Distance: 17.46
Start Time: 6:55 am
Notes: Nothing significant to report today. Just that my bike really needs a tune-up.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Trail 100
Distance: 9.37
Ride Time: 1:37:36
Average Speed: 5.8 mph
Fellow Riders: Spencer
Notes: So it's been over a year since I last rode Trail 100. In fact I can't even remember the last time I rode it. Spencer has only been on it twice (Mike has decided he doesn't like the trail and so he never wants to ride it). We headed East out of the Dreamy Draw parking lot and rode 100 to where it hooks up with Trail 8. Then we went South on 8 up and over the mountain. I had forgot how rough a climb that was. But I did a lot better than when Mike and I rode it. After descending down the backside we took a shortcut back over to 100, headed back to Dreamy Draw and then went on the West side for a couple of miles and then back. It was a good ride with lots of climbing. Fortunately, even though my bike computer wasn't working the entire time, Spencer's iPhone picked up the trail. Here are the stats he sent over.
Start Location: 33.566344º N 112.029862º W
End Location: 33.564673º N 112.029039º W
Min Altitude: 558 ft
Max Altitude: 1,819 ft
Friday, April 17, 2009
Road Ride
Distance: 18.96
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2737666
Notes: I was just planning to head to the Indian Springs Road turn around and then back today, but when I got down by PIR I was really pinched by all the traffic. NASCAR is in town this weekend and the usually quiet road was busy with traffic, even at 7 in the morning. The police were forcing traffic to use the paved shoulder instead of the actual lanes. I'm not sure why they were doing that, but as a result I had to dodge traffic on a stretch of road that I normally feel completely safe on. I decided that I would not ride back down that road on my way home. Instead, I continued on to Bullard and made a loop out of my ride instead of a there and back. I also managed to extend the ride by a mile and a half in distance.
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2737666
Notes: I was just planning to head to the Indian Springs Road turn around and then back today, but when I got down by PIR I was really pinched by all the traffic. NASCAR is in town this weekend and the usually quiet road was busy with traffic, even at 7 in the morning. The police were forcing traffic to use the paved shoulder instead of the actual lanes. I'm not sure why they were doing that, but as a result I had to dodge traffic on a stretch of road that I normally feel completely safe on. I decided that I would not ride back down that road on my way home. Instead, I continued on to Bullard and made a loop out of my ride instead of a there and back. I also managed to extend the ride by a mile and a half in distance.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thunderbird Park
Distance: 4.19
Start Time: 11:40
Ride Time: 31:50
Average Speed: 7.9
Notes: Back to Thunderbird Park, the first trail I wrote about on this blog when I started back in December. I didn't get up in time to do a road ride this morning so I threw the mountain bike on top of the Volvo and headed up to my 1:00 appointment a couple hours early. I had hoped to do two laps on the loop, but I got off late enough that I cut it at one. At 4 miles the trail makes for a quick half-hour lunchtime ride. I'll have to try it more often in the future. As before there were lots of hikers on the trail, but all were polite. I got no stink-eye today. I also felt phenomenally better today than last time I rode it. If you recall, I had a terrible chest cold that left me with what felt like 50% breathing capacity. I was out of shape from not riding in over a month, and I was freezing my butt off. Today, I was healthy, in shape and I could not have asked for better riding weather.
Again, my assessment is that it's not a great mountain biking trail. There is good climbing with lots of switchbacks but nothing too steep or loose to be unrideable. But the switchbacks are there on the downhill as well, so it's difficult to really open up. Plus, you are bound to pass a hiker ever 200 yards, so that also puts a crimp on the downhill bombs. But it's a decent ride for only being two miles from my office.
Start Time: 11:40
Ride Time: 31:50
Average Speed: 7.9
Notes: Back to Thunderbird Park, the first trail I wrote about on this blog when I started back in December. I didn't get up in time to do a road ride this morning so I threw the mountain bike on top of the Volvo and headed up to my 1:00 appointment a couple hours early. I had hoped to do two laps on the loop, but I got off late enough that I cut it at one. At 4 miles the trail makes for a quick half-hour lunchtime ride. I'll have to try it more often in the future. As before there were lots of hikers on the trail, but all were polite. I got no stink-eye today. I also felt phenomenally better today than last time I rode it. If you recall, I had a terrible chest cold that left me with what felt like 50% breathing capacity. I was out of shape from not riding in over a month, and I was freezing my butt off. Today, I was healthy, in shape and I could not have asked for better riding weather.
Again, my assessment is that it's not a great mountain biking trail. There is good climbing with lots of switchbacks but nothing too steep or loose to be unrideable. But the switchbacks are there on the downhill as well, so it's difficult to really open up. Plus, you are bound to pass a hiker ever 200 yards, so that also puts a crimp on the downhill bombs. But it's a decent ride for only being two miles from my office.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
To Westar & Back
Distance: 31.6
Start Time: 6:50 am
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2631323
Notes: I've been slacking with my rides so I thought today I would push myself. I can tell that I haven't been riding much the last couple of weeks. At about mile 22 I ran out of gas and it was a struggle to make it the rest of the way home. The weather was perfect for a ride this morning, not too cool not too hot and just a gentle breeze to keep me cool but not create a headwind.
Start Time: 6:50 am
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2631323
Notes: I've been slacking with my rides so I thought today I would push myself. I can tell that I haven't been riding much the last couple of weeks. At about mile 22 I ran out of gas and it was a struggle to make it the rest of the way home. The weather was perfect for a ride this morning, not too cool not too hot and just a gentle breeze to keep me cool but not create a headwind.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Road Ride
Distance: 27.1
Notes: So I've kind of taken a break from riding lately. Ever since returning from New Orleans I have had the hardest time motivating myself to get out and ride. Today I felt good, despite it being a week since I last rode anything. I rode up into Estrella Mountain Ranch as far as the Cotton Lane turn around. Here's my route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2718726
Notes: So I've kind of taken a break from riding lately. Ever since returning from New Orleans I have had the hardest time motivating myself to get out and ride. Today I felt good, despite it being a week since I last rode anything. I rode up into Estrella Mountain Ranch as far as the Cotton Lane turn around. Here's my route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2718726
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Secret Trail
Distance: 8.8 miles
Fellow Riders: Mike & Spencer
Notes: At 1:30 today I got a message from Spencer asking if I wanted to ride this afternoon. I was excited because I haven't been out for awhile. After my last appointment ran over I hurried home changed and was on the road with Spencer by 4:15. We met Mike at Harv's house and headed for Secret Trail. We decided to go up Secret rather than Graskey. It was a good challenge. There are some steep climbs on that side of the hill. Once at the top we rode a little more than halfway down Graskey, to where the trail goes through the wash, then turned around and went back. It was a fun way to do the trail and I think will probably be how we do the trail from here out. Spencer wants to do Pass Trail tomorrow morning. We'll see what the Mrs. says.
Fellow Riders: Mike & Spencer
Notes: At 1:30 today I got a message from Spencer asking if I wanted to ride this afternoon. I was excited because I haven't been out for awhile. After my last appointment ran over I hurried home changed and was on the road with Spencer by 4:15. We met Mike at Harv's house and headed for Secret Trail. We decided to go up Secret rather than Graskey. It was a good challenge. There are some steep climbs on that side of the hill. Once at the top we rode a little more than halfway down Graskey, to where the trail goes through the wash, then turned around and went back. It was a fun way to do the trail and I think will probably be how we do the trail from here out. Spencer wants to do Pass Trail tomorrow morning. We'll see what the Mrs. says.
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