Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

First tour of the year!

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

First tour of the year!

Old 01-01-07, 11:52 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
wheel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Crystal MN
Posts: 2,147
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My first tour of the year!

Here are some pics Phoenix to Prescott
So I set out on a journey. One that did not require a car.
My first day I got supplies at the grocery store. Considering it was along the way, and I did not want to go home and then come back. I also found a store to buy a sleeping bag that was only a block away. I started out on third ave. and camel back This is a popular bicycle route. I rode that all the way up to the Arizona canal. I then went to Metro center a mall via the canal and bought my goods. This has to be one of the best Malls because it is right on the canal and has a public transit station also. So with my goods in hand. I packed my bike.
It was winter camping so I had a lot of bulky items to take with me as you can see. Another problem was water. I could get off at every exit. But this too is another problem. So I had to pack at least a gallon of water incase of emergency. You don’t want to be in the desert with out water. So the red back held my bladder 2 litres. I had a litre on the cage. Of course you don’t want to pack the house because this gets heavy. So only essential items would do.
So now on my way starting at 1200 pm I continued up 23rd ave and the Cave Creek Wash. Then merged onto 19th ave. and headed north. 19th ave is a major I need to rush by you road. Just wide enough so you can’t take the lane. So I got to see Deer Valley Airport. I noticed a Enterprise rental place with a barb wire fence around. Not sure if it was a rough neighborhood or what but not very customer friendly there. I also noticed the control tower was built just like La Guardia’s airport in New York City. By this time things are starting to look like country however I still needed a few more miles. To get to Happy Valley Road. 17 miles
Finally I turned left at Happy and continued on another bicycle lane west. I was about to enter the Interstate. Yet need to manage a roundabout first. After completion I was now traveling on Interstate 17 on my bicycle. Of course I stayed in the shoulder. Which was horrid with the rumble strips going diagonal across the whole shoulder. I went dud and dud and dud. Like every ten feet. I thought I was going to break down right then and there. They made the whole shoulder impassible. Clearly something designed from the 60s.
So I finally made it to Carefree highway at 23.5mi. I was just about to say screw this. Then decided to try it just a little longer. Sure enough that had fixed the problem now the rumble strip went along side the white line and I had 6 foot travel lane all to my self. It was like my own personal highway. Remember there are Trucks and what not passing you at 80mphs an hour. Which is quite loud and very annoying. After you get used to everything flying past you on the left at light speed it went really well.
So the first day I was going to do 60 miles I already have lead you through only 23 so far only 575 feet . From here on I start the climb. 3841ft to aporx.. I did find to my horror a tack stuck in the middle of my tire. A on the fly pulling of the tack was required to my pray it did not deflate the tire. Not a good place to pull over. There were a lot of hills. It felt like I was going up or down a hill. The mile markers never seemed to go so slow. They were almost like a torment. They even have blocks that have a white marker on them. So you know when the mile marker will read 220 instead of 219. I don’t think any one else wanted to stop either. Because I found all their crap laying along side the Interstate. I found a ladder, faux leopard pillow, sleeping bags, air conditioner, a toy dinosaur, bungee cords galore, among other things. At one point I did have to enter the travel lane of the interstate. I was freaking out. Although all the cars passed all the way in the other lane. I had to avoid a broken down car and this trailer that was going to tow it. I nodded my head and kept on peddle up the hill as fast as I could. Now I could say I rode on the highway at a messily 7mph. While traffic was whizzing by me at 80mph.
So about this time 4pm I was getting a little hunger. The five hours had proved harder than expected and I was 20 miles from reaching the 60 mile mark. I made it to Black Canyon City. I found a steak house alongside the exit. I like to visit out of the way places. So I don’t have to worry about my stuff being ripped off while I go eat. I found that they had a window seat I could watch my stuff. I am not sure about the food since I was so hunger I could have eaten everything there. I needed some protein for the ride so I ordered a cheeseburger, French onion soup, and salad.
The sun was now setting as I finished my meal and talked with my contacts who would be watching over me during the trip. I had felt really comfortable on the Interstate as the shoulder was at least 4 feet in some places like bridges or places where they had to blast through rock to make the grade. The shoulder went even further up to 10 feet when they could just grade and pave. I ride in traffic a lot so this was actually a lot nicer than what I normally ride in. If they just quite making all that noise.
