25-Feb-19      MON -       HT2 Tubac to Patagonia ↑15% →steepest climb of the day
Today's net climbing brought us to 4000 ft elevation in Patagonia, where there was widespread snow cover, 3 days after the big snow storm. This area got about a foot of snow. The swimming pool at our hotel still had a sheet of ice over the top and the decking around the pool today had the snow piled around the edge, even though it was very unlikely anyone would be using the pool. Our net climb of 800 ft was mostly easy, much of which was again big ring climbing. But the continued climbing was a little test of my ability to acclimate to the higher elevation. My max speed of 51 mph (82 kph) set a new record for me, eclipsing last year's record of 48 mph. There were long, fairly steep descents which, if one didn't touch the brake, facilitated new records. Fortunately, there wasn't much wind, the pavement pretty smooth, and the traffic light. The steepest climb today was 15%.
 BIKE: DFXL166; start time: 09:29; end: 12:55; avg speed:12.7; max: 51; climb: 1673; miles:36.66; mtd miles:482.03; ytd miles:1354.04  
 SUNNY; wind: S 8-15; start  temp: 52; end: 60
 
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27-Feb-19      WED -       HT4 Tombstone to Bisbee ↑8% →steepest grade for the day
Today's destination was Bisbee, the highest elevation of any town we would reach this week, at over 5500 ft (we stayed at the Copper Queen Hotel which is at 5300 ft and that had a bearing on how much initial climbing we had in the morning). Unfortunately, I never made it. Just shy of 15 miles along, my chain broke. It sounded like a clap of thunder right next to me but I knew exactly what it was and I immediately clamped down on the brake and set it. I was on an uphill and pedaling in my small ring. I clambered out and moved the velo onto the gravel shoulder, and rolled it forward to a wider flat shoulder. The van was still behind me and it would need a wider space to pull off the road. About 10 min later the van approached and I waved it down. We loaded up my velo and away we went to the first rest stop, passing Doug along the way. When Doug rolled in, he thought he could have me back on the road in half an hour. But there were complications and it dragged on to about an hour. Looked like I'd have to forfeit the rest of the ride. I sagged to Bisbee at that point. Doug was just coming in and after lunch I helped Doug for more than three hours sorting out the issue with the chain. But, by the end of day, it was buttoned up and ready to go the next morning. So I missed out on the final 33 miles of the ride. Hate when that happens. I do these rides because I like a challenge, most of the time. But never fear, the next day would offer up an even bigger challenge!
 BIKE: DFXL166; start time: 08:23; end: 10:03; avg speed:14.7; max: 45.58; climb: 502; miles:14.9; mtd miles:552.13; ytd miles:1424.14  
 CLOUDY; wind: W 5-10; start  temp: 37; end: 50
 
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1-Mar-19      FRI -       HT6 Benson to Tucson ↑11% →steepest climb of the day
This was an easy day compared to the last few (aside from the 0.2 mile 10% grade leaving Benson - I actually saw 11% for about half of it). 20% of the ride was on the interstate shoulder. Then we had another 10 miles or so of very rough road paralleling the interstate - lots of cracks and pot holes on very old pavement and lots of steep rollers. After that, the pavement got a lot better for several more miles until we reached the portion of the Tucson Loop Trail system for non-motorized vehicles we would be riding. That was ultra-smooth, no traffic riding - the best of the trip. Finally reached the final miles of roadway back to the start hotel which concluded this 6-day Historical Hotels tour. I hadn't done this one before. My takeaway is that it was surprisingly challenging despite the relatively short mileage days.
 BIKE: DFXL166; start time: 07:36; end: 11:42; avg speed:15; max: 43.7; climb: 1227; miles:50.26; mtd miles:50.26; ytd miles:1542.7  
 SUNNY; wind: NW 5-10; start  temp: 45; end: 73  
 
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