Tag: Casa Grande

CasaCopa Century – Revision 1

Posted on March 14, 2011February 25, 2015 by Rich

Jesse had mentioned to me that the roads around Maricopa might be good for a club ride someday, and so I designed this route as a possible alternative to the current Casa Grande Century. After riding it today, the results are in, for better and worse. The route needs some work, but this ride has some good potential. Jesse and I planned to ride it together, but Jesse’s lingering head cold flared up and in the end he decided to rest and repair. Since I rode it solo, there isn’t a whole lot of story here, but I will document

J&P 11: Casa Grande to Mesa

Posted on February 21, 2011March 4, 2015 by Rich

Up at 7. My legs, sore from the previous two days work, certainly felt better after a night’s sleep. Continental breakfast in the lobby: cheese blintz, ham, hash browns, coffee, water. At 8AM Mary Ellen called and I soon met up with her at the Super 8. On the way I ran into Jesse leaving Legacy Suites. Jesse commented that the Legacy Suites was so basic they didn’t even offer a drinking cup in the room. At the Super 8, we messed around taking pictures, and Jules showed up around 8:10AM. Clear blue skies this morning and cold, and SUCH

J&P 11: Tucson to Casa Grande

Posted on February 20, 2011March 4, 2015 by Rich

Waffle House at 7AM. Jesse was already there with raisin toast, coffee, and orange juice. I wasn’t too hungry and so ordered the same thing. Unfortunately, Jesse had been battling a chest cold since day one, and this morning it was definitely worse. Various group gatherings in front of Motel 6, and finally we hit the road by 8:15AM or so. Today is traditionally the easiest riding day on clockwise years, a long gradual downhill into Casa Grande, but I could feel the northwest breezes into our faces right away. The winds shifted slowly to the west, and I took

CG100 Pre-Ride 2010

Posted on November 10, 2010November 12, 2014 by Rich

Practically at the last minute, Jesse and I decided to take a roll around the Casa Grande Century route. Both of us volunteer for this ride, held each January, so here in November we decided to scout out the route, take notes for course marking and maps, and generally make a day of it. All of this is very early conditioning for our cross country ride next year. Accordingly, we both brought along touring bikes. Before sunrise Tuesday morning I found Jesse waiting for me at the McDonalds at Chandler Heights Blvd. and Alma School Road in south Chandler. With

J&P 10: Casa Grande to Tucson

Posted on February 13, 2010December 4, 2014 by Rich

Breakfast was included with the room at the Holiday Inn, so Phil was up by 6:15am. A nice looking buffet table turned out to be meagerly supplied, and the breakfast area was quite understaffed. The eggs and pancakes were passable, the bacon not so. Other riders slowly drifted in and scrounged up their morning fare as well. Just about ready to go, Phil stowed his bags in the RV. We generally congregated for a while out front, just socializing and seeing what other riders were doing. Pretty soon there were 7 or 8 cyclists all ready to go at the

J&P 10: Mesa to Casa Grande

Posted on February 12, 2010December 4, 2014 by Rich

Took off about 9:15am in order to meet the tour group at the Starbucks at Dobson and Warner Rds. by 10:45am. The bike handled quite well. I could feel the extra weight, especially in terms of slow starts, but not as bad as last year. I left the house no less than 3 times, each time remembering something else, like bringing the garage door opener with me, or taking a daily vitamin. Heading south down Lindsay Rd., I was increasingly bothered by a nice creak every time I pushed on the right pedal. I must have missed that with the

J&P 10: Preface

Posted on February 11, 2010December 4, 2014 by Rich

Having a century under my belt in December, I kept up a decent riding schedule throughout January in anticipation for this year’s J&P Tucson Tour. This being my second year for it, I knew better what to expect and how to pack. My front tire, which had been rotated from the rear a few months ago, was showing serious wear, so I decided to again change both out for my touring tires, reasoning that they would handle the additional weight better, and be more resistant to road debris. Just like last year, those tires were a real beast to get

J&P 09: Casa Grande to Mesa

Posted on February 16, 2009December 4, 2014 by Rich

Up at 6, and as usual, Phil is up quickly but I’m dragging a bit. There is a free continental breakfast in the lobby, a cheese Danish, and I really enjoy the raisin bran and whole milk – tastes like another dessert! We’re out on the road a little early this morning, by about 7:45am. Before we go, I hear Sharon say that many riders will usually meet at the McDonalds or The Good Egg at Chandler Heights Blvd and Alma School Road, and so I make an arrangement with her to pick up my panniers there. We head north

J&P 09: Tucson to Casa Grande

Posted on February 15, 2009December 4, 2014 by Rich

Phil’s up quickly again this morning, about 6am. I used my cell phone as an alarm clock and it works very well. In the morning darkness, we hoof it across the street to the Waffle House, which some of the riders have dubbed the Awful House. Phil gets a nice big plate, while I order just a waffle plus 1 egg and some OJ. Just as we’re finishing, Jan, Carol, and Diana show up and occupy the booth next to us. Mary Ellen calls around 7:30, then arrives at our room to pick up her bike. We soon head to

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