North Scottsdale In The Rain

North Scottsdale noted for exclusive homes, golf courses, and desert landscaping. Pinnacle Peak rises out of the Sonora Desert to an elevation of 3,170 feet, and was formed one million years ago. It used to be a glacier but due to "global warming" it's now a pile of rocks. If you believe that then you should watch "An Inconvenient Truth".Clouds threatened, and it did rain a little, but not enough to spoil a great ride.
Reata Pass SteakhouseReata Pass Outhouse

Many buildings blend in well with the landscape.Don't want to fall on this guy, -Teddybear Cholla

or this guy. -Yucca plantDid you know? The Saguaro cactus is the tallest cactus, lives about 200 years, and grows 4-8 inches a year. Its first "arms" sprout when the cactus is 40-50 years old. This old guy needs some help to stand tall. The holes in the cactus are made by birds which use them for their homes.If all paths could be as smooth as this. . . Legend Trail Parkway.Along Pima Road, a sign that says it all.

2006 California Coast Classic Video

I finally got my act together and made a slide show video of my San Francisco to Los Angeles 2006 Arthritis Foundation ride.

Biking for One Year

I started biking one year ago. My first ride was on March 2, 2006 and was 8.3 miles lasting 30 minutes. Here is my distance and time log for the past year:
6277 miles, 450 hours. Biked in six states, 2 centuries, 8 organized biking events, and the 8 day Arthritis Foundation California Coast Classic. My goal for year two will be to work on my base building, increase my fitness ceiling, start strength training, and improve my riding skills and efficiency. Sounds like I've been reading too many biking books. And I'll try not to spend so much money at the bike shop.

Speaking of cycling books, I got to hear Chris Carmichael speak about his new book 5 Essentials For A Winning Life, and the Discovery Channel Cycling Team, and training Lance Armstrong, and the doping controversies. Carmichael was a member of the first American cycling team-The 7-Eleven Team-to compete in the Tour de France in 1986. He is founder of Carmichael Training Systems.

Amgen Tour of California in Long Beach

The best cyclists in the world came to Long Beach today for the final stage of the Tour of California. Click on the link for final results as well as other information on the Tour.
Mechanic truck for Team BMC, based out of Santa Rosa, CA is sponsored by the Swiss bicycle maker BMC. This company is owned by Andy Rihns who was the owner of Team Phonak which folded last year after team member's Floyd Landis Tour de France doping case.
Wearing the Yellow Jersey, leading the Tour from start to finish, Levi Leipheimer from Butte, Montana rides this year for Team Discovery Channel.
Belgian Team Predictor Lotto (Predictor is a pregnancy test-makes sense, Lotto is the Belgian Lottery-makes sense again) riders: Mario Aerts (Belgium) , Nick Gates (Australia), Bart Dockx (Belgium)
Australian rider Celeb Manion heads to the starting line as the USA Team Colavita/Sutter Home car (olive oil and wine companies) provides interference.
Support car for Team CSC-A Denmark team sponsored by the California based Computer Sciences Corporation.
Kjell Carlstrom (Finland) of Team Liquigas (Italian Propane Distributor) rolls out to the start.
The Toyota United Pro Team (USA) uses a Prius for their support car. Bicycles and a Hybrid car-a victory for the "Green Team".
The final stage of the Tour of California was a criterium-ten laps of a 7.75 mile circuit course around the Long Beach shoreline.
Over $10,000 worth of wheels and frames on the top of this car. Mavic is a French manufacturer of wheels and bicycle components.
Paola Bettini (Italy) of team Quick Step-Innergetic (Begian laminated flooring company-Innergetic is a line of mattress), wearing the rainbow world champion jersey, bringing up the rear of the pack.
Just me, posing like the traveling gnome.
These guys don't fix flats, they just change the entire wheel-in a matter of seconds.
Team Discovery protecting Levi Leipheimer in the Yellow Jersey.
Making the turn down Shorline Drive.
Sean Sullivan of Toyota United enjoys a Coke while in the breakaway group. To his front right in the white argyle design jersey with the rainbow-trimmed sleeves is Danny Pate (USA), former world champion, of Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle. I guess the team eats a lot of burritos and tacos. This is the youngest USA team and Slipstream is a sports management company.

The peloton on Ocean Blvd passing so close you could smell the tires burning on the pavement.
Riding on the Bluff with the Queen Mary and San Pedro Bay in the background.
Today's stage winner Ivan Dominguez (Cuba) being told a "Yo-Mama" joke. Maybe that's what spurred him on to victory. The rider in the lime green jersey is the top sprinter Juan Jose Haedo (Argentina) of Team CSC. Maybe he's just getting advice on how to get into the country illegally.
Waiting on the podium for my yellow jersey.

Tour de Palm Springs

The Tour de Palm Springs is a 102 mile loop through the Coachella Valley, passing all its cities with views of the San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, and Santa Rosa Mountains. My TREK- polished, pumped, lubed-ready to go.Breakfast before my ride: Special K with milk, FRS orange juice, banana, and sushi.Sunrise foretelling a perfect cycling day-temp 75 degrees with mild winds.
Thousands of cyclists at 6:45 a.m. line up in Palm Springs on Palm Canyon Drive.Honorary cyclist Monte Hall entertains the riders by making a dog choose between pocket number 1 or pocket number 2.It took about half an hour to get to the start.A major traffic jam at Indian Avenue and Hwy 10-cars, big rigs, and hundreds of cyclists. Drive thru at Jack in the Box was slow.A Double-Double. Double the fun?The SAG stop at mile 52 had enough food to feed . . .. . . an army of cyclists.I saw a few down bikers, many flats, and orphaned water bottles scattered along the bumpy roads of Coachella-the armpit of the desert. My Polar heart rate monitor record of the century. I spent 70% of my ride time (5 hours) in my upper heart rate zones (142-179)-upper red tracing. Maybe that's why every muscle in my legs cramped in the last 30 miles of my ride.

102.96 miles, 6 hours: 22 minutes, averge speed 16.2 MPH, 5442 Calories. Second century completed.

Happy Birthday, Donna

The La Quinta Resort was built in 1926 by Walter Morgan as a secluded retreat for the Hollywood rich and famous. He constructed six cottages, an office, and a dining facility in the middle of the desert.
Look's like a movie star.
Our room was one of the original cottages built in the 1920's. They even thought of a high speed internet connection.Birthday Sundae at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza. Guess who ate most of it?Moon rising over La Quinta.We'll be back-I'm sure.

How to make the best GPS bike mount - for free!

Although this may look like something I thought of, I cannot take credit for it. The "inventor" used a large sponge and a piece of innertube. My modification would use a big loaf of bread and a spare tire tube. That way you could just pull off a piece of bread for your snack and if you get a flat. . . well, your GPS falls off. Check out other great "inventions" on instructables, or maybe not.