December 17, 2020
Biking my age in miles: 74
So this is what I was holding back a few extra miles in the tank for yesterday. Today’s the day, the one day in the year I dedicate to biking my age in miles. I started this challenge-to-self six years ago, back when 69 miles didn’t seem especially impressive or challenging. At 74, I’m putting a bit more thought into it and starting to wonder how long I’ll stick with the idea.
I’m pretty sure I wrote up all of them at the time, but the earliest two were posted on a different website and I haven’t managed to locate them. Maybe I’ll find them on a backup some day, but here are the predecessors still in print:
71: In Portland
72: Also in Portland
Conditions are ideal for a long ride today. It’s still cold when we wake up, but rising rapidly. The expected high is forecast at about 70, winds should be modest, and there are supposed to be broken clouds that should provide shelter from 7 hours in the sun.
I’ll need seven or eight hours, because on a ride like this I’ll only average 10 mph because I’ll stop for every interesting bird I see, hoping it will stay put or edge out into the sunlight where I can get a better look at it. The sort of ride that will slowly drive some of us batty, so Rachael elects to let me humor myself on my own. She helps me pack, fixes me a turkey sandwich, wishes me well, but makes her own plans for the day.
I sit around watching the temperature incrementally inch up until around 8:30, and then prepare to go. I have a bit of a scare when I get outside and find that both of my tires feel low. Not another flat! But no, they just need a refill. I pump them up, say a small prayer to myself, and bike off down our bone-jarring street.
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It’s a slow first mile until I make my way to a Mountain Street, a north-south minor arterial with a good bike lane and a reasonable surface. It’s probably the best route to take if you’re headed to the northern side of the loop. Three miles later I’m looking across Rillito Wash at Mount Lemmon, thanking my good fortune for such a splendid day and for the good health that allows me to enjoy it in this way.
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So what is there to say about sixty-six miles on the Loop? I got my kicks on the Loop 66, but I think I’ll leave it at that. I’ll just share with you some of the reasons I decided to stop along the way.
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A gamboling Gambel's quail?!
Out gamboling amongst the kale
No money required
From this bird that's retired
Just a head feather with a tall tale.
OK. I'll stop now. No more limericks today, I promise!
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http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Cactaceae/Opuntia%20santa-rita,%20Santa%20Rita%20Pricklypear.html
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My 10 mph average was spot on, and I’m back at the north end of Mountain Street at about 4:30. Fifteen minutes later I’m bouncing the final, slow mile home. The odometer turns 74.0 miles just as I round the corner a block from the casita. Perfect!
So how was my day, and how do I feel about it? Pretty perfect. No flats, just the right number of reasons to stop, the turkey sandwich I enjoyed sitting in the sun along Julian Wash was delicious (Thanks, Rocky!), and other than feeling a bit saddle weary I feel surprisingly good at the end. With more daylight, I feel like I’d be good for another 10 miles or more.
And, because I like to keep track of such things, here’s a list of the birds I saw along the way. Not too bad, considering there aren’t that many birds around in the desert anyway and it’s not that easy spotting them from the saddle without scaring them off before you get a decent look.
In alphabetical order: American widgeon, Bell’s vireo, blue-grey gnatcatcher, cactus wren, English sparrow, Gambel’s quail, great-tailed grackle, killdeer, mallard, mourning dove, roadrunner, rock dove, rufous hummingbird, Say’s phoebe, vermillion flycatcher, western kingbird, white-crowned sparrow.
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So what did my partner do to amuse herself while I was out acting my age? As you’d expect, she enjoyed the chance to take a break and kicked back in the casita, watching soaps and lapping up cookies and popcorn.
Oh, wait. After consulting my notes, I see that’s not exactly right. She biked over to J.J. Bikes to have her gears adjusted, and while she was waiting took a 13 mile hike west of town to Tumomac Hill, a small hiking preserve. She got home not that long before I did, and I think was nearly as tired. It looks like a fine hiking area offering great views of the city and surroundings. We’ll have to go back together when we’re ready for a break from the bikes. She brought back these photos as enticements:
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Give it a try on a Sunday with less traffic.
Happy
74 miles for your birthday!
3 years ago
Ride stats today: 74 miles, 2,100’; for the tour: 947 miles, 35,900’
Today's ride: 74 miles (119 km)
Total: 947 miles (1,524 km)
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Congrats!
3 years ago
Maybe next spring I'll bike my age in miles. It seems like a good tradition to start.
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Good choice for a way to spend your day. I wouldn’t go on a long ride up there in this season either. Or maybe ride my age in furlongs, as Bill helpfully advises.
3 years ago
Do you have any flat roads up your way? You might want to plan for a vacation in someplace flat when the time comes.
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I think celebrating in kilometres makes sense! Well done... I could not ride 74 miles right now without tripping over my tongue. Keep up the great work and raising the bar for the rest of us!
Cheers, David and Anne
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Cheers 🍻
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You're an inspiration for both miles ridden and birds identified and photographed.
If I ever try this, I'll likely go with the Canadian NOYOAR. So this year 50 kilometers = 31ish miles. Sounds doable!
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2 years ago
Let’s see now (opens conversion app), 62 miles is 100 km almost exactly. Yes I did, several times, but never with that particular intention.
Maybe next year I’ll do 101.4 km and celebrate somehow.
2 years ago