That’s a wrap - barely

Thank you all for the very generous support and donations this year. Even though my miles were far less than previous years, your support was incredible.

Between the rains/flooding, and being gone for a week for the funeral, I was having my doubts I would get the miles in. But God gave me a reprieve from the rain for a short window this afternoon and I got to pull out my mountain bike and have a casual ride.

Will I ride again next year? I am not sure. Too many issues with aggressive drivers and the news is full of reports of cyclists killed this year. I may say I am done. Maybe my outlook will improve once this month is in the rear view mirror and I get some perspective.

Sunny skies - time to ride

No rain. And the winds that are coming later today aren’t here yet, I was pleased to find the roads going west were mostly clear. Only a handful of spots had mud run over them and only on one side.

We have another long week of rain forecast starting Tuesday, and the app claims rain every afternoon.

Put on my long sleeve jersey and long cycling bibs. Turned on my audio book and listened (I like saving the radio/speaker system in my helmet so I can hear but not have headphones or earbuds).

The bad part. There is a spot along Hwy 118 where I turn to go under 140. Right at that little stretch there is a house that always has loose dogs. The today 6 of them came running from way back behind the house, probably more than 200 yards. I saw them. And I saw the white car coming the other way. I tried to point and wave for the driver, but they didn’t see or didn’t react, a short horn honk. A short squeal of tires and anti-lock breaks, and a thud. When I came back heading home about 45 minutes later the dog was still lying in the road.

The same scenario played out at the same house 2 years ago,

The route I take

This is a video of the reasons and flooding on Route 66 from Monday. Yes, this is the route I take to and from work when I bike. The water is gone, but the debris - and, rocks, and a lot more are making the side of the road unsuitable for a road bike.

Other routes are not really any better.

I don’t think the city is going to be able to clear the edges and worry about the shoulder I ride on. I will wait another day and decide if I can tackle it Thursday on my mountain bike.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2498489237242515/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr

Rain rain….

I might be moving to indoor riding on the TAC-X trainer. Rain all week on the forecast, and with more flooding around downtown and sand washed across roads the road bike might not be a good idea.

I’ll check the roads again tomorrow, and maybe take the mountain bike.

KRQE news has a story in the evening news.

https://youtu.be/mSD0Vo8VSqI?is=XigKkmGRZaYnppRF

Chilly morning and a wheel swap

Wednesday morning I caught one of the dreaded goat-head thorns in the side of my front tire. IT went flat about 1/2 mile from the end of the ride. I pumped up the tire and rode it, then changed the tube at work over lunch.

Riding home Wednesday afternoon I saw the city had been mowing the weeds all along Route 66, leaving the fallen growth all over the shoulder of the road. This was not a short little bit, but about 3 miles from the Munoz Overpass to the west end of the airport. They also had the middle lane closed for patching potholes. Traffic was forced to the edge of the right lane/shoulder. I had no way to swerve around the bigger clumps of weeds and grass. I wasn't overly surprised that my back tire was flat this morning when I was ready to ride.

I quickly swapped out the back wheels (I have a second wheelset) and will change the flat later this weekend.

My riding speed was a bit slow. I blame the colder weather making my muscles a bit tight. The reality is I am just old and fat. But hey, the cold as an excuse sound better.

Havasu Island on a Saturday

A little warm for my liking, and a little windy for Nicole’s taste, but it was still a good ride this morning in Lake Havasu. The trail around the island is now nicely paved and no longer needs a mountain bike to enjoy the ride.

I do want to lodge a formal complaint with whoever has some pull — this whole idea of starting school a full month before Labor Day? Not good. I give it one-star. I wonder if I can make up a fictional research study and share it enough that people will believe that starting school in August leads to all sorts of problems. Like, could I convince people it makes teens roll their eyes at parents? Or maybe I could claim it causes polar bears to walk backwards? No matter. It is the 3-day weekend. Time to get some miles in and enjoy.