glenfong

Hey Richard, I have a few photos from this year's Turkey Ride if I can get them to you somehow to post. I can't post pictures yet.

Glen

RCMoeur 

Although I've been riding 40+ years, (and it would seem people have been talking about me on this site for nearly 20), BikeForums also considers me a "noob". Honestly, I don't blame them, as I haven't actually been registered on this site for long. The best option might be to do a general web search on my name, find my primary website, and send them to the e-mail address listed on the "about me" page, and i'll see if I can get them to Phil via Joel or someone else. Either that, or keep posting on BikeForums until you build up enough internal web-cred to be able to post photos here so everyone can see them.

glenfong

Thanks for the hints Richard!

Saguaro

Downtown Phoenix at Dawn

Pre-ride at Uptown Plaza

Rough road conditions on Central Avenue

Group at Dobbins Overlook

Pause at base of climb

Dobbins Overlook

Perfect conditions for the 2021 version of the Phoenix Turkey Day Ride! Finally getting around to posting photos. Rode the Tommasini again. Stayed with the main group both out and back. Nice to know some fellow C&V’ers were there as well. Looking forward to next year!

merziac

Looks like quite a group, very jealous although I would not be up for the mountain.

Bluebird day today here in PDX, clear blue sky, 39 degrees, should be out on the bike right now.......

RCMoeur 

Time to dust this thread off again, Saguaro ? Although I haven't done as much training as I would have wanted to, I'll be there this coming Thursday.

Drillium Dude 

I am planning on going, too. Been looking for info, but so far nothing. Is the ride confirmed?

Seems The Bike Barn sorta 'sponsors' this event; gonna give them a call and see what's what.

DD

polymorphself 

Bummer, would've made it this year but taking a last minute trip out of town. Curious what the details will be this year anyways, if any are confirmed.

RCMoeur 

Never heard of Bike Barn sponsoring the ride.

But here's the (same old) info with an updated 2022 date from the head turkeys themselves:
https://turkeydayride.com

(it's http, but BF keeps changing to https)

This year, instead of the Raleigh Pro, I might ride the aluminum-frame Nashbar Flashback.

stardognine

You should've waited until 11:11, lol. Then you'd have 11:11AM, on 11-22-22. 🙄😁

LesterOfPuppets

I dunno if I could make it up SoMo on any of my vintage bikes, I should really look into getting a triple on one of them.

Then there's the issue of waking up early enough to get down to Uptown by 0630

Put me down as a "We'll see"

RCMoeur 

The ride to and from the mountain is described as "social / conversational", which with this bunch of riders is about 20 mph. Hang in the pack and you'll be OK. The climb itself, even with the one-rock handicap, is... competitive. With a compact double and a 34/26 low on my Raleigh Pro I've had trouble getting to Dobbins before the pack starts heading back down the hill. That of course might have more to do with my training-hostile schedule, scarred lungs, and "do I really need to ride at that intensity anymore?" attitude, though. But it's good to see the gang once again every year.

RCMoeur 

Just went back through my records - I've done this ride 25 times. I missed the first one in 1980, as I wasn't acquainted with Joel yet (and was still riding a Varsity), but I rode many of the years since, plus drove support for the ride in my big ol' blue truck in 2005 and 2012. Most of the missed years I was out of town for the holiday, although my journals do reflect a few instances of illness or "just too tired".

I resolved to own at least one record associated with the ride, so in the late 1980s I put front and rear bags on my Rans recumbent and loaded them up with about 75 lbs of rocks and rode slooowly up to Dobbins. Joel said it didn't count because I didn't ride with the group from central Phoenix on that ride.

Drillium Dude 

Yeah, I understand that. My replacement tubulars won't arrive in time to use my best-geared bike, the 8-speed Davidson. I will need to press into service the Regina with a 26t bailout I got recently from Kurt, and hopefully the chain plays nice with it (both are used), and run it on the Medici.

I'm just going to plod my way up; I'll be lacking a helmet, which makes me persona non grata, and requires that I ride on my own. Okay...we'll see...

