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Week One: 27 April through 4 May, 2002
Click
www.bamacyclist.com and navigate to "Where's Mike", then to "2002Fast" to see our ride leader's site
(complete with lots of photos!).
Day 6 - Friday, May 3 - Winslow, AZ to Gallup, NM. 126.2 miles.
Couldn't rouse AOL last PM, nor the cell phone from Winslow... so that'll make
update a bit intermittent. Remember the alternate ride site (see day 3 or 4
for bamacyclist.com since Mike works really hard to get on every day). Today
was mostly a 'flat desert' cruise on Rt40 (Interstate) across AZ desert. It
was in the 40s at start, but pretty quickly warmed to about 70, so temp was
very comfortable, and we had bit of tailwind (no howler). I admit to feeling
fatigued, not badly, but bit of sore R knee. Trying to get to sleep earlier
but losing 1 hrs time today didn't help. We saw the painted desert today, and
a lot of beautiful rock. We're in Eco Lodge on outskirts of Gallup (our 3rd
state!). Finished in 'first group' with 4 others... a lot of that can be
related to # of flats, but we worked well togther for last 20. Had
spaghetti for dinner at Ranch Kitchen, friendly and quick service.
Day 5 - Thursday, May 2 - Cottonwood, AZ to Winslow, AZ. 110.5 miles
We learned this am AT 'Road Rap' that yesterday's ride was 11,000 ft of
climbing I clocked max speed of 36.6mph ... hey, I admit to being on the
brakes... most of the 'tiny' guard rails were in front of a red rock vertical
drop! Today was Sedona Magic in the AM. A (mostly) constructed 4 lane road
brought us in from the south. A stop for good coffee w/in view of where the
red rock meets the ionized air. Two early morning airballons cruised
overhead. It was great great riding, ending with steep 6 mile climb
eventually leading up to 7K feet as we rolled into Flagstaff. It was chilly
there (55?), with dark clouds. A group of us picked our way out to
Rt40... actually got waved over by a cop to get a 'stern warning' after an SUV
flagged him down to complain our group had caused her to miss a light... the
cop mostly passed the time by asking us about our ride... he was a cyclist.
Then the tailwind really kicked in for the downhill as country opened back
into plains and the descent into Winslow. Matina 'blew doors' off everyone by
rocking in at real pace. I couldn't stay glued, but no complaint to be
cruising effortlessly in the low-mid 20 mph. Legs not feeling too gab... sore
to the touch, but feel like it sorts out on the road and I get a lot of 'just
fine' time. We walked in to 'the corner' (Eagles song 'standing on a
corner..., etc) in Winslow, which was a pretty small town. Ended up at a resort
type of place with a 5 star chef for some A-OK veggie/pasta. Long walk back to
Days Inn w/ big trains running next to us, beautiful star-filled sky. Petted
2 dogs today. 10-4, M
Day 4 - Wednesday, May 1 - Wickensburg, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ. 101.5 miles -
Let the climbing begin! Today we left the Arizona desert floor to climb up to
the town of Prescott, descend and climb again. It was cold this AM, maybe 45
or so and overcast when we left at 6:30AM. (Have I mentioned breakfast is
5:30AM?) After 20 miles the first climb started, and we climbed steeply
and/or rather steadily until lunch at mile 43. The desert floor really fell
below. My legs were pretty dead, but started to feel better after lunch. I
rode today with one of the three ride leaders, Karen, a woman who amazingly
enough I knew from my '89 Trek when we were both participants. The ride got
even more super after lunch. We were on 89A, mostly a 2 lane road branching
to a climbing lane when needed, not much traffic, and we started the third
main climb, a 6 miler up to top of Mingus Mt. Too many switchbacks to count,
I stood in my 2nd lowest gear, and occassionally sat. The sky was
brightening, the view mountaineous with pines. We stopped at summit to 'garb
up', then pushed off for the 12 mile descent. It was incredible! Gorgeous
road, only had one car pass. Swishing back and forth, reminded me of a black
diamong ski trail. We dropped into mining town of Jerome, which was full of
shops/restaurants/art places. The view was of red rock in the distance. On
either side of the guardrail was...DOWN..., i.e., no mistakes allowed; we continued
down from 7000 ft summit to Cottonwood at 3300. My hands were tired from
braking. The wind in the PM turned rather 'roaring' and would push me around on
the road... luckily mostly a cross wind that only got really strong post 3PM.
Another whirlpool/laundry/great meal evening; ate with Norm, a (just) retired
prof from Minnesota. Gazing at tomorrow buttes-out-by-Sedona, we enjoyed the
Celtics game in the background. Everyone on trip hanging in well, although
'territory unchartered' for all. Red Rock(et!) day!
Day 3 - Tuesday, April 30 - Blyth, CA to Wickensburg, AZ. 118 miles.
