Very Short Track Today
Well, not REALLY. I just changed oil and filter and put points, rotor, and condenser in the Ford Tractor and promised to loan it to a dear friend and near neighbor for mowing purposes over the weekend.
I took my recumbent 2-wheeler over to his place, on the bike rack on the back of the Ford Dino-Fuel Burner car and parked the bike in the shade at his place, then drove back to the house and cranked up the tractor and drove it over and rode the bike back home. Jazzy was with me and hates being left alone with a purple spotted passion so I strapped her into my belly pack and she went with me both on the tractor and the return trip on the bike. She didn't like the exhaust noise and vibration of the tractor and got all trembly several times but would calm down if I squeezed her up close to my chest for a few seconds. I have no cargo room on the tractor so I wore my bike helmet while driving it and looked even sillier than normal, but no biggie. I'm very used to looking silly.
Between hooking up the mowing machine on the 3-point hitch, wrestling the tractor down the road (The Power Steering doesn't work well on this old machine), and riding the bike home, I'm a little bushed tonight. Getting old sucks.....
Ride Started: 2:44 PM Ride Ended: 4:00 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 84 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 3.93
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.9 MPH 9.7 MPH 29.3 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
30 minutes 24 minutes 5 minutes
Friday, August 29, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Sundown Ride on the Bosque
Tracking via Ham radio and GPS
Jacque and I did something a bit new to us: We drove into Albuquerque and rode the Bosque Trail as the sun went down.
We could have done a late-afternoon ride out in our home area of the East Mountains, but after about 3:30 PM all roads are like the Indy 500 out here with all the Albuquerque and Sandia Labs and Kirtland Air Force Base commuters rushing home and crowding the roads.
We decided to try the Bosque Trail at such a late hour since - on the northern end, at least - there are no road crossings mixing it up with automobiles. Thus we felt comfortable riding even if it got really dark (we have lights front and rear).
We found this to be perhaps the most pleasant time we've ever ridden this trail. Less traffic, much cooler temperatures, what's not to like?
We didn't go that far, this being a preliminary experiment for this time of day, but we liked it so much we plan to do a much longer ride later in the afternoon or early evening again soon.
At these late hours we were pleasantly surprised that Tingley Beach was still open... at least the waterfront and the restrooms were.
We encountered some visitors from Mexico who decided they needed their pictures taken with the trike and the doggies. They were nice folks and tolerated my fractured Espanol with good humor.
Ride Started: 12:02 PM Ride Ended: 3:10 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.2
Lowest Temp 71 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.56
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.7 MPH 9.0 MPH 15.8 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 Hour 25 mins 1 Hour 3 mins 21 minutes
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| Jacque's Mobile Trike Shade |
We could have done a late-afternoon ride out in our home area of the East Mountains, but after about 3:30 PM all roads are like the Indy 500 out here with all the Albuquerque and Sandia Labs and Kirtland Air Force Base commuters rushing home and crowding the roads.
We decided to try the Bosque Trail at such a late hour since - on the northern end, at least - there are no road crossings mixing it up with automobiles. Thus we felt comfortable riding even if it got really dark (we have lights front and rear).
We found this to be perhaps the most pleasant time we've ever ridden this trail. Less traffic, much cooler temperatures, what's not to like?
We didn't go that far, this being a preliminary experiment for this time of day, but we liked it so much we plan to do a much longer ride later in the afternoon or early evening again soon.
At these late hours we were pleasantly surprised that Tingley Beach was still open... at least the waterfront and the restrooms were.
We encountered some visitors from Mexico who decided they needed their pictures taken with the trike and the doggies. They were nice folks and tolerated my fractured Espanol with good humor.
Ride Started: 12:02 PM Ride Ended: 3:10 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.2
Lowest Temp 71 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.56
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.7 MPH 9.0 MPH 15.8 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 Hour 25 mins 1 Hour 3 mins 21 minutes
Monday, August 25, 2014
It Wasn't 20 Miles, but Close
My tracking system failed to report but One Position today.
My local Internet Gateway was dysfunctional, but I also need to go double check the antennae (common failure items on the bikes) to make sure they aren't needing soldering iron attention.
I could download the route out of my Garmin 350 GPS but I've never succeeded when I've tried. Oh Well.
Jazzy and I were by ourselves again today, since Jacque and Tinkerbell are helping on a quilt project for the upcoming NM State Fair. So between us we decided to ride east on Frost Road to Mountain Valley, south on Mountain Valley to Crestview Road, east on Crestview to County Line Road, south to Dinkle, then west back to Mountain Valley and a short jog across the overpass covering I-40 and then west on Olde Route 66. We rode that to Sedillo Hill Road. Jazzy forgot to remind me we'd planned to keep going on Route 66 to Zuzax and then cross I-40 there to Gutierrez Canyon Road and north back up to Frost, which would have likely resulted in a bit more than 20 miles on our bike's GPS. So it's HER fault we didn't get our total expected mileage today.
Everything is lined with sunflowers nowadays with all the rain and many are head-high.
The weather was sunny when we started but started to cloud up and cooled off nicely but it was threatening rain. It actually did start to rain but it was at least a couple miles east of us around Edgewood proper and it seemed to be migrating east away from us so we kept going, though I did note open awnings and porch overhangs and such shelter opportunities along the way - Just in Case.
The weather forecast had called for a high of 78 or so but my bike thermometer showed at least 84 so it was a bit warmer... but the days are already getting noticeably shorter and cooler.
Arrived home safe, sound, and dry.... except for the perspiration from pushing the bike by hand up the goat path hills to our house.
Ride Started: 12:02 PM Ride Ended: 3:10 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 72 F Highest Temp: 84 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.85
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.5 MPH 9.0 MPH 33.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 Hours 44 mins 1 Hour 58 mins 45 minutos
My local Internet Gateway was dysfunctional, but I also need to go double check the antennae (common failure items on the bikes) to make sure they aren't needing soldering iron attention.
I could download the route out of my Garmin 350 GPS but I've never succeeded when I've tried. Oh Well.
