Day 22: Second rest day in Lander, WY

Brian’s wheel was not in yet, so I decided to take a second rest day in Lander.  The Gannet Peak sports shop assured us it would be in today, and they were right.  Brian has his bike back!  As for me, my continuing saga of finding the right bike seat continued.  After riding the Specialized saddle I bought yesterday, and doing some research on-line, I was not confident that I had found the right fit yet.  In a moment of uncertainty, I went back to Gannet Peak and asked to test ride the Brooks Cambria C15 (they did not have a C17, which is wider).  This is the model made of  rubber, instead of the traditional leather.  They did not have the traditional Brooks leather saddle that is the gold standard for touring cyclists.  That is probably just as well because it takes a few hundred miles to break in the Brooks leather.  The Cambria still did not fit right.  I kept questioning and second-guessing myself.  Finally I asked if they had any other options, other than what was on the shelf.  Ed offered to contact the other bike shop in Lander to find out what they had.  As luck would have it, they had a Selle Anatomical, which is what I had been riding.  Note:  Selle changed the cast piece on my saddle that broke to bent and tempered steel.  I bought the saddle and I am happy with my choice, and confident that it will work out.  I am glad that I kept trying different options, and questioning, until I found the right saddle.  I later found out from Ed that they usually don’t allow customers to test ride saddles.  They make exceptions for touring cyclists, and I really appreciate that!  Tomorrow it is supposed to be windy in Dubois in the early afternoon with a westerly wind, so we are going to get an early start and try to depart between first light and sunrise.  It has been really great staying with Dannine.  She is very generous to allow us to stay with her for three nights.

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