Second Ride of 2012

It’s been a while since I was on my bike, like last year! I have been waiting for warmer weather and it’s now right around the corner. But on my first ride for this year it was cold! It was just above freezing and as I rode, it seemed to get colder.

Ready to go

My cycle-computer wasn’t working so I didn’t know my distance or speed. It was like riding blind. How do we get so used to these little gadgets and we can’t seem to live without them. Yea I had my cell phone on me.

I changed the battery in the little computer and bingo it works again. I went on my second ride and found out the distance I had done was only 16 miles. But as I rode I started to hear an annoying noise coming from my front wheel. It sounded like a pebble or a sticker in the tire. I naturally stopped to check it out. I found nothing. This continued for the rest of the ride. Once back at my Jeep another quick inspection of the wheel and I came to the conclusion it was the wheel bearings.

Today I took the bearing out and cleaned them and repack them with grease.

Looking good

Needless to say I found nothing wrong but just old nasty grease and the bearings were without a mar or damage.

These guys are clean

After reassembly I put the wheel on a truing stand and trued the wheel.

On the truing stand

 

Done

Tomorrow I ride!

Nacho

Yet Another

Yesterday was more than what I bargained for.  I could do without those kinds of events, let me tell you.  I went to the health club as planned and did my workout as planned and afterwards I rode my bike ride as planned. What I didn’t plan for was, a blown tire!

I rode from Memory Park and was intending to get 17 miles by the end of the ride. I was headed south on Reed Road and had just passed Road 1 South. I looked up and saw a guy mowing his lawn when I felt a “thump” on my rear wheel and it didn’t stop. I slowed down and there it was “thump” “thump” “thump” and “POW”. The guy just kept on mowing his lawn. I was glad I had slowed down and I wasn’t very far away from the road where I live, so I pulled over and took my shoes off and helmet. I checked the tire and and there wasn’t a darn thing I could do about it. So I walked to the intersection of my street and sat under a tree and did what any fellow would do. I called my wife to come get me. What a sweet woman, but I still have to get some new tires.

Ash Fork

Getting ready for the ride

Yesterday morning the ride was to Ash Fork and back and it was with some folks that ride regularly with the group that does the rides with Pat and Jim McCarver. The lead rider was a lady that was doing her yearly century and she invited who ever wanted to ride. I felt like riding.

The morning was gorgeous with a few clouds building around the edges and the forecast was calling for possible thunder storms. I drove out to Paulden to cut my ride short because I wasn’t sure if I could go the distance. I got there early enough and waited on ‘Old 89′ overlooking the highway. While I waited Howie and Dave showed up on their bikes. We chatted for a few moments and then they were on their way, the wanted to beat the storms and wind.

Howie and Dave

The group showed up and we were off. They rode from Prescott and had set a pace that made them move right along. From Paulden it starts up hill and then there’s a good size hill a little over a mile. The climbing gets a little tough about half ways up the hill and by the last three quarters of it, it’s a killer. By the time I topped the crest the group was gone! I was huffing and a puffing and I caught a glimpse of them as they crested the next little hill. Once I caught my breath I gave it all I had to catch up. I never did, I was trailing by a half a mile. They waited for me at the other side of Hell Canyon.

Waiting for me

After a short break we were off again. By then I could tell that I could not keep up that pace if I wanted to make there and back. I eased off a bit and they just inched away from me. From there on I rode solo. I got to Ash Fork and they wanted to stop at the local cafe for something to eat. I chose to munch on my energy bar and down a Gatorade. Once that was gone so was I. I knew they would catch up to me sooner or later.

Taking a break

Once back on my bike I knew I was toast. Both my legs were burning and aching. I didn’t want any cramping so I just stayed in the small chain ring and did the best I could.  Around the Little Hell Canyon area I felt a few sprinkles and it felt good. Stopped to rest and drink more water.

Little Hell Canyon

By the time I started the last down hill into Paulden I could hardly move my legs. I took advantage of the down hill to rest. I pulled into the convenience store and got me another Gatorade. I sat there for a while… I couldn’t walk, all that well. After about 30 minutes I managed to put my bike away and put my shoes on. I was about to leave when the rest of the guys pulled in. I thanked them for  letting me ride with them (very little) and I went home, thinking I need to ride more. My total miles was 53.7 miles and riding time 3:30:47

Nacho

The Sting

After my work out at the health club I rode my Trek bike on the usual route. Last Monday I rode this course and found out that the distance is only 14.7 miles. So today, knowing what the distance was, I chose to ride the Trek. The Trek doesn’t have a cycle computer on it. Last winter I left the bike out and it snowed that night. Needless to say all that water took my computer out. Couldn’t reset it and sometimes it would just quit working in the middle of a ride. Very irritating. So I did away with it.

