Spring Training in Arizona 2022
 

Almost exactly 2 years later, we're headed back. As usual, @nlerner instigated, many followed. Even if that ain't true, it's a good story. After two years of starts and stops, we're chomping at the bit to hit the road.

This issue of Spring Training includes some recividists as well as some noobs - new to Spring Training, but old faces nonetheless.

• @rccardr, aka Doc stepped up as Capo this time. Rather than stuff us all in an RV for a week, he found a palatial AirBnB in Tucson to work as our base camp. He's flying in from Virginia. Doc seems to be everywhere. Two things are equaly true - he's my bike riding hero, and I hate him for living the life I'd like. Well, less than 1 year till retirement and I won't hate him anymore. There was a time period a few years ago that I saw him at vintage bike events so often I thought he moved to the West Coast.
• @nlerner is here just as much for his easy going temperment and riding ability as well as his well known ability to make the weather favorable just by his presence. Even though we live on opposite coasts, I've gotten in five multiday tours, an Eroica California and a Cino with him. We worked at the same LBS as I did eons ago, although about 6 months apart. He's leaving from Boston, Mass.
• @Spaghetti Legs is returning, happy that he doesn't have to share a queen sized mattress in an RV with me this time around. I still remember driving an enormous Winnebago around near the Santa Clara, California Caltrain station looking for this random guy that signed up to stay several days in an RV with 4 other guys he had never met. Since then we've met up a few times for multi-day tours and Eroica California. He needs to do Cino, even if I have to send @northbend to him so he can do his hypnosis thing - "you really need to do Cino." Oh, and he's an actual medical doctor, so we've got our doping under control.
• @SquireBlack took an early retirement from a computer science professorship at Portland State, just as many have done when all classes went online the past year or so. He's quickly getting on my nerves - "hey Mark, want to ride The Gorge this Wednesday?" Soon, Andrew, soon. He was on that Magic Bus tour for Eroica Cali in 2018. We all found out that you need a guy like Andrew on a tour. Andrew was the only one who could figure out how the RV worked - something about "read the directions." What kind of b.s. is that?
• @VRJAKE is a fellow Portlandian, someone I've gotten to know a bit the last couple of years. He did Cino last year (see a theme here, folks?) and is ready to return. He lived in Tucson not too long ago, so we'll lean on him for local knowledge.

That's six of us in the Palazzo Southwest. We're adding in @Soup_Please as a harbor pilot. He's local to Tucson, writes a great blog about cycling as well as being a noted author on southwestern US landscaping. He fell under @northbend's Cino spell last year and lived to write about it. He's planned all the rides and a few eating and drinking adventures.

Now that I've spilled the beans, the rest of the knuckleheads will probably soon deny they're doing this.

Damn, rereading this it looks like a Cino thread. It's not, but I promised @mountaindave I'd pimp the heck out of it so we can fill the roster and have the A+ lunch and dinner again.

Will there be a visit to Rivendell?

Oh, man, that sounds awesome. I hope you all have a fantastic redux of the spring training tour.

I missed the dates. With the new CBA, MLB spring training starts this week. When do you plan to convene your tour?

Oscar Wilde said, "Work is the curse of the drinking class." I'd like to revise that to: "Work is the curse of the cycling class."

That sounds like a blast. Having spent this second to last hockey season jetsetting around with my oldest daughter, spring break will be very close to home this year. There will come a time…

I can only guarantee a 2nd breakfast.

My bike: an audible the day before we start
 

Last year I got a text message at 4:30 in the morning from Brookline, Mass, home of @nlerner. "Mahk, there's a Ritchey Breakaway in your size for sale on Craigslist in Santa Cruz, CA." The time difference kinda explains the early text, but what the heck is Neal looking for a travel bike in my size? Ah, I get it, he's got plans, and they include me getting on a plane for a bike trip sometime in the future, location TBD. So somehow I got the dingus, and I've already taken that trip to be named later with most of the gang listed, above. It's really convenient having a suitcase sized travel bag with a bike inside that was made to travel. I've been riding it so much I forgot that it doesn't have fenders.

