for the night. Either way we will see her soon!!!

 

Update as of Mon Jul 13

She made it to Mexico at 5:30pm! Congrats, you did it in 31 days!

***************

Deanna left Silver City around 6 MST this morning. We estimate that she will cross the finish line between 5-6 this evening!