I am very visible during the whole ride but at night I light up with my reflective vest, reflector and blinkie light. Everything passing me saw me and those distracted were reminded by the rumble strip which followed me the whole way. Which was something I did not want to cross at again. I was lucky though no distracted drivers came by me. Little did I know since I had no map only briefed myself on the roads, exits and towns that I was going to be climbing a huge 7 mile mountain. When I saw the sign turn off your air conditioner so your car does not over heat was I a little worried. Keeping mind I had been going up hills the whole time. It felt like it never ended. I just kept peddling and peddling. Of course it is now only 5ft shoulder the whole way as they had to blast through rock to make the grade. Trucks were headed up it at 40mph with their flashers. I could smell some trucks and cars overheating. I managed to do about 5mph. At one point my legs needed a stretch. So I got off and walked for about 2 blocks. Remember those white markers? I did not like this at all so after my legs released their build up. I had another problem how to get back on the bicycle and start out on a mountain grade. I finally when no motors came I positioned myself so I could start out just left of the white lane and ride horizontal err going down to gain some speed and the quick sharp turn up the hill worked pretty good. However I was not stopping again and had 3 more miles of this. You never realize how long a mile is until you climb a mountain. I was also starting to see how you never want to hug that white line when going around a blind curve. As their might be a cyclist. After I was on top of the mountain. Of course I went down hill some. Their was even farm land off to the right as I could see the plowed field. By this time the full moon had risen and this made things easier to see the road and me. I had to stop going down hill I was getting cold. See the thing is when you going up hill your hotter than hell. Because your producing so much heat. Yet on normal riding or downhill you freeze. So I put on some gloves, face mask, and continued on. There was place in the shoulder where you could pull off and I did make use of that. Another concerned person saw this and a few miles from resting position and pulled over to ask if I was all right. I thought that was nice he stated he also went adventure cycling. I greeted as I passed by not wanting to stop and said I was fine. So now I only need another 10 miles. Still either going up or down a hill I saw 250 and then 251 needing 260 I thought I was never going to make it. Finally I made it well close enough I found a pull off with compacted dirt. I knew this was my spot. I pulled off and camped for the night. Basically just unrolled the sleeping bag and slept. The traffic was horrid. Yet not much you could do. I did not want to haul my bike to far from the road. . Besides nine hours of cycling will put you to sleep fast. I rode up several small hills and crossed two mountains. One being a 1200ft 7 mile climb average grade 5%
I need an extra 2 more miles to get off it. Yet I knew that sleeping on the highway was better because of land use ahead was private land. My camping spot was perfect it was on a curve and set back far enough from any mistaken vehicle that left the road. So when I woke up I found myself after I climb a good five minutes a valley below me and then yes my exit 262. Now a thing a bout exits because I am riding in the shoulder I have to merge onto the shoulder at ever exit. The on ramps to the freeway are easy the white triangle is a good 25 feet across at the base. It is the off ramp which is really hard. When things come at you 80 mphs an hour you just want to merger as quickly as possible. One good point is that only a few exits were popular so I looked back and prayed. Now though I am using the exit which I still use the shoulder until I get to the right turn lane. Then I wait till the car came up behind me and then move to the left. As the lane is huge and I am going left. Unless the lane is to narrow I just stay right next to the white line and give my signal to the people also turning left. I never found this a problem considering now the road width and traffic. So now I am on AZ69 I know I know the whole 69 thing. This would be my highway for the next day. I did 46 miles this day and nine more hours. I also climbed to 6,000 feet in altitude from 1100 in two days. Yep 6,000 feet and snow where there was no sun shining it. This was a brutal up assault the second day. Even when I made it to Prescott the whole town was built on hills. This was a lot better than the Interstate. I had the same shoulder widths for the most part. Yet less traffic and slower speeds. A little more relaxed I was starting to enjoy my cycling. I was still going up the mountain and down it. I saw my only hitch hiker. He got picked up by a white pick up I saw him trying to stay warm in the bed. He got picked up about a mile from where I saw him. I was going up hill of course. Interesting note. I saw him at Taco Bell. Considering I said hi to him on the road and he just looked at me. I just looked at him at the Bell. Three mountains today One mountain range on a moon light ride in the Prescott Forrest. First mountain was easy nice grade. The second mountain hurt the fourth hill to Prescott was long and small shoulder which was being changed. The second mountain was fine again average 6mph
So after 4 hours I made it to Prescott valley about 5 miles from Prescott. I had seen my first bicycle lane. And now I was riding on a multiple use trail that rain along the highway it just along the business strip about two miles. Here is where I found the bank and Taco Bell I loaded up on some cash and filled my belly. I was going for one meal a day from a store. I had to make it to the Prescott Forest office by 4.30pm so I headed out and took another couple hours of yes going up more hills. I finally made the city limits at 5,300 feet elevation.
Prescott was nothing but a big hill to me at this point. I had one interesting traffic pattern which I saw with google maps. My next highway was AZ89 I guess they like the nine. So to get onto that I had to cross over a bridge which read a sigh read no pedestrians. Think like a small interchange. After that they separated AZ89 south traffic and downtown Prescott traffic. I did not know what lane to get into. I wanted downtown, yet it looked like there was no median in the other lane. Well when I finally got there as you can see. They had a nice shoulder to the left and I took that and then was able to merge into the left lane since it started median and then went to a white line. Worked fine no problems.