Flight from PDX to Tucson leaves Monday, so Saturday I figured I'd break down the bike and get it in the travel bag. Except the damn seatpost didn't want to come out of the seat tube. I tried a whole buncha things, including 17 gallons of various anti-seize liquids.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43a880ea4c.jpg

For a guy with several bikes, I seem to only have one or two in operable condition at any given time. One of the closest to ready for prime time was a 1974 Raleigh International that was maybe 75% ready, so I spent all day Sunday getting it ready to go. Of course, with vintage bikes there's always some bit that you can't find, nothing that a quick trip to an LBS can't solve. It ain't exactly how I wanted it, but I've got it ride ready (I think). Nothing like a midnight build before 5 days of riding in another state.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e42da29cbb.jpg

I did get a 0.17 mile test ride in, so I'm sure it's good to go. Amazingly I got it broken down and buttoned up in my Trico Iron Case in 32 minutes flat.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2c6f996c0b.jpg

It took me 2 hours to pick and pack my kit for the week.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...93cce5acbb.jpg

Today is our travel day, and we’ll all gather in Tucson by this evening. Don’t think we’ll be able to catch a Cactus League game this year.

BTW, high in Boston yesterday was 36F. High tomorrow in Tucson is predicted to be 86F.

Waiting to board at Reagan National. Bit of a kerfuffle at bag check with the EVOC bag, some agents don’t know their airline’s own rules.
Tracking scan not showing up yet on the app, so hoping it arrives in Tucson this afternoon.

Roswell, NM should be on your itinerary so you can add to any UFO* sightings.

Seriously, I hope you all have a great trip, with fair skies, gentle tailwinds, few mechanicals, and zero flats!

*Union (of) Fun-Loving Old-Farts :p

Safe travels, all. Looking forward to some sunny AZ pics.

I’m a little slow on the uptake - this is already in progress. Safe travels everyone, we look forward to the updates!

Love Tucson!

Hope a trip up Mt. Lemmon is on the Menu.

Have fun and take a lot of pics!

Have a great trip guys!

Andrew, John and myself took the same flight from Portland to Tucson with no issues. Doc arrived early and beat us to the house.


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waiting at the curb, John rented a pick up truck so we wouldn’t look like tourists

The casita Doc rented is large and comfy. After filling up the fridge with food and beer we got to work assembling our bikes.


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Scott picked up Hugh. His flight was late. Neal’s flight was diverted to Abilene due to thunderstorms. He won’t catch up to us until Monday sometime. What could possibly go wrong?

I'll be watching y'all from far off Florida. I enjoyed early morning rides in the area whenever we visited my late father-in-law, but haven't been back for some years. Don

I guess Neal has to be on a bike for good weather?

Curious as to how much it cost each person, round trip and all included.

Much less than extended therapy.

Are these riders having a good time?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...61409c8ae.jpeg

Hard life in Tucson
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...347bec18d.jpeg
Gugie takes a pre-lunch nap

gugie rccardr et al

:50:

VERY IMPORTANT PSA:
If you’re not already planning it, you must ride the East Saguaro Park loop road under the full moon this weekend. No lights or headlamps needed but don’t go crazy. Check it out. It’s closed to cars after dark, it’s a unique and very special experience you’ll never forget. You can thank me later at Cino.





:thumb:

The fleet at rest before today’s climb up Mt. Lemmon.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0618c7287.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ceb7764f6.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26ecff6cc.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...982a45564.jpeg

"Mom!!!!!!!" The boys brought their bikes in the living room!" :p

@gugie is in the background somewhere:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de0b16bfc.jpeg

The crew at a rest stop mid climb:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...05ba5c610.jpeg

Pink bike overlooks the desert landscape:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b25a28384.jpeg

Tale of the tape (or GPS) at the top of Mt. Lemmon:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...568cec3da.jpeg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...426e68aec.jpeg
Sometimes we had help in the morning to get started
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9f8d5f197.jpeg
Some days we rode directly from the Casita, others we packed up and drove to the start