Jazzy and I were by ourselves again today, since Jacque and Tinkerbell are helping on a quilt project for the upcoming NM State Fair. So between us we decided to ride east on Frost Road to Mountain Valley, south on Mountain Valley to Crestview Road, east on Crestview to County Line Road, south to Dinkle, then west back to Mountain Valley and a short jog across the overpass covering I-40 and then west on Olde Route 66. We rode that to Sedillo Hill Road. Jazzy forgot to remind me we'd planned to keep going on Route 66 to Zuzax and then cross I-40 there to Gutierrez Canyon Road and north back up to Frost, which would have likely resulted in a bit more than 20 miles on our bike's GPS. So it's HER fault we didn't get our total expected mileage today.
Everything is lined with sunflowers nowadays with all the rain and many are head-high.
 |
| Rear View Sunflowers |
 |
| Front View Sunflowers |
The weather was sunny when we started but started to cloud up and cooled off nicely but it was threatening rain. It actually did start to rain but it was at least a couple miles east of us around Edgewood proper and it seemed to be migrating east away from us so we kept going, though I did note open awnings and porch overhangs and such shelter opportunities along the way - Just in Case.
The weather forecast had called for a high of 78 or so but my bike thermometer showed at least 84 so it was a bit warmer... but the days are already getting noticeably shorter and cooler.
Arrived home safe, sound, and dry.... except for the perspiration from pushing the bike by hand up the goat path hills to our house.
 |
| Huff-Puff Uphill on Foot |
Ride Started: 12:02 PM Ride Ended: 3:10 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 72 F Highest Temp: 84 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.85
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.5 MPH 9.0 MPH 33.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 Hours 44 mins 1 Hour 58 mins 45 minutos
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Bosque Bliss
Today's Tracking via APRS, GPS, and Ham Radio
Yesterday, Friday, was drizzly and wet until late afternoon, precluding an earlier bike ride. By the time it finally cleared off late in the afternoon we had too much else going on to do anything healthy like taking off on the bike.
Today, Saturday, was a different story, with beautiful blue skies this morning, prompting us to skip breakfast and rush off to Albuquerque with the Tandem Terratrike Recumbent on the roof rack for a ride down New Mexico's favorite bike venue: The Bosque Trail.
We arrived at our favorite parking place at the huge parking lot at the Albuquerque Bio Park and got rolling on the trike almost right on the dot at 10:00.
The weather was just absolutely delightful. The breeze was cool yet it was sunny and warm enough to just be comfortable to the max.
I used to resist the idea of driving such a distance to ride around on the trike but it seems the hills are getting steeper out here in the East Mountains and we always have to ride in or near the traffic, with only a few miles of available bike pathways out here. Plus the Bosque Trail is mostly flat, the scenery riding along the Rio Grande Irrigation ditches is fabulous. The scenery down on the South Valley end with all the warehouses and junkyards is not what you would call beautiful but it IS striking.
At the junction of Rio Bravo and the bosque trail we stopped in the shade for a rest break and met several other recumbent trikes who stopped to say hello and swap lies, er, stories.
The yellow panel sticking up vertically is Jacque's new shade attachment for her and the doggies. When rolling it simply is bent over their heads and fastened forward so it forms a curve roof over their heads. It sometimes acts a bit like a sail in strong winds but at the breathtaking speeds we normally achieve (see average of 5-7 MPH) it is definitely not a problem.
Our last trike destination was Old Town, which is an easy 2-something mile ride along Mountain Road (now co-named 'Bicycle Boulevard' with max 18 MPH limit). We dined at Tio Chava's and had a great taco plate (me) and a chicken salad in a fried tortilla shell for Jacque (who is on the South Beach diet currently and thus I got to eat her fried tortilla shell.... drool drool. By then it was getting late in the afternoon so we saddled up and came home. The doggies had their usual crush of admirers on every hand everywhere we turned....
Ride Started: 10:02 AM Ride Ended: 3:12 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 64 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 21.19
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
3.8 MPH 7.5 MPH 24.3 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
5 Hours 35 mins 2 Hours 49 mins 2 hours 45 mins
Yesterday, Friday, was drizzly and wet until late afternoon, precluding an earlier bike ride. By the time it finally cleared off late in the afternoon we had too much else going on to do anything healthy like taking off on the bike.
Today, Saturday, was a different story, with beautiful blue skies this morning, prompting us to skip breakfast and rush off to Albuquerque with the Tandem Terratrike Recumbent on the roof rack for a ride down New Mexico's favorite bike venue: The Bosque Trail.
We arrived at our favorite parking place at the huge parking lot at the Albuquerque Bio Park and got rolling on the trike almost right on the dot at 10:00.
The weather was just absolutely delightful. The breeze was cool yet it was sunny and warm enough to just be comfortable to the max.
I used to resist the idea of driving such a distance to ride around on the trike but it seems the hills are getting steeper out here in the East Mountains and we always have to ride in or near the traffic, with only a few miles of available bike pathways out here. Plus the Bosque Trail is mostly flat, the scenery riding along the Rio Grande Irrigation ditches is fabulous. The scenery down on the South Valley end with all the warehouses and junkyards is not what you would call beautiful but it IS striking.
At the junction of Rio Bravo and the bosque trail we stopped in the shade for a rest break and met several other recumbent trikes who stopped to say hello and swap lies, er, stories.
Our last trike destination was Old Town, which is an easy 2-something mile ride along Mountain Road (now co-named 'Bicycle Boulevard' with max 18 MPH limit). We dined at Tio Chava's and had a great taco plate (me) and a chicken salad in a fried tortilla shell for Jacque (who is on the South Beach diet currently and thus I got to eat her fried tortilla shell.... drool drool. By then it was getting late in the afternoon so we saddled up and came home. The doggies had their usual crush of admirers on every hand everywhere we turned....
Ride Started: 10:02 AM Ride Ended: 3:12 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 64 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 21.19
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
3.8 MPH 7.5 MPH 24.3 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
5 Hours 35 mins 2 Hours 49 mins 2 hours 45 mins
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
A-Riding Around Albuquerque
Today's Short Tracking has Great Coverage
Jacque wanted to go into Albuquerque today to put flowers on her parents' graves.
So we decided to load up the heavy Tandem Terratrike and ride somewhere along one of the many bike trails in the Big City.
We decided, since we were in the Northwest part of ABQ, to park the vehicle at Balloon Fiesta Park and ride from there as far as we could with our limited available time. We had to be in Edgewood, cleaned up and presentable, not smelling like overheated cyclists, by 6:30 PM.
