The Wolf

Sunday morning I did a 40 mile ride with John Heller, Eric Ewing, and Larry and his wife Joan.
5:30 am start from John's house in Continental Ranch, over the front side of Gates Pass, McCain Loop, Sandario--and then up Twin Peaks Rd.

On McCain loop, I got a glimps of The Wolf--a Tucson icon. And from what Joan said, Gentle Readers--a lost soul bound to ride Tucson's roadways for Eternity.

Enjoi the photos, mes amis!

On Gates Pass Rd, early in the morning.


The climbing starts.


Larry, Joan, and John.


Another view going up to the top.


Its been awhile since I rode out here. The scenery is excellent.

On the way up in our pace line, somehow Eric and I got too close when we were changing positions--and our handlebars locked up. I went down. The tandum was behind me and they just missed rolling over me... I was okay. Just a little scraped up. Luckily we weren't going all that fast, and the bike was okay. Glad I didn't break my new camera!

I'm more sore today actually. Got a bit of road rash on my hip.


More scenery on the ascent up Gates Pass Road.


I snap a shot of John at the top.


Larry and Joan on their new tandum. We're on the McCain Loop.


Eric, a strong rider--all muscle--on McCain Loop.


Water stop on Sandario Rd.


Rednecks enjoying their filth, making a stop for beer and cigarettes.


Eric, John, and Larry.

Down Sandario Road, we have a tail wind, and the tandum really takes off. We ride tops at 28 and 31 MPH drafting behind the tandum! When the tandum gets some momentum on the flats, they can really move. It was awesome, mes amis!


The last hill-- up and over Twin Peaks Road. Looming in the heat of the morning, Picacho Peak.

Allure Libre!

Doing the Math

I rounded up my daily commute by car to my office--one way--to 25 miles. So that makes milage for the day 50 miles. For the week, five days of driving, the total is 250 miles.

1000 miles per month if I drive to work five days a week.

If I were to only ride round-trip 20 miles, five days a week, which would be my shortest easiest commute distance by bicycle, for one month--that would be 400 miles on the bike.

So by putting out very little effort (in terms of the difficulty and short distance of that 10 mile commute) I am significantly reducing the miles I drive by car.

Wow--600 miles compared to 1000 miles.

Not that I will ever be able to accomplish this, but say I rode my 30 mile round trip commute route every day for one month. That would be 600 miles on the bike--still 400 miles by car.

The Pros--Saving the Planet, getting buff, feeling fit and ready for brevets, and energy for all my girlfriends, mes amis!

The Cons--Up my chance of being run over by a car.

Today I did drive in, but I got it together and went and swam laps at the pool for my lunch hour.

Cheers!

Marana Scottsdale Marana

Marana to Scottsdale and Back Again,
A Randonneur's Tale.

The jersey says it all, mes amis--

Sleep deprivation
Dog attacks
Headwinds
Pouring sweat
Blazing heat
Sunburn
Brush with the Law!
Spills (I crashed! Find out what happened!)
Flat tires (just one--with 9 miles to go to the end, of course)
let's see, what else? Oh yeah,
Thurst!
Hunger!
Speeding Tickets! (Steve got busted!)

New camera so lots of photos. Click on them to see larger images!


3 a.m., Our Heroes apply sunblock.


Sunrise through the eyes of the new camera--and Heroes with little sleep and no coffee.


Heroes at dawn's early light.


Jeff Middleton meets us at IHOP in Casa Grande, and gives us intelligence about alternative routes for our trek. Jeff and I worked together at AHSL back in the Day, mes amis!


Casa Grande behind us, now the open road.


A sense of adventure--we'll take a short cut...


Sacaton, Arizona, here we come!


Gentle Readers, the young women at Sacaton's only store charged us $ .50 per water bottle for ice out of the soda machines. Steve paid for it and we needed the ice--they said they didn't have any water. I got the feeling they didn't like cyclists. Unfortunately we'll need to stop here again on the way back to chez moi--because its the only place with any services, even if it sucks.


Through the desert, the reservation, and here at this spot the world changes. I did enjoi going thru Sacaton because it seems we're here faster. This marks a turning point and the home stretch, albeit a long 40 miles through the Inferno of Phoenix.


