Week One Summary Post: Sunday 11/23 - Saturday 11/29
Note, I lumped my initial Saturday warm-up ride of 20 miles from the beach to Santee into my Sunday statistics. In other words - I am cheating already!
Area covered: San Diego CA to Apache Junction AZ - just East of Phoenix
Total miles ridden: 516
Average miles per day: 74
Ahead/Behind schedule: 42 miles BEHIND schedule - I am not concerned yet as I am still sitting on 2 spare days and there are several short cuts in the route if I choose to cut some corners based on weather or schedule.
Best ride section: Coming off the San Diego mountains through the Chocolate mountains and dropping into the desert. As a special bonus this was a 7 mile section at a 6 % downhill grade.
Worst ride section: "Flat Country" between Salome AZ and Aguila where the Goat Heads had their way with me for 7 flats within a 5 mile section.
Best restaurant: Chalos Casa De Reynoso in Globe AZ - the best bean and steak burrito I have ever had. The whole meal with a draft only cost $6 (not pesos).
Best hotel: Holiday Inn Express in Surprise AZ - brand new. I may have gotten chain grease on the fine linens - please don't tell.
Worst hotel: Shefflers in Salome - this place was a dump and I had to ride my bike through 6 inches of water to get to the front door of my room. Then was warned of homeless people who might take my wet gear that was airing out on the front porch.
New career options considered: #1 - Going out of business sign holder as I have seen tons along the way #2 - Tie Down sales - you know, those rubber or bungy cord straps that hold things on trucks and trailers. I"ll bet I have seen more than 100 of various sizes and colors. You could make a living by picking these up and opening up a retail store to sell them. #3 - Weigh loss clinic - I have discovered a new way to lose weight that just might put Curves out of business. Simply ride a bike 74 miles per day and you can eat all you want while still losing weight. This might be the most promising opportunity yet!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Day 9 - Sunday, November 30
Description: Finished in Safford AZ just before 1:00.
Outstanding day with awesome weather, beautiful mountains, and favorable winds. Woke up at 6 AM to pack up the Mean Green Machine and Wilson. Enjoyed a big breakfast of waffles, hard boiled eggs, cereal, OJ, and coffee. Loaded up with bottled water at the gas station next door and began riding just after 7:15. Globe punished me with a nice hill to get beyond the city limits and then I was treated to a roller coaster ride of steep downhills with matching climbs. Then the ride flattened out and turned into a steady 1 % or less grade for the next 50 miles all the way up to Safford. Nothing too exciting to report today other than not a cloud in the sky, beautiful mountains (some snow capped) all around me, and Apache Indian territory complete with their own casino "Apache Gold". I picked up a big tailwind after the roller coaster and rode the big chain at a fast pace through the Apache towns of Peridot, Bylas, Geronimo (Sporadic Stephen said I should have yelled "Geronimo" when I rode through - this would have done no good as even the dogs were on Siesta), Fort Thomas, Pima, and Thatcher before ending at 75 miles in Safford. I could have ridden another 75 miles but there were no hotels for another 118 miles. There was some big cotton farms around Pima but other than that - nothing. Thatcher hosts Southern Arizona University (looked smaller than a JR High School) which is the home of "The Fighting Gila Monsters" - scary ehh? The Gila river flows through this area. I only stopped in Bylas at a small Apache owned gas station for 2 Nutri-Grain bars and a quick break. They were nice but gave me change with wooden nickels:-). There were no Quiznos or Starbucks on this Indian reservation! With the wind at my back, I did not want to stop for fear it would change. I did gulp down a Cliff bar for the extra surge needed to finish. Once checked into Super-8 hotel in Safford, I crossed the street and plowed into the Golden Corral mega bar to stockpile calories for the climbs tomorrow. I ate until the manager threw me out:-). Then I hit the Safeway and stocked up with required supplies for the next few days including Luna and Power Bars, Power-Aid, Starbucks Double-Shots, and Arrogant Bastard Ale (my favorite from San Diego - Wow what a find).
Tomorrow is a difficult 60 mile ride with 2 major climbs topping out at a trip to date high of 6,300 ft. I will also be camping at high elevation (brrrrrrr) as there are no motels for the next 118 miles.
NOTE: I doubt there will be cell coverage so do not be alarmed if you do not get a trip report tomorrow night. You will get my Spot "I am OK" message posted to my blog at the end of my ride as Spot does not use cell technology.
Gonna go grab some dinner soon and relaxl....
Good night!
Weather: Awesome day with not a cloud in the sky. Needed a jacket for the first half hour and then perfect after that for biking. I kept my leg warmers on all day just to ensure the pistons keep nice and toasty.
Performance Metrics:
Miles: 75 Trip: 591
Total travel time: 5:30 Trip: 60:35
Bike Riding time: 5:02 Trip: 47:00
Avg speed: 15.00 Trip: 12.85
Max speed: 34.24 Trip: 36.31
Total ascent (ft): 1,170 Trip: 15,568
Avg pedal RPMs: 89 Trip: 87
Avg heart rate: 113 Trip: 118
Max heart rate: 134 Trip: 189
Calories burned: 4,343 Trip: 35,233
Weather Statistics:
High temp 69 Trip: 75
Low temp: 58 Trip: 55
Hours of rain: 0 Trip: 8
Hours of snow: 0 Trip: 0
Total days of rain/snow: 1
Wind factor: Big Help Today!
