Hawaii Ride Report from Andrew C

Andrew Clayton is in Hawaii to support a friend who is competing in the Ironman Champtionship, this Sunday.  Andrew, arriving early is hitting the roads on his bike and sends this report:

Today I did 72.5 miles.  That was about my limit as I was still adjusting to the time change and I think my body was a little dehydrated from all of the airplane travel.  I'm staying at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa.  It's a pretty nice place, down on the oceanfront.  The 1st picture is of a golf course close by.  I woke up at 6:00 am ish and worked on the breakfast of oatmeal and poptarts that I brought with me.  I got my bike put together.  It seems to have survived the airline trip, though my back rim looks to be slightly out of true.  Not sure if that was there before my packing job. 

I took off after 9:00 am and headed up along the Alii Dr along the coast up to Kona where all the action is.  Lots of triathletes out and about, running or bicycling, looking very, very fit.  I headed out on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway north to the Kona International airport.  This is the bicycle route of the World Ironman Triathlon.  Saw lots of bicyclists on this road.  It's very nice with a wide berm.  Just have to watch out for the occassional glass.   As I was getting hungry, I turned around and headed back to Wendys in Kona for a double cheeseburger.  Satisfied, I headed back up north again to put in another 20 out and then 20 back.  I only had two water bottles, which is enough for 50 miles.  There's nothing out there for a good while!!!!  So, you have to manage your fluids and sustenance well.  Let me tell you.  Even though it isn't that hot (upper 70s), it was quite humid!  And then there was the lava rocks reflecting the heat at you from both sides of the road.  It felt like it was in the mid 80s in the afternoon as I was heading back. 

I tried a different route back to the hotel from Kona and ended up on busier, narrower road that went up and down until it finally climbed up to 500 elevation.  Then it was a right turn for a very nice decent to the hotel.  Up at top there, it has a nice view of the ocean and below.  I'm thinking of biking up around sunset time to get some good pictures and video.  And that was it for the biking.