South of South Mountain. If you've been perusing the blog, you know that this is a welcome site and a morale booster for me--we're about in Phoenix... Well, 20 miles south, and soon to be 20 miles north.


Steve on the Maricopa Hwy. Steve will be the first to tell you that there is still a ways to go. We'll ride North to South Mtn, and then East through Gaudalupe--and then into Tempe.

Traffic and the urge to keep rolling means I don't have photos of the last leg. It was very hot, and we were needing to stop and re-supply with ice and water rather than look for photo-ops.
One incident of note is that the cops in Paradise Valley rolled up behind us in steath mode, then the officer got on his PA speaker and commanded us we had to ride single file. Steve ignored him, and I used very unappropriate body language to let Officer Dick Donut know I would not comply. I could have gotten in trouble, but Officer Donut must have had somebody's grandmother to bust because he did a U-Turn and took off. If you happen to be a police officer working in the afflent suburb of Paradise Valley, and you're reading this--you can go fuck off.

Well, that mishap was soon forgotten when we arrived in Scottsdale, Arizona--130 miles and one braying jack ass down the street later!

I was able to take a quick shower, and go hit the sack for a few hours while Kim made us one of her famous dinners. I recall the wine being red, chilled, and tastey! We went to DQ after and I had a dipped chocolate ice cream cone. I fell asleep by 8 p.m.

The Return trip to Marana
2:15 a.m.
Steve already has a pot of coffee going, and fries up some eggs. He puts them between two pieces of bread, like a sandwich. We put them in baggies and stow them on board. I cram one of last night's chicken breasts Kim made for dinner into my face, while gulping down a bottle of Ensure--Steve's new secret weapon.


Phoenix at 3 a.m. is still hot, Gentle Readers. For a few miles Steve and I slip silently through the last bit of Scottsdale, then zip among the sleeping formations of Papago Park, and soon to the Campus of ASU. We decided to skip I HOP in Tempe instead to go to Burger King in Chandler to save time.

Burger King in not open--but a mexican place is -- and we're there! Steve is inside and ordering, but I have noticed something messed up with my saddle. It has slipped down about half and inch and is not straight. My ass has been hurting for the 35 miles or so to breakfast stop--no wonder! The saddle is fixed thank God, and I am happy for the next 100 miles.

All I can say about this breakfast place, and eating breakfast with a bunch of mexicans, is that good food transcends nationalities... I could have done without the gyrating Latinas on the MTV like disco show--blaring on the TV...

Sacaton Revisited

We need water. We must stop in Sacaton. Our shortcut/experimental route was okay, but I have to say we were running out of water and energy because we were fighting a tough headwind now. All that hard riding against the wind drains you quickly, and you have to stay hydrated and keep eating to keep up your energy.

At close to 7 a.m. we got to the only store. It was closed, so we decided to wait a few minutes until it would open. I was looking around and thought for a second that I couldn't find the sign that said the hours. "Hey Steve, where do you see the sign that says the hours?" "Its right there on the left side--by the door." I couldn't see what he was taking about. I figured it was just my fatigue that was confusing me. "I don't see what you're talking about." "Right there. Right there on the--well, I thought it was right there--right..."

There was no sign. And we realized we were in trouble.

"Don't expect that place to open anytime soon." It was a firefighter getting gas for his Jeep. "Do you guys need anything?" He could tell we were pretty beat. "We need water." "The fire station is just down the road. I'll meet you guys there. You can get ice and water--and anything else you need." Our lucky day, mes amis.

This guy was Mike, and we got to the fire station and loaded up with ice and water. All the crew was there, and they said we could always stop for ice and water when we were in town.


Just by the fire house in Sacaton, was this place. After I took the picture of this building above and started off, my front tire sank thru the crust and into sand of the dirt-packed side road. It slammed me to the ground. My main concern was that I might have busted the bladder of my Camelbak--I didn't thank goodness!


After climbing out of Sacaton, and over I-10. We made some speed through Casa Grande and made another stop for water. We were now on one of the familiar brevet routes--on Jimmy Kerr Blvd headed to Eloy.


Eloy, Arizona.


Dream Rock


Last MSM trip we stopped at an old concrete slab, the foundation of an old house or business. Large trees keep the slab cool, and to lay down on the slab makes you're back feel great, and the shade is inviting.

