February 10, 2025
On Julian Wash: the Streak and a Creak
At 21 days my ride streak is becoming its own motivational force. Today starts with the same question as yesterday and every day for the last three weeks.... Where are we riding? I count on some kind of ride for my daily endorphin jolt, and for a challenge, be it speed or skill or hills or a quest to find something new.
It is very fortunate that we both like to do this. While Barry doesn't get so wrapped up in streaks or stats, he's always happy for a chance to ride his Lightning R-84 recumbent. The other bikes have their purpose, but this is his favorite and it is fast.
When I ask him what he loves about cycling, he talks about the freedom to go anywhere under your own power, about the feel of the wind on your skin and the effort of working to keep the pedals spinning, and about being able to do it in a beautiful place like this. I second all of those things.
So he's quite happy with the plan for today, to meet the Desert Trails Monday road biking group on the Loop, because he gets to ride his favorite. It's nice to follow the herd sometimes, and not have to plan something on your own. This time the gang is starting from Thomas Jay Park to ride the Julian Wash path east to the Houghton Greenway.
Like last Monday, the plan is for everyone to go out for 45 minutes, then ride back to the start and head somewhere for lunch. Also like last time, we get to the trailhead late because we parked at the wrong entrance to the park and busied ourselves unloading bikes along with another couple. Somehow our leader Mike Paradis figured it out because he very kindly drove around to herd us all to the right corral.
And so like last time most people have left by the time Barry and I get started. There's a slower group that we fall in with and chat for awhile. I can only ride slow for so long though, and eventually we peel off on our own. We'll have a chance to get social at lunch.
This is our first time this year on the southeast end of the Loop. The terrain is wide open with view of the mountains in all directions and there aren't many people on the path today. It's a perfect place to pick up the pace. After yesterday's slow climb up Mission Road, the flat smooth path is a gas to ride at speed. I can't think of a better way to flood the system with those endorphins.
There's just one hitch, a persistent creaking sound coming from Barry's crank. He has taken the crank apart twice to clean and grease it, with no success in quieting the noise. I can hear it a little, enough to guess at how annoying it is for him. He's ready to take the bike to a shop to deal with the creak. At least it doesn't impede his progress. We are spinning merrily along.
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5 days ago
This really is a blessing….and a curse..
5 days ago
4 days ago
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During lunch at Dave & Busters we get to know some more people in the group. It's our first time at this chain. The food is very good but the sound of blaring TVs and clanging, beeping, whirring game machines is obnoxious. I am one and done with this place.
Moving on, Barry drops me at one of the Tucson Gem Show venues and drives to Fair Wheel Bikes with his creaky bike. We're heading to Phoenix on Wednesday to ride the bike paths for a couple of days and he's hoping this bike will be coming with us.
Patrick in the service department looks things over and appears doubtful. He'll try to have it done tomorrow, no promises. It's lucky that we have Barry's gravel bike with us, we might need it for that side trip to Phoenix.
Today's ride: 30 miles (48 km)
Total: 473 miles (761 km)
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