Days 20 and 21

                                                                              Day 20
                                                                   Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL
                                                                    110 miles, Avg. 18.0

                                                                              Day 21
                                                                         Springfield, IL
                                                                                Rest

     We mixed things up a bit on Day 20 by not eating breakfast at the Hotel, but down the road 14 miles at Mike's Place in Liberty, IL.  It's nice to do something out of the routine to break it up a bit.  The temps were in the low 60's and although there had been the threat of rain, it never materialized throughout the day.  Breakfast was great, and as I've been accustomed to do now, hit the road with a full stomach.  We all felt good for a number of reasons today.  First, the temps were good.  Second, the ride would be flatter than the previous few days, and third, we were heading into a rest day, so no matter how bad it was, there was R&R waiting for us in Springfield.  The route really was flat and after awhile I joined in with a paceline.  A group of us did this, averaging about 20 MPH until the second SAG stop at 66 miles.  After this, it broke down a bit.  Buckeye Bob, the 58 yr. old with a 30 year old Cannondale that weighs ten pounds more than any other bike, refused to keep the pace at 20 when it was his turn to pull.  Instead, he would push it to 23 and after a few rounds of this, I had had enough, and fell back to ride solo and save my legs and my brain.  The others kept going, but I caught up to them at the next water stop and we traveled together for the last 10 miles.  In town, some of us stopped at the R & M bike shop to browse.  We met up with Clay there.  Clay is the second unfortunate member of our troop who discovered a crack in their carbon seat stay on their new Trek Madonne, in Clay's case, 8 months old.  (Shelly was the other).  It was discovered late the previous day and he was forced to sit idle in the van with his bike on the roof as it was unsafe to ride.  You would think that Trek would replace this free of charge, but the best they would do is a new bike at 20% below retail.  They insisted that it was in a crash, and even though it was, (a very minor spill early in the ride), you would think that there must be something terribly wrong with the way they are building bikes if they are that delicate.  I would have been irate, but Clay, being the Southern Gentleman from Virginia that he is, took it in stride, and shelled out the dough for a new bike.  My advice.......if it says Trek on it, don't buy it. 
     The evening was very pleasant.  After our RAP session, where the matter of our disappearing SAG stops (*) was brought to the attention of management, the "Store" was opened up, where we could purchase America By Bike shirts, socks, bandanas, and shorts (I bought some socks). I then went to the mechanical session where I had Mike, the ride leader, put a new chain on my bike.  I had gone 2100 miles, and it was time. We hold a mechanical session every evening where you can bring your bike down to be looked at for any mechanical issues.   (For the bike techies out there, I have SRAM red components but chose a Shimano Ultegra chain for this on Mike's advice as he said it will be a lot quieter.  He also has SRAM but uses a Shimano chain for this very reason.)  Most of us met again at the hotel "Happy Hour" where we stuffed ourselves with free food and drinks and laughed for a few hours.  I was too full to eat a meal after that and was quite content to go to my room and continuing the mellowing out process. 
     *As for the SAG stop issue, some of us have noted that at the beginning of this trip, we would frequently have 3 SAG stops, and now 2 seemed to be the norm.  When we ride out of Springfield tomorrow, we will have only one scheduled SAG stop.  To me it's not a big issue because if I need food I can carry it in my bike jersey.  The issue is water, and it's nice to know that there will be water at a certain mileage mark.  As it is, you can always flag over one of our vans if you need some and if you were desperate and a store weren't close by, you could go up to someone's house and ask for some, which some riders have done.  Some in the group have been miffed about that considering the overall cost of this trip.  Anyway, the bottom line is that since there are only two vans, there is just so much they can do in terms of support while also trying to keep track of everyone on the road and providing help where it's needed.  I'm content to let others vent about this.  As far as I can tell, soon we'll be at the Atlantic Ocean where there will be plenty of water. 
     Today, was a day of rest.  I managed to sleep until 7AM!  Then it was on to a leisurely breakfast with multiple cups of coffee.  After that, Lee, who had rented a car, took me and some others to two bike shops and then to the Lincoln Museum, which was amazing.  It was designed by a team of Disney Imagineers.  I didn't know if I was in Springfield or in Orlando at the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids Exhibit".  It truly appealed to kid in all of us.   Who knew that the Emancipation Proclamation could be so much fun?
    Soon it will be time for the hotel "Happy Hour" and I will start fortifying myself for tomorrows ride.  Also, for those that are interested, in addition to the usual pictures, I've included pictures of how I've organized my clothes in their separate labeled plastic bags (which I'm quite proud of) and also the "Cue Sheet" with all the route directions for the day.  Tomorrow, we leave this Shangri-La, for Tuscola, IL.  I'm hoping not to dehydrate. 

-Grinner

Typical flat landscape of Illinois. What we saw all day.

Lee, Abe, and Anthony (from left to right)

State Capital

The gang takes over Mike's Place for Breakfast

Unfolded Cue Sheet

Folded cue sheet attached to handlebars by map clip (lent to me by my friend Rowan)

How I've organized all my stuff  (By the way, the Chamois butter is not Assos, but is the best I could find on the road, as the Assos is running low).  Must have chamois creme at all times!

All of that stuff then goes into three separate bags that then go into my duffel