preRA: Fountain Hills #2
Yet another loaded conditioning ride, same route as my previous ride to Fountain Hills. I battled some steady 18 mph NE winds out to Saguaro Lake and up to the Beeline – a bunch of work.
Jesse and I met at the fountain. We decided that the breakfast prices in Fountain Hills are not a very good value, and so this time we both brought our own food and drink, and sat and watched the kids, ducks, and fountain for a good 75 minutes or so, discussing our upcoming tour.
While we sat, my bike spontaneously toppled over. When I investigated, I found my Click-Stand fractured. It is impossible to tell whether the stand fractured causing the bike to fall, or whether the falling bike caused the fracture. In any case, no damage to the bike. I wrote to the Click-Stand inventor/supplier and he is making me a new one.
These conditioning rides, especially the “loaded” hill climbing, seem to make a lot of sense. Jesse reminds me that we expect to be doing some of our worst climbing within the first week of RA2011. Today’s ride: 57 miles and 2010 feet of climbing (according to bikely.com)
Hi Rich,
Sorry to hear about your clickstand. I ordered one this weekend and I hope it will survive the tour. Man you are getting in some great rides with climbing. Gary and I are attempting to get in some climbing on our Sunday loaded rides. We climbed Mummy Mt. this weekend both ways. Climbing is the one worry I have going into the tour. Anyway, see you on the rode.
Ride Safe,
Frank
I wrote to the Click-Stand supplier, explained what happened – including the unknown nature of it – and he is going to make me a new one free of charge. Now THERE’S a good and decent businessman, making a very good product.
Also, Frank, I doubt climbing is going to be any issue for you. Man, you’re as strong as an ox!
Sounds like serious training going on. Don’t worry too much about getting over the passes in the Cascades; while the climbs are long, they are not overly steep. The profiles shown on the Adventure Cycling maps look terrifyingly steep, but they are not to scale. My advice to you all is to just do a bunch of unloaded riding prior to leaving home; you will find your “touring loaded” fitness after two or three days on the road. You all are headed into an amazing adventure … relax and enjoy.
The advice is much appreciated, Randy. That climb over Washington Pass shows something like 7,000 feet of climbing in a single day, which is on the group’s mind. That’s more than I’ve ever done in one day, but of course, we could elect to break it up. In any case, your advice is well taken – there is a balance between training and staying “fresh” on the bike – before we depart at least. Another probable reason we’re training more than we might is that we’re ready to go right now!