Danger Will Robinson

I think there's been a disturbance. I love the Old Bag's post there. It reminded me to think of other worlds, other spaces and times in my life, other intersections of life and the e-worlds. And surprisingly the Jetsons and Lost in Space. When we have opportunities to intersect our breathing life with the ethersphere, some of our past experiences, rumours and real news about horrors of meeting people from the internet, can cause fits of panic, apprehension, or just slight nervousness. This is normal, methinks. But today, I think we need to tell that robot -- "There is just no cause for alarm. " When I originally started this post I was mostly just linking to the Old Bag's post, which had sent me into a reverie. But then ...

I had the exceptional pleasure of sharing a 52 mile ride today with the Old Bag and a group of riders out in Sun City. She is charming and witty, every bit as brilliant in real life as in her blog. Plus what, she can really ride a bike. The ride was completely fun and perhaps we will do it again sometime. Thanks Jeanne, I enjoyed the ride and the company.

My average for this was 17.4. This was clearly the longest and fastest ride I've ever done. Make note to self, "ride more often with the Old Bag. "

After that and lunch I stomped out to the Salt river to add a few more miles to my day, and a bit more significance to my muy (that's moo-ie) sunburn and muy miles.

Date: 08 April 2006
Miles Today: 68.42
Kilometers: 110.08778
Average: 16.4
April Mileage: 139.29
Weather: 88 and sunburny

We all know what that means. Men ride faster when accompanied by women, and that's a bit like a metric century. Muy Bueno.

Bicycle Safely

Find a good document here with great info on traveling safe on a bike.

Scoop of the Day

Punch this into your browser and you will see that I was the man on the spot for pictures or Photos at the El Tour De Phoenix with this post. Look out East Valley Tribune, and the Rebublic. As far as I can tell, there was very little coverage of the race.

If your interested, here are the unofficial results of El Tour de Phoenix.

And Then Some

Date: 5 April 2006
Mileage: 14.48
Mileage for April: 70.77
Weather: Wind, 71°F PC
Average Speed: 13.6
Daily Tally: 27.17

Bike to Work Day

Date: 5 April 2006
Mileage: 12.69
Mileage for April: 56.29
Weather: Wind, 67°F Overcast, Lightning.
Average Speed: 14.5

Crazy Pre-Dawn

I was dreaming of someone taking pictures of me from outside the house while I was sleeping ... the cat noises breaking the pre-dawn silence, when an incredibly loud rumbling sound stood me straight up outta bed. 10 minutes later I have let the whiny cat in, and am double espresso chatting with the cafe buddy down the road, who says, what are you doing up so early? "Grumble ,,, flashing ... cat ...grumble ... loud rumble ... coffee, please?" There's a significant lightning show going on at the moment.

Right now I am suiting up, have determined to brave the 70 degree, 15 mile an hour winds, threats of thunderbolts and softball sized hail, because it's ride your bike to work day over at the widget factory. My alarm is going off, so I guess it's time to get up. I guess I should wear a raincoat. Grumble.

What About My Foot Pizza?

George, the bike riding donut guy, is asking "if that's your foot, what did you do to it?" It is injured, wounded, and feels like it has been beaten with a hammer. Said pain is accompanied by swelling and throbbing, and responds well to ice packing and Alleve™. So I am probably not making this up, despite the fact that there was no single event to explain the injury.

Saturday's 44 mile ride and/or Sunday's 6 mile hike have left my foot severely beaten. The 6 miles in the Superstitions included the same terrain as always: scree, larger scree, rock, harder rock, steeper rock and steeper scree, an occasional cave, getting disoriented, one dead camera battery, and several open streambed scrambles. It's nothing new. We didn't find the Lost Dutchman's gold.

Adjusting my clippies in my cycling shoes could help, or not hiking. It's hard to say. Ice definitely halps, as does rest and elevation. Tomorrow is bike to work day here at the widget factory, so I'll be riding 20 miles, and bragging about it.

I wonder how it is going to respond to the 100km Desert Classic on Saturday. I'll have a Hercules pizza and an ice pack please.

Ow

Hackberry Springs

In the Superstition wilderness.

Miles Hiked: 5.98
Sore feet: 2

The Tour de Phoenix

The leaders.

Police Escort.

I am third (not me -- this guy).

Wow -- the pack behind the leaders.

And more of the same.

Up the hill we go.








And me -- some many miles later ... at 25 miles exactly.

Oh La La -- Follow that Motorcycle.

