September Rides

[azfiddle]

I took my bike in to get tuned up over the weekend- cranky shifting and some creaks and squeaks that I couldn't get rid of with lube- and picker her up Monday evening. It was stormy so I didn't get out again until Tuesday around 5 pm. It felt surprisingly pleasant out - the sky was overcast and temps might have been in the very high 80's. I think I only took one drink of water in 16 miles. I went out again this afternoon in similar conditions and about the same distance.

The routes were similar, just on the eastern edge of Tucson at the less urban desert edge of the city. Tonight's sunset as I rode back toward the west was spectacular. The shop did a fantastic job- replaced the chain, did a wash and lube. Apparently I spilled some electrolyte drink into the shifters which was causing part of the problem. So it was much smoother to ride.

Saturday I'm going with a friend to do a 66 mile organized ride from Willcox to the edge of the Chiracahua Mountains. The route has some great scenery, not much traffic, and one big hill in the middle (about 1000 foot climb). I'll try to get a few pics.

[Crankin]

We did a 44 mile ride in Little Compton, RI./ Westport, MA and environs. We used the route I am going to be using when I co-lead it in 2 weeks. This ride is an old favorite, ocean and rural views, without the crowds, as the beaches we ride by are all private beaches, so no crowds. Lamar (my friend who I am leading with in a couple of weeks) had changed the last half of the ride, to avoid some sketchy turns, which was great, but it was all a 2-5% grade, a long slog for about 15 miles. I always think this ride is flat easy, but it actually has about 1,900 feet of climbing, all after lunch. Still, we rode it kind of fast for this kind of ride.
The day couldn't have been more perfect. Temperature 78 derees, light breeze, sunny. There was no traffic. When we were done, we cleaned up and changed and headed to Sakonnet Winery and had tapas and wine.

[azfiddle]

Crankin, your rid sounds lovely.

Yesterday, a friend and I rode the Willcox Flyer- 66 miles (actually around 64) east of Tucson. It's a beautiful route that climbs out of Willcox (3800 feet) to the little hamlet of Dos Cabezas, through desert and desert grassland, then dips down into desert grassland/ranchland to a turn around point at the turn-off to Chiracahua National Monument. The weather was very forgiving: a tropical air mass brought all day overcast with a occasional scattered droplets but no actual rain. The temperature never went above 80, mostly from 70-75 until the last half an hour or so and virtually no wind. 2500 feet of climbing, beautiful scenery, good company, and a moving average of 14.5 mph.

Today, I took one of my students and her mom through Saguaro NP on the loop road. They are training for the 40 mile distance of El Tour de Tucson in November and have never done this ride. Some walking took place on the big hill on the back side ("Cardiac Hill") but they did great, riding on hybrid/flat bar road bikes. The 12 year old never complained even though she had to walk on the steeper hills. Still a bit cool this morning though not overcast.

[Crankin]

It's warming up and I wasted the morning doing nothing but reading the paper. Did a quick 14 mile, hilly ride, going up the steeper side of my street on the way home.
Now, it's off to Arlington for Mexican food with DS and DIL.

[azfiddle]

Hey, it's you and me doing all the riding here Crankin!
I was "invited" (facebook friends) to yet another Mt. Lemmon ride. They were planning to go to the very top (the observatory). I was less motivated but still got to Summerhaven. I parked at mile 0 instead of the coffee shop so I shaved 10 miles off of the ride, but not much of the climbing. 50 miles, about 6200 feet of climbing- and got an ice cream bar as my reward instead of going to the cookie cabin.

It was incredibly green above milepost 5, from all the summer rains, but I forgot my phone, and thus, my camera as well, and have no new pictures to share.

[Crankin]

We need some of your rain, which sounds weird, since you live in the desert!
Yeah, maybe we are the only ones posting, but I only rode 65 miles this week. Today, we rode to our new house, to take measurements. It's really only 4.5 miles, but we cannot ride our bikes the way we drive there. It's very flat, hence my fastest average this year on the way there, and on the way back, until I hit the climb up to my house. Was not feeling too good from beer, a mojito, and Mexican food last night, as well as allergies, but my riding has gotten stronger in the last 2 weeks. A measly total of 15.1 miles, but it was already 88 when we got back, so I was not sad. Spent all afternoon at Lowes, ordering almost everything for our remodeling, except for window treatments. I am wiped, and will see about commuting tomorrow.