We made it, but not with lots of time to spare.
Jacque purchased a shade canopy for her single Catrike about a year ago and has been making noise about adapting it for use on our block-long tandem trike. We stopped at the hardware store for a few clamps; I already had some aluminum tubing for mounting, and we set out to do the adaptation in the Balloon Fiesta Parking Lot before we rode off into the Albuquerque heat. We neglected to take pictures but we'll post some soon. The canopy provides welcome shade for Jacque and the doggies, the most important travelers in the operation, but not for me. Which is probably OK for now.
We only rode around along the bike path parallelling Paseo Del Norte for about 4 miles out and back. It was a hot but enjoyable ride, and the shade of the many trees available along the trail as it nears the Bosque Trail near the Rio Grande was more than welcome.
The shade worked, the trike worked, the tracker worked, we survived, and didn't run out of water. How cool is that?
Ride Started: 2:32 PM Ride Ended: 4:36 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.5 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 88 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.46
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.2 MPH 6.7 MPH 22.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 Hour 50 mins 1 Hour 25 mins 25 minutes
Jacque wanted to go into Albuquerque today to put flowers on her parents' graves.
So we decided to load up the heavy Tandem Terratrike and ride somewhere along one of the many bike trails in the Big City.
We decided, since we were in the Northwest part of ABQ, to park the vehicle at Balloon Fiesta Park and ride from there as far as we could with our limited available time. We had to be in Edgewood, cleaned up and presentable, not smelling like overheated cyclists, by 6:30 PM.
We made it, but not with lots of time to spare.
Jacque purchased a shade canopy for her single Catrike about a year ago and has been making noise about adapting it for use on our block-long tandem trike. We stopped at the hardware store for a few clamps; I already had some aluminum tubing for mounting, and we set out to do the adaptation in the Balloon Fiesta Parking Lot before we rode off into the Albuquerque heat. We neglected to take pictures but we'll post some soon. The canopy provides welcome shade for Jacque and the doggies, the most important travelers in the operation, but not for me. Which is probably OK for now.
We only rode around along the bike path parallelling Paseo Del Norte for about 4 miles out and back. It was a hot but enjoyable ride, and the shade of the many trees available along the trail as it nears the Bosque Trail near the Rio Grande was more than welcome.
The shade worked, the trike worked, the tracker worked, we survived, and didn't run out of water. How cool is that?
Ride Started: 2:32 PM Ride Ended: 4:36 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.5 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 88 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.46
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.2 MPH 6.7 MPH 22.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 Hour 50 mins 1 Hour 25 mins 25 minutes
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Terrific Tuesday Travel
Today's Boring Tracking
I needed to get in my quasi-20-something miles on the bike today but was a bit short on time again, as usual. Down at the intersection of Frost Road and Mountain Valley Road, turning left (north) and following the pavement results in a 4-mile loop that is not boring to ride, so I figured I would ride that loop 3 or 4 times, come home, and be ready for a productive day. When we (Jazzy and I) got to Mountain Valley, however, it was under destruction.
I rode through the butchered pavement - barely missing a small steam roller - and found the new pavement I passed over was still smoking hot. So I decided looping several times through that was not an option. I found a smaller paved loop of Juniper and Cedar and Mountain Valley that I traversed a few times just to add some time and mileage to the ride. We finally exited the loop, enjoying meeting some new dogs and neighborhood oddities, and rode over to our friend's house for a quick visit. Very enjoyable family, with 7 kiddos, all of whom we count as friends. Here are a couple of them helping me tend to Jazzy while we visited:
As I was getting ready to leave this fun bunch and ride on homeward, I saw a different cloud arrangement in the sky:
These clouds look as though they are screaming at high speed across the sky, yet they were just hanging there, with the strange streamers.
We were still a bit short on miles when we got to our goat-path turnoff, so Jazzy and I rode on up to the Post Office and then the Ice Cream Sandwich Store, commonly known as the Shell Station.
Then we came home, and now I must get busy to justify my existence.
Ride Started: 10:04 AM Ride Ended: 1:17 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.8 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.96
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 8.3 MPH 28.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 Hours 9 mins 2 Hours 9 mins 59 minutes
I needed to get in my quasi-20-something miles on the bike today but was a bit short on time again, as usual. Down at the intersection of Frost Road and Mountain Valley Road, turning left (north) and following the pavement results in a 4-mile loop that is not boring to ride, so I figured I would ride that loop 3 or 4 times, come home, and be ready for a productive day. When we (Jazzy and I) got to Mountain Valley, however, it was under destruction.
 |
| You can barely see the destruction crew behind me. |
 |
| Clouds on Gossamer Streams |
We were still a bit short on miles when we got to our goat-path turnoff, so Jazzy and I rode on up to the Post Office and then the Ice Cream Sandwich Store, commonly known as the Shell Station.
Then we came home, and now I must get busy to justify my existence.
Ride Started: 10:04 AM Ride Ended: 1:17 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.8 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.96
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 8.3 MPH 28.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 Hours 9 mins 2 Hours 9 mins 59 minutes
Monday, August 18, 2014
We'll Be Comin' Round South Mountain When We Come
Today's Pretty-Good Tracking
I determined to start the week out right, for once, and saddled up the bike for a ride. Jacque had previously scheduled sewing engagement and did not ride with me but told me she was going to leave "one" of our doggies at home to reduce her confusion level at her sewing klatch. Which meant Jazzie, our noisy hyper-active Yappy Pappy. I told her I'd take the little miscreant with me on my bike ride.
She is a fun companion even if she does get a bit out of bounds occasionally. I carry her in our little papoose-style belly pack, which makes for a bit more warmth on a sunny day like today, but it calms her down and keeps her from whining and yapping as we ride along.
I'm currently striving for 20-something mile rides to help lower my A1C readings and calm my endocrinologist down, but like most riders I would love to be able to do different rides to keep the boredom factor down. I've been to Beautiful Downtown Edgewood (That's a Joke, Son) several times recently, so today I thought maybe I'd just ride Frost Road all the way to the intersection at 344 just north of Edgewood, whereupon it turns abruptly into State Road 472 the rest of its length into downtown Stanley, NM (Another New Mexico Joke).
