Great video by David Mimms of last Saturday's Tour de Palm Springs. It provides a good sense of riding in the desert country of Palm Springs. Thanks David.
Showing posts with label Event-2015 Tour de Palm Springs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Event-2015 Tour de Palm Springs. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Tour de Palm Springs Post Ride
Shake, rattle and role describes my ride at the Tour de Palm Springs this weekend.
My morning started off spotting David Mimms at the Bike MS Coastal Challenge booth. Soon Kyle Bryant roles up with his crew. At his Ride Ataxia FARA booth was information about the various rides around the country including the NorCal at Davis, California May 30th.
The sun fried roads of the desert backcountry made for a rough ride on my skinny Ultremo tires. I was shook and I was rattled but I kept on rolling. All the good downhill runs were well worn but I still had the cheap thrill of passing rider after after. Old guys still need a thrill now and then. On the climbs I pretty stayed with the pack and passed a few unsuspecting riders.
Passing other riders wasn't always easy. This is the largest single day event ride in the country and thousands of riders were on the road. On the faster runs many times I had to pass other riders in the oncoming lane to create a safe passing space between me and the other riders. Also with so many riders on the road from start to finish I couldn't truly enjoy the desert landscape. I had to be more aware of other riders and less aware of the beauty of the desert.
The desert is a little cooler this time of year but this weekend reached 90 degrees. The 9am start time for the 50 mile ride meant that the riders were going to feel some heat. I was comfortable and just kept riding along but many riders took advantage of any shade they could find to take a break.
All in all a good weekend with good folk and of course my best bud and wife Carrie.
My morning started off spotting David Mimms at the Bike MS Coastal Challenge booth. Soon Kyle Bryant roles up with his crew. At his Ride Ataxia FARA booth was information about the various rides around the country including the NorCal at Davis, California May 30th.
The sun fried roads of the desert backcountry made for a rough ride on my skinny Ultremo tires. I was shook and I was rattled but I kept on rolling. All the good downhill runs were well worn but I still had the cheap thrill of passing rider after after. Old guys still need a thrill now and then. On the climbs I pretty stayed with the pack and passed a few unsuspecting riders.
Passing other riders wasn't always easy. This is the largest single day event ride in the country and thousands of riders were on the road. On the faster runs many times I had to pass other riders in the oncoming lane to create a safe passing space between me and the other riders. Also with so many riders on the road from start to finish I couldn't truly enjoy the desert landscape. I had to be more aware of other riders and less aware of the beauty of the desert.
The desert is a little cooler this time of year but this weekend reached 90 degrees. The 9am start time for the 50 mile ride meant that the riders were going to feel some heat. I was comfortable and just kept riding along but many riders took advantage of any shade they could find to take a break.
All in all a good weekend with good folk and of course my best bud and wife Carrie.
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| David, me and Kyle |
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| Pulling up to the 50 mile start. Many more riders coming up from behind. |
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| Hand cyclists ahead. |
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| David Mimms closing in. |
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| Some open road early in the ride. |
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| First SAG. |
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| A moment to enjoy the desert. |
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| Finishers welcomed by the local high school band. |
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| David Mimms handling the Ride MS booth. Later Shelley and Brian (a hand cyclist) take over so David can ride the Tour de Palm Springs. |
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| Having dinner with Carrie watching the Tour de Palm Springs festival. |
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
It's About the Ride Not the Distance
I've never been a milage addict. I ride for the joy and sometimes the thrill but never to just accumulate miles. I don't want to end a days ride exhausted and unable the enjoy the rest of my day. Many of my rides end with a meet up with my wife Carrie at a coffee joint, restaurant or anyplace where the beer is cold and dark. Eventually I throw my trike on top of or in the car and call it day.
The ride I'm going on February 14th, the Tour de Palm Springs, is no different. I'll be ending the half century ride 14 miles short of the finish and will meet up with my Valentine at a Starbucks. My stopping point marks the end of the beautiful open desert portion of the ride and starts the final 14 mile ride through civilization with some dicy roads. As usual, after a bagel (maybe a donut) and a cup of tea at Starbucks, I'll throw the trike into the car and head back for cold beer at the event area.
Again, it's about the ride not the distance. Why end a beautiful ride with 14 miles of slogging through city streets?
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Tour de Palm Springs 2015
I'll be riding the 50 (actually 54.6) mile route at the 2015 Tour de Palm Springs on February 14th 2015. Nothing like cool desert air to clear the head from what hopefully will be a cold wet winter here in So Cal.
While I ride Carrie will have plenty to do in Palm Springs.
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