Tag: tucson

J&P 09: Florence to Tucson

Posted on February 14, 2009December 4, 2014 by Rich

Phil awoke quickly at 5:10am, and I rose more slowly. The HIExpress had quite a good help-yourself free breakfast, including cheese omelets, bacon, and biscuits. While we are there, more than a half dozen actors in Elizabethan costumes join the breakfast, and so we guess there is a Renaissance Festival somewhere close by today. Just as we’re leaving breakfast, Bob Turner shows up and informs us that Sharon will come by about 7:45am for any bags we want to deposit in the van. After all my knee twinging yesterday, I make an easy decision to go with Plan B and

J&P 09: Preface

Posted on February 12, 2009December 4, 2014 by Rich

At the end of September, my friend Mary Ellen Coe sent me a pointer to the J&P Tucson Tour. I asked further about it and she simply told me it was a bunch of fun. 2008 was a strong cycling year for me, basically culminating in the El Tour de Tucson ride in late November. In early December, I rode in the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club’s Free Ride. Mary Ellen and I pushed hard the last 25 miles or so, doing 22-24 mph the whole way, and as a result I strained my knees plenty. The pain lasted a week

ETT 08: Race Day

Posted on November 22, 2008December 4, 2014 by Rich

With no milk for my ritual cereal, I ate yet another apple in the morning. Left the room by 5AM for the drive downtown. Approaching from the east on Broadway, I spied the first signs of cyclists parking on side roads and figured I’d better grab a freebie spot (Convention Center parking was $7). A few ride decisions to make. Fortunately the temperature was already 55 and headed for high 70s, so shorts and jersey was all that was needed. I decided to wear arm warmers for the wait at the Start, because they’re so light and stowable. I was

ETT 08: The Day Before

Posted on November 21, 2008November 6, 2010 by Rich

I jumped in the SUV about noon Friday and headed down to Tucson, eating a couple apples on the way. Linda booked me a room at the La Quinta Inn on Priceline.com, designed to save me a couple hours of sleep Saturday morning. I went straight to the expo at the Tucson Convention Center, downtown at Congress and Granada. It took a while but I finally found free parking on a side street. Jules had come down earlier in the week, so I called her once inside the building, and we quickly met up. I also ran into Court Phillips,

ETT 08: The Week Before

Posted on November 15, 2008December 4, 2014 by Rich

Rode in the club ride on 11/15 to Mummy Mountain in Scottsdale, but took the shorter and less hilly 30 mile option with Mary Ellen. Johnny’s combo was playing a set out in front of Milano’s Music in downtown Mesa, and I didn’t want to miss it. It has nothing to do with the ETT ride, but below is a pretty nifty picture of John at the gig. On Tuesday, I spit-shined up the bike, cleaned and lubed the chain, adjusted the brakes, then did a 10 mile loop around Las Sendas, but otherwise took it very easy leading up to

ETT 08: Preparations

Posted on November 14, 2008November 6, 2010 by Rich

This past spring, I was talking with Leon Smith, a.k.a. Captain America, following a Sunday Kokopedalli ride at Einstein’s Bagels. Since he was such an accomplished cyclist, I asked him to tell me his favorite ride, the one everyone must do. Without hesitation, he stated that the El Tour de Tucson ride was it. I signed up for the ETT in early summer. My thinking was to register early, pay the money, and ink it onto my calendar. Otherwise, I might find a hundred excuses why not to do it. In early September, I met with my buddy Jules Moore