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Arizona Spring Training/TdNealSpringBreak
Last year nlerner wanted to come out to sunny, warm Oregon at the end of February; the school that he teaches at has an early spring break. Emails were sent out, and a gang of seven were organized for the Last Winter Tour of the Willamette Valley. -holiday76 almost made it out for that one. This year he definitely wanted in, Neal was pushing to get out of the cold of New England, Spaghetti Legs and northbend were recruited, all we needed was a location. I quickly nixed the idea of a redux, as the odds of having good weather for three days in a row in an Oregon winter was pushing it just a bit too far. The Bay Area was knocked about, Death Valley, finally Arizona came into focus. Matt (northbend) had been down to ride there more than a few times, and knew Tucsonite Scott Calhoun, who was quickly elected as a harbor pilot. Well, he knew where the good food and beer was, which was more important than any bike routes.
Work excuses were created, plane reservations made, and Neal planned out a Magic Bus Redux. Matt drove down from the state of Washington, Neal, Hugh, Brian (-holiday76) and I flew into PHX last Thursday, the RV was picked up, bikes, riders, and beer were stocked up, and awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we go... |
Our home for several days:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f7b59fb220.jpg 30 footer, sleeps 5 awkwardly. Hugh and Matt deep in thought: https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...400e339034.jpg Reassembling bikes https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cb68f28cc.jpg Matt's Holland, Neal's Black Diamond Typical late afternoon scene: https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c83f99c894.jpg buy local Enough of the sneak preview, more pix and posts of climbing Mt. Lemmon, climbing a steep gravel road and peering into Mexico, and of course the fabulous Bisbee Bicycle Brothel coming soon... |
Dang. Jealous already :(
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From spending time riding with Matt in Tucson and Paso Robles, I knew that northbend was great riding company (and a guy that I usually have to work to keep up with). What I didn't expect was to feel that same camaraderie right away with nlearner, Spaghitte Legs, -holiday76, and of course, gugie. Y'all are welcome back here any time--I'll do my best to wriggle out of work to ride with you. We did some great rides, but really only scratched the surface (that goes for tacos and breweries also). Since I'm new to BF, I can't post my photos. Maybe I'll just email them to gugie.
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That looks like fun. Adventure cyclist does a multi day tour starting in Tuscon that looks good.
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Spring break, dudes in an RV... nuff said. Lol
As for the BBB, Ken W. is quite an interesting, humorous fellow. Have a few little items from him and where he went into great detail, the story behind them, etc. . Have a safe trip! |
Originally Posted by Soup_Please
(Post 21351702)
From spending time riding with Matt in Tucson and Paso Robles, I knew that northbend was great riding company (and a guy that I usually have to work to keep up with). What I didn't expect was to feel that same camaraderie right away with nlearner, Spaghitte Legs, -holiday76, and of course, gugie. Y'all are welcome back here any time--I'll do my best to wriggle out of work to ride with you. We did some great rides, but really only scratched the surface (that goes for tacos and breweries also). Since I'm new to BF, I can't post my photos. Maybe I'll just email them to gugie.
Originally Posted by crank_addict
(Post 21351793)
Spring break, dudes in an RV... nuff said. Lol
As for the BBB, Ken W. is quite an interesting, humorous fellow. Have a few little items from him and where he went into great detail, the story behind them, etc. . Have a safe trip! |
A great time was had by all! A few pics from me while I wait for my flight at PHX:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...33d4d6037.jpeg Magic Bus at our campground in Old Tucson https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...74ef9a00c.jpeg Spaghetti_Legs conquers Gates Pass. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb12b74fe.jpeg Bisbee Bicycle Brothel! https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a3753bdaf.jpeg Heading up Mt. Lemmon https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...166da95d7.jpeg Beisbol! |
I flew home a day early, the rest of the boys stayed for a baseball game, so today's their travel day. I'll post a few more pix for filler.
Top of Montezuma Pass, just a couple miles on the US side of the border: https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75f37cd427.jpg The Motobacon performed quite well. MAFAC ceneterpulls, adjusted properly can actually keep you from flying off of the gravel hairpins you see in the background. Top of Gates Pass. Queue spaghetti western music. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ed862802fd.jpg Bisbee Bicycle Brothel swag https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...625715a0a3.jpg |
Sigh. So disappointed I didn't hear about this.
And I thought we were buds...:lurker:l |
Originally Posted by gugie
(Post 21351879)
I flew home a day early, the rest of the boys stayed for a baseball game, so today's their travel day. I'll post a few more pix for filler.