I got my HR monitor on and I was off. The first part of the ride is a slight up hill that lasts at least six miles. By the time I got to Road 2 South my monitor is beeping like crazy. I kept up the pace all the way to the Outer Loop and at that point I eased off and to let my heart catch up. It didn’t take long either. Once on Reed Road it’s down hill, easily do 35 mph for the better part of that stretch.

I was cooking along when all of a sudden I hit a bug of some kind and it was buzzing really loud. The damn thing got hung up between my glasses and the helmet strap on my left side. I got it out in no time flat and that’s when I figured it was a bee! I knew he was gone and after about 3 minutes it really started to sting. Dog gone thing got me right on my temple. I had to stop and wipe off the stinger but it continued to hurt for the rest of the ride.

Met a couple out on their bikes, they had stopped to rest and take in some water under some trees. I pulled in and joined them. Had a nice visit and then we were on our way. They turned off at the next street and I kept on. I upped the speed so I could get done and by then I had forgotten all about the bee sting. All in all it was a very enjoyable ride, minus the bee.

Nacho

Day After a Rain

Yesterday we had a good down pour here in Chino Valley. The clouds moved in and a nice breeze picked up and by 4 in the afternoon the thunder started. Then came the flashes of lighting as the storm got close to where we live. It started raining and stayed steady for at least 45 minutes. Then it was off and on until we went to bed and at times it was heavy.

This morning a bike ride was in order but I wanted a heavier workout then the normal, so I took my mountain bike. I have a bike trunk that just holds enough to make it long ride if I chose to. I took my camera since I wasn’t going cross country. As I rode on the Outer Loop Rd.  I happen to see some antelope grazing. I managed to slow down and stop without spooking them and take some pictures. Awesome animals I must say.

He kept an eye on me the whole time

The rest of the group / herd kept on grazing and didn’t even look in my direction.

The rest of the ride went uneventful. I made it to Road 5 North and on down to Reed Rd. Took Reed to my turn off and headed home. Didn’t see a single rider today and I thought because of the temperature  and overcast there would be more folks out riding. There were some good size thunder bumpers developing so maybe that’s what kept everyone home.

My total miles for today was19.9 and riding time of 1:42:06 with a total calories burned of 944.

Until next time folks,

Nacho

Fog in July

Greetings,

As I was having breakfast and gazing out the window I noticed a layer of fog! I know the humidity was high last night, because it rained. We have had rain two days in a row. Lots of lighting and thunder… ah the sounds of summer. Here in Arizona most of the vegetation is brown, dead. So with the rains things are starting to get green. Looks good.

I stepped outside and it just felt so good that I loaded my bike on the Jeep and at that point there was no turning around, I was going for a bike ride. I had seen in one of my emails that someone was leading a ride from Prescott to Hell Canyon. The ride was to start from Fry’s at Willow Creek Rd. at 7:30 am. So I made my way to my starting point in hopes of meeting up with them.

Needless to say my ride was solo. I never met anyone or saw anyone. I rode to the Stage Stop on Williamson Valley and the Outer Loop Rd. A sheriff car came by and I asked if he had seen any other cyclist. None he said and he drove from Iron Springs Rd. So I got back on my bike and headed for Paulden which was my turn around point. Took a break at the store and the lady behind the counter said some cyclist had been by and left about 30 minutes ago. I presume they went to Hell Canyon. Well I didn’t wait for them to get back and headed for home.

The ride back was very pleasant, no wind and some clouds were building up, good size thunder bumpers too. My thoughts by then were “I gotta get to my Jeep before the lighting starts”. I did. So my total miles for this ride are 37.1 and my time was 2:37:31 and I burned a total of 1901 calories. So now I’m dealing with a slight head ache.

Nacho

Nothing Exciting

Today being Tuesday and its my time to ride the bike and not go to the health club and work out. I chose the same ride to Paulden as I did on my last outing. The ride was uneventful and all went as planned. The weather sure helped. There was hardly any breeze to speak of and an occasional cloud. I took a break at the convince store there in Paulden and had a Poweraid. Has anyone ever had one of this things? Kind of like Gatoraid and just as refreshing. I had seen Poweraid but had never bought any of that stuff. Well not too bad. I got the Poweraid because it was on sale, 99 cents for a 20 oz. bottle.

I had been wanting something for my arms other then just sun block and while looking around on the internet I came across some sun sleeves. My wife, who more than willing to do the shopping,  placed the order and today was my first time using them. All I can say is WOW! I don’t want to sound like a commercial but this things work great. They kept the sun off my arms but the most impressive thing about them is that how cool they kept my arms. Must be the way the air flow goes through them or maybe because they are white or both, but how ever they work it was a cool feel to them and that made the ride so much more enjoyable.  They are made by Pear Izumi, my wife got them so I don’t know the price.

On the way home I came across a herd of antelope and three of them crossed in front of me and went under the fence and stood there. Maybe they were wondering where I got my sun sleeves, but wouldn’t you know it… I forgot to take my camera!

My total distance was 30.4 miles and 2:05:55 for time and I burned off 1411 calories.

Until next time,

Nacho