Hybrid Loop by Saguaro Lake
The days for conditioning rides are drawing short. I took the loaded rig for our weekly meeting of the minds at ASU Karsten, where Jesse and I solved all manner of problems related to golf, finance, and race relations.
On the way back, I decided that the day was shaping up to be nicely overcast, and figured a few bonus miles were in order. At first I thought I’d jog up Alma School, then east on McKellips to head home, which would add about 2 miles. That route was soon modified to go up the Beeline and then south on Gilbert Road to home, adding about 7 miles. For reasons unknown, the bike just kept going up the Beeline, so I stopped in Fountain Hills to refill the water bottles and buy lunch – 2 packs of granola bars. Now I was looking at a 30 mile “bonus.”
Back on the Beeline, I was quite startled when a cyclist called out loudly behind me “ON YOUR LEFT!” and screamed by. Shit! I mean, really, the shoulder is 14 feet wide, and I was riding a very straight line right in the middle. She could have slowed a smidge and passed on the left by announcing herself with a simple hi or something else more social. Why must “racing” cyclists be so, I dunno, self-centered? Nature of the beast I guess.
I stopped at the Verde River bridge and again saw the horses, grazing in the shallows, and took a photo. Pretty day.
As I continued the 9-mile climb up the Beeline, I spied the red jersey of my “racer” girl way up ahead of me, but closer with each rise in the road. About 2 miles from Bush Highway, I decided to give her a pass, which I thought might make a small impression (her on a graphite road bike, me on an 80 lb touring rig). I reached her back tire, then slowed and simply passed on her left, smiled, and gave her a wave. She called out, “Wow, you caught up with me!” As a reply I just smiled again.
Sorry about that. I guess I have this thing about “ON YOUR LEFT!” It has some useful purposes in crowded events, but this time it meant, “Move out of my way. I’m fast.”
Really enjoyed the downhill from the Beeline to the lake, although the shoulder is lacking. Still, it seems with the touring rig, you have to ride further out in the lane, and cars give you an extra wide berth. People seem friendlier to a panniered bike, too.
Stopped at Salt River Recreation for lunch, my granola bars and a cold Coke. It was fun to watch all the young and energetic tubers out on this coolest day of August – the high was only about 94F. Back home with a final crank up King Kong. It was good reminder that a loaded touring bike is an exercise in both pleasure and humility, as I pulleyed my way up the slope in a ridiculous 26 x 34 gear. 65 loaded miles.
This is probably the last real conditioning ride I’ll do, and was a good one. Came home tired but feeling pretty good. It’ll be almost 2 weeks of rest now before Jack and I meet up to start the tour. Can’t wait!