Cochise County Classic

Despite wind a record number of cyclists registered for the Dependable Health Services 22nd Cochise County Cycling Classic. Dan McGehee of Mesa, Arizona placed first in the 252-mile event for the ninth time in event history. While most participants use bicycles with many gears, two people completed the 157 and 252- mile events on single speed bicycles. Gerry Blondeaux from Tucson, in the 252-mile event finished in17:02:17 and Beto Villegas from Sierra Vista finished the 157-mile event in 7:42:01. Also, 11-year old Allan Kimball of Tucson completed the 92-mile event in a very respectable time of 7:02:04.

Hardest ride I have done to date. I was on pace to get in under 8 hrs. I finished the first 100 miles in 4hrs. 57mins (that includes the climb through Bisbee), but it was at mile 78 that things began to get nasty. I turned east at that point onto I-10 for 16 miles directly into a 20-25mph headwind (gusts up to 35mph), and all climbing. The wind shifted from the east to the southeast so when I made my turn to head south I continued directly into the wind....and I had no group to ride with. I hooked up with a group for a couple of small distances, but they came down to do the ride together and were coordinated with their own support vehicles. When I had to stop to get fluids and food I lost the help. I spent almost the entire ride out in the wind by myself… I finished the first 100 miles in 4hrs. 57mins and it took 2hrs to do the last 25 miles...I was crushed, hammered, and whimpering...

I learned a bunch about how to approach something like this again and I am going to have to figure out some better system (a.k.a. bring more folks to ride with)...and some better food for keeping myself fueled up on the ride. 9hrs. 59 mins. 58secs. 157 miles...

Pre Tour de Scottsdale

Well about 20 insane cyclists decided to pre-ride the course for the upcoming (October 4th) Tour de Scottsdale this past Saturday. Most rides here in the Sonoran desert are...well...dry, but Saturday was quite the exception. The remnants of Hurricane Jimena provided driving sideways rain...lots of lightening...and water on the roadway up to 6-8 inches deep. It was a brutal and glorious day in the saddle...an epic ride.

OUCH

Was out riding the Santan Mountain loop on Sunday and having a great time suffering but had a small problem on the return home. I ran over some glass coming down Gary Rd. from the Santan Mountains. The front tire blew out, washed out on me, and I crashed. No real road rash and the bike (the blue cyclocross) was okay. I’m very bruised and stiff. This week of riding should be interesting.

End-of-Pavement

Deb and I took off from the Needle Vista this morning and tackled the ride out past Tortilla Flats to the End-of-Pavement. It was just as painful as I remember it. All in all we had a good ride and our times were not too shabby. The temperature was not too horribly hot and the scenery was sublime. One of the best rides in the east valley without a doubt.

Welcome Back Jim

Saturday was the welcome back ride for Jim after his six weeks off after surgery. Just as suspected by most of us mere mortals he returned with a vengeance. Allen managed to keep up with him early in the day while the rest of us clawed our way up La Sendas, and the front and back side of Usery in the rear. The second pass through the Usery torture fest was less kind to Jim and he rejoined the ranks of the mortals...this too shall pass.

Death of a Tree

Our beautiful Desert Museum Palo Verde growing out in front of the house was broken in half by the wind during our most recent set of monsoon storms. Luckily it did not hit the house or anything else of value, but it was a lovely tree and it will be missed. It was very depressing to saw it up and cart it off...

Morning Ride - Two Flat Tires

So the morning ride out to Wagon Wheel ended up being more of an adventure than I had counted on. I had a flat on the front about 7 miles out and realized when I went to replace the tube that I only brought one tube. Sure enough on the way back I got another flat and had to patch it on the road. First time in more than a year that I have had two flats on the same ride and of course one of the first times in recent memory that I didn't have two tubes. Lesson learned...again.

Usery Torture Fest

The group (Allen, Jeff, Deb, Jake and me) had another epic double torture fest over Usery and back...and back again yesterday. Deb said she saw saw a tee shirt with the new Nike slogan on it, "Just do it....then do it again!" and it reminded her of the ride yesterday. A good day in the saddle despite the heat with 3700 feet of climbing and 60+ miles. I went out again this morning at 5:30 a.m. at a much slower pace and with much cooler temperatures. About 30+ miles and temperatures in the mid 80s.

iTunes iMix Flaw

So I discovered a flaw in the iTunes iMix listing. If iTunes doesn't have the same album your song is on it won't list the track when posting the iMix. As an alternative I took a screenshot of the playlist and posted it as a jpeg. Just click on the image to enlarge it.

New iTunes playlist for your dining and dancing pleasure

Cycling Mt. Lemmon

A beautiful and difficult day in the saddle. Jim, Deb, Rafael, Jeff and Michael took on the 6000+ feet of climbing on a very windy Saturday June 13th.

Mt. Lemmon Here We Come

This is the ride we are going to do this weekend. I want one of these cameras...how cool.

Snatch the pebble from my hand...

It is said that a Shaolin priest can walk through walls...A sad day for all of us 1970's television fans...David Carradine was found dead today in his hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand. Kwai Chang Caine will be missed...

Planet Ultra Heartbreak Hundred

Eric Rice and Michael climbing to the top of Apache Saddle during the Heartbreak Hundred bike race in Lebec, CA. We covered 101.25 miles with 8500 feet of climbing, and it took us 6hrs 42mins, with on bike time right at 5hrs. 57mins. It was a great day for a bike ride!

Nate On The Run

So we thought we would give the blogosphere a try. Here is some video of the boys at the park.

I'm not sure Pele should worry about any of his records just yet but Spencer seems to have a knack for the soccer ball, and Nate can just run all day long...

Spencer and the Soccer Ball