Rain -- I Don't Mind

Rain!


Pouring rain at the office, then just as I'm about to start off for home--there's a pause. I'm able to get through busy traffic and to the bike route with ease. My fenders do their job well!


Going home I take the bike route for almost 9 miles as its safe and out of busy late afternoon traffic. I did have to use my raincoat, but its plastic and quickly you feel like you're in a sauna. With the fenders on the bike, I stay dry--I don't mind the sprinkles--so nice and cool.


A young Cooper's Hawk was sitting here on this bridge watching the bunnies and little ground squirrels scurry about. I asked him to just wait one more second so I could snap a picture--well he gave me an angry look and swooped over my head with a screech. He wasn't happy having me watch him watch his prey.

As I passed "Bike Hinge" which is on a more remote part of the bike path, I saw a group of about 10 or so field mice sitting on the rocks and stones, watching me with curiosity--their little heads turning in unison as I rode past.


Bev would pick me up at the YMCA. Everything was fine as my fenders kept me dry and clean--however as I just turned the corner to go the quarter-mile or so to the finish, it started to pour down rain. I was soaked, Gentle Reader. Bev arrived a few minutes later and we were on our way home.

I'll ride the 25 miles into work, and coming home Bev will meet me at the YMCA, or possibly I can ride up a few more miles to the Safeway and she would only have to drive 6 or so miles.

The other night coming home--one mile from my house--an impatient blue-collar red-neck sped his pickem' up and deliberately cut me off while I was making a right turn from Tangerine onto Dog Mtn Blvd. A very reckless and dangerous move on his part. Just unbelievable and stupid and not sure what he was trying to prove by almost running me down.

I talked to Bev about it and we decided it was just not worth getting killed a mile from home by some idiot. She'll meet me at the YMCA.

50 Mile Ride

This saguaro is probably 150 to 200 years old. It sits right in the middle of the old jeep road I take to get home. The road most likely started as a route used by the native people. Next ranchers, then hunters. I imagine it's unfazed by a wary cyclist passing on the way home to Dog Mtn.

My Raleigh Super Grand Prix outfitted as the commuter bike.

Mt. Lemmon pictured here. I'm heading East on Tangerine Rd, Gentle Readers, to this light at Tangerine and Thornydale. My morning commute begins with a three mile climb to this intersection.


Regarde--Le Randonneur American!

40 percent chance of rain all week, but nothing yet! But it has made the ride nice and cool--only 99 degrees, but a bit muggy.

Okay, so here we are 10 miles into the commute. This light you see is the entrance of Pima Community College and the YMCA, were I would drive and park my car. I must tell you that the 10 miles to here is a bit dangerous, but early in the morning traffic is lite. This little stretch has a sweet bike lane and good pavement, so I gain some speed to make it to the top the hill at Ina and Shannon.

Ina Rd. This is a busy haul-ass commute route for cars. Ina runs parallel to Pusch Ridge which means a steady climb for cyclists. For such a busy crowded road, there are many cyclists either commuting or out training. The climb makes you push; and the rollers are quick and fast. I'm heading East into the rising sun. I must say in this photograph Ina seems oddly void of traffic.

That's Thimble Peak, a Tucson icon, located in Sabino Canyon--a very beautiful place which you must visit when you're in town. I believe the first Spanish explorers had a more descriptive name for this landmark--but it seems to have been lost to time and white men.

America the Beautiful--the wealthy pay a lot of money to have views of Pusch Ridge and the Catalina Mts. Heck, I get to see them on my commute!

Ina changes names to Sunrise and then to Skyline. I've turned around and photographed the way I came. This is looking West. Those are the Tuscon Mts and West of them lies Saguaro Nat'l Park.

Okay. This is the top of Sunrise/Skyline and Craycroft, looking South towards Hopkins Peak. Old Mexico is beyond. My office is about 4 miles away. This is a fast and smooth descent, much needed after climbing all morning.

Going home and making good time. I did start to have cramps in my calves toward the the last few miles. This is on Camino de Oeste, which turns into the un-paved jeep road. It begins the four mile climb to Tangerine and then to Dog Mtn.

