South Mtn Park, Phoenix, Arizona, or, No Sweat!

Saturday night rain made Sunday morning humid.


We're just riding into Tempe on Mill Ave.


Dang it's hot and muggy! We're dripping and soaked with sweat.


This woman was walking four German Shepards.


This does not escape Neighborhood Cat on Neighborhood Watch.


Baseline Rd is not the best place to get a flat.


South Mtn Park and our planned destination--The TV Towers.


Steve and I had a great breakfast of protein pancakes, eggs and sausages at our favorite breakfast place, US Egg.


Ranger Station.


We've brought an extra bottle to carry for the ascent up to the TV Towers.


We'll have eight miles of good climbing to reach the summit.


I'm feeling pretty strong. At times a cool breeze rolls down the road. It's humid, hot, and we're dripping with sweat.


Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, looking North, from about half-way up. Its still pretty early on Sunday morning. We've seen a few motorcycles and one or two cars. Steve and I are the only cyclists thus far.


Climbing Summit Rd.


We've done all the Vistas before. This morning I just want to do the TV Towers and get back so I can drive home to Tucson and still have some late afternoon to do stuff.


There's about a mile and a half to two miles to go--this is the tough part, Gentle Reader.


We're at the top. There's a small parking lot up here--it can also be used as a heliport. This is looking West onto the Gilla Indian Reservation.


Yours with TV Towers in the background, on the top of South Mtn.


Riding back--Downtown Phoenix.


We ride through Tempe and Arizona State University.


Steve, Star of the Blog--riding strong!


Leaving Tempe and ASU Campus, getting ready for the fast rollers in Papago Park up ahead.


Thanks for coming along!

Urban Century

100 miles and 100 degrees...


North of Camel Back, Scottsdale, Arizona--somewhere in the Hood at 5 a.m.


70 degrees as we roll out of Steve's shack in Scottsdale, for South Mtn Park. Since there's no traffic this early in the morning, we're able to fly through the heart of Pheonix. Normally we'd have lights and some warmers. Its different this time being able to see the city so early in the morning, with no cars roaring down the roads.


Coming into Tempe, Arizona, and the the ASU Campus. There's the Old Mill on Mill Ave.


ASU Campus. I think that's a historic Frank Lloyd Wright theatre in the background. Bush and Kerry debated there back in 2004.


We cross one of many of Pheonix's freeways to get to our favorite breakfast place.


Riding along, thinking about breakfast!


As soon as we arrive, the place fills up! South Mtn Park is about 8 or so miles--a nice warm up before we start.


The ride begins... We're in South Mtn Park, Pheonix, Arizona. Already at about 7:30 a.m. the sun is getting hot! We also have some strong wind.


Pretty hot out here.


Steve, Star of The Blog, battles the head wind!


Summer is here, Gentle Readers!


We won't climb to the TV Towers today. Its almost 90 degrees and lots of wind. We want to get back because it will be pushing 100 degrees by the time we get back to Muledale.


As a cyclist in Arizona, one must give up sleeping in--we left for our trek at 5 a.m. right at sun rise. Already half way into out ride its pushing 90 to 95 degrees.

Steve rides strong, as always. The wind has helped keep us cool as we ride. The desert is beautiful and the birds, flowers, and cactus are well worth seeing from the bike. But go early to avoid the heat. Today we carried an extra water bottle. I seem to run out of water as we're going through the Scottsdale neighborhoods...

Now what I call the slog--Steve and I will ride through Pheonix and it is going to be hot!

The Old Mill--now we have to be careful because traffic has picked up around the Campus.

Some fast rollers in Popago Park.

The pavement is smooth and we can ride fast and gain some time.

Now just relax and take our tour of the back streets of Scottsdale. Many people don't care much for Pheonix. I think the people are actually pretty friendly, and Scottsdale is where the very rich folk live, but they are always friendly and say hi and wave as we ride through. Its just that its so damn hot--starting about now.

Ride of the Blue Pheonix

A cold day cycling in South Mountain Park--Pheonix.


Instead of riding from Scottsdale (a.k.a. Muledale) where Steve Star of the Blog has a shack, we drive about 30 miles or more to our breakfast place.

Gentle Reader of This Blog, after many e-mails, and even a phone call to mon vieux, I convinced him that we should alter plans. First--I've bronchitis for two long weeks from my trip home to Tulsa. Second--we won't be getting up at 4 a.m. to start our ride at 5 a.m. to get to our breakfast place by 6 a.m. to get to South Mountain Park by 7 a.m. -- I say we get up at 6, drive in, then eat and be on the way to South Mtn by 7 - 7:30. By this time it should be sunny and warm! Let's see--okay, Third--28 degrees! No way! I'm not ready to freeze my ass off. Four--We ride South Mtn and then drive home. Normally we'd have to march our way back to Muledale--through Tempe, Phx, and Scottsdale--traffic and waiting at every stop-light. No, let's just get back home and have dinner at Said Shack!


Out on Riggs Rd, we see a group coming along. We jump on the paceline, after asking if it's okay. They're on their way to South Mtn as well. We ride at 21 mph thru the Gila Bend Resevation without stopping for a beat! Eventually, a few people get dropped and the we slow down and eventually stop to re-group. Steve and I keep going as the paceline takes a rest.


We are traveling through some old ranch land Southwest of Pheonix.


Still a working Ranch.


Still a bit chilly. There's lots of sun, but it is the winter sun.


The TV Towers on top of South Mtn. As I'm still recovering from bronchitis, we're not going to climb all four vistas today.


We're in the park and our fist layer has been stowed. We still need our leg warmers late morning.

One of these days I'm going to be goin' for that shot--and I'll either drop the camera or hug terra firma. Out on this first vista, the San Juan, cars are not allowed. The pavement is glassy-smooth and you gain speed quickly.


Steve Star of the Blog rides strong.


The City of Pheonix in the background from San Juan Vista.


Steve is on the cell phone to Kim back in Scottsdale--dinner plans are being coordinated, Gentle Readers of This Blog! Kim says to come home with an appetite!


To get back to the Mystery Van for the drive, we have to navigate Baseline Rd. For a few miles, the sidewalk is the safest way and quickest way to travel.


We take a shortcut through a private exclusive sub-division--by squeezing past the opulant iron gate entrance.


Got to take the Bridge of No Return over Interstate 10.


Over the bridge and into Guadalupe which has the feel of a small Mexican town.


Guadalupe is quite a change from the rich white people gated community. Guadalupe is friendly and everyone waves hello as we pass by.


Now in Tempe, we are close to Arizona State University.


Let's get a quick bite--but not so much we spoil our dinner.


A quick trip through the big park in Tempe.


I think this is Baseline and University where the Mystery Van is parked.


From here we would have the 30 mile ride back to Scottsdale. Of course in the wee-hours of the morning we fly thru the city as there's not even a mouse stirring. In the afternoon however, traffic is moving and we dart, duck, and sprint as we make our way home.


That's Camelback Mtn in the background.