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:32.92
Longitude:-107.5709
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:12/02/2008 17:34:31 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.92,-107.5709&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Day 10 - Monday, December 1
Description: Finished up in Buckhorn NM around 4:30.
This was my most difficult ride for the trip by far. I rode 79 miles which included 2 major climbs higher than I have ever ridden a bike up before. I woke up in Safford at 5:45 to pack up the Mean Green Machine and Wilson who was hung over from the Arrogant Bastard Ales last night:-). . Breakfast was at 6:15 and it included waffles, hard boiled eggs, cereal, yogurt, OJ, and several cups of coffee to prime the pump for the big day ahead. I started riding just after 7:00 with the sunrise. I was stunned that the stiff wind at my back from yesterday was now fighting me in my face - crap. After leaving Safford, it was all up hill with a steady 2% grade until about 20 miles where I had to climb to 4,800 ft and cross Thumb Butte Pass. Then I dove 1,000 ft down past a bunch of road construction and into a small town called Three Way (I did not ask how they got the name although I was curious). All it had was a depot for road construction and a small gas station. I stopped for a break and enjoyed a ham and swiss on rye washed down with a large Starbucks Double-Shot with Energy Vitamins (whatever that means). I was cranked up at that point and could not stop moving. Then the biggest challenge of the trip awaited me - a 20 mile climb up to Needles Eye Pass at 6,350 ft. The road had numerous switch-backs and generally was 8-10% grade - ouch. I almost wore out my granny gear! I was down to 70 RPMs and speeds just over 4 MPH as I snaked up the mountain. Beetles and grass hoppers were moving up the hill faster than me. Cars were even struggling with this ascent. I must admit that this climb with all of my packs was the toughest of my cycling career. After cresting the mountain and taking a few pictures, I launched down the other side at a high rate of speed. The Surly Long Haul Trucker bike handled perfectly as it diced through switch-back turns left and right almost as well as my carbon Kestrel Evoke racing bike - yea right. Seriously, I was impressed with how stable it was while carying 80+ pounds plus me at over 30 MPH. . From there it was another steep pull up to the New Mexico state line. At that point, I ran across another biker named Uli from Germany. He is on a 2 year bike ride that started in New York. He is heading to San Diego and then plans to fly to Asia and pedal his way home - WOW. We exchanged pictures and rolled on. One key thing Uli told me was that there were several cross country bikers just a day or two ahead of me. Now I have something to chase down! I mistakenly took a cactus for a break away rider yesterday and sprinted like a mad man but now their are real rabbits just ahead - yippie. After the New Mexico border, it was rolling hills through high plains and cattle ranches. There were also a few tough climbs but there was a favorable wind behind me for the next 20 miles into my destination in Buckhorn. Just before the town limits, I ran across another cyclist fully loaded up. This guy was from Belgium and I could not make out his name due to his accent. He has been on the road for 5 years!!!!! Has ridden across Europe, Africa, South America, Mexico, and now the US. This makes my ride look like a joke and I was embarrassed to tell him of my little teeny tiny ride around the block from San Diego to St Augustine. He is heading for the west coast, then up to Alaska next summer and across to Siberia and then back to Belgium. This guy was nuts although Wilson was impressed! We shook hands and departed. Anyway, in Buckhorn, I stopped at the "Last Chance Liquor Store" which is famous for great pizza. I ate an entire 12" pizza and washed it down with a Foster's Bitter - um um good. I guess anything after a day like mine would be great. Finally, I called it a day and checked into the Buckhorn RV Park which is very clean and nice with a heated shelter for me to write-up this trip report. I pitched my tent for the first time and will call it an early evening. Tomorrow will be less than 40 miles of steady climbing up to Silver City which is the gateway to the Continential Divide. Will be a relatively early day and Foshee has wired me names of local breweries.
Good night.
Weather: Absolutely perfect. A little cool early then short sleeve weather for the rest of the day with blue skies, warm temps, and generally mild winds. I could not have ordered up a better day.
Performance Metrics:
Miles: 79 Trip: 670
Total travel time: 9:30 Trip: 70:05
Bike Riding time: 7:24 Trip: 54:25
Avg speed: 10.70 Trip: 12.64
Max speed: 32.36 Trip: 36.31
Total ascent (ft): 4,840 Trip: 20,408
Avg pedal RPMs: 88 Trip: 87
Avg heart rate: 120 Trip: 118
Max heart rate: 195 Trip: 195 (wow it spiked high in the climb)
Calories burned: 4,851 Trip: 40,084
Weather Statistics:
High temp 62 Trip: 75
Low temp: 56 Trip: 55
Hours of rain: 0 Trip: 8
Hours of snow: 0 Trip: 0
Total days of rain/snow: 1
Wind factor: mostly against
Total good wind days: 3
Total bad wind days: 7
Misc. Stats:
Flat tires: 0 Trip: 8
Mechanical failures: 0
Hotel or camping today: camping - first night and at 4,800 ft.
Total hotel nights: 9
Total camping nights: 1
Cups of coffee: 4 Trip: 31
Pints: 2 Trip: 18 - Foster's Bitter
Mood rating (1-10): 9.5 - major challenge today but I made it! Looking forward to the Continental Divide on Wednesday which is the highest point of my trek.