The old jeep road through the open desert. It is beautiful and cool, and the aroma of the trees and cactus is a relief from the hot pavement and exhaust from cars. But it is a climb up to the base of Tortolita Mts you can see above, and the trail often turns to sand. I had to walk some but not much.

This trail will intersect with Tangerine Rd. All new paved road with a nice shoulder for bikes. Its a fast descent to Dog Mtn then home.

25 miles into the office, and 25 miles home. Quite the commute...

Cheers! Bruce

The Break Up, or One Less Car

22X, or my 2002 Hyundi Sonota

My life is complex and there is much mystery to why shit happens—but a good hardy bike commute filled with Rednecks, Porsches, Snowbirds, and 103 degree temps—well, what can I say? It makes everything okay!

We decided we will have only two cars instead of three. Not so “Lil’ Ricky’ will be taking my car off to school. Bev and I will share her car—so really we’ll have only one car at home—but what I’ll do is step up and ride the bike. This means I’m gonna walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

After a certain point in his young adult life, Ricky will have to pay his own insurance and buy his own car. I’ll help him if I can of course, but I know he can get another 100,000 miles on this one before the day comes and they too must part. Actually we owe about another year of payments—and I hope to God Ricky doesn’t destroy it by then.


Fold down the back seat, take off front wheel, and the bike fits perfectly--off to a brevet!

It’s actually breaking my heart, Gentle Readers of This Blog, to see my ride go. I loved my car; I kept it in good shape and had few problems, if any, with it mechanically. But, like all cars—it sits un-used 23 hours a day—sucking money out of my modest checking account.


Callie had this thing about the trunk. Here she is keeping an eye on the neighborhood.

I rode the 25 mile commute into the office this morning. It was beautiful. It’s monsoon time here in Tucson—rain has made everything fresh and alive. The air is without dust; birds are singing—bees are busy, and a bobcat checked out my backyard yesterday evening. It’s like the desert has breathed a big sigh of relief.

Okay, so now I have about a 50 mile round trip commute in front of me.

I have a week’s worth of work attire stashed in the office. This morning I packed everything in the Carridice bike bag, which fits nicely with my Brookes saddle. It was good not have the back-pack for the commute, stuffed with all the crap I don’t need and can leave at the office (Geez I finally figured that out…)

Now the best part will be the ride home. It will either be 103 degrees with a headwind, or heavy rain with lightning.

As I claim to have the grit of a Randonneur, this should have no effect on me what so ever.

Allure Libre!

Callie Has Valley Fever

Callie

A few weeks ago, I took Callie down to John's clinic. He took a couple of x-rays and then he got this big needle, stuck it in Callie's side (where there's a growing squishy hump--that's gotten larger in a short amount of time) and drew out some gunk--put it on a slide, and then sent it to the pathology lab at University of Arizona.

I thought I was going to pass out while he probed around with an even bigger needle and syringes as the first five or six attempst to get out the gunky stuff wasn't going so well. Gentle Readers of This Blog--needles cause me to break out in a cold sweat. Some of the staff there quickly came over to support me as the room started to spin and I felt my knees going...

John calls my office this afternoon and says Callie has Valley Fever.

Callie is a 13 year old German Shorthair Pointer--and very fit. You wouldn't know she was being slowed down by Valley Fever--but as of late she's been affected by the summer heat and humidity here in Tucson. I'm just glad I can get her on some drugs and I know soon she'll be even healthier!

Cheers! Bruce

Did You Ride Last Weekend?

June by Bike

June has seen me putting in some base miles and experimenting with routes.

I don't want to bore you with yet more images of me riding my bike. (But here's a few)

Ready to roll out of the garage in the morning--all packed the night before so I can sleep a bit more.

The monsoon rains are coming, and I do want to take pictures of that for you--because there's beauty and inspiration when the rain is in the air--and I either just make it to the car, or I get a good soaking.

The Raleigh Super Grand Prix has the fenders still on--and said bike has seen rain a time or two. Fenders on a bike when raining cats and dogs is the way to go--you would be amazed at how dry you stay in the saddle. All the fiddling with and adjustments and frustrations when the fenders don't cooperate--are made up for when riding and enjoying rain.