As we neared this intersection on this very lovely morning, I noticed the prominence of South Mountain off to our left and recalled I had not taken THAT route in almost a year or so.
I didn't remember the mileage exactly but knew it would exceed 20 miles handily. For many miles there is no shoulder and the pavement is not smooth much of the way but the motorized traffic is sparse. So I turned north on 344 at Cedar Grove and took the loop around South Mountain. Going the direction WE rode today is a much easier proposition than riding it the OTHER direction: Just up 344 from North-14 at Golden is a 15% grade hill that is a strain on a motorized vehicle and bloody murder on a bike, aptly earning the name "Heartbreak Hill". Going the difficult direction involves me dismounting the bike after about the first quarter mile and walking it the next couple miles uphill. I just plain don't have the legs for it, though the hardcore riders in the area all despise it, many make it all the way without having to get off and push, unlike Yours Truly.
Thus the easy direction I took today: Gradual hills up to the top of Heartbreak Hill, then SMOKIN' downhill curves all the way down to 344 just south of Golden. You may note my max speed today was 43+ MPH, and that would have been exceeded had I not ridden the brakes part-way down. Much faster than I'm used to OR comfortable with. When I was younger and bulletproof it would have been fun to let'er rip all the way down to see how fast the machine could achieve without my help (My max pedaling speed is between 20 and 24 MPH). Now that I'm old and wishing to get older and all too aware of the limitations of my frame, brakes, tires, and lack of smoothness of the pavement.... I use the brakes. Sorry.
Jazzy did herself proud today. She did not bark, yap, or whine at all today, and mostly laid her head on my arm trying to relax while we rode:
All in all a very satisfactory riding companion. We stopped several times for shade, pee, food, and water breaks. Each time she happily took the leash, poked around, drank offered water out of my cupped hand, and generally made herself lovable.
Ride Started: 9:16 AM Ride Ended: 2:28 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.0 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 98 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 33.08
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.3 MPH 9.1 MPH 43.3 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
5 Hours 12 mins 3 Hours 37 mins 1 Hour 3 minutes
I determined to start the week out right, for once, and saddled up the bike for a ride. Jacque had previously scheduled sewing engagement and did not ride with me but told me she was going to leave "one" of our doggies at home to reduce her confusion level at her sewing klatch. Which meant Jazzie, our noisy hyper-active Yappy Pappy. I told her I'd take the little miscreant with me on my bike ride.
She is a fun companion even if she does get a bit out of bounds occasionally. I carry her in our little papoose-style belly pack, which makes for a bit more warmth on a sunny day like today, but it calms her down and keeps her from whining and yapping as we ride along.
I'm currently striving for 20-something mile rides to help lower my A1C readings and calm my endocrinologist down, but like most riders I would love to be able to do different rides to keep the boredom factor down. I've been to Beautiful Downtown Edgewood (That's a Joke, Son) several times recently, so today I thought maybe I'd just ride Frost Road all the way to the intersection at 344 just north of Edgewood, whereupon it turns abruptly into State Road 472 the rest of its length into downtown Stanley, NM (Another New Mexico Joke).
As we neared this intersection on this very lovely morning, I noticed the prominence of South Mountain off to our left and recalled I had not taken THAT route in almost a year or so.
Thus the easy direction I took today: Gradual hills up to the top of Heartbreak Hill, then SMOKIN' downhill curves all the way down to 344 just south of Golden. You may note my max speed today was 43+ MPH, and that would have been exceeded had I not ridden the brakes part-way down. Much faster than I'm used to OR comfortable with. When I was younger and bulletproof it would have been fun to let'er rip all the way down to see how fast the machine could achieve without my help (My max pedaling speed is between 20 and 24 MPH). Now that I'm old and wishing to get older and all too aware of the limitations of my frame, brakes, tires, and lack of smoothness of the pavement.... I use the brakes. Sorry.
Jazzy did herself proud today. She did not bark, yap, or whine at all today, and mostly laid her head on my arm trying to relax while we rode:
 |
| Ya have to look close, she's partly shaded in the crook of my arm |
Ride Started: 9:16 AM Ride Ended: 2:28 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.0 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 98 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 33.08
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.3 MPH 9.1 MPH 43.3 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
5 Hours 12 mins 3 Hours 37 mins 1 Hour 3 minutes
Friday, August 15, 2014
Friday Fifteener
Today's ever-so-partial GPS/APRS/ Ham Radio Tracking
I had a request to examine a good friend and near neighbor's (out here in the East Mountains a neighbor can be within 20 miles or so) riding lawn tractor. This neighbor is only about 3 miles away so I thought I'd use him for an excuse to ride the bike and get in a few miles as well as a good deed, which I'm way behind on lately.
He has 7 kiddos from upper teens to baby-in-arms and they are all super people. I got the usual warm welcome when I rode up and rang their doorbell. The older boys took me out back to look over the defunct tractor and, after deciding it needed gas, tools, and a voltmeter to check it out, we walked back to the front of their house.
My recumbent bike was swarming with kiddos; twisting levers, pushing buttons, and generally smothering the weather-beaten bike with attention. If I'd had my wits about me (Very rare) I would have pulled out my cell phone and got some pictures of them crawling all over it. The only girl in the family, age 3 or so, loudly proclaimed her firm belief "Trikes are Better than Bikes!" at least 13 times as all of her siblings, including her, admired the clunky recumbent. As I was saddling up to leave, she again announced this firm sentiment, well louder than her less-opinionated brethren. As I rode away from the house they began screaming "BYE! BYYYYYEEE! Later, Alligator! Etc.!" until I was well out of sight. What a fun bunch. Jacque and I keep warning them we're going to snatch one or two of their little twerps, since they have so many they'd never miss them, etc, etc.
Weather today was a bit overcast, providing partial shelter from the baking sun of recent weeks... when it's not raining.
I still lathered on the sunblock. This stuff is so thick it looks like I've rubbed toothpaste all over my arms.
How do you tell if you have enough sunblock on?
|
| When Your Arms are Covered with Dead Bugs? |
This one is out in the middle of nowhere, on a road that is well used for cycling by dozens, if not hundreds, daily....
 |
| Bike Route..... BEGIN? |
There is nothing different before or after this sign, the bike lane or wide shoulder is nice and well used by cyclists going both ways, and there is absolutely nothing that is a destination or interest point for cyclists... or motorists for that matter. Sigh.
