Limited Tracking Coverage in the East Mountains
I got a call from our local UPS drop-point (One Stop Office in Tijeras) that I had a parcel to pick up.
Since I've been looking for excuses and time to start doing longer rides again I decided to bike the 10 miles to the business and back again.
What a beautiful day for it. The wind was gusting a bit but it only served to help cool me off from the wonderfully warm weather.
On the last ride, I made the mistake of riding naked (no sun block anywhere) and at first when I got home I thought I'd gotten away with it, until I noticed my arms turning lobster-red. A few layers of Aloe Vera Gel helped ease the pain. So, today, I lathered on the sunblock, and stopped about halfway to Tijeras to add some to the exposed "V" of my neck under my shirt.
What a wonderful feeling, cruising around under one's own power. I first rode down N-14 to Tijeras, occasionally having to pedal against the wind even going downhill, which is underwhelming in the enjoyment department. After picking up the small package at One Stop, I decided to take the long way home and ride east on Old Route 66 again to Sedillo Hill and thence up and around and across the I-40 overpass at Sedillo Hill and back north to Frost Road and then west again back home. I considered a really longer ride out to Edgewood or even Moriarty but the wind discouraged me - it's always seemings very strong in your face when you're trying to get westbound and home.
When I got back to the point of turning off the pavement onto our bumpy mile of dirt road, I realized I had earlier ridden right by the Post Office and that now, hours later, Jacque probably had not yet picked up the mail either. A quick cellphone call confirmed this, so I rode back to the PO and picked up the mail, adding about 5 more miles to the trip.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.8 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 66 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 73 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 27.22
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
06.5 MPH 08.4 MPH 33.4 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
4 hours 12 mins 3 hours 14 mins 58 mins 14 secs
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May Day, Short Ride, Beautimous Weather
East Mountain Tracking Needs Some Help
Today was my first bike ride since returning home from the round-the-midwest RV trip of the last 3 weeks. I had hoped to do at least a short ride yesterday, Monday, but ran out of time. All my retired friends have turned out to be all too correct when they warned me that I would find it even harder to find spare time after retirement than when I had a full time job. It doesn't make sense, but it's all too true.
Anyway, I initially thought to ride all the way to Albuquerque and back, close to a 40-miler all told, since I was supposed to meet Jacque at Two Wheel Drive so she could test drive a Catrike. She has taken a couple falls off her 2-wheel recumbent and is thirsting for a more stable trike instead.
Her recumbent lost its derailleur hanger in Illinois and I just got it repaired with parts off one of our "yard decoration" donor bikes yesterday evening.
Short Story Long, I left home too late this morning and only got a few miles down N-14 before she called on the cell phone and reminded me she had a hair appointment and - at my current location and speed - I wasn't going to make it in time for our rendezvous. So, being wimpy from lack of recent riding, I turned around and came home instead. Climbed "Marco Polo Hill" twice withing the space of about 20 minutes. Fortunately it's an easier climb going north (Home) than south, even though it looks scarier until you've ridden both directions.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 66 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 73 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.95
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
05.5 MPH 07.7 MPH 32.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 0 mins 1 hour 25 mins 34 mins 20 secs
Today was my first bike ride since returning home from the round-the-midwest RV trip of the last 3 weeks. I had hoped to do at least a short ride yesterday, Monday, but ran out of time. All my retired friends have turned out to be all too correct when they warned me that I would find it even harder to find spare time after retirement than when I had a full time job. It doesn't make sense, but it's all too true.
Anyway, I initially thought to ride all the way to Albuquerque and back, close to a 40-miler all told, since I was supposed to meet Jacque at Two Wheel Drive so she could test drive a Catrike. She has taken a couple falls off her 2-wheel recumbent and is thirsting for a more stable trike instead.
Her recumbent lost its derailleur hanger in Illinois and I just got it repaired with parts off one of our "yard decoration" donor bikes yesterday evening.
Short Story Long, I left home too late this morning and only got a few miles down N-14 before she called on the cell phone and reminded me she had a hair appointment and - at my current location and speed - I wasn't going to make it in time for our rendezvous. So, being wimpy from lack of recent riding, I turned around and came home instead. Climbed "Marco Polo Hill" twice withing the space of about 20 minutes. Fortunately it's an easier climb going north (Home) than south, even though it looks scarier until you've ridden both directions.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 66 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 73 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.95
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
05.5 MPH 07.7 MPH 32.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 0 mins 1 hour 25 mins 34 mins 20 secs
Friday, April 27, 2012
Windy Day in Guymon OK, so I rode the bike...