I call this place Dream Rock because when I layed down in the shade to cool off from the concrete, I suddenly found myself tumbling into an eerie deep sleep--like an avalance of REM. Really it was some kind of scary trap and dangerous because it felt like I was melting and falling into a deep void. Steve had the same experience and we got out of there because I believe I would have slept there for hours--who knows what would have happened to us?

Still, the temptation to rest there again was strong. And we did rest there but we were more careful.


Too hot even for the dogs in Picacho. But we keep our eyes open.


Picacho probably has seen better days...


DQ at Picacho Peak is not far--its 107 and we ride against a headwind.


Picacho Peak. You get sight of the Peak heading South just as you're leaving the city limits of Casa Grande, about 30 miles away. We made a quick stop for water and ice (later we find out it was 110 degrees out on the road) and as we make our way down the Frontage Road, the Peak gradually shirnks behind us.

Normally we would keep going, but we plan to make a stop for water at the Marana Circle K. We'll have about 9 more miles to my house, in which the last 6 are a grueling climb. Oh yeah, when we pull into Circle K--I have a flat.

Again we opt for not changing out the tube. Instead we'll put air in the tire and ride until it goes flat again.


This is about the last mile of the six mile climb to my house. That's Mt. Lemon in the back ground. With 120 miles under your legs, and tempatures over 100 degrees, every mile takes all you've got. You really keep hoping you see that traffic signal on Tangerine and Dove Mtn Blvd. You can see it just at the crest of the road.

But, instead of arriving like Hobbits at the entrance of Mt. Doom--with the One Ring--we are at my place! We have done it--Marana to Scottsdale and Back Again.

After 263 miles, I cook up Spam and eggs as our post-ride lunch, mes amis...

Sorry Kim--but that is really all I had in the frig!

Allure Libre, Mes Amis!

"You're Just a Little Dog" or Prelude to M S M

Mes Amis, Gentle Readers, Skeptics, and Mental Health Professionals--Marana Scottsdale Marana was insane! Images and comments will follow in a few days! I have a new camera, and will upload the images of our ride as soon as I can. Until then, know that I am exhausted, 10 pounds lighter, and sunburned the redish-brown colour of which is the hue of the earth and mountains of the Desert Southwest.

The ride kind of went like this:

Steve says, "Hey, let's ride through Picacho instead of the long way around." He means that this time let's save some miles and take the chance that the Dogs of Picacho will not go after us. All of you must know by now that Susan Plonsky, our beloved RBA, got chased by these scruffy dogs everytime she did recon for the brevets--so she wrote a warning in the cue sheets for riders to be wary. Everyone heeded her advise...

But today we're gonna slip through these few blocks becasue we are doing M S M, Baby!

We enter their turf--it is strangly quiet. Suddenly there's a growl and a charging animal! Hey, wait a second--its a puny little runt/yippy dog!

I laughed out loud, and cried "You're just a little dog--" My god but that was the most pathetic attack I've ever seen, and I laughed some more.

Up ahead. 50 yards. Two big dogs--pissed off--wait for us.

Shit.

Here's last year's M S M ride report for your perusal!

Allure Libre!

Bike and Swim

I had a pretty good ride into the office this morning. I parked at the YMCA this time--wanted to park at the golf course, but that would be 18 miles instead of 15 and I was running behind schedule--

My new Brooks saddle was giving me a great deal of pain--you guess where--so I decided I would try Gerry Goode's instructions on how to break in a Brooks saddle in 100 miles. You soak the saddle in warm water for 15 t0 30 minutes before you ride--slap the saddle on then ride about 20 miles--you're supposed to do this five times. And keep it oiled with saddle oil...

The saddle was already much softer on my sit bones, and maybe because I'm a big guy, my weight speeded the process of form fitting.

Kind of as I was suspecting, one of my legs might be a bit shorter/longer because I could see the lop-sidedness of the contour of the saddle. My cleats might be off too. What ever the case, if I can soften up this saddle it will be a major advancement in my ultra riding.

I finally got myself to Ft Lowell pool, which is open year-round for lap swim--and just not even half mile away--and I swam laps for about 20 minutes. Once I get everything figured out, I can save time and get there and back in an hour. What held me up today is that one of the Physical Theraphy fellows had just got back from his run--he tried to hurry but I didn't mind waiting. We only have one shower in our little locker room. I just took a quick shower and changed back into work clothes.