By the time I got close to home I wanted a few more miles to burn off some more of my too-high A1C, so I rode on west past our turnoff to the Post Office and then the East Mountain Refreshment Spot, more commonly known as the Shell Station, for an ice cream sandwich to get that A1C back up there.
I guess one of their employees drives this low-slung little buggy with a bumper snicker I had to go back for....
Ride Started: 9:59 AM Ride Ended: 1:05 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.0 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 78 F Highest Temp: 84 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 14.41
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.5 MPH 8.6 MPH 26.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 Hours 36 mins 1 hour 40 mins 56 minutes
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Rain, Rain, Make Some Hay
Today's Short-Track Tracking
We determined to do a joint trike-ride today but by the time we got everything down to the pavement of Frost Road (our mile-long goat-path driveway cannot safely be traversed on the trike) it was getting dark, cloudy, and threatening.
So, we decided rather than do our 10-mile planned ride to the east (where the clouds seemed most threatening) we decided to just do the shorter but more intense ride up the long hill to the Post Office, where bicycles are expressly forbidden.
Bernalillo County surprised us by having weed-mowing operations going on today. Not only was our parking spot partially blocked by the mowing-machine's truck and trailer but the so called bike trail was covered by piles of cut weeds and seeds. We dared NOT to ride over this detritus as there are usually lots of thorns and other goathead style tyre-puncturers in such stuff. So we steered up onto the automobile-centric pavement and rode up there, which is a smoother ride anyway.
Nobody gave us any trouble today, except for the lookie-loos who slowed WAY down and followed us slowly, either trying to get a better look at us weirdos or takin pictures through the windows.
We also got some cute-doggie and wow-trike comments once we arrived at the Post Office.
Normally, from there we usually ride on up the last 3/8 mile to the Shell Station for a drink and/or treat, but with the ever darkening clouds gathering over us we decided to cut it short and beat feet back to the car in hopes of beating the seemingly-imminent rain.
Of course, when we got back to the car the sun promptly came out... which would have provided us at least another hour of riding time if we had the ability to tell what New Mexico weather is going to happen from moment to moment.
Ride Started: 10:39 AM Ride Ended: 11:30 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.2
Lowest Temp 67 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 3.59
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 6.8 MPH 28.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
38 minutes 31 minutes 6 minutes
We determined to do a joint trike-ride today but by the time we got everything down to the pavement of Frost Road (our mile-long goat-path driveway cannot safely be traversed on the trike) it was getting dark, cloudy, and threatening.
So, we decided rather than do our 10-mile planned ride to the east (where the clouds seemed most threatening) we decided to just do the shorter but more intense ride up the long hill to the Post Office, where bicycles are expressly forbidden.
Nobody gave us any trouble today, except for the lookie-loos who slowed WAY down and followed us slowly, either trying to get a better look at us weirdos or takin pictures through the windows.
We also got some cute-doggie and wow-trike comments once we arrived at the Post Office.
Normally, from there we usually ride on up the last 3/8 mile to the Shell Station for a drink and/or treat, but with the ever darkening clouds gathering over us we decided to cut it short and beat feet back to the car in hopes of beating the seemingly-imminent rain.
Of course, when we got back to the car the sun promptly came out... which would have provided us at least another hour of riding time if we had the ability to tell what New Mexico weather is going to happen from moment to moment.
Ride Started: 10:39 AM Ride Ended: 11:30 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.2
Lowest Temp 67 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 3.59
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 6.8 MPH 28.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
38 minutes 31 minutes 6 minutes
Monday, August 11, 2014
To Edgewood and Back, Hack
Today's As-Usual Partial Tracking
Today was The Day I was supposed to deliver our crippled RV to the shop for engine extraction and replacement.... I figured that would take up the morning and part of the afternoon, precluding a bike ride.
However, after calling the Repair Guy, he informed me he wanted it delivered later this afternoon instead of earlier and did not yet want the engine delivered. So I saddled up and went for a ride instead.
Wanting to get in at least a 20-miler I opted to ride to Edgewood since that is around 11 miles one-way, thus theoretically resulting in a 20+ miler if ridden out and back.
What a great day for it. Sunny and only mild breezes, which were running backwards from their normal direction.... east to west. Which today meant mild headwinds going eastbound and, if lucky, at least mild tailwinds for the westbound returning trip.
I suspected the winds would reverse course early in the afternoon, which they commonly do, giving rise to the infamous cycling gripe of dealing with headwinds coming and going; both directions.
This wonderful day, however, the temperatures never seemed to get overly high and the breezes continued their westerly blowing. So I got at least a mild boost from the wind at my back on my WAY back.
I encountered a few attitudinally-challenged drivers today, which lately has been a bit unusual. I was passed by a large pickup pulling a large flatbed trailer on Dinkle Road just before I got to Edgewood village proper. Dinkle is a 2-lane road with no shoulder but normally has courteous drivers obviously used to seeing the occasional cyclist, and at any rate the traffic has never been crowded. Today, however, as the courteous gentleman in the truck/trailer combo passed me, he pulled way over into the oncoming lane to give me plenty of clearance. An oncoming car topped a small hill in front of us and pulled off the pavement a bit to allow the truck room to navigate back to his legal lane. As the small red car passed me - right after allowing the truck safe passage - he screamed "GET OFF THE ROAD!" out his window. I confess I responded with an Un-Christian retort but I refuse to confess exactly what the precise wording was.
I was shortly thereafterward passed much too closely by some folks who were much too important to slow down and allow the legally mandated 3 or 5 feet of clearance passing a cyclist, while traversing the horrible intersection of State Road 344 as it goes under I-40 at Edgewood. The mandated amount of clearance varies from county to county and different village boundaries but nowhere is it legal to crowd a cyclist by a foot or so.
What goes around comes around, so I suppose if I'd responded to the screamer with a "God Bless You, Dear Soul", instead of my impertinent epithet, perhaps I would have gotten better treatment from subsequent passing motorists. Oh Well. Maybe Next Time
As I passed Rich Ford's car lot in Edgewood I noticed a large shade tent, obviously implanted for the purpose of sheltering display cars, but presently unoccupied. So I wheeled in and parked the bike in the blessed shade and took a water and snack and blood test break. I was thinking about enquiring inside if I could use their bathroom when I noticed a string of porta-potties next to their line of new cars not 50 feet away. So I allowed myself to use these facilities instead.
