Litespeed
02-05-09, 05:15 AM
We are taking our tandem again this year. Anyone else going?
Tandem Cycling - Tour de Palm Springs
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alwaysbikn
02-05-09, 12:32 PM
Yes!!! We will be taking our tandem as well.
Al Bundy
02-06-09, 12:51 AM
Probably
72andsunny
02-07-09, 11:11 PM
We'll be the out of shape couple trying to ride the century. (And trying to keep up with 2 other teams who hopefully have not done any training either).
72andsunny
02-16-09, 09:35 PM
Palm Springs reflections.
January did not end at the end of January, leaving us with very little time to train for New Zealand (http://takealotofdrugs.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-january-blues-if-idea-of-intensive.html). So we decided to cram all of our (pre-New Zealand) riding into one day on Saturday's Tour de Palm Springs (http://takealotofdrugs.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-january-blues-if-idea-of-intensive.html).
After the first 12 miles (up hill and into the wind), I was getting pretty worried. Fortunately, as usual, I was able to find a tandem or two (and even a triplet) to draft behind. After the first rest stop, we met up with our Santana (http://santanatandem.com/Vacations07.html) friends Mark and Maureen. Mark assured me that the next 50 miles would be down hill, and that the Tour de Palm Springs is the easiest century (http://www.ehow.com/how_2019302_train-century-bike-ride.html) ever. You would not think it would be necessary to point out that Maureen told me last year they were going to ride one century a month for the entire year...but it is indeed necessary; there is no such thing as an easy century. As a matter of fact, this century was 102 miles (http://tourdepalmsprings.com/routes/100mile_route.htm) long (my flight deck (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CP707A12-Shimano+Flightdeck+Sc-6502+Computer.aspx?sc=FRGL) measured it at 104).
Things overheard during the tour (some may have been spoken by me):
"This stopped being fun at about mile 45."
"I've been surviving the last 10 miles on packets of mayonnaise." (I certainly did not say that one.)
"I like peanut M&M's."
Our times were not impressive; somewhere around 8 hours total and 6 & 1/2 hours pedaling. But we finished, it didn't rain, and we can go to New Zealand next week knowing that we are in 100 mile shape.
PS: I did not really believe in frame flex (http://santanatandem.com/Techno/FrameEfficiency07.html) until I rode behind this very flexy triplet. Off in the distance, you might be able to make out some windmills (http://www.palmsprings.com/services/wind.html). The photo does not capture how fast they were all spinning.
January did not end at the end of January, leaving us with very little time to train for New Zealand (http://takealotofdrugs.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-january-blues-if-idea-of-intensive.html). So we decided to cram all of our (pre-New Zealand) riding into one day on Saturday's Tour de Palm Springs (http://takealotofdrugs.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-january-blues-if-idea-of-intensive.html).
After the first 12 miles (up hill and into the wind), I was getting pretty worried. Fortunately, as usual, I was able to find a tandem or two (and even a triplet) to draft behind. After the first rest stop, we met up with our Santana (http://santanatandem.com/Vacations07.html) friends Mark and Maureen. Mark assured me that the next 50 miles would be down hill, and that the Tour de Palm Springs is the easiest century (http://www.ehow.com/how_2019302_train-century-bike-ride.html) ever. You would not think it would be necessary to point out that Maureen told me last year they were going to ride one century a month for the entire year...but it is indeed necessary; there is no such thing as an easy century. As a matter of fact, this century was 102 miles (http://tourdepalmsprings.com/routes/100mile_route.htm) long (my flight deck (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CP707A12-Shimano+Flightdeck+Sc-6502+Computer.aspx?sc=FRGL) measured it at 104).
Things overheard during the tour (some may have been spoken by me):
"This stopped being fun at about mile 45."
"I've been surviving the last 10 miles on packets of mayonnaise." (I certainly did not say that one.)
"I like peanut M&M's."
Our times were not impressive; somewhere around 8 hours total and 6 & 1/2 hours pedaling. But we finished, it didn't rain, and we can go to New Zealand next week knowing that we are in 100 mile shape.
PS: I did not really believe in frame flex (http://santanatandem.com/Techno/FrameEfficiency07.html) until I rode behind this very flexy triplet. Off in the distance, you might be able to make out some windmills (http://www.palmsprings.com/services/wind.html). The photo does not capture how fast they were all spinning.
specbill
02-17-09, 07:59 AM
No Rain...wind not impossibly difficult in Palm Springs this time of year??? You lucked out! We went all the way to Florida for some sunny pedaling and to avoid what is going on in the Sierra right now. Did the Suwannee Sweatheart event last weekend..got soaked on Saturday's ride but had great weather for the metric on Sunday. We're staying here to ride for a while 'til the snow melts a bit.
Congrats on the early season century and have fun in N.Z.... Post some reports please.
Bill J.
Congrats on the early season century and have fun in N.Z.... Post some reports please.
Bill J.