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
OPEN THE GARMIN LINK TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THIS DAY'S RIDE:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3423188954