Driving to work--

Everybody's on a cell--driving as if intoxicated--or texting. This week, after work whilst driving from the Y to chez moi-- some young girl drove two feet behind me (right on my bumper) the whole time having a very animated (happy teenager) conversation. I could not get around slower cars up ahead (people also on cell phones) and was blocked by some very old lady driving a 2008 Mustang GT (which I think means all the bells and whistles) to my right--talking on her cell phone. When her attention span lapsed and I saw a chance to break for it, the old bag sped up to prevent my maneuver ( me actually driving the speed limit) then she fuckin glared at me and was going to make sure I wasn't gonna get around.

This is pretty much driving in Tucson, mes amis. About everyone is on a cell or sending a text message.

So if I so much as run a stop sign on my bike, I'm a menace to Society?


Bike on board at my parking spot, and ready to drive home.

July I will make different for you, O! Gentler Reader of This Blog--there will be more about the beauty of riding--about discovering new things--and more interesting photos!

There may be a few rants--buy hey, it's my blog and I'll rant if I want to!

Allure Libre!

Summer Solstice Ride, Saguaro National Park

5 a.m. Sunrise over the Catalina Mts. I had to get up at 4 a.m. Sunday morning...


John and Cathy on the tandem, on our way to ride up Gates Pass, and into Saguaro Nat'l Park.


Yours and John, top of Gates Pass. The valley is flooded with sunlight!


A big group of cyclists arrvies just after we reach the top.


Riding down Gates Pass Rd, on our way to McCain Loop. This morning I ran over a rattlesnake crossing the road. John and Cathy were behind me and I told them head's up! But they didn't see him--he must have crossed back into the desert.


Ride in Peace -- Again, Gentle Readers, the mysterious Wolf appears--from thin air--only to quickly vanish. Is he a man? Or spirit? I believe him from the Spirit World.


Riding in Saguaro National Park.


It has been so dry and hot--we need the monsoons to start up, Gentler Readers.


The Sonoran Desert, Saguaro Nat'l Park. Behind us about 60 miles, Old Mexico.


We're on McCain Loop, and will ride around this mtn range out of the park.


Saguaro Nat'l Park gives way to farm land.


We ride out a bit futher to put in 10 more miles on the flats. Out here is old Marana with the cotton fields and cattle and horse ranches. Developement hasn't invaded out here yet. Hope it dosen't--its the open road, mes amis.


Thanks to Cathy for taking a pretty good shot of me riding. I'm feeling strong but even the heat starts to wear the most hardy Arizona cyclist down. As we head back into town, there's a headwind, and now at about 9 a.m. the temps are reaching 95 to 100 degrees. No matter, it was a great day and we're happy about the Summer Solstice.

Tailwinds and Safe Riding to you!

Cheers! Bruce

"Let Them Eat Cake"

I may be just a dumb Okie but often I can be seen reading the Wall Street Journal in our institutional cafeteria. Most of it goes way beyond my comprehension—but now and then there is something that reaches even me. Anyway, the writing is so good that when an article hits home, it really hits home.

Last month I read an interview with the CEO of Exxon. What I got from the questions so rightly asked by the journalist and from the CEO’s frank answers was sobering.

“So what about the public, the average American and the car he drives? You can’t help but hear the complaints and the grumblings about the price of gas?” His response, “Fuck ‘em. If they want to drive their cars, they’ll have to pay. I could give a shit how much the average American has gotta pay at the pump.”

What do we do now?

The answer—drive less. And don’t waste gas on trips you don’t need. I’m not saying ride a bike more, or buy an itty-bitty automobile—although it wouldn’t hurt. Just be more efficient so when you do have to pay high prices for fuel (and it looks like we all will from now on) it won’t be so devastating finically. We waste a lot of gas, the same we waste a lot of food and most of our other resources. We are wasteful. It’s because we are rich and spoiled. I dare say we’re not very intelligent either. We are used to having everything our way, which is the cheap easy fast way.