Guymon has GREAT APRS Tracking Coverage
We left Greensburg, KS, about 8 or so this (Friday) morning for what we thought would be the final leg home. Unfortunately, the wind was bad when we pulled out and got steadily worse as we headed southwest on US 54 toward Tucumcari. Just a few miles before we got to Guymon, we heard a loud thump and a nasty rattle and banging outside as we rolled. We pulled over at a very lumpy but slightly off-the-road shoulder and found the roll-up awning pulled out partly from its so-called protective shell.
At great risk, I climbed the roof ladder gingerly and low-crawled across the RV roof and used rope and bungee cords to try to secure the awry awning. Then we decided to find the closest RV park and stop for the rest of the day. Jacque's atlas showed one on the south end of Guymon which we found without trouble and pulled in and hooked up. It was only about 1:30 PM by this time but it was so nice to be done with the stress (at least temporarily) that we both sagged out and took naps with the air conditioner humming steadily. I awoke after an hour or so and decided to saddle up and take the bike for a ride.
This RV park we're in is the outer parking lot of an old drive-in movie theater that still operates, though not yet open for the summer. I rode the outer perimeter's gravel road and found it intersected with a relatively empty back road that, although cliche and gravel with no pavement, was a great ride for the bike. I rode around and got on US 136 leading back into Guymon and stopped at Centennial Park and looked around the old rail car, Masonic displays, farm implements, and oil pump-jack there, while I snacked on an oatmeal chocolate-chip bar. Jacque called on the cell phone and announced she was now awake so I rode back to the RV to see if we wanted to hit the road again or stay the night.
Since it was now past 5:30 PM we decided to stay put for the night and go on home tomorrow. Albuquerque and eastern central NM has had terrible winds the last couple of days so hopefully tomorrow, Saturday, will be calm enough for a safe final run for home.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 73 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 77 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 6.78
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
06.0 MPH 09.8 MPH 16.7 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hours 9 mins 41 mins 37 secs 28 mins 46 secs
We left Greensburg, KS, about 8 or so this (Friday) morning for what we thought would be the final leg home. Unfortunately, the wind was bad when we pulled out and got steadily worse as we headed southwest on US 54 toward Tucumcari. Just a few miles before we got to Guymon, we heard a loud thump and a nasty rattle and banging outside as we rolled. We pulled over at a very lumpy but slightly off-the-road shoulder and found the roll-up awning pulled out partly from its so-called protective shell.
At great risk, I climbed the roof ladder gingerly and low-crawled across the RV roof and used rope and bungee cords to try to secure the awry awning. Then we decided to find the closest RV park and stop for the rest of the day. Jacque's atlas showed one on the south end of Guymon which we found without trouble and pulled in and hooked up. It was only about 1:30 PM by this time but it was so nice to be done with the stress (at least temporarily) that we both sagged out and took naps with the air conditioner humming steadily. I awoke after an hour or so and decided to saddle up and take the bike for a ride.
This RV park we're in is the outer parking lot of an old drive-in movie theater that still operates, though not yet open for the summer. I rode the outer perimeter's gravel road and found it intersected with a relatively empty back road that, although cliche and gravel with no pavement, was a great ride for the bike. I rode around and got on US 136 leading back into Guymon and stopped at Centennial Park and looked around the old rail car, Masonic displays, farm implements, and oil pump-jack there, while I snacked on an oatmeal chocolate-chip bar. Jacque called on the cell phone and announced she was now awake so I rode back to the RV to see if we wanted to hit the road again or stay the night.
Since it was now past 5:30 PM we decided to stay put for the night and go on home tomorrow. Albuquerque and eastern central NM has had terrible winds the last couple of days so hopefully tomorrow, Saturday, will be calm enough for a safe final run for home.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 73 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 77 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 6.78
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
06.0 MPH 09.8 MPH 16.7 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hours 9 mins 41 mins 37 secs 28 mins 46 secs
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday Danville Ride Across the Lake
Great APRS Tracking in Danville Illinois
I got no miles on the bike yesterday since it was raining and cold all day long.
Today, however, awoke bright with clear skies though very cool temperature-wise.