So now I am in Prescott not really sure where I needed to go remember no map. I rode down the main strip which had a wide 12 ft road and yes more hills. Finally I found a road with a bicycle lane and took that. They had a bicycle route sigh which I thought was odd since I had only seen that signage for routes for bicycles not bicycle lanes. Anyways now lost I saw a old man taking down his x-mass lights and asked. He of course had known the town like the back of his hand. “Yea just take a right here and five blocks is Cortez.” Thanks. I made it to the office at 4.20pm just in time cause I did not know when they closed. Kind of like the map I am not that critical of my plans. I got the information I needed. Such as fire restrictions and if I need a permit for dispersed camping. No permit needed you need one on State Parks so I was worried. No fire restrictions made for a warm night. I did find that they wanted a protected area around Prescott city and needed to travel another seven miles before I could sleep. My whole trip I found people so helpful. I asked her how to get to 89 she gave me all the roads which is just one but several at the different points. She also gave me a grocery store along the way after I asked of course.
After my information was collected I pedaled off west one block and then south on Montezuma way of course up some more hills.
I found the Safeway on a hill every place I stopped at along the way I had a view of my stuff or was able to leave it in a place sure not to get stolen. This was my first bring the bike in. I had no problems I just put it by the carts and locked it up of course. I got some fire starter just incase the wood was wet. Picked up some OJ, baked potatos, and microwavable lasagna and water. After that I set out to the Prescott Forrest.
Now I saw a guy come in with a back pack to the store. I then passed him along the way. As I was getting my warmer clothes on he caught up with me. We talked for a while and then went our way. He was sure a fast walker. This mind you was at a sign that read Prescott Forrest. I was seeing pine trees for the first time in 4 months. With my directions on camping. I noticed a convenient sign that read Whilot 14 miles. So I knew If I traveled 10 miles I would be well in the camp zone. So on my way with more climbing in the dark. I thought this would be dangerous as with the cars. There were lots of blind curves. However the cars couldn’t go very fast and I could take the wide lane even though it had a shoulder. I took the lane and then when the lights lit me up. I did an aggressive turn toward the shoulder. So it placed me horizontal almost. I never had a problem. I found that this was better than the daytime because I could see the headlights behind me and see where they were going after they passed me. More importantly see how much of a hill I had to climb.
After another nine hours I found another gravel pull off. This had a trail that lead down the hillside. Keeping in mind I was along side a hill I found some level ground. This would be it. Little did I know there was a dead log, a rock in the ground that had a point like an axe, and several rocks that made a camp ring. I was set. I got my camp fire roaring in the chilly air. Threw the potatoes next to the fire and ate some cold lasagna.
Latter on a guy came down to see if the fire was in control. I was like yep. I was till close to the road yet down from the road. Noise was not a big issue since it was not used much and that there was huge curve which slowed them down. With all the rocks on the ground I hard time sleeping.
Yet when I woke up saw this huge valley below me. It was awesome. I knew it was there. Because the moon had lit it up the night before, but to see it was awesome. I had some OJ and then poured the rest on the now defunct coals. This was dispersed camping you need to bury your waste, pack out the garbage, and leave no trace. So I poured out a litre and half on the coals and then covered them with my rock ring. I put some dirt on for good measure. I hopped on my bicycle and climbed the hill which I did not want to finish. Remember when I said I was psychic? Well after a few miles of climbing nothing. I found my self looking at a valley below.
I did see another cyclist and he scared me as he told me I would have a crosswind. I was in shock so I said that is good. Dang that is not good. Any way I asked for the temperature and he passed me. I did not realize why I saw him coming back till the huge hill that lead to the valley below. I waved and greeted him now that I saw him this time.
So now I am picking up the speed it would be another 9 hours of cycling. I am feeling a little sore though so I was not sure how far I would make. I started to notice the cross wind coming down the hill. I was like this is perfect my last leg and a stiff crosswind. Plus another two more mountains to cross.
89 was the neglected route now in the valley. The road had no shoulder to ride on it was all upgraded and only wide enough for both cyclist and motor vehicle in the south bound lane. I could not imagine if I had to ride north bound. This is why when you climb in elevation take the major roads as they will be graded and have a shoulder. Traffic will be slower as they’re also going up a hill. Going down a hill take the crappy roads. As your time spent on them will be less.
So considering I was losing 4,000 feet I still had too cross two mountains. The first was not so bad just annoying. I really did not like peoples valley as the cross wind on the flat plain made me really slow. The valley had a 360 degree view of huge mountains so I knew I was headed up something. If your reading this your thinking sheesh this is a long time. Yes by this time I was feeling it. I still had another 50 miles of cycling. I climbed my second hill which was to bad only one not graded section which killed me. I was able to sit down on the seat for every climb on my route. Which I found some pride in that. I knew I was going to come down at some point. Yet what I saw was unbelievable. More importantly five miles of 25mph driving and then 5mph of 20 mph pedaling. I ate some of my snacks at the overlook and marveled at the scene below me.

