In the last post I described the swim portion of the Ironman and saw Chris leaving for the bike portion. That was about 8:25.

Katie, Kirby, and Kasen found us after walking from their hotel.

The bike route went from downtown about 18 miles east. (At least hat’s what I calculate from the total of 112 miles.) The cyclists turned around at that point and came back here and did that loop three times. Notice the hill in the background and the unicorn along the fence to the right.

I don’t know if people wear costumes to provide amusement to the competitors, so they can be spotted by their athlete, or because it’s warmer inside a big balloon.

Just down from that hill in the earlier photo and still in sight of the bike course there was a clearing. Kasen had chosen to pack a football for his entertainment. Katie, Meryl, and Kirby were talked into playing catch.

About two hours into the bike portion Chris showed up here for the end of the first loop. The streets had been blocked so there is a lane for bikes and a lane for car traffic going west.

It was just bikes going east. They made a tight turn-around. When we were watching for Chris we looked for a white helmet, white jersey with the blue patches on the chest, red socks, and the red tape on one knee.

We had six hours to wait from the beginning to end of the bike portion. We wandered some. This was written on the back of one of the signs at the Ironman Village. One of our family slogans is “Move faster.” Chris has give us his own words of advice: “Don’t get off the bike.” “Forward is a pace.”

It was time to climb the hill…because it was there. There was a sign that labels it Hayden Butte Preserve and the Leonard Monti Trail. It is also known as “A” Mountain for the 60-foot gold A painted on part of it that we did not see from our view.

There is quite a view from the top. The street to the left in this photo is where there is one lane of traffic and one lane for the cyclists.

Walking down the mountain back to the course. The white bridge over the river (dammed to be more of a lake here) will be part of the marathon course.

After the third out and back loop the cyclists rode into the transition area where volunteers took the bikes as they dismounted.

A change of shoes to start the marathon. Now we needed to watch for a red cap.

Only 26 miles to go.

There were felt pens and paper at a table in the Ironman village. During the six hours we waited for Chris to finish the bike course the kids made signs.

To be continued again…