Total good wind days: 3
Total bad wind days: 6
Misc. Stats:
Flat tires: 0 Trip: 8
Mechanical failures: 0
Hotel or camping today: Super-8 hotel
Total hotel nights: 9
Total camping nights: 0
Cups of coffee: 3 Trip: 27
Pints: 2 Trip: 16 - Arrogant Bastard Ale today - my favorite from San Diego
Mood rating (1-10): 10 - but anxious for the next 2 days of big climbs to the Continental Divide.
Outstanding day with awesome weather, beautiful mountains, and favorable winds. Woke up at 6 AM to pack up the Mean Green Machine and Wilson. Enjoyed a big breakfast of waffles, hard boiled eggs, cereal, OJ, and coffee. Loaded up with bottled water at the gas station next door and began riding just after 7:15. Globe punished me with a nice hill to get beyond the city limits and then I was treated to a roller coaster ride of steep downhills with matching climbs. Then the ride flattened out and turned into a steady 1 % or less grade for the next 50 miles all the way up to Safford. Nothing too exciting to report today other than not a cloud in the sky, beautiful mountains (some snow capped) all around me, and Apache Indian territory complete with their own casino "Apache Gold". I picked up a big tailwind after the roller coaster and rode the big chain at a fast pace through the Apache towns of Peridot, Bylas, Geronimo (Sporadic Stephen said I should have yelled "Geronimo" when I rode through - this would have done no good as even the dogs were on Siesta), Fort Thomas, Pima, and Thatcher before ending at 75 miles in Safford. I could have ridden another 75 miles but there were no hotels for another 118 miles. There was some big cotton farms around Pima but other than that - nothing. Thatcher hosts Southern Arizona University (looked smaller than a JR High School) which is the home of "The Fighting Gila Monsters" - scary ehh? The Gila river flows through this area. I only stopped in Bylas at a small Apache owned gas station for 2 Nutri-Grain bars and a quick break. They were nice but gave me change with wooden nickels:-). There were no Quiznos or Starbucks on this Indian reservation! With the wind at my back, I did not want to stop for fear it would change. I did gulp down a Cliff bar for the extra surge needed to finish. Once checked into Super-8 hotel in Safford, I crossed the street and plowed into the Golden Corral mega bar to stockpile calories for the climbs tomorrow. I ate until the manager threw me out:-). Then I hit the Safeway and stocked up with required supplies for the next few days including Luna and Power Bars, Power-Aid, Starbucks Double-Shots, and Arrogant Bastard Ale (my favorite from San Diego - Wow what a find).
Tomorrow is a difficult 60 mile ride with 2 major climbs topping out at a trip to date high of 6,300 ft. I will also be camping at high elevation (brrrrrrr) as there are no motels for the next 118 miles.
NOTE: I doubt there will be cell coverage so do not be alarmed if you do not get a trip report tomorrow night. You will get my Spot "I am OK" message posted to my blog at the end of my ride as Spot does not use cell technology.
Gonna go grab some dinner soon and relaxl....
Good night!
Weather: Awesome day with not a cloud in the sky. Needed a jacket for the first half hour and then perfect after that for biking. I kept my leg warmers on all day just to ensure the pistons keep nice and toasty.
Performance Metrics:
Miles: 75 Trip: 591
Total travel time: 5:30 Trip: 60:35
Bike Riding time: 5:02 Trip: 47:00
Avg speed: 15.00 Trip: 12.85
Max speed: 34.24 Trip: 36.31
Total ascent (ft): 1,170 Trip: 15,568
Avg pedal RPMs: 89 Trip: 87
Avg heart rate: 113 Trip: 118
Max heart rate: 134 Trip: 189
Calories burned: 4,343 Trip: 35,233
Weather Statistics:
High temp 69 Trip: 75
Low temp: 58 Trip: 55
Hours of rain: 0 Trip: 8
Hours of snow: 0 Trip: 0
Total days of rain/snow: 1
Wind factor: Big Help Today!
Total good wind days: 3
Total bad wind days: 6
Misc. Stats:
Flat tires: 0 Trip: 8
Mechanical failures: 0
Hotel or camping today: Super-8 hotel
Total hotel nights: 9
Total camping nights: 0
Cups of coffee: 3 Trip: 27
Pints: 2 Trip: 16 - Arrogant Bastard Ale today - my favorite from San Diego
Mood rating (1-10): 10 - but anxious for the next 2 days of big climbs to the Continental Divide.
OK ESN:0-7458562
This is Steve and I am checking in to let everyone know that I have finished my ride for the day safe and sound.
ESN:0-7458562
Latitude:32.8352
Longitude:-109.7273
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:11/30/2008 11:49:22 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.8352,-109.7273&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
ESN:0-7458562
Latitude:32.8352
Longitude:-109.7273
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:11/30/2008 11:49:22 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.8352,-109.7273&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