I noticed I could see the Subway Sandwich Shoppe sign from the Rich Ford parking lot so I rode that short distance for a nice sandwich and soda.
The ride back west on Olde Route 66 was unremarkable, except that not only was it pleasant, but the couple of miles of no shoulder were accomplished without the presence of any dinosaur-powered cars whatsoever with which to crowd my passage.
I finally arrived back home with barely enough time to fire up the RV, empty some valuable junk out of it for its visit to the hospital, and
get it over to the repair shop with a few minutes to spare before they locked the place up for the night. Jacque had been sewing with her buddies north of Edgewood all day, so she just hung around the Smith's Grocery a short while until I called so she could come pick me up and drive me home the same route I'd ridden 30 minutes before on my bike. FUNSTUFF
Ride Started: 11:20 AM Ride Ended: 4:01 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 25.65
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.6 MPH 9.3 MPH 36.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 hours 53 mins 2 hours 45 mins 1 hour 8 minutes
Today was The Day I was supposed to deliver our crippled RV to the shop for engine extraction and replacement.... I figured that would take up the morning and part of the afternoon, precluding a bike ride.
However, after calling the Repair Guy, he informed me he wanted it delivered later this afternoon instead of earlier and did not yet want the engine delivered. So I saddled up and went for a ride instead.
Wanting to get in at least a 20-miler I opted to ride to Edgewood since that is around 11 miles one-way, thus theoretically resulting in a 20+ miler if ridden out and back.
What a great day for it. Sunny and only mild breezes, which were running backwards from their normal direction.... east to west. Which today meant mild headwinds going eastbound and, if lucky, at least mild tailwinds for the westbound returning trip.
I suspected the winds would reverse course early in the afternoon, which they commonly do, giving rise to the infamous cycling gripe of dealing with headwinds coming and going; both directions.
This wonderful day, however, the temperatures never seemed to get overly high and the breezes continued their westerly blowing. So I got at least a mild boost from the wind at my back on my WAY back.
I encountered a few attitudinally-challenged drivers today, which lately has been a bit unusual. I was passed by a large pickup pulling a large flatbed trailer on Dinkle Road just before I got to Edgewood village proper. Dinkle is a 2-lane road with no shoulder but normally has courteous drivers obviously used to seeing the occasional cyclist, and at any rate the traffic has never been crowded. Today, however, as the courteous gentleman in the truck/trailer combo passed me, he pulled way over into the oncoming lane to give me plenty of clearance. An oncoming car topped a small hill in front of us and pulled off the pavement a bit to allow the truck room to navigate back to his legal lane. As the small red car passed me - right after allowing the truck safe passage - he screamed "GET OFF THE ROAD!" out his window. I confess I responded with an Un-Christian retort but I refuse to confess exactly what the precise wording was.
I was shortly thereafterward passed much too closely by some folks who were much too important to slow down and allow the legally mandated 3 or 5 feet of clearance passing a cyclist, while traversing the horrible intersection of State Road 344 as it goes under I-40 at Edgewood. The mandated amount of clearance varies from county to county and different village boundaries but nowhere is it legal to crowd a cyclist by a foot or so.
What goes around comes around, so I suppose if I'd responded to the screamer with a "God Bless You, Dear Soul", instead of my impertinent epithet, perhaps I would have gotten better treatment from subsequent passing motorists. Oh Well. Maybe Next Time
As I passed Rich Ford's car lot in Edgewood I noticed a large shade tent, obviously implanted for the purpose of sheltering display cars, but presently unoccupied. So I wheeled in and parked the bike in the blessed shade and took a water and snack and blood test break. I was thinking about enquiring inside if I could use their bathroom when I noticed a string of porta-potties next to their line of new cars not 50 feet away. So I allowed myself to use these facilities instead.
I noticed I could see the Subway Sandwich Shoppe sign from the Rich Ford parking lot so I rode that short distance for a nice sandwich and soda.
The ride back west on Olde Route 66 was unremarkable, except that not only was it pleasant, but the couple of miles of no shoulder were accomplished without the presence of any dinosaur-powered cars whatsoever with which to crowd my passage.
 |
| Grrr, No Shoulders on Popular Bike Route |
I finally arrived back home with barely enough time to fire up the RV, empty some valuable junk out of it for its visit to the hospital, and
get it over to the repair shop with a few minutes to spare before they locked the place up for the night. Jacque had been sewing with her buddies north of Edgewood all day, so she just hung around the Smith's Grocery a short while until I called so she could come pick me up and drive me home the same route I'd ridden 30 minutes before on my bike. FUNSTUFF
Ride Started: 11:20 AM Ride Ended: 4:01 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 25.65
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.6 MPH 9.3 MPH 36.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 hours 53 mins 2 hours 45 mins 1 hour 8 minutes
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Beasts and the Beauty
Tracking With Usual Gaps In ABQ and Tijeras Canyon
I had a Doctor's Appointment in Albuquerque today so I thought I'd be brave and ride all the way there and back on the bike.
I've ridden the same route, a bit farther north, to work, back when I was gainfully employed, but have previously always scheduled Rescue Lady (Jacque) to come pick me and the bike up for the return trip. Several years ago I made 48 miles with a trip into Albuquerque and back but gave out on the return trip in Tijeras and called for the rescue operation. I would have done the same today but Jacque was not available so I rode the entire distance and finally cracked one of my long term goals: 50 miles in one day.
Since I was smoking downhill toward Tijeras on North-14 and my daughter Sarah works at a thriving business right on that roadway, I stopped and said "HI!" and refilled my newly-emptied water bottle from their cool fountain.
ATTENTION Tijeras Canyon and North-14 cyclists: There is a PUBLICLY available Porta-Potty located in the Exerplay parking lot about half a mile north of I-40 just south of the Chevron service station, on the west side of the road. And, unlike most such public potties, this one is spotlessly clean..... A word to the wise.
