Monday, August 09, 2010

Pedal Los Pueblos Ride Log: City Round 1 for 50 miles


Tramway Loop = 12 figgies, 2 muscle milks, and two water bottles

Sunday, August 08, 2010. 50 miles. DIRKenstein holds up.

Aside from abfab weather, Albuquerque is crossed with excellent bike paths. Well, they're actually roads, but who's counting. It doesn't give me warm fuzzies always biking along high traffic commute paths, but you do what you can to stay safe: ride as far to the right as safe (keeping three feet or so in case I need to bail), wear bright colors, and learn to avert your eyes from the frequent staredowns (fsck that!). On to the show.

I set the meeting time that morning: collectively leave at 5:45AM. It makes sense that I wake up at 0600. Up, throw on my spandex (shut it) and on the road in less than 10. I whip past the fancy townhomes, see the gang, and .. dump. Still getting used to these shoes that clip into my pedals. Magical.

The main training route whips around the city for a total of appx. 50 miles. We head west along Route 66 to Tramway. Tramway runs north/south along the Sandia Mountain range, and it's a pretty ride (minus the traffic, of course). BTW, Tramway is a slow incline northbound. We head north along Tramway and stop several miles into the ride for a team picture. It's magical.
The Tramway incline isn't tough enough, so we head east on the add'l 15 degree incline to the Sandia Tramway. Just my luck: Lupo and the gang are behind me (except for the energizer bunny far ahead) and I hear "this isn't the tour de france" as my chain derails and locks between my frame and sprocket. No idea. Flip DIRK, wiggle it out, and remount. Stop again at the Tramway clubhouse for potty and another picture. And to top it off, the parking lot is still in the shade, which means we're making good time. Oh, here's the gang:

We're the Penultimates!

Let me take a moment to explain we're not in this for speed, trophies, or prom queens. We're just recreational. Making good time brings smiles to our faces. It's not that we're the team of fat kids, but, well, we're their slightly thinner cousins. Our team name is The Penultimates... and you have to represent.

Got back onto Tramway, headed west for a very nice reprieve on a long, fast downhill route past the Sandia Casino. Honked at by an old fart nickel pumper who attempts to turn in front of me and Energizer Jaymes. I hold out my hand, he flails and honks. I call him bad name. I have a love for our aging historians.

The rest of the ride was pretty eventless. Hit the Bosque Trail along the Rio Grande, dodged some crazy fast runners, then some other cyclists, then headed east south of the city past many, many junkyards because the southwest is an old mechanic's garage - and full of great finds. Passed the zoo and botanic gardens, then headed north under the I40 bridges, up a slow climb to University, where we have another climb. Hills at ride's end warm my feet, and we raced to the top. Basically from here we make our ways back home and plan to meet for celebratory excessive lunch. Alas, this doesn't happen as we're either pooped or overbooked. I walk into the house for my victory cold shower. My body boils the cold water, then I make my wife breakfast. How awesome am I?

ttfn

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