Tucson Training Camp - Day 5

You might want to grab a seat and something to drink; this is going to be a long one. Today was a big day down here. Dr. DB and my buddy Feebs met MD and I last night at the Firkin Frog for some awesome pizza. If you ever get to Tucson, you have to hit the Frog. The pie is about 2 inches thick and so good. We had a few beers and chatted about the day ahead. Unfortunately we were a few beds short when we got back to the condo.


Today was the epic Mt. Lemmon ride. As with any good day, we started with a trip to IHOP. No great ride starts without pancakes and I love pancakes. We took an hour to digest food and talk about what to wear. Do I need booties, second gloves, wind jacket, extra gloves. After all that we started the 6 mile warm up to the base and then a 26 mile climb. It starts in the desert at 2870 feet, up through a pine forest, into high mountains above 8000.

The boys and I rode easy to the fee station at mile 5. I only throw that in so Daredevil know where we are on the hill. At mile 7, MD and I move up the road a bit. MD and I rode consistently hard but not pushing too much. I was setting the tempo which is better for me. If I had to stare at his ass for the whole ride, I would have gotten frustrated and dropped off. About mile 16 some guy zips by us. He was rolling very quickly for the up hill. MD looks at me and says, "I think that was Tinker Juarez" The guy looked back and grinned. We are still researching identity of the stud climber.

Let me get back to the ride. At mile 20 there is a little descent before the last climb at mile 24. I pushed it on the downhill and gapped MD. At this point, I was hoping to hold him off for the first tire into Summer Haven. I’ve never beaten MD to the top and I was about 20 minutes ahead of my PR. As I rolled towards the last little up hill, I look over my shoulder and see MD cutting around the corner about 20 yards off me. MD likes to cut the corners and doesn’t mind riding the best line through a curve if there is no traffic. I’m still hoping I can hold him off to get the win. Just as I look back up the road, I see the local Mountain Sheriff and he obviously sees this “tactic” by MD. Just as he passes by us, he turns around and turns on his flashers and siren. I, of course, put the hammer down. I figure I’ve done nothing wrong and I had a good idea he was going to chat with MD first. That's right; the sheriff pulls MD over and tells him to try to stay in the right lane and out of traffic. MD then tells the officer that he is letting me get away. Despite MD’s pleading with the sheriff I ride on to victory. Thanks to the law enforcement of Tucson, I bested MD by about 30 seconds at the line with a new PR of 2:20. Feebs and Dr. DB rolled in a bit later and we enjoyed a few minutes in the sun. It was a great day to be in the mountains and we had fantastic weather.

MD on Twitter (surprise)


Feebs Hangin Loose


Dr. DB stretching out


Here is a good video of the boys descending. Check it out with the volume turned up you can hear the sound of a bicycle flying down hill. Stats 64 mile ride (4:30)



One last thing, I told MD I was buying a new bike since I was first up the hill. I fell in love with an $8000 De Rosa at a local bike shop. Fortunately they didn't have one in my size or this would have been an expensive trip.

Stats
64 mile ride (4:30)