I was looking for an excuse to ride the bike somewhere today and decided I'd find the local bike shop and ride over there to see if they could sell me a new or good/used derailleur gearset. I set the bike GPS to the shop's address and took off. It wasn't that far away and the ride was uneventful. I did notice the street the bike shop is on is also sort of "on the other side of the tracks" if you get my drift.
The bike shop was still open for late saturday afternoon, had a small crowd of customers, and seemed well stocked with attractive bikes and parts. I looked around a bit to see if any derailleurs might be on display and couldn't see any. One of the shop personnel approached me and looked at my broken sample and sounded immediately doubtful. He kept wanting to know what "brand" of bike it was from and I had to tell him more than once that it was a homemade bike, supposedly with Wal-Mart cheapie bikes as structural donors. When he finally went to his parts cabinet to see if he had anything that would work, the first one he pulled looked like the perfect replacement, and the price was right: A nickel shy of 30 dollars. Trouble is, the sales guy kept trying to tell me he wasn't sure it would work, that the bent hanger bracket I had with me needed to be repaired or replaced, etc, etc. I assured him I was capable of using my own vise and tools for the repair but he kept reiterating he wasn't sure I could do it. I really don't care how sure he is of my possibilities toward successful repair of the bike, but he finally talked me out of it. I have several at home, all of which should work, and we will be returning home Monday anyway, only 2 days hence. So I rode back disappointed and he had talked a customer out of a $30 sale. [Sigh] Oh Well.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 55 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 59 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 8.66
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
07.3 Mph 09.2 mph 29.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hours 11 mins 56 mins 43 secs 15 mins 46 secs
I got no miles on the bike yesterday since it was raining and cold all day long.
Today, however, awoke bright with clear skies though very cool temperature-wise.
I was looking for an excuse to ride the bike somewhere today and decided I'd find the local bike shop and ride over there to see if they could sell me a new or good/used derailleur gearset. I set the bike GPS to the shop's address and took off. It wasn't that far away and the ride was uneventful. I did notice the street the bike shop is on is also sort of "on the other side of the tracks" if you get my drift.
The bike shop was still open for late saturday afternoon, had a small crowd of customers, and seemed well stocked with attractive bikes and parts. I looked around a bit to see if any derailleurs might be on display and couldn't see any. One of the shop personnel approached me and looked at my broken sample and sounded immediately doubtful. He kept wanting to know what "brand" of bike it was from and I had to tell him more than once that it was a homemade bike, supposedly with Wal-Mart cheapie bikes as structural donors. When he finally went to his parts cabinet to see if he had anything that would work, the first one he pulled looked like the perfect replacement, and the price was right: A nickel shy of 30 dollars. Trouble is, the sales guy kept trying to tell me he wasn't sure it would work, that the bent hanger bracket I had with me needed to be repaired or replaced, etc, etc. I assured him I was capable of using my own vise and tools for the repair but he kept reiterating he wasn't sure I could do it. I really don't care how sure he is of my possibilities toward successful repair of the bike, but he finally talked me out of it. I have several at home, all of which should work, and we will be returning home Monday anyway, only 2 days hence. So I rode back disappointed and he had talked a customer out of a $30 sale. [Sigh] Oh Well.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 55 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 59 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 8.66
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
07.3 Mph 09.2 mph 29.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hours 11 mins 56 mins 43 secs 15 mins 46 secs
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday Bike Cruise in Danville
Danville had a GREAT tracking digipeater
Yesterday, Thursday, we arrived finally at Jacque's folks in Danville, Illinois. Beautiful town and beautiful weather so we promptly decided on a bike ride on into town. I needed a haircut, or a shaggy pet license, one or the other, so we got directions from the folks to Dad's barber on Vermilion Street. I put what address I had (just Vermilion st.) in the bike GPS and it took us to within a block of the place, down in the middle of town close to the railroad tracks, and we basically rode right up to the place where I got a respectable old time haircut. Then we rode back east on Vermilion toward where we remembered K Mart was. As we went a couple miles and approached K Mart, at the last intersection suddenly Jacque just stopped and dismounted and started pushing her bike. I rode ahead and exited the street and walked back to her, where we discovered her derailleur had not only "De-Railed" but separated, tangled the chain, and bent itself back into the rear sprocket and spokes, effectively jamming the wheel so that it could not turn an inch. We were next to a Dairy Queen with trees, shade, grass, and chocolate dipped ice cream cones, so we weren't suffering too much. After we ate our cones it was mutually decided Jacque and Tinkerbell would wait in the grass in the shade and I would ride back to Dad's place for a gasoline powered rescue mission. We only put a couple noticeable scratches on Dad's shiny new Ford Taurus as we stuffed her bike into the surprisingly large trunk with the rear seats folded down for additional cargo room.
