Oklahoma: Henryetta & Oklahoma City. OKC, I didn't miss you over the past 3 weeks.

Day 29: 6/21 - Henryetta to OKC
Mileage - 96.3


Today was a very challenging day. For the second day in a row, we we're reminded that Oklahoma is not actually flat, and that yes, it is extremely windy. We woke up exhausted from the 106 miles previous day, and got ready and all packed up for what was probably going to be the most strenous ride of the trip.

Scott was in better shape and was able to ride Natalie's bike, and he'll probably switch up leader bikes until his settlement from the crash arrives to buy a new bike. In leiu of our extreme slowness this morning, the dance move of the day was put on hold until dinner, and we headed out quickly after the cue sheet meeting. Everyone started off pretty light around 16-18mph as we left Henryetta.

During the ride, Travis, Mike, and I decided to have a coast-off. Basically a coast-off is when you bike to the top of a hill, and all stop peddling at the same point, then see who can stay balanced on their bike the longest after the downhill turns back up hill. Mike took off first down the hill (gravity is awesome for momentum), followed by Travis and then me. Eventually Travis and I met up midhill and coasted for about a mile and a half to catch Mike. Mike was the first to fall since he hit the uphill section and stopped soonest, followed by Travis. About 2 minutes later I got to that same spot and
lost my momentum and fell too. Mike-0, Travis-0, Brian-1. After about 60 miles, everyone's pace dropped severely as the 20mph headwind and crosswind began to wear on everyone. Packs of riders began to spread out and most riders ended up riding solo, fighting the winds and hills with all the energy they has left. I bonked around mile 65 and slowly biked around 8-10mph into our second lunch stop at 75 miles. After refilling my empty waterbottles and camelbak, and eating a cliff bar and another electrolyte supplement, I headed off for Oklahoma City again, 20 miles to go.

We hit a road closure from flood damage once getting into the outyling town, and had to walk around the repair site. Once back on the road, Sebass and Brad caught up to me, and we took off racing to the host site. We averaged around 26mph and somehow found the energy to push out the last 12 miles. Brad, Sebass, and myself arrived to the church first, completely exhausted and craving chocolate milk -- what we have learned is a great recovery drink, even for lactose-intolerant riders (sort of). We walked over to Walgreen's and get some choclate milk, and then went back to the church to pass out and cool off while watching Heavyweights.

Once the rest of the group arrived and we we're all woken up from our standard post-ride nap, we headed out to a dinner provided by H4H at one of their friend's houses.

Day 30: 6/22 - OKC Build Day with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

We woke up at 5:45am after a great night of sleep, due to complete exhaustion by 10pm. We headed over to breakfast at the OKC Yacht Club on Lake Hefner, which was arranged by H4H of OKC, and then proceeded over to the build site. At the build site we broke up into two teams to start wall assemblies. My group spent the morning framing up the interior walls, while the other group worked on the exterior walls.

The house consisted of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, with a living room, kitchen, and garage. The neighborhood that the house was located was entirely a Habitat sub-development consisting of around 215 homes. By lunch time all of the walls we're assembled along the road, ready to be lifted into place. Thanks to the generosity of Chipotle, we got free burrittos for the entire group for all lunches during our stay here in OKC! After lunch, we started raising the walls, and squaring them up. Before leaving for the day, we started the OSB sheathing on the exterior corners to help guide the next group of volunteers that will enclose the house over the next few days. We headed into town for our standard 'bike shop trip' to Schlegel Bicycles on North Broadway Ave. It was also just down the street from the Habitat for Humanity headquarters, where dinner was provided. After dinner, we headed into Bricktown and took the group down to the Riversport Rowing Complex and National Rowing Training Center. Once given a tour of the facilities, some of us returned to Bricktown for the night, while the rest of the group, including myself, returned to the host to watch Ninja Assasin, the best free Redbox movie ever.

-Brian