Reports from the race

Here's a collection of reports from Merrill on the road. Currently the post via email is not working So I am gathering them all together here.
Mile 21.7 Alex's tire is softening. Pat and Keith are in the front of the race due to and alphabetical start. Adam just arrived in the goat and Madi mobile to climb the first big hill.

Mile 28 @ 3:55 West Coast time - I just got an update from Merrill:
Adam just finished his rotation and was replaced on the road by Alex. Adam passed 4-5 other teams on an 8 mile climb. Patt and Adam are going to rest while Alex and Keith start their first shift. (Merrill said the start was a non standard rotation)
Always helpful, Merrill saw a guy with a triathlete bike at the start having trouble adjusting his gears and pitched in and made some adjustments. I wonder how confident the racer would be knowing it was the mechanic for the the fixed gear guys that helped him out with his gear issues.

4:31 - We are cutting keiths distance short a little as he has been riding uphill for 8 miles. Very steep the whole time. - Merrill

4:55 Pacific time - Just passed thru la jolla Indian reservation. Temp a nice 78 and sunny. High desert with lots of shade on the course. Keith will be first AFC rider to go thru a time station.
At TS1, AFC is tied for 1st having ridden in 3:09 averaging 17.37 MPH.

5:50 Pacific - 40 miles 18.8 AV including 13 mu parade route in 45 mins approx. Includes at least 12 miles climbing and probably 3k feet. Both Keith and Alex were flying. I'm going in the RV next 100 mu, so news blackout coming up. Cheers from santa ysabel, CA! - Merrill

7:17 PM Pacific - 5 hours. Patt decends 3000 feet in 10 miles. (ouch) Passing ocotillo wells. Elev 600? Temp like 90 something. Merrill and goat in the RV

Merrill seems to be reporting times now using Eastern time so I will also from this point. - MZ
11:45 - PAD passed the lowest point on the course around 1145p, but I am in the RV so I am not sure. Lowest point is -179 feet near the salton sea.
They also will pass within 19.5 miles of Mexico when they get to is at glamis, CA. Glamis is also the sand toy (motorized) capital of the world. I wish it was light! Patt and adam (pad) should be here around 2am.
All times eastern. It is 1217 am Thursday now.
Go AFC!
All the euro teams we have met think we are crazy to be using fixies. I told them it would not be a challenge to ride their whole continent since most of it could fit in CALI alone. The brits have a good sense of humor. - Merrill

12:50 AM Eastern - Mama D is getting pancakes ready for Pat and everyone else coming in. Word on the course is that Patt will gain weight on the trip. Merrill, Glamis, CA

1:47 AM Thursday - Ok, so PAD were too fast and got in early so no cakes for me. Team KAL is on the course out of glamis. Alex is riding a 10 mile climb up to 1000 feet starting from below sea level - Merrill

2:15 AM - Alex did the 10.7 miles in 30 mins! 185 miles in the bank in the first 9 hrs and 13 min. Temp 84f

2:25 AM - I'm in the follow car navigating while madi drives. Easy to navigate when we are on this road for like 80 miles. Just passed the US border patrol station on hwy 78. They waved us right through.




-Mike Z