On the way westbound across Albuquerque following my old dedicated bike paths, I saw some weird obstructions in the shade of a few tall trees overhanging the path. It was two lumps of something, and as I approached closer, it turned out to be two teens with backpacks and assorted homeless-looking stuff just lying across the path sleeping. I pulled up next to them carefully to avoid hitting them and asked aloud: "I take it you two are Okay?" Their response was a bit less than friendly so I rode on and ignored their invective. Who am I to interrupt someone's nap in the middle of the bike path in the middle of the afternoon?
On the way home I was riding the same trail eastbound when I noticed a high speed rider coming up behind me hard and fast. She turned out to be a she, and she called out as she passed, "On your Left!" and as she smoked past me I was shocked at how great looking her profile was. I'll put it this way: She looked almost as great as Jacque does riding a bike.
I made the trip TO town in about the time expected: 2 1/2 hours almost on the button.
I found a low but shady tree just in front of the office and chained the bike to it and changed into a dry shirt (which I promptly stunk up).
I had projected the return trip to take 3 hours due to the fact that crossing Albuquerque west to east is slightly uphill and coming the same direction through Tijeras Canyon is a LOT more uphill than the other direction. I overestimated my capabilities, of course. I departed the Doctor's Office about 10 minutes after 3 PM and arrived home about 7:48 PM. That included a LONG Soda and Shade Break at the Phillips 66 station in Cedar Crest on the way up North-14.
I was so heated up it hurt my head immediately trying to drink the cold soda, so I had to sip it carefully just a little at a time until I could cool down. After at least 30 minutes of recovery I re-saddled up and made the last 4 miles to the house.
Popped some painkillers in anticipation of sore muscles tonight while sleeping..... Sigh
Ride Started: 10:57 AM Ride Ended: 7:48 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 98 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 52.55
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.5 MPH 9.1 MPH 34.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
6 hours 57 mins 5 hours 47 mins 1 hour 9 minutes
I had a Doctor's Appointment in Albuquerque today so I thought I'd be brave and ride all the way there and back on the bike.
I've ridden the same route, a bit farther north, to work, back when I was gainfully employed, but have previously always scheduled Rescue Lady (Jacque) to come pick me and the bike up for the return trip. Several years ago I made 48 miles with a trip into Albuquerque and back but gave out on the return trip in Tijeras and called for the rescue operation. I would have done the same today but Jacque was not available so I rode the entire distance and finally cracked one of my long term goals: 50 miles in one day.
Since I was smoking downhill toward Tijeras on North-14 and my daughter Sarah works at a thriving business right on that roadway, I stopped and said "HI!" and refilled my newly-emptied water bottle from their cool fountain.
ATTENTION Tijeras Canyon and North-14 cyclists: There is a PUBLICLY available Porta-Potty located in the Exerplay parking lot about half a mile north of I-40 just south of the Chevron service station, on the west side of the road. And, unlike most such public potties, this one is spotlessly clean..... A word to the wise.
On the way westbound across Albuquerque following my old dedicated bike paths, I saw some weird obstructions in the shade of a few tall trees overhanging the path. It was two lumps of something, and as I approached closer, it turned out to be two teens with backpacks and assorted homeless-looking stuff just lying across the path sleeping. I pulled up next to them carefully to avoid hitting them and asked aloud: "I take it you two are Okay?" Their response was a bit less than friendly so I rode on and ignored their invective. Who am I to interrupt someone's nap in the middle of the bike path in the middle of the afternoon?
On the way home I was riding the same trail eastbound when I noticed a high speed rider coming up behind me hard and fast. She turned out to be a she, and she called out as she passed, "On your Left!" and as she smoked past me I was shocked at how great looking her profile was. I'll put it this way: She looked almost as great as Jacque does riding a bike.
I made the trip TO town in about the time expected: 2 1/2 hours almost on the button.
I found a low but shady tree just in front of the office and chained the bike to it and changed into a dry shirt (which I promptly stunk up).
I was so heated up it hurt my head immediately trying to drink the cold soda, so I had to sip it carefully just a little at a time until I could cool down. After at least 30 minutes of recovery I re-saddled up and made the last 4 miles to the house.
Popped some painkillers in anticipation of sore muscles tonight while sleeping..... Sigh
Ride Started: 10:57 AM Ride Ended: 7:48 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6 Ending Voltage: 13.0
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 98 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 52.55
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.5 MPH 9.1 MPH 34.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
6 hours 57 mins 5 hours 47 mins 1 hour 9 minutes
Monday, August 4, 2014
Murky Monday Misfit
Today's Half-Pathed Tracking
Our Monsoon Season this year seems to be much wetter than usual. It has rained almost every day or night for the last 2 weeks and as mentioned before, the weeds are almost treetop high.
We awoke today, Monday morning, to a heavy drizzle that reverberated on our metal roof for most of the morning. It looked like there was no way for anyone to get out on a bike without getting a good soaking. THEN ~ about 10 AM ~ it suddenly cleared off and everything was sunny and blue sky outside. I was just about to saddle up and ride away on the bike when the phone rang and it was someone wanting to come look at some ham radio gear I have for sale. Could he show up a little after 11? Sure, I says. So I postponed any riding until he showed up and left..... and I quickly hopped on the bike and went bouncing down our goat-path gravel, rock, and rut road when it suddenly got VERY dark and threatening with big black hammerhead clouds overhead. I rode another hundred yards or so, trying to work up my courage, but decided it was just going to soak me, so I turned around and rode back to the house, for maybe my shortest ride ever at .987 miles. Just about the time I got everything dismounted and put away, I noticed it was sunny and beautiful again. I looked at KOB's Weather Channel and it showed very light and spotty clouds in the area, but the stuff was moving fast and changing rapidly. I almost tried again a couple times, but each time I walked outside it looked threatening again. Finally about noonish I decided to chance it and take the dern bike ride, and it worked out OK even though the clouds continued to blow in, look threatening, and fade away again as the sun intermittently peeked through. Several times I thought I was going to get soaked, but it never happened, and the clouds just made for a cooler non-sun-baking ride.
I took a slightly longer detour around the I-40 / Route 66 area between Edgewood and Tijeras today, hoping to find a 20-something mile loop. It was a bit longer than the other shorter loop I've been riding but still came out to only about 17 miles, which was close enough since the storm clouds were looming again directly ahead of me....
I felt a few faint sprinkles on my arms as I got closer to home but no real rain until about an hour after safe arrival.
