The Ride to Vegas: Day 2

Knowing that I'm a "tweener" (I'm just hanging onto the fast group but too fast for the second), leaves me with a small measure of trepidation every morning before the ride. Will I be strong enough to hang onto the Big Dogs or will I have to do a big solo effort today? While the altitude (5200' at the start) isn't overwhelming, it still taxes my system more than my normal riding conditions. We started the day in Nephi UT and ended in Richfield, 74 miles later. It was a fairly flat day, only 1457' elevation gain, but that just meant we would ride at a much faster pace. I got in the mix so I wouldn't fall off the back when the dial got turned up. I vowed to Ride Smarter this go around and I held to my promise. I sat in the pace line, moving up to within two or three of the front, then dropped to the back and took cover. I wondered all day when the rope would snap and I would be riding on my own. As luck would have it, we were moving so fast that the 74 miles were done before I ran outta gas. The best part is we are staying at a Holiday Inn Express so I should be capable of pretty much anything tomorrow.