So that was kind of cool to ride into work, swim 700 meters (I am pretty sure it is a 50 meter pool) and now have the rest of the day to concentrate on whatever.

Have a great day, mes amis!

Windy Ride Home

We closed down the office at 3, so I took my time knowing I'd have lots of time to relax, eat something, and take Callie out for her cardio workout at the park, mes amis.

So I conserved energy and found a nice speed to get home, and tried not to think of the wind as my enemy so much. It was 100 degrees, but a steady headwind kept me cool. I also ate a Cliff Bar before I left, and had one for the half-way point as a boost to get me home. I also had salt tablets and endurolites--and of course plenty of water. So when I got home I wasn't so beat up.

I did have to stop and get water at Thornydale and Cortaro Farms before my desert crossing back up to Dove Mtn.

I take an old Jeep road, Camino de Oeste, which translates from the Spanish as Easterly Way or Easterly Road (funny it runs North and South) through the desert for about four miles. Open desert on the East side is now very swank yuppie homes, called Sky Ranch. The lots start at $475,000--just for the lot and not even a house, mes amis! And the houses are all packed together "Buttcheek-to-buttcheek" and it is a dirty rotten shame. Beautiful desert bladed to put up ticky-tacky. And the shacks aren't even that big--and they're gross... I suppose one could step outside of their casa, on a hot desert morning, look to the Mountains, and see his or her neighbor flossing thier teeth next door thru the window. I'd pay $400,000 to see that, yep! I mean the houses are so close you'd be able to her the neighbor's offsprings' pet gerbils fart the walls are so thin! I suppose I'm digressing quite quickly...

Well, rather than take what's left of the jeep road (can't ride too fast because of sandy spots) I cut into the development to find a short-cut to Tangerine. Well it was not to be and I was soon lost in the maze of the homes. I found a way out thru the large open gates of the community--which don't seem to be activated yet--when they are, they will be some of the largest gates of a gated community I've every seen! It was just eerie because there are a few hundred homes in various stages of being built, and people don't live there yet...

Soon I was home. I had ridden 25 miles. Just under two hours-- What a great day!
Took a shower, ate, slept for 30 minutes, and then Callie got me up to go to the park.

Allure Libre!

4th of July Freedom Commute to the Office

Yep, that's right! Freedom, Baby! C'est ce bon! It is so Good!

I took off from Dove Mnt this fine morning--about 80 degrees but that's okay... There was a headwind on my climb of 9 miles but I hung in there. Traffic was so sparse; it was mainly the cyclists out but they all seemed to be going the other way--down Skyline--instead of climbing like me.

I finally got to Skyline and Campbell and enjoyed the descent, then the one last climb to Swan. What a beautiful day to go 35 mph down hill to the office.

Bike computer says 24.3 miles in 1 hour and 33 minutes. Wind was strong, and of course I have to climb for about half of that--All in all I feel pretty good. In part to bringing enough water and a huge lunch--and a pretty loaded snack before I leave tonight--but I won't be carrying the backpack on the way home. That will free up the shoulders and keep me cooler.

I still have to get my ass home tonight, but you know mes amis, I feel I could do this commute not every day, but at least once a week. I feel tired of course, but my engine seems to be idling strong. I feel great. Let's see how tired I am when I get home.

Stef and Team Mooney were probably just starting the climb up to Mt. Lemon this morning. I should have taken the day off and done that. Not much happening here at work...

Allure Libre!

Puppy Dogs and Rainbows

Read more and you get to see the puppy towards the end of this yarn!

Ride Report--I go to the bike locker after work--back tire is flat. Somehow I've missed something in the tire. Hmm... This really sucks--two flats in one day. Then I get an idea. Pump up the tire enough to get down to Pima Street Bikes. Phil and Judy are still there and I have just enough time before they close. I get enough air with my hand pump and it seems to hold, so I sprint off.

Judy replaces the tube and checks out the tire and I'm good to go.

So there I am on Pima Street. Monsoon clouds are rolling in and its gonna start pouring any minute. Rather than go back up to Campus and ride Glenn to to Mtn Ave. What the heck I'll just take Pima to AHSL and get to Mountain Ave that way--and I get rolling.