This was my most difficult ride for the trip by far. I rode 79 miles which included 2 major climbs higher than I have ever ridden a bike up before. I woke up in Safford at 5:45 to pack up the Mean Green Machine and Wilson who was hung over from the Arrogant Bastard Ales last night:-). . Breakfast was at 6:15 and it included waffles, hard boiled eggs, cereal, yogurt, OJ, and several cups of coffee to prime the pump for the big day ahead. I started riding just after 7:00 with the sunrise. I was stunned that the stiff wind at my back from yesterday was now fighting me in my face - crap. After leaving Safford, it was all up hill with a steady 2% grade until about 20 miles where I had to climb to 4,800 ft and cross Thumb Butte Pass. Then I dove 1,000 ft down past a bunch of road construction and into a small town called Three Way (I did not ask how they got the name although I was curious). All it had was a depot for road construction and a small gas station. I stopped for a break and enjoyed a ham and swiss on rye washed down with a large Starbucks Double-Shot with Energy Vitamins (whatever that means). I was cranked up at that point and could not stop moving. Then the biggest challenge of the trip awaited me - a 20 mile climb up to Needles Eye Pass at 6,350 ft. The road had numerous switch-backs and generally was 8-10% grade - ouch. I almost wore out my granny gear! I was down to 70 RPMs and speeds just over 4 MPH as I snaked up the mountain. Beetles and grass hoppers were moving up the hill faster than me. Cars were even struggling with this ascent. I must admit that this climb with all of my packs was the toughest of my cycling career. After cresting the mountain and taking a few pictures, I launched down the other side at a high rate of speed. The Surly Long Haul Trucker bike handled perfectly as it diced through switch-back turns left and right almost as well as my carbon Kestrel Evoke racing bike - yea right. Seriously, I was impressed with how stable it was while carying 80+ pounds plus me at over 30 MPH. . From there it was another steep pull up to the New Mexico state line. At that point, I ran across another biker named Uli from Germany. He is on a 2 year bike ride that started in New York. He is heading to San Diego and then plans to fly to Asia and pedal his way home - WOW. We exchanged pictures and rolled on. One key thing Uli told me was that there were several cross country bikers just a day or two ahead of me. Now I have something to chase down! I mistakenly took a cactus for a break away rider yesterday and sprinted like a mad man but now their are real rabbits just ahead - yippie. After the New Mexico border, it was rolling hills through high plains and cattle ranches. There were also a few tough climbs but there was a favorable wind behind me for the next 20 miles into my destination in Buckhorn. Just before the town limits, I ran across another cyclist fully loaded up. This guy was from Belgium and I could not make out his name due to his accent. He has been on the road for 5 years!!!!! Has ridden across Europe, Africa, South America, Mexico, and now the US. This makes my ride look like a joke and I was embarrassed to tell him of my little teeny tiny ride around the block from San Diego to St Augustine. He is heading for the west coast, then up to Alaska next summer and across to Siberia and then back to Belgium. This guy was nuts although Wilson was impressed! We shook hands and departed. Anyway, in Buckhorn, I stopped at the "Last Chance Liquor Store" which is famous for great pizza. I ate an entire 12" pizza and washed it down with a Foster's Bitter - um um good. I guess anything after a day like mine would be great. Finally, I called it a day and checked into the Buckhorn RV Park which is very clean and nice with a heated shelter for me to write-up this trip report. I pitched my tent for the first time and will call it an early evening. Tomorrow will be less than 40 miles of steady climbing up to Silver City which is the gateway to the Continential Divide. Will be a relatively early day and Foshee has wired me names of local breweries.
Good night.
Weather: Absolutely perfect. A little cool early then short sleeve weather for the rest of the day with blue skies, warm temps, and generally mild winds. I could not have ordered up a better day.
Performance Metrics:
Miles: 79 Trip: 670
Total travel time: 9:30 Trip: 70:05
Bike Riding time: 7:24 Trip: 54:25
Avg speed: 10.70 Trip: 12.64
Max speed: 32.36 Trip: 36.31
Total ascent (ft): 4,840 Trip: 20,408
Avg pedal RPMs: 88 Trip: 87
Avg heart rate: 120 Trip: 118
Max heart rate: 195 Trip: 195 (wow it spiked high in the climb)
Calories burned: 4,851 Trip: 40,084
Weather Statistics:
High temp 62 Trip: 75
Low temp: 56 Trip: 55
Hours of rain: 0 Trip: 8
Hours of snow: 0 Trip: 0
Total days of rain/snow: 1
Wind factor: mostly against
Total good wind days: 3
Total bad wind days: 7
Misc. Stats:
Flat tires: 0 Trip: 8
Mechanical failures: 0
Hotel or camping today: camping - first night and at 4,800 ft.
Total hotel nights: 9
Total camping nights: 1
Cups of coffee: 4 Trip: 31
Pints: 2 Trip: 18 - Foster's Bitter
Mood rating (1-10): 9.5 - major challenge today but I made it! Looking forward to the Continental Divide on Wednesday which is the highest point of my trek.
Made it to NM yesterday
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