I'm going to look it over to see if I can find a local shoppe with an affordable replacement derailleur but most likely we'll have to wait until we get back home to NM where I have several "parts bikes" with possible replacement assemblies with the right price: Already paid for.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 69.8 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 77 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.05
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
04.8 Mph 08.0 mph 31.2 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hours 52 mins 1 hour 7 mins 44 mins 46 secs
Yesterday, Thursday, we arrived finally at Jacque's folks in Danville, Illinois. Beautiful town and beautiful weather so we promptly decided on a bike ride on into town. I needed a haircut, or a shaggy pet license, one or the other, so we got directions from the folks to Dad's barber on Vermilion Street. I put what address I had (just Vermilion st.) in the bike GPS and it took us to within a block of the place, down in the middle of town close to the railroad tracks, and we basically rode right up to the place where I got a respectable old time haircut. Then we rode back east on Vermilion toward where we remembered K Mart was. As we went a couple miles and approached K Mart, at the last intersection suddenly Jacque just stopped and dismounted and started pushing her bike. I rode ahead and exited the street and walked back to her, where we discovered her derailleur had not only "De-Railed" but separated, tangled the chain, and bent itself back into the rear sprocket and spokes, effectively jamming the wheel so that it could not turn an inch. We were next to a Dairy Queen with trees, shade, grass, and chocolate dipped ice cream cones, so we weren't suffering too much. After we ate our cones it was mutually decided Jacque and Tinkerbell would wait in the grass in the shade and I would ride back to Dad's place for a gasoline powered rescue mission. We only put a couple noticeable scratches on Dad's shiny new Ford Taurus as we stuffed her bike into the surprisingly large trunk with the rear seats folded down for additional cargo room.
I'm going to look it over to see if I can find a local shoppe with an affordable replacement derailleur but most likely we'll have to wait until we get back home to NM where I have several "parts bikes" with possible replacement assemblies with the right price: Already paid for.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Ride's Lowest Temperature: 69.8 degrees F -- Highest Temperature: 77 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.05
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
04.8 Mph 08.0 mph 31.2 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hours 52 mins 1 hour 7 mins 44 mins 46 secs
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Cruising Far From Home
We decided to get one of the kids to house-sit for us and have taken off, spending their inheritances.
First off to OKC to spend a few hours 2 days in a row with Sherry and Ben. We stayed at a very lovely spot at Arcadia Lake State Park (City of Edmond, OK). Then we departed farther south and east to Ava, MO, where our beloved cousins Jerry and Sally Anderson currently reside. We stayed for 3 days at the MFTBA (Missouri Fox Trot Breeders Association) RV park, which was great due to the isolation and quiet since it was 3 miles outside Ava and only one other RV in the ~100 place park. Then we dry-camped right next to the Anderson RV for 2 more nights. While there, I rode into Ava from the MFTBA camp twice and got lost our last day riding around looking for a barber to cut my shaggy locks. That trip only lasted about 4 miles, but at these lower altitudes the oxygen level helps a lot cruising around on the bike. The only unfortunate thing about riding around the lovely burg of Ava is the almost total lack of ham radio digipeater coverage, resulting in no APRS tracking coverage.
Tonight we stopped at Lakeside RV park in Effingham IL.
First off to OKC to spend a few hours 2 days in a row with Sherry and Ben. We stayed at a very lovely spot at Arcadia Lake State Park (City of Edmond, OK). Then we departed farther south and east to Ava, MO, where our beloved cousins Jerry and Sally Anderson currently reside. We stayed for 3 days at the MFTBA (Missouri Fox Trot Breeders Association) RV park, which was great due to the isolation and quiet since it was 3 miles outside Ava and only one other RV in the ~100 place park. Then we dry-camped right next to the Anderson RV for 2 more nights. While there, I rode into Ava from the MFTBA camp twice and got lost our last day riding around looking for a barber to cut my shaggy locks. That trip only lasted about 4 miles, but at these lower altitudes the oxygen level helps a lot cruising around on the bike. The only unfortunate thing about riding around the lovely burg of Ava is the almost total lack of ham radio digipeater coverage, resulting in no APRS tracking coverage.
Tonight we stopped at Lakeside RV park in Effingham IL.
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