Dang, but it is windy! And on Mountain its even more windy! So I've a fierce headwind all the way to the River Path--no big deal. Except now its getting stronger, and the clouds darker.

From my days in South Dakota, the Lakota people would tell me stories about the spirits and the fairies playing, and up to mischief when the wind was like this. You shouldn't be out when they're having their fun--because if you are they will delight in taunting you. You know, like grabbing your handle bars and giving them a yank! Or a bunch on them getting hold of your ankles to make your peadaling more difficult! Or holding onto to your jersey so if feels like you're not even moving. Yeah they had their fun teasing me alright.

I'm riding head-on into this wind and into dust clouds. Off the bike path and North onto La Cholla now--straight into the wind--I can only ride a few miles per hour. Mes amis it is un-natural wind and I must tell you I can hear a low roar and it seems to blast down the street... There's a Circle K up ahead where I stopped yesterday for water. I'm taking an ass beating and I pull in to get out of the wind, drink some gatoraide I mixed at the office, and take my last two Endurolites. I also note that I'm covered with a thin layer of grime--great.

Well, I'll wrap up. I get back to the car and just then the downpour begins. Just made it.

Callie is waiting at home and I unload my bike. She likes to sit in the trunk for some reason when I'm working in the garage.

Here she is just watching the storm as it rolls into Dove Mtn.


We finally get more rain.

I cooked up a mess of Spam and eggs for dinner--also Callie's favorite--for I felt I made a good effort to get myself back to the car before all Hell broke loose. I guess I didn't have much choice!

Allure Libre!

Ride Report--Flat tire at the start

The Monsoons are trying hard to start up--and will any day now! But that makes for some humidity--and last night was no exception. I just couldn't seem to drink enough water, mes amis. I had to make a stop at a Circle K on LaCholla for water, and I had to buy some Doritoes for some carbs--I was starving. The ride home is much easier and I will not attempt to ride Skyline and Ina in rush hour.

But I did ride in again this morning--but as soon I was off and down the road a ways the real tire was flat. No big deal. A quick tube replacement and I was off. Well, I have to say that this commute will be getting me in shape. Its mostly climbing unitl Skyline and Campbell--after that it is fast down hill rollers. A cyclist can ride fast, but people are driving fast and there's not much room. Cars are going past me at 50 mph plus--but when everyone has to slow down or things get bunched up because some snowbird is on his way to a tee-time--I shoot right on by, Baby!

Oh yeah, I brought an extra bottle of Gatoraide, and some pop tarts for the ride home tonight.

Tomorrow is a rest day...

Allure Libre!

Morning Ride Report

Left chez toi at 6 a.m. and had a pleasant drive to the YMCA, where I parked the car. I believe I dove 9.2 miles. At 6 a.m. the YMCA is packed! I got one of the last parking spaces...

Mes amis, it was hot and I have to say a bit muggy even--and there was traffic--but as a veteran of brevets and randonnees I left undaunted. The time was nearer to 6:15 a.m. Anyway it seemed tougher this morning (went to bed at Midnight last night) and I was on my own. When Steve and I rode on Ina (which turns into Skyline) a few weeks ago it seemed like a piece of cake.

I could feel the hills and sweat was pouring out of me! Lots of exhaust fumes too--yuck! Rode up to a guy on a bike in front of me, who looked at me like I was a ghost. I said good morning but he did not reply. In that case its time to pick up the pace and move on.

When I got up to the top, about Skyline and Campbell Ave. I think, I tucked in the aero bars and hauled arse downhill. The pavement is nice and smooth and clean. I got to ride fast and that was fun. One hump in the pavement gave me a jolt, but other than that I flew down the road.

There's a gradual climb as you near the high school--and after that you're almost to Swan. Swan heading South is about four or five miles of downhill and you can take off like a rocket--which I did. All the lights changed green for me and the momentum quickly got me to Glenn and Swan.


I rolled into Campus and off the bike at 7:15 a.m. Not bad. Not bad for Cat 2 overweight and having consumed way to much alcohol at the Beck Concert, and I stayed up until midnight doing on-line bill pay last night...

Oh I have my rain coat with me as the monsoons are coming. Maybe today? My heart is light today mes amis!

