Last night was Harry’s SDMB night ride on the Molino trail (also the Arizona Trail). It was such a perfect evening/night. We were spared any rained, but the lightning danced around us throughout the trail.
I left my house around 5:15, thinking I’d be quite late for meeting at 6pm at the base of the highway. A swift little tailwind meant I was riding at 22mph and passing roadies on the way out Pima and Tanque Verde. One roadie really ramped it up when I passed him, but I stuck with him until he turned left on Sabino. He gave me a thumbs up as he turned away.
So I ended up 5 minutes early. Harry and Chris were along shortly, then we headed up the highway to Prison Camp. Nice evening, beautiful clouds, peeking sunshine, cool temperatures… can you ask for more?
My light decided to behave, amazingly, and lasted 2 laps of the Molino downhill. We saw the same skunk twice, and smelled him a half dozen times.
Harry is a dangerous man in my book. After a calm warmup on lap one he really let it rip on lap 2. Chris and I were nowhere near him. He continued it on the highway back to Tucson, pedaling strong and passing cars despite strong pockets of monsoon winds. I was scared just riding by myself down this dark road at 34 mph. He was up there riding 40 and passing cars. Thus, the adjective dangerous. Too rich for my blood, that’s certain.
I hitched a ride nearly all of the way home with Harry, then got drenched riding the last mile home. It felt really good, but the road was a running river, so my bike did take a bit of a beating.
35 miles, 3900 feet of climbing
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This morning I headed out for another suburbo loop. 16 miles of cool morning air and friendly hello’s to the residents of the foothills. I’m starting to feel pretty good on the bike these days. It was refreshing to ride down Finger Rock wash on a wheel that doesn’t force a skid once per revolution (I took Paula’s rim–my Suburbo wheel has got a nice dent in it).
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