Burning Off Breakfast

Yesterday on the ride home, I decided to see if I could ride all the way from TMC back to my car parked 10 miles away. I’m happy to report that I was able to do this, and that 90 per cent of the route is paved with new smooth blacktop. That’s everything east of Campbell on the river path. But it’s a boring ride—why should I complain? There are horse stables and parks, which means on a windy day, like yesterday, Yours gets a lung full of manure. Pick your poison they say… So I was able to ride from the river park entrance at Swan all the way to Campbell, on new pavement. At one point, and I’m not sure where exactly, I had to ride on the south side of the riverbank to Campbell. Here I rode north on Campbell over the bridge and right into a high-end shopping-type mall. There’s a place there called Arizona Cyclists, and the guys told me that I could ride on the dirt path and then ride pavement under Campbell—which I did. Soon I was on the old familiar river bike path I know. So if on a day when I don’t want to ride in traffic, I can take this route.

One matter about the bike route—it’s slow. It took me an hour last night. This morning I rode from the YMCA/Pima Community College parking lot, up Ina/Sunrise and burned off breakfast--it took me 56 minutes to ride the 15 miles. Its fast and there’s lots of traffic and it’s a bit more intense and I dig the rush. I only waited at one stoplight… On Glenn Ave I must stop at a 4-way stop or light every mile, it seems, and dang it takes forever.

I believe I will try and ride back on newly paved River Ave tonight. There will be one dangerous left turn at Swan and River. The pavement is new and I should be able to get some speed going. Traffic is light and there are speed zones signs and large fines for speeding. Everyone is taking it easy. On the south side of River Rd, if I was to ride east, well it looks like there’s still some work to be done and the bike lane is under construction

Construction has begun on Sunrise and going home that way (west) is just dangerous because of Ina and Oracle crossroads—people are in a hurry so best not to ride there yet. River Rd looks like a good choice.

Cheers...