Day seven:A 67-mile ride across the baking Nevada desert has finished in the inappropriately named town of Cold Springs Cafe; it’s over a 100 degrees and there’s no spring to be seen. There are many tales of people cycling across the US but there were only three riders seen today. The scenery across the salt plains from Fallon was incredible. Thirty miles into the ride we passed some high banked sand dunes, a sign some 800 metres down the road advertises 'Sand Mountain Recreation Area' there was no one playing today. There is little vegetation at the roadside only shrubs poking through the sand. Amazing, as I sit and write this blog the air conditioning is pumping out cold air but I can see a snow-capped peak no more than five miles away; this really is the most incredible place. Day six:We saw a sign today as we passed through Silver Springs saying 'Ely 284 miles'. This to me pictures a huge metropolis, shops, cinemas, swimming pools and stadiums but it appears Ely has a population of 4000. Imagine being in Brighton and seeing a sign 'Settle 284 miles' with nothing in-between, that’s Nevada. Jane travelled 60 miles today over relatively flat ground she’d finished by 11:15. It’s the first town we’ve been to with no wireless or telephone connection so updates may be hit and miss over the next few days.  | | Keeping the bikes in top condition. |
Nevada is a truly amazing place you can travel 30 miles seeing nothing then suddenly there’s an electronic sign advertising a casino. We travelled a 21-mile section where daylight headlights were required; I’m not sure why there was such a restriction, we presumed it was because of the sun and glare from the road. Jane’s quite well a little sore but we are almost 400 miles in. Day five:Another day of serious climbing has finished in the Nevada state capitol of Carson City. Carson Pass, which is the city's entrance, has provided a major challenge and not just Jane but all three cyclists are fatigued. After two consecutive days that would have graced any Tour of France, tomorrow should provide some solace with a 60-mile flat road to Fallon. Carson City is the gateway to the Nevada desert and Jane will set off on this Wednesday along Highway 50 America’s loneliest road. A real wind is shaping up here bad enough to close the major route, the 395, to camper vans, trailers and caravans. The dust kicks off the side of the road and discolours the sky in front. Jane and Ryan are up to 32 road kills now- the most spectacular a deer. Day four:Two years ago, on the Rome to Home ride, Jane climbed Mont Ventoux which was the pinnacle of the journey. Today three days into the Ride Across America she’s scaled a climb 2000ft higher then Ventoux. Partly because it’s sheer size, partly the temperature (100 degrees average) and also because it’s so soon after starting it's left Jane completely exhausted. Tomorrow starts with another 2000 ft climb before a 4000 ft descent into Carson City. We knew these would be key early moments and it isn’t disappointing us. Carson City is the last major town we come to for some weeks.  | | Jane and Mike at a previous event |
So far Jane’s managed 200 hard miles in three days, lets her luck continues to hold. Day three:You could say today was one of prisons, Steven and I went around Alcatraz on a boat while Jane has finished the day at Folsom. Jane again was on the road for 6am and didn’t finish until 4pm. It was a long 80 mile ride in temperatures which touched 120 degrees at roadside. There are certain days on a ride like this when a rider will have a tough day. Martyn had a puncture mid-way which always breaks a rhythm and by the end of the day was suffering the effects of the intense heat. Martyn’s role is, I think, incredibly demanding, he’s required to film Jane, so needs to at points build up an advantage on the road dismount, film and then chase Jane down after she passes. This causes breaks in the rhythm that are a killer for endurance athletes. We wondered whether now Jane was on a solo bike if this would make his job more difficult, we’ll see. So not only that he has to carry the camera over his shoulder. The next time you see a still photo from the road or some TV coverage think of the man who has taken it and marvel at the effort. Day two:After yesterday's saunter around San Francisco reality hit hard today with a 5am wake up call, car journey to Vallejo before starting at 7am. By the stages completion Jane had managed 58 miles in five hours and has safely arrived in Winters. There have been a few technical problems with the bike but nothing major. Cycling's hitting the headlines today with the Tour of France doping farce. It appears that doping is synonymous with the sport which is real shame as it’s harder to imagine a tougher endurance challenge and it destroys credibility. Cheating is not the only issues as there have been a number of deaths caused by heart related illnesses of younger riders. EPO is main drug at the forefront of doping (what a misnomer that is it should be called boosting) in cycling and for the few weeks before Jane's departure it was prescribed to offset some of the chemotherapy; it is a recognised drug for cancer patients. Does it work? Without a doubt - Jane's haemoglobin went as predicted. When you hear of someone being caught doping they are cheating. Of more concern is the young lives that are being lost because cycling has failed to take this issue seriously enough. Day one:It seemed the ride was doomed Jane woke up with a migraine and sickness so after weeks of bone pain it was the last thing she needed. Having made commitments last night we had to go to Golden Gate Bridge whatever the state of her health. It was the first time this week that fog hadn't shrouded the bridge and as if synchronised Jane began to feel well enough. It was only a short day to allow the media sufficient time to get all the interview and pictures they needed. So after only two hours we were finished and Jane back in the house resting. Her hip began to stiffen towards the end but we are optimistic the ride will start. The RVs are loaded and Jane will set out with one tomorrow and should finish somewhere near Davis. Finding a site with a vacancy is proving troublesome with it being Independence Day or, as a number of the locals have said, a day they celebrate getting rid of the British! Ride Facts: Day 1: Distance 11.2 miles, Time Elapsed 2:19:37, Av Speed 4.8 | 