Top of Montezuma Pass, just a couple miles on the US side of the border: https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75f37cd427.jpg The Motobacon performed quite well. MAFAC ceneterpulls, adjusted properly can actually keep you from flying off of the gravel hairpins you see in the background. Top of Gates Pass. Queue spaghetti western music. Bisbee Bicycle Brothel swag |
Originally Posted by bikemig
(Post 21352337)
What kind of gearing were you running on the Motobecane? What kind of equipment? This is your GR, right?
Cranks are VO 50.4 BCD 46-30, 7 speed IRD 13-28, first gen Cyclone GT front and rear. It doesn't shift a well as I'd like, I think a stiffer chain would work better. Some experimenting to be done... |
Originally Posted by rccardr
(Post 21352333)
Sigh. So disappointed I didn't hear about this.
And I thought we were buds...:lurker:l |
Originally Posted by gugie
(Post 21352359)
It's a Le Champion. I purchased the frame at Eroica California last year, it has a 59cm TT. I haven't ridden anything that long in a few decades-I used to ride 59-60cm TT's with a 14cm TTT stem BITD, which was about 35 lbs ago. I used to be able to bend over more! I'm working my way back, slowly...
Cranks are VO 50.4 BCD 46-30, 7 speed IRD 13-28, first gen Cyclone GT front and rear. It doesn't shift a well as I'd like, I think a stiffer chain would work better. Some experimenting to be done... How do you like that IRD freewheel? I've heard so so things about them. Maybe the problem is the freewheel? Shimano makes a pretty decent 7 speed freewheel but I think it's only available in a 14-28. |
Originally Posted by bikemig
(Post 21352389)
I like the set up. I'm going to do something similar on a Libertas I'm planning on building.
How do you like that IRD freewheel? I've heard so so things about them. Maybe the problem is the freewheel? Shimano makes a pretty decent 7 speed freewheel but I think it's only available in a 14-28. |
Tucson is a great town! Thanks for the pics.
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Originally Posted by gugie
(Post 21352398)
Hard to say, but it's easier/cheaper to try a different chain. I spin out on the 13-28 with a 46t "big plate", going with a 14t would be going in the wrong direction.
That's why I like stronglight 99s as well. You can run a 48/32 and still still have a decent high gear with a 13 small. |
Originally Posted by bikemig
(Post 21352419)
Agreed. That's why I picked up 7 speed 12-28 recently so I can run it with a 46/30 IRD crank. The 46/30 make a lot of sense with new bikes because it's easy to find an 11 small but they're a bit tougher to set up with only 7 in the back since freewheels with a 12 small are hard to find.
That's why I like stronglight 99s as well. You can run a 48/32 and still still have a decent high gear with a 13 small. |
Originally Posted by gugie
(Post 21352435)
What brand 12-28 did you get? I blew up a DNP freewheel, lost confidence in that brand.
The alternative is to run a 86 bcd crank, run a bit larger chainrings and go a bit bigger in the back. That flexibility is useful. You can get a decent top gear with a 50 (or a 49 or a 48) running on a 13 and you can get a decent low gear by running a 30 or a 32 cog and a 32/34 chainring on the inside. Spa cycles in the UK sells 86 bcd chainrings and they're available on eBay. |
Here’s a couple of quick pics. Home late last night and off to work in a couple of hours. Great riding with a little exploring and learning about a region that I’d only driven through on a freeway before. I’d never heard of the Bisbee Bike Brothel before this trip but if you are anywhere close to Bisbee (couple of hours from Tucson) you need to check it out. The town is pretty neat too.
This is the only one that didn’t load sideways, so I’ll post some linked pics later. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7aa8551b.jpeg Watering hole at the Old Tucson tourist trap |
A couple more pics from me now that I'm back on a laptop:
gugie conquers the mountain: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8fa85623_c.jpgUntitled -holiday76 was told it would be a different kind of brothel: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...229b5482_c.jpgUntitled The view down the Arizona highway: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a9ed5306_c.jpgUntitled |
Ay, caramba! That looks like a great time.
Looking forward to running into the Touroica team in a few weeks. |
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Ellen : What are you looking at?
Clark : Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... an ******* in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer... [Eddie, in the driveway, is draining the RV's toilet] Eddie : ****ter was full. Clark : Ah, yeah. You checked our ****ters, honey? Ellen : Clark, please. He doesn't know any better. Clark : He oughta know it's illegal. That's a storm sewer. If it fills with gas, I pity the person who lights a match within ten yards of it. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fe76e931_b.jpg |
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