Many thanks for the dialog WNG! I love the canals. The AZ canal takes me from Metro Center to Youngstown/El Mirage with a two mile diversion to the Grand Canal. The Grand is mostly hardpack granite but is fine for a road bike. It leads past south downtown. The AZ Canal east of Metro Center runs through the Biltmore area then south on the Crosscut Canal (Papago area) to Tempe Town Lake....Great ride anytime! (Well when it's below 125*) My bicycling map from Maricopa Associated Governments show canals out east of Tempe and through some wilderness but I haven't tried them.

Oh man, I know something about embarrassment! Some days my pace is really off. Diet, sleep, rhythms, who the heck knows. I've been embarrassed by kids on tricycles! I always just ride for the fun/recreation. Some segments may be faster or slower just "because". If I ride along with anyone, I let 'em know there's no competition, just fun. I'll try to keep up and enjoy 8 mph as much as 15 mph; maybe enjoy it more at 8!

I'll connect wth the CV links you mentioned. Glad I finally am becoming more active on this forum.

Hey link0 That is a SWEET Schwinn Prologue! You made a nice, nice bike into a show piece............