Ride Started: 12:12 PM Ride Ended: 4:12 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.22
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.2 MPH 8.7 MPH 31.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 23 mins 1 hour 58 mins 24 minutes
Our Monsoon Season this year seems to be much wetter than usual. It has rained almost every day or night for the last 2 weeks and as mentioned before, the weeds are almost treetop high.
We awoke today, Monday morning, to a heavy drizzle that reverberated on our metal roof for most of the morning. It looked like there was no way for anyone to get out on a bike without getting a good soaking. THEN ~ about 10 AM ~ it suddenly cleared off and everything was sunny and blue sky outside. I was just about to saddle up and ride away on the bike when the phone rang and it was someone wanting to come look at some ham radio gear I have for sale. Could he show up a little after 11? Sure, I says. So I postponed any riding until he showed up and left..... and I quickly hopped on the bike and went bouncing down our goat-path gravel, rock, and rut road when it suddenly got VERY dark and threatening with big black hammerhead clouds overhead. I rode another hundred yards or so, trying to work up my courage, but decided it was just going to soak me, so I turned around and rode back to the house, for maybe my shortest ride ever at .987 miles. Just about the time I got everything dismounted and put away, I noticed it was sunny and beautiful again. I looked at KOB's Weather Channel and it showed very light and spotty clouds in the area, but the stuff was moving fast and changing rapidly. I almost tried again a couple times, but each time I walked outside it looked threatening again. Finally about noonish I decided to chance it and take the dern bike ride, and it worked out OK even though the clouds continued to blow in, look threatening, and fade away again as the sun intermittently peeked through. Several times I thought I was going to get soaked, but it never happened, and the clouds just made for a cooler non-sun-baking ride.
I took a slightly longer detour around the I-40 / Route 66 area between Edgewood and Tijeras today, hoping to find a 20-something mile loop. It was a bit longer than the other shorter loop I've been riding but still came out to only about 17 miles, which was close enough since the storm clouds were looming again directly ahead of me....
Ride Started: 12:12 PM Ride Ended: 4:12 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7 Ending Voltage: 13.1
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.22
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.2 MPH 8.7 MPH 31.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 23 mins 1 hour 58 mins 24 minutes
Friday, August 1, 2014
Back on Burque Bosque
Today's Track Out and Back
We've not ridden Albuquerque's Famous Bosque Trail for some time now, and it's murder trying to pull these hills close to home on the Tandem Terratrike . So we saddled up and burned some expensive gas to ride an almost-level path with no auto interactions to worry about.
And what a beautiful day it was for a ride. We had barely started north from the Albuquerque Bio Park when we encountered the intersection labeled "Bicycle Boulevard" or Mountain Road. This intersection, interestingly enough, takes you directly to Old Town Plaza ... which has food, shade, and ice cream.... don't even IMAGINE we didn't take this 'exit' and enjoy a wonderful break even if we hadn't yet gone 3 miles.
Of course the doggies, Tinkerbell and Jazzy, had to endure the endless exclamations of admiration from young and old alike, and put up with unending requests for petting them and talking baby talk to them, which of course they hate :O).
When we finally got rolling again it was even warmer, but we were blessed with at least mild cooling breezes most of the way. We merely rode north to Paseo Del Norte, with several water and rest breaks, and back again, but this is indeed a very nice path. Albuquerque seems to do a pretty good job of maintaining this pathway, especially compared to what Bernalillo County does out closer to home in the East Mountains. We have a fairly new bike path from North-14 to Camino Alto running parallel to Frost Road that has been commissioned maybe 3 years now and the sides of the path are overrun with weeds as tall as 4 feet and higher, and the paved surface is very thin and the weeds are rapidly popping directly through the asphalt and crumbling it. Another year without major repairs or repaving and it will not be ride-able at all. Already, most cyclists choose to ride up on the automobile roadway instead of the bike path because of it's disrepair.
Again, we had hoped for a 20-miler today but decided to turn around a bit earlier due to storm clouds menacing the horizon, as well as the heat and humidity getting to us.
Ride Started: 12:20 PM Ride Ended: 4:07 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.4 Ending Voltage: 12.9
Lowest Temp 80 F Highest Temp: 86 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.72
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
4.9 MPH 8.4 MPH 19.6 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 hours 35 mins 2 hours 7 mins 1 hour 27 minutes
We've not ridden Albuquerque's Famous Bosque Trail for some time now, and it's murder trying to pull these hills close to home on the Tandem Terratrike . So we saddled up and burned some expensive gas to ride an almost-level path with no auto interactions to worry about.
And what a beautiful day it was for a ride. We had barely started north from the Albuquerque Bio Park when we encountered the intersection labeled "Bicycle Boulevard" or Mountain Road. This intersection, interestingly enough, takes you directly to Old Town Plaza ... which has food, shade, and ice cream.... don't even IMAGINE we didn't take this 'exit' and enjoy a wonderful break even if we hadn't yet gone 3 miles.
Of course the doggies, Tinkerbell and Jazzy, had to endure the endless exclamations of admiration from young and old alike, and put up with unending requests for petting them and talking baby talk to them, which of course they hate :O).
When we finally got rolling again it was even warmer, but we were blessed with at least mild cooling breezes most of the way. We merely rode north to Paseo Del Norte, with several water and rest breaks, and back again, but this is indeed a very nice path. Albuquerque seems to do a pretty good job of maintaining this pathway, especially compared to what Bernalillo County does out closer to home in the East Mountains. We have a fairly new bike path from North-14 to Camino Alto running parallel to Frost Road that has been commissioned maybe 3 years now and the sides of the path are overrun with weeds as tall as 4 feet and higher, and the paved surface is very thin and the weeds are rapidly popping directly through the asphalt and crumbling it. Another year without major repairs or repaving and it will not be ride-able at all. Already, most cyclists choose to ride up on the automobile roadway instead of the bike path because of it's disrepair.
Again, we had hoped for a 20-miler today but decided to turn around a bit earlier due to storm clouds menacing the horizon, as well as the heat and humidity getting to us.
Ride Started: 12:20 PM Ride Ended: 4:07 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.4 Ending Voltage: 12.9
Lowest Temp 80 F Highest Temp: 86 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.72
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
4.9 MPH 8.4 MPH 19.6 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 hours 35 mins 2 hours 7 mins 1 hour 27 minutes
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