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July 21, 2010
"Bike across America"
by Zack Baker
We are pleased to have our very own 2010
Climbing School Director, and Vice President of two terms, speak to us
about another subject dear to his heart.....road biking. The
program will be somewhat commemorative of the 10 year anniversary of
Zack's cycle across America in 1999. Zack cycled 2,755 miles in 22
days, alone. Zack started in Santa Monica, CA, and stopped in
Washington DC. He maintained an average of 125 miles per day, with a
peak of 170 miles on two days. He lost about 30lbs, or roughly 1.4 lbs
per day. He lost all feeling in both hands by day 14.
Zack stares down the
long road ahead.
Zack spent approximately $150 during the
entire trip, sleeping on concrete picnic benches, fields, stranger's
homes, and the infield of the ladies' softball field at NAU. Zack
avoided mishap except for one spider bite, two encounters with Highway
Patrol, 4 flat tires, one car wreck, and a severe case of dysentery.
Zack at the
symbolic end of his journey.
Come to hear his reflections on his trip,
including lessons learned. Zack will cover approaches to improve
training, decrease the time required, reduce weight loss, and increase
comfort.
Quick Bio:
Zack has been a member of the Los Alamos Mountaineers since 2007, when
he took the Climbing School under Jason Halladay. Zack says that
he climbs as much as possible, but not nearly enough due to various
unfortunate circumstances.....namely work.
Mid-PhD, Zack
ran with the USC Marathon team and eventually joined the
coaching staff. He has run 9 marathons. He obviously
enjoys bicycling as well! Having joined the lab, Zack claims to be getting slower quickly. |