DD

Saguaro

Great to see all the early interest for this year’s Phoenix Turkey Day Ride! I’ll be riding it again this year on the Tommasini. I completely rebuilt the bike after last years event. It now sports a NOS 2018 Campagnolo Record 11 speed group, Deda carbon seatpost, and custom wheelset with Extralite hubs. The upgrades dropped 4 lbs off the bike weight from last year. The bike is dialed!

Its gunna be chilly Thursday morning but other than that it should be ideal conditions. Going to have to ride fast to stay warm!

RCMoeur 

I rode up to TV Towers at sunset a couple weeks ago on the 40 lb. commuting bike.


Now I've ascended South Mountain several times in the dark, but this was the first time I'd descended in the dark in a long time. Even with a good LED headlight, it was interesting. And unfortunately the road's gotten bumpy again (the cracks in the older underlying pavement have reflected and spread into the once-smooth overlay).

RCMoeur 

Not meaning to sound like a bad country song, but I felt rough this morning and decided that woosing out choosing to drive support in the truck was the wisest option. Looks like about 60 riders or so - clear, not as cool as expected (but not warm), and hopefully a good climb and a great view. Good to see many old friends again, even if I'm not on two wheels at the moment.

Saguaro

Another Phoenix Turkey Day Ride in the books! Beautiful day, a bit chilly at times, but manageable. Not the biggest group this year but still a good showing. Got to ride with Jeff (@Drillium Dude) and met Richard RCMoeur . Happy Thanksgiving everyone!



Bluebird day at Dobbins Overlook

Drillium Dude 

Yep, looked like it was between 50 and 60 people. Fun morning out with you and that well-behaved group, Craig! At the very end, I got caught at a light with the second group and we lost touch with the vanguard. Oh, well, I had to see about a girl soon after the finish, so I jammed after having a quick chat with Richard. Glad I did, too; didn't know he was driving the truck, and I was sure I hadn't seen him on a bike.

Next year, going up again. Wonder which bike?

DD

Drillium Dude 

My first Turkey Day Ride is in the books. Not as cold as expected, so that was a nice surprise (I abhor getting going when its cold). Weapon of choice was the Medici with a 26t bailout which worked wonderfully - tho I wished for 2 teeth more on the final pitch!

Very well-behaved, and fast, group of guys and gals. Lots of modern stuff; Craig's Tommasini was the only other vintage frame I saw. Nice pace out, then, after collecting our rocks (and more water) at the park entrance, the free-for-all to the top commenced.

These days, I'm not so sure of my abilities, so I settled into an even pace and climbed my climb. Made it, took the following photos, and had a super-fast run down. The group rejoined on the way out of the park, then we had a spirited ride into a stiff headwind all the way back to the start at Central and Camelback. I was badly placed when a light split the group in half, so I came home in the second group. Not that it was a race, mind you, but sometimes, when someone is behind you, and someone is in front of you...it becomes one, ha ha ha! What a super-fun way to begin the day.

Here's some pitchers:







Craig, better known as Saguaro :



Head of the group approaching South Mountain Park entrance:



At the park entrance, we re-hydrate and collect rocks to drop off at the summit to 'combat erosion':



Summit for today, Dobbins Lookout:



Panorama looking south; the true summit is at the antenna array, but most turned around and began their descent here:



Downtown Phoenix in the distance; we began the day a bit north of the biggest 'skyscrapers':



Richard RCMoeur lays out the return route as others continue to arrive after their coast down the mountain. It's slightly downhill, then flat into a headwind from here back to the start:



Nice to meet up with a couple Bike Forums members, and in fact I will see Richard again tomorrow as I assist in sorting out some donated bikes over in Goodyear.

I can stuff my face this afternoon and not feel a bit guilty about it at all; score!

DD

Saguaro

Such a great write up DD! See you next year!

stardognine

Cool pic of Phoenix there. 👍 Glad youse all had a good ride. 🙂

I'd never even try a group ride like that. With my bad eyes, I'd probably cause a group crash. 😲😋😉

RCMoeur 

I see you got my good side in that photo.

A bit disappointed I didn't feel up to riding, but still good to see the ol' gang again.

RCMoeur 

Who's in for 2023? Less than 10 days away...

Saguaro

That’s right, Phoenix Turkey Day Ride is right around the corner! I can’t believe this thread is 10 years old….I’ll be there once again, looking forward to it!