problems with the bike

Distance covered: 83.7 Miles
Time in saddle: 6 hrs 40 mins
Overall distance covered: 1168.9 Miles
I washed all my clothes last night, what a relief, I stank. I was always careful to stand down wind when I spoke to anyone. You don't really notice when you are cycling, it's when you stop that you begin to notice the smell.
When I started to ride this morning I noticed that my back tyre had gone down a bit. I didn't know if it was a slow puncture or the tyre just needed pumping up. I wasn't taking any chances. It was boiling hot already and I didn't want to fix a puncture on the open road. I found some shade and put in a new inner tube. I noticed that one of my spokes had broken at the tip. It must have happened when I hit that road grid really hard in Sacramento. I knew that it was a hard bump but I had no idea of the damage, until now. The bike has stood up to all sorts since I started, and it has been brilliant. The weight on the frame and wheels is incredible and it keeps going. It's no wonder that one of the spokes was broken, but it still kept on and on, great stuff. I'd decided to cycle to Grand Junction about fifteen to twenty miles away. I thought that it would be a bigger town with more chance of a bike shop. I actually stopped at a shop called 'The Bike Shop' which is uncanny. I asked a guy in there if he could sort out my broken spoke? His name was Nate Rudolph and he was brilliant....talk about a knight in shining armour. He fixed my wheel without any fuss then asked if I was in a rush. I said that I wasn't and he preceded to take apart the wheel cog, the gears and the peddles, cleaned and reset them...brilliant. We got chatting and he informed me that he had served in the military and was in Bosnia with a multi-national force. He remembers the Brit soldiers well and spoken about them with affection. He said they were crazy...he's right too, in a nice way. I told him about Daniel serving in the army and he shook my hand and asked me to thank Daniel for his service. That's what I love about America they are so proud of their serving troops and take every opportunity to say so... The people I have spoken to never talk about the politics but speak proudly of people they know who are serving soldiers. We are gradually coming around to that way of thinking in the Uk and so we should...Without preaching, our boys and girls do a fantastic job in difficult conditions and they deserve all the praise they get....sorry went off on one there but it is something I am very passionate about. Without sounding naff I thought that Nate was a credit to The Bike Shop and a credit to his parents, a real gentleman...cheers Nate, it got me over the mountains.
Up to now the Rockies haven't been that difficult. I have got some really big climbs tomorrow but after the Sierra Nevada,s I can't think anything could be worse...we'll see.
It was quite difficult today, not the climbs but the hot sun. It really affects me. My hands are really sore at the moment. I am putting cream on but perhaps that may be the problem. I'm going to put some antiseptic cream on and see how it goes. I have had some chaffing in the nether regions,that's what my mum used to call it. I slap loads of cream on in a morning but it was bound to happen. It hurts first thing but once I'm a few miles into my ride it is bearable....funnily enough the sweat makes it easier...hope you are not eating your breakfast, sorry.
I've been beside the Colorado River all day. It is an impressive stretch of water, so fast. I'd love to boat down it, that would be a great buzz.
As I unpacked everything in my motel room I decided to go to the shops about half a mile away for something to eat. I went on my bike, without the panniers and tent. Wow, it felt so light. If I was riding without baggage I would have been home now. A bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean.
I've had some really nice messages again. keep them coming. I look forward to reading them so much.