Date: 1 April 2006
Mileage: 43.6
Mileage for April: 43.6
Weather: 70°F.
Average Speed: 14.9
Number of falls: 1
Number of near death experiences: 2

Despite an early start to try and join El Tour de Phoenix this AM -- they denied me. No registration on the day of the ride; the reason -- can't add you to the computer. I am left wondering the usefulness of the computer relative to the ride. And shirtless (meaning no yellow jersey to wear), but 65 dollars richer.

So I rode the route I might have normally ridden, which just happened to be roughly the same as the 26 mile ride. I did however leave quite a bit earlier than they, so I figured I wouldn't see them.

Turns out I was precisely at the intersection of the Bush Hwy and Usery Mountain Rd, when the 75 milers showed up, with three clear leaders in front of a motorcycle and a pack of about 75. Since I didn't feel like waiting for the thousands of riders to clear the trail, I challenged a few folks as I found my way up heartbreak hill (I am the first person to call it thus -- the backside of Usery Pass), that 4 mile slog, in a serious crowd. It was fun and I got a round of applause from the sag crew when getting up after I fell straight over while putting on one pedal. My picture was taken many times by professional looking photographers, so look for my Team Palm™ jersey on the cover of the Sun-Republic (you and I are the only ones who will know I was looking like a pirate). Apparently the Republic does have a story about this guy Steve Bauer (who has worn the yellow jersey). The Republic story fails to mention he is an Olympic medlist:

Retired since 1996, Bauer makes his way to El Tour for the first time at the invitation of tour president Richard DeBernardis. From what he has seen and heard so far, Bauer thinks the race will be "a good participation event."

Although he won't be racing for any records or even the win, Bauer could providea thrill for hundreds of El Tour riders, who will be able to say they rode with one of the world's best cyclists and a former teammate of Armstrong and Greg LeMond.

"To check it out," Bauer said of his motivation for riding in El Tour.

There are some pictures to post in a bit, just as soon as I find the decoder ring. I may even have that Bauer guy in the first frame. I can say I didn't get to ride with him.

Did I mention that I had a great ride -- maybe my personal best. And that now I will be taking a nap with Pearl the Cat.

These are Nice

I remember looking up a really scary scree covered hill in the grand canyon and seeing Wendy way up on it with her camera. Shooting at some barrel cactus, I walked way up there, but I was really scared.

Here

Shinumo Creek

Shinumo Creek. Digital Photograph, Canon Powershot. © Shawn Kielty 2005. All rights reserved. I mean it.

Unless you get a little closer. Many thanks to the river gods and a million years work. And Captain Ed.

"You don't have to live like a refugee ..." on the radio.

... Shinumo Creek

Shinumo Creek Falls in the Grand Canyon. 9/20/2005 Digital Photograph. © 2005 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

There's not a lot more to say. Hard to find a better place to be.

... More Colorado River

Colorado River in Marble Canyon. Digital Photograph. 9/18/2005. © 2005 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

I believe this image include smoke from a nearby fire. The waters are now muddied from the entry of the muddy Little Colorado.

Colorado River

© Shawn Kielty 2005. All rights reserved.
This was the second night on the Colorado River. 2005:09:16 16:37:16. Above the junction of the Little Colorado. I just thought I would post this so that we wouldn't have to change the title of the blog to "Bicycle Propelled Camera."

On the Ipod: Fleetwood Mac. Black Magic Woman. "Don't turn your back on me baby ... You got your spell on me baby ..." Wow.

Date: 30 March 2006 AM
Mileage: 15.62
Mileage for March: 330.47
Weather: 67°F.
Average: 13.7
Daily Mileage: 30.60

Date: 30 March 2006 AM
Mileage: 15.08
Mileage for March: 314.85
Weather: Breezy, and 65°F.
Average: 13.7

Ok, so the commute this AM was a bust. I got to the cafe and realized I had forgotten the lock ... double drat. Went back and threw the bike in the truck, and drove it and the lock in so that I could make my afternoon fitness ride. I got more miles, but was later than usual.

Ride to Work!

Look here for the original source..

It's Just a Box of Ice Cream

I sure can identify with this.

Me: How big is the NY strip?
Her: 14 ounces.
Me: cool -- medium, with a baked potato, everything.
Her: Everything?
Me: yes, everything. Plus a salad with blue cheese.
Her: Do you want to start out with some wings?
Me: Yes.
Her: Do you need anything else?
Me: Water. What do you have for dessert? ...

Let's eat.