Day 24: Lead to Custer S. D.

 Today was a rough day for both Terri and I but for different reasons. Mine was because my shifters stopped working about 16 miles into the ride and I had to sag into lunch missing about 15 miles of the route. I was very sad but once in the van and saw what I missed I knew it was actually a blessing!  

Which leads me to Terri’s day. She rode the entire route which had 10 miles of chunky gravel and most of it was climbing miles!!  Even as I rode that section in the van I was getting tossed around!  I felt so bad for everyone!  All the riders pulled into lunch just shelled and we still 31 miles left to go.  

So, at lunch we figured my issue was the battery in the handle bar shifter. So, I manually put my bike into a gear so I could ride basically single speed. In, the next town I was able to find the batteries I needed and with the help of my bicycle shop I was able to replace and sync my shifters and was on my way again with working gears!  I met up with Terri in this town and we finished the ride together.  We stopped in Custer to have a beverage, some food and conversation to decompress after a very trying day. 

Stats for today:  66 miles, 5,090 feet of elevation. I did 50 miles and 3,670 feet


Terri with Abe


Moonshine gulch in Rochford S.D.  


Nice little store in Rochford


Deer Reservoir 



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