Allure Libre

El Mega Weekend

The Start of El Mega Weekend. 5:15 a.m. at I Hop. We left Scottsdale at 4 a.m., mes amis! Oh yeah, as we saddled up the neighbor's donkey heard us and started "hee hawing" to annouce our depature to the entire block. You wounldn't think that Scottsdalianites would have a donkey, but when you're wealthy and eccentric I guess you can do whatever with your ass...


Beautiful ASU Campus, Tempe, Arizona--USA Baby!


South Mountain by 8 o'clock!


Steve looks for Endurolites.


Its cooler up here, but you can't stay long. The ride home will be grueling with the heat.


Locals relaxing after the climb before they head down.


The big guy makes it to the top yet again. Steve and I felt pretty good about meeting our goal of South Mtn by 8 o'clock--I started out hurting--but so was everyone. Even as early as we started, the heat was brutal.

Coming down I relaxed--and I think I rode down a little faster. But you wouldn't want to get too comfortable. If you were to mess up going down Summit Drive you would certainly get yourself killed. So I just try to enjoy the feeling of flying, and live to ride the Mtn again another day!


On the way home, I snapped this old church in Guadalupe--this side of the tracks is Mexican. We go over a bridge and the Anglo surburban sprawl begins.


Driving back on Hwy 51 there was a pickup on the shoulder burning. It was kind of cool. I tried to get my camera ready, but this is the best shot I could get. A Hwy Patrolman waved his arms, saying to everybody to just keep moving. I'm glad because I needed to get home!

Beck at the Rialto Theatre

My Man, Beck. This show was awesome! The Rialto is a cool old theatre and not that big, so we were able to see well an were up close. Beck and his band Rocked the House. Speaking of Howse--he keep putting a big glass of beer in my hand the entire show.


Oh yeah--there weren't any seats in the theatre. They had taken them out. So I had to stand for about three and half hours, packed in the crowd. Because I started getting bad leg cramps right before I left Steve and Kim's place--I had this awful fear that the 90 miles that morning would catch up with me--and my legs would give out. Luckily the didn't give out until we were back at Stef and Angela's place. They let me crash on the couch in the living room--I'd been up almost 20 hours.

Thanks to Kim for the gormet lunch after the 90 miles. Thanks to the Walz Compound for a quick dinner before the Beck Show, the couch, and for breakfast this morning. Now I must nap and do laundry and all that other stuff to get ready for the week.

Allure Libre!

Team Mooney Jersey

It was bad luck for me running into Mooney and Stef, and without my "Show Time" jersey. I had a gut feeling I should have had it on--my name is mud... But you're probably not reading this anyway...

I have no idea who this model is in the photo. Maybe I'll meet her July 2nd--a full report will follow!

Allure Libre!

Mountain Bike

I pulled the Mtn Bike from the bike locker and rode down to Chipotle for a bite. It was only 95 and not 105, and there were clouds--so you don't get that cooking feeling. But there were lots of people out and I had to wait in line at the resturant.

Mainly I had to wait in line so long because people would come in from their office, and they would be the first one there--then all their chump cohorts would arrive--and they'd cut in. So in the 20 minutes I was there, about 15 people cut in line. So if a person takes about a minute to get their order and get through the line, well you can see how I would have to wait an extra 15 minutes before I ordered.

These people were mainly airmen from the airforce base--but there were office girl types too. Just really bad manners. The thing that really irked me is that I was trying to exit, and people just kept walking in. These are mainly younger people in their twenties and thirties--everybody was so self absorbed and on their cell. Only after about 1o people bargded in did two older, better dressed, and probably educated men use good manners and hold the door and let me exit. We were all amazed at the total lack of manners of the herd.

But it was just great to get out and move, and get my heart rate going. I felt like I accomplished more today, and the air was fresh and clean and felt good.

On the bike you can see things that you would miss in the car. Like rattlesnakes in the wash... The wash is what's left of an ancient wash and is all concrete. I know that it runs for miles uninterrupted, as it runs through the heart of TMC, and on the way to Chipotle, I cross it again on Grant. Looking South it seems to go on for miles. I'd like to ride in there and see how far I can go--like some kind of journey of discovery. Cool--I think I'll do that.

Owt