Upon reaching congress I needed water so I stopped at the Texaco. Now here is my rant. When I asked how far something is no one really knew. The fire guy said the next town was 10 miles and it was only 5. The lady at the store said Wickenburg was 20 and the sign just across the road said it was 15. Not that I knew any better. Yet come on these people live here.
The road to Congress to US 93 was the worst part. The road started generating traffic. No shoulder and cars zooming 70mphs an hour. For the most part the drivers thought of me. Some used the whole other lane to pass me. Others would wait till oncoming traffic passed. Yet others would ride the line or even worse use a little of some of the others as opposite traffic would pass. I would clinch my jaw each time I saw that. That was really rare though and all even the scary drivers passed me with 3 ft or more. Still going down hill I was able to take advantage of that and 14 mph was the normal. Something I had not seen in the three days of travel for any distance not a hill.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
w40.jpg (62.2 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg
camp1.jpg (96.7 KB, 26 views)
File Type: jpg
800.jpg (63.9 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg
I17updown.jpg (80.5 KB, 14 views)

Last edited by wheel; 01-06-07 at 02:14 AM.
wheel is offline  
Old 01-06-07, 12:19 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
wheel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Crystal MN
Posts: 2,147
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I need to make it to Wickenburg by 5pm I was doing rally well and planned on making it an hour early with my speed. I merged onto my last highway US 93. Some how I planned it so that it would only get worse as I went. This road was the worst with bumps of ten feet from neglect joints and chip saw that made you vibrate. Of course where the cars were traveling it was nice and smooth. It was a quick 6 miles though. I made it to Wickenburg at 4.pm with the bus leaving at 5pm. I found the bus stop and got a subway sandwich. I ate my dinner and waited for the bus.
The public bus system runs a regional connector I threw my bicycle on the bus rack and piled my crap into it. I slapped down my three dollars and slept the quick forty miles. I still had 17 miles to go However two thirds was down that Arizona canal so no problems there. I made it to metro center and from there you can take me home.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
2camp2.jpg (83.2 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg
2climb892.5.jpg (47.2 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg
2climbed892.4.jpg (28.7 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg
2climbed892.7.jpg (26.6 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg
2downhil891.jpg (60.9 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg
2downhill.jpg (11.9 KB, 8 views)
File Type: jpg
2forest.jpg (23.7 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg
2Goodbye1i17.jpg (25.2 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg
2nightcamp.jpg (27.5 KB, 15 views)

Last edited by wheel; 01-06-07 at 02:15 AM.
wheel is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.