Another 'advertizement' type day! I10 into Arizona as sun came up, high 80's,
turned off on Rt60 for next, oh, 65 miles. Stopped while leaving town of
Hope, AZ for photo at the 'Beyond Hope' sign. Desert, a few RV parks (how do
people live out here!). Got in the 'paceline-of-my-dreams'..., 3-4 strong
riders all going pretty easy at 22+ with tailwind keeping us all togther.
(Fearless leader, trip director Mike, got us all going). Interruptions were
pretty frequent mostly due to flats, and construction with half a tarred
road...,causing..., more flats. I will not discuss my flat or lack-of-flat
condition due to superstition..., lets just say the merlin didn't suffer in any
tar. Rolled down hill cruising into pleasant town of Wickenburg, for nice
hot tub, mexican dinner, ice cream chaser, slide show by Mike of his 150
jpegs from 3 days riding. His plan is to burn CDs (!) for those who want one
(!!). I tried to ride pretty easy today, and more or less accomplished that.
After day 2 I'd exceeded my all-time 2 day mileage; and of course Day 3 and
onward is 'unexplored'. Already non-trivial to sort of know what day it is.
When I close my eyes the day comes back..., I know tonight the rumble strips
that span AZ interstate breakdown lanes will likely be there for awhile....
Day 2 - Monday, April 29 - Thousand Oaks to Blythe, CA. 124 miles.
What a way to start a monday morning! Rose to beautiful dawn, breakfast at
Denny's, shoved off at 6:39. Eleven of the 13 riders stayed together until
first sag at 27 miles! It was flat, farmland, with many towns. Good way to
see riding abilities... After the SAG I took off with 6, we became 3 as the
first hills began. Dry desert day with a salt lake glistening off in the
distance. Before too long we got on I-10 for most of the day... riding in the
breakdown lane on the right side of the rumble strip. Apparently America by Bike
gets state permission to have cyclists out there. All things considered, it
isn't too bad... wide shoulder, no incoming traffic schenanigans, and with 2
lanes behind many trucks wold give wide berth. Biggest drag is steel belted
tire parts, which leave road full of flat causing shards... one poor guy got 4
flats today! We got some 'honking' tailwind sections and some more
cross-wind. The two guys, Mike and Bryan, were tremendous help... They rode
perhaps a small bit stronger than I wanted to go, but I decided if I drop off
I'll work as hard in the wind and be out in the sun longer. The pace eventually
felt fine. We had sags about every 30 miles which is about how long you
could make it on 2 H20 bottles. The scenery was over the top great with small
swirling dust-spirals off in the desert. Temp got pretty hot, likely 90 or
so. It's a challenge to keep up with the sunscreen. Rode into Blythe (pop:13K)
at 3:30. Great day. Hit the pool, then pizza with some of the riders and
a lot of laughs about the days events. At 7PM we do Ride Rap and sign off
until tomorrow when some 'elevation change' kicks in. To see more about the
trip, the ride leader is keeping (an awesome) website including photos. Click
here to visit Mike's site.
Who is that in the first picture on Day 1? OK. 10-4 for Day 2.
Day 1 - Sunday, April 28 - Irvine at Thousand Oaks - 124 miles
Gorgeous California day! Cool for out here... starting at 70, not exceeding
85 by days end. Early AM group pictures in the red/white/blue tour jerseys we
got, then group ride down to Newport Beach, Sun AM of surfers, beach joggers,
dogs and us riders dipping various things in the huge Pacific. First 40 miles
a great bike trail along the aqueduct, then a long way of malls and red
lights. Best part a 5 mile climb up crumbling Jack Rabbit Hill... a way-back
diversion dumping us over on Rt60. We did a few on/off interstates; picked up
a headwind (nuts) by the windfarm, ended day by riding through Palm Springs
(scene!). Day was a bit long, partly because of "dipping" but also many red
lights, wind, etc. I was third rider in at 5PM, and really grooved on
the jaccuzzi. Weather is making it EZ to relax. Taco chow, got tomorrow's
route... what will post 124 feel like. Everyone did well today. A lot of people
getting flats from shards that come off steel belted radials, and glass.
Country so dramatic, rocky mountains all so dry and steep, flat cycling along
valley floors!
Day 0 - Saturday, April 27 - All went well with trip start. Bike arrived FINE,
many thanks to (brother) Dave and Connie for great assist to the start. Biggest surprise...
only 14 riders! Down from original sign-on of about 24. Leader
Mike said we were lucky to get the trip. Demographics: 24-61; 4 women; 3 ride
leaders; 2 vans. We had a 3 hr 'get acquainted' mtg with a lot of interesting
stories... a good group, all seeming reasonably fit. My roommate happens to be
the 24yr old.... a rower, Princeton grad, been living in Central Sq but is
leaving for Peace Corps after this trip. Anyway, the ride seems well
organized, with a lot of emphasis on road safety and keeping people on same
page... or rather 'road' in this case. We broke up about 7PM, with AM wakeup
about 5AM. Day 0 ends...
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