San Diego to Dog Beach and back
9/9/17
This is the ride out to the beach to dip our front wheel into the Pacific Ocean. However, there was a hundred yards of sand to cross and we decided the wheel dip would have to be symbolic. No way we were going to wheel the bikes through that much sand!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 12:55; end: 14:23; avg:12.6; max: 22.1; climb: 141; miles: 10.7
SUNNY; wind: W 10; start  temp: 79; min: 66; avg: 84; max: 91; end: 84
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1970240364

Julian to El Centro
9/11/17
At the start of the ride we rode from the pines at over 4000 ft to the spines (cactus) at under 1000 ft in the first 20 miles. We continued to descend with a few bumps along the way, giving us over 1400 ft of climbing. With the avg temperature for the ride at just under 100 degrees, everyone suffered in the heat, myself included. However I suffered less than most meaning no cramping during the ride. I just found the heat to be ultra oppressive with a hot wind and ultra hot temperature to ride some 60 miles out of the 86 we did in a high level of heat. As they say, it is dry heat but at some point it is just as dangerous as heat and humidity! Between Julian where we started at El Centro where we finished we passed through Ocotillo Wells and Plaster City - not much out there - just Ocotillo cactus and cholla cactus and those towns in name only as hardly anyone lives there.  
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 8:14; end: 15:28; avg:15.9; max: 43.3; climb: 1496; miles: 86.83
SUNNY; wind: S 15; start  temp: 73; min: 68; avg: 99; max: 117; end: 111
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1972540402

Blythe CA to Wickenburg AZ
9/13/17
Day 4 of the Pac Tour Southern: we left California this morning and headed for Wickenburg AZ, 116 miles from Blythe. We climbed over 2 mountain ranges, each followed by very nice downhill runs. Sometimes we had a headwind or crosswind. But for the downhill, we had some strong tailwind! There was 3400 ft of climbing in total but it wasn't that easy. The temperature topped at 115. But thanks to some cooler air toward the end, and cloud shade at times, conditions improved. It was still 95 at the end but I felt better by then than I had the previous 2 days.
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 6:39; end: 15:54; avg:16; max: 34.6; climb: 3425; miles: 116.42
SUNNY; wind: N 4; start  temp: 70; min: 70; avg: 98; max: 115; end: 95
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1976425200

Cottonwood to Winslow
9/15/17
Day 6, Pac Tour Southern Transcon: Cottonwood to Winslow - the ride started with miles of climbing accompanied by fierce crosswind and headwind and gradients as high as 10%! After the long stretch of climbing there were several stretches of steep intermittent climbs with intervening descents. Finally, in our last 30 miles, we had nearly continuous descending with most of the gradient in the 1 to 2% range and a strong tailwind! We cruised for miles at 30+ mph. It was a fantastic way to end a long climbing day!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 6:48; end: 16:44; avg:14.2; max: 44; climb: 7152; miles: 116.89
PARTLY CLOUDY; wind: SW 5-20; start  temp: 61; min: 52; avg: 73; max: 90; end: 77
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1979505522

Springerville AZ to Socorro NM
9/17/17
Day 8, Pac Tour Southern Transcon: This was slated to be a very tough day as the distance to be cycled was 155 miles! This called for leaving early, keeping the breaks short, and picking up the pace. So James and I were on the road about 45 min earlier than usual. I rode solo as James was nursing a sore knee. There were 5 sag stops, a lunch stop, the state line, Continental Divide, the Very Large Array, and highest elevation for the entire trip. These were all the places I stopped plus a couple random photo ops. I kept the stops very short to make sure I made the various time cutoffs. The very high desert scenery out there was beautiful - yellow and violet wild flowers were blooming as we maintained elevation above 7000 feet for most of the ride. The starting temp was low 40s, dipping into the upper 30s early on. It stayed cool all day with the usual assortment of headwind, crosswind, and tailwind. It even rained in Socorro just before I got there. So, a long day done successfully. Looking forward to a shorter day tomorrow!  
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 6:04; end: 16:17; avg:17.4; max: 42.9; climb: 4190; miles: 154.75
PARTLY CLOUDY; wind: S 3-20; start  temp: 41; min: 37; avg: 71; max: 95; end: 79
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1984029627
 
 

Ruidoso to Roswell
9/19/17
Day 10, Pac Tour Southern Transcon: Today was what I would call a recovery day. Leaving Ruidoso, we had some steep climbs (as steep as 12%) and very fast descents but with significant crosswind, until mile 24. After that, the road turned east and we had an incredible tailwind as the road trended downhill, eventually dropping 3500 ft. I rode for long stretches at over 40 mph - fast enough to fly down one side of a roller, bottom out, and without pedalling, coast up the next hill and over with 20 mph still showing on the Garmin. What an amazing day! After 47 miles, we had some easy climbs as the road began to shift to a southeasterly direction, giving us more of a crosswind but we were still able to use that to advantage. As we came into Roswell, we enjoyed smooth pavement all the way to our hotel. So, 97 miles, 3000 ft of climbing, a good avg speed. We didn't work very hard on this one, so definitely a recovery ride!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 8:18; end: 15:23; avg:17.9; max: 45.5; climb: 2979; miles: 97.25
PARTLY CLOUDY; wind: W 15-25; start  temp: 63; min: 59; avg: 87; max: 106; end: 99
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1987448882

Clovis NM to Amarillo TX
9/21/17
Day 12, Pac Tour Southern Transcon: Back in Texas at mile 8, we arrived in Amarillo after nearly 111 miles and the highest avg of the trip so far - 20.8 mph. We had an awesome tailwind allowing us to cruise at anywhere from 22 to 32 mph for the most part. Today I topped 10000 miles for the year, over 1600 miles for the month so far, 58000 ft of climbing for the month, and 256000 ft of climbing for the year so far. Today was the easiest day of the tour - our vacation within a riding vacation! We followed US 60 which in turn followed a busy railway line - freight trains galore in each direction. We travelled through Hereford Texas, self proclaimed as the beef capital of the US (if not the world) and as evidence we saw feed lots alongside the road with hundreds of cattle being fattened up (fortunately we were upwind!). There were enormous grain elevators along the road and in the towns we passed through - all I would say are the epitome of agraian Texas - ranches and support in terms of hay and grains. However, the predominant smell was of cow manure, not hay or grains just as in some parts of Texas the smell hanging in the air is oil! Either way, it becomes obvious what the regional industry is all about. It was hot, too, above average for this time of year but not nearly as bothersome as the heat of southeastern California or western Arizona. Or, maybe I'm just getting used to the heat. In any case, hope the heat moderates in the coming days. There is much more to look forward to during this epic ride as we still have 15 days left - looking forward to it!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 8:11; end: 14:56; avg:20.8; max: 37.8; climb: 974; miles: 110.86
SUNNY; wind: SW 10-25; start  temp: 66; min: 66; avg: 91; max: 102; end: 97
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1990928943

Quote from square_corners on Sep 22^nd, 2017, 9:49pm:

 
Daniel, Doug hasn't made any posts. How's he doing?