Arizona Riding Day 5

Rango and I launched an assault on Mt Lemmon today... My first time up it... And rode from the desert and 34 degrees to the pine forest and 20 degrees. Amazing views along the way and a respectable time of 1:52 to get up with an avg wattage of 242.... Happy with that. 

Mile 0 and full if optimism...

First Vista point an feeling good... Although it would be nice to have a 27 at the back...

Beautiful scenery to make the ride more enjoyable... Although you don't want to get too close to te edge!!!

Second Vista point and feeling good still... At least we could see the top by this point!!!

Practicing my Aero-tuck for the way down... Averaged 65km/h and maxed out at 76km/h for 40min... Sorry - no pics on the way down!!!!

Loved the ride .... And then had a quick trip to Costco where they sell alcohol.... 1.75L of tequila for $14... Seriously?!?!?!

Arizona riding Day 4

Even God needed a rest day....

Changed the plan from riding Lemmon to taking a 2hr easy spin day. Helped the legs feeling much better after the ride and had a great chat about life, friends and future with Rango. 

Good times with good friends...

The scenery is pretty good too...

#stayforever!!!

Arizona Riding Day 3

Always up for a challenge... Rango and I decided to hit one of the toughest climbs around... Madero Canyon. Added a warm up loop to make it 3+hrs and could see it taunting us in the distance...

As we got closer to the 13mile climb we realized that the majority of the distance of the climb is these terribly long false flats that suck the energy out of you... And they just kept going...

With about 2miles to go the road pitches up and grows to about 15% .... No choice but to stand in my smallest gear wih no reprieve... But I made it to the top to breathe in the thin air...

The best thing about the climb was the ride down... Hit 75km/h and passed a few cars that were holding us back...

Fun times... Another good adventure on the Madone...

Tucson riding Day 2

"Hey Barnes. I have a nice route planned out for us..." "Looks good Rango. About 4hrs?  That will be good..." 

Not!!!  Turned out to be an amazing ride... But the longest ride I've ever done!!!  Super weather. Super roads. Some good climbs... And Gates Pass about half way through...

This is why we came to Arizona... Great sun, great roads and long rides...

"Tomorrow sweetheart... We can ride Mt Lemmon tomorrow..."

The long climb up Gates Pass... Like a punch in the face...

Blue sky and big hills...

Only smiling because we are almost home... 

Very tired by the end... The last hour was filled with silence... Shows how tired I was!!!

Tucson riding Day 1

The rain has gone and we woke up to a great sunrise and clear skies. Hit the road for a nice 3hrs in the warmth. I miss my family but I have also been missing the Sun....

Sunrise over the mountains...

First time my Madone 6.2 will touch the road...

Yes.... We are both smiling!!!

Not a bad view....

Welcome home... Time to refuel!!!

Arizona Day 1

Arrived in sunny Tucson to a day of non stop rain. A bit of a delay on the Tarmac because of a warning light (where's the pilots sense of adventure??). A few tense moments waiting for bike boxes to arrive (who needs clothes??) and then a shirt drive to the House. Got the bikes built and groceries purchased for a few days. Looking forward to sunshine and warmth tomorrow...

A great house with a great kitchen that will produce the fuel required for a week of riding....

Check back every day for updates!!

Zoom Zoom

Just getting ready to board the place with Rango for a week of training in warm sunny Tucson Arizona!!!

Spent my last day before the warmth skiing in the -18 degree temp with my school kids.... 

Glad to be heading south... But an Early Morning!!