Those days have passed.

I don’t commute on my bike to save gas; I commute on my bike because I love riding a bike. Paying high prices for fuel less often is the result of that pleasurable experience commuting. And when I do drive, I make the most of the time having to drive. If I have to drive to the office, I bring clothes, food, shoes, and what ever else I need to make it possible to bike to work. I try to get things done while I have the car.

Certainly if more people felt safer on the streets riding their bikes, they would commute to work and take care of business that only required a short trip. Maybe that day will come soon. People are not going to give up on their automobiles—even I know that—and a lot of people will have little or no choice but to drive cars.

People with disposable income will be able to drive the big cars and that’s okay with me—but I will fight them if they think they will have any special privileges in terms of the road. Oil companies are not about to offer any help to you or me. So its time to demand utility and efficiency—waste is no longer acceptable. If you want to have a big car and drive around, you will have to simply pay the price.

Most urgently, we cannot be fooled by those oil company CEO’s or our elected officials when they say we must tap into oil reserves in our Nat’l Parks and Preserves, etc. "So we can lower our dependence of forgien oil." Bloody Hell but they've beat that to death haven't they? It’s just not worth it, mes amis. They will destroy what's left of our environment and happily profit from its demise.

This is what we do—

Be efficient.
Don’t waste.
Be smart.

Just keepin' it Fresh

Bruce

"A" Mountain -- Tucson Icon

Today we do the short climb up "A" Mountain.


Actually, just getting to the base of the mountain is quite a climb. The high today is forecast for 107 degrees. We started at 6 a.m. Maybe we should have started at 5 a.m.


No cars for the morning. This keeps the riff-raff out.


City of Tucson.


John and I climbing--almost there!

Camera man.


Shot of the climb we've been making thus far.


The city and the valley come into view. For several thousand years, and to the Spanish Settlers in the 1600's, where we're at was known as "Sentinel Peak" The Indians who lived near by called the area the place where the people live at the base of the Black Mountain. The Spanish adapted the native word, which sounded something like "Tucson"


By 1915, Sentinel Peak was known as "A" Mountain. This is the result of youth and alcohol no doubt. Thanks to the University of Arizona student body, probably after, or even during a drunken orgy and pep rally--made this huge "A" and then painted it white.

Every year, ASU students from Tempe would come down to Tucson when the football teams played, and they would, as a prank, paint the "A" yellow and red. UofA students were supposed to prevent this, but were too drunk and passed out to catch the culprits.

A few years ago, some proud Americans painted the white "A" red, white, and blue--to show their support for the War in Iraq. This didn't sit well with a lot of people here in Tucson who were against the war--so another group of proud Americans went and painted it white again.

Then on St. Patrick's Day some proud intoxicated Americans went and painted the white "A" green. You can still see some of the green paint on the rock there. Being a bit drunk, they didn't stay in the lines very well--shame on them!

Now get this: some self-righteous, god fearin', Tucson business man dug deep in his wallet, and paid some Mexicans to re-paint the "A" red white and blue once more--blue, white, red--white blue, red--whatever. Maybe something got lost in the translation?

Kind of a cool view of the city from up here, ne' est ce pas?


Old post card image.


John and I are about to go back down. You can see the parking lot for a trail head here in the right hand corner.


View of the Northwest side where we rode from this morning.


A last look at Down Town Tucson before we head for breakfast.


This is what you see on the last few miles of El Tour de Tucson--heading into the heart of down town to the finish line.


We are early and we'll beat the sunday crowd.


Patti and Robert recognize me as we're leaving IHOP and they're coming in for breakfast. Patti has toured Spain, France, Italy, and Hungary by bicycle!


On the way back home, we take a detour to see these fellows fly these cool planes.


Umm... John says he knows a short cut--our 'lil adventure deserves a post unto itself, Gentle Reader of This Blog.


This sign is posted where no one will ever see it--or ride their bike--except us on John's cyclo-cross short cut.


Where are we, John?


I'm taking care of my friend's dogs this weekend. After the ride, I check in on them, and we chill.

Cheers!