Where is Lance?

Follow Al on his cross country bike tour!

If you want to see the itinerary, click here.

To learn more about the tour, click here.

Day 10- Don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy

2009-05-18

Scores from they are having record high temperatures in AZ bike tour.
96 miles from Flagstaff to Holbrook AZ

Riding on I40 2
Riding in the high desert sun 1
Blasting with Jack Winberger 10
Missing the sandstorm 10
Having no flats 10
Having Jim Lyle say I ride beautifully---This is like Ted Williams saying you have a nice swing
Having a cloud cover at the 70 mile mark--life saving

I started out riding with Jack Rubin and we stopped to take fluids. Jack W. comes by and says take my wheel. He put down the hammer big time. At two hours, even though we have ridden four miles in Flagstaff, we had covered 42 miles. At 76 miles we are riding with Jim Lyle, the fastest rider in this group. Jim had already had two flats. We were never below 20mph even into the headwinds. Other big riders had flats and Jack and I were 2nd into the hotel. After we cleaned up we went to go across the street for lunch and a sandstorm was roaring. I cannot imagine what other riders went through.
When eating lunch Jim leans across the table, sticks out his hand, and says welcome to the throughbreds. What he does not know is I am completely exhausted.

Note to Leslie: The bike shop in Flagstaff raised my handlebars 2mm and increased the angle by 5%. They put bar phat on my handlebars and I wore two pair of gloves. I think this will work. Thanks.




95 miles to Holbrook


View down I40





A thoughtful gift from Rich. He bought it so I could exercise my hand. He gave it to me at breakfast and said I should probably wash it before I use it.

Messages

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Why Does Rich have to leave his daily comments crack me up! Al you are Thouroughbred? CRAZY as HELL but a Thouroughbred! Sent 2009-05-19 from Bonnie

Al -glad to see your still CRAZY after all these years, keep up the good work! Sent 2009-05-19 from Jon Fellman

Enjoying your daily reports but we need to talk about that rag on your head. Will be interested to see if you're still with the thoroughbreds tomorrow. Sent 2009-05-19 from Barry

Aren't you finished yet? :) Good job man - from one of your "mutt" friends. Sent 2009-05-19 from Steve Taylor

Bill P. - I know in states like Colorado, it's entirely legal to bike on the shoulder of the interstate where so indicated. With that said, it's not something you'd want to do often as it's not very pleasant. Sent 2009-05-19 from Thien

This is excellent. We need a new person to do all the pulling for us since Dave isn't pulling like he used to. Now we can leave him at Zou Zou's peacefully eating apple fritters while you pull for us on the Waterloo loop. Sent 2009-05-19 from Thien

Roddy, Speaking for horses out of the barn, you know he's going to be insufferable about this thoroughbred thing so maybe you could make some money off it and get him a match with Rachel Alexandra. If you really think he's gone off the deep end, you could make it a stakes race and maybe someone would claim him. Sent 2009-05-19 from Rob

Oh, and I missed the Winslow Arizona thing or I would have said "Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy". But then, that horse is already out of the barn. Sent 2009-05-19 from Rob

Al, as impressive as all this is the most amazing thing to Walt and I is that you've learned enough about using a computer to do this blog. Or is someone doing it for you? And, if not, we're back to Walt's question, "who are you and what have you done with Al Newman". Sent 2009-05-19 from Rob

Your blog is great! You make me want to do this kind of trip. I bet you I could talk Katie into doing one really easily. Have fun! Sent 2009-05-19 from Maria

so there is a winslow,az.! what else are you going to uncover?? sand storms-what a blast- good to miss tho. Sent 2009-05-19 from peter brown

Al, I've been enjoying your trip reports. Question: I thought there were minimum speed laws for interstates. Do you have to get special permission to bike on them? Are you ever tempted to race when cars ease by? Sent 2009-05-18 from Bill P. in SMOC

Hey Thoroughbred - congrats! Beats the Wonderbred designation (as in whose child is this?) Let me guess, we should now address you as Clyde. Dang, not only do you ride well, you look good doing it - perhaps Clothes Horse may be the more apt moniker. Be well, stay safe, and we sure hope your hands don't go numb. Sent 2009-05-18 from Chip and Carol

USA! USA! Sent 2009-05-18 from Ryan Shea

Is that a rabbit missile you're squeezing? Sent 2009-05-18 from Phillis

Larry - In the Newman family "a good eater" is a form of endearment. Dad - Love the do-rag! Sent 2009-05-18 from Anna

Larry - In the Newman family "a good eater" is a form of endearment. Dad - Love the do-rag! Sent 2009-05-18 from

I don't quite know what to do with this "thoroughbred" thing. When you left Ann Arbor you were a good old horse and now I am going to get back a thoroughbred??? Sent 2009-05-18 from Roddy

The reason for no road kill? The animals are smarter than you - they know better than to be on the highway when the temp is so high. Sent 2009-05-18 from Dan & Molly

Uncle Allan, when you were in Winslow Arizona, did you see a girl, my lord, driving a flatbed ford, and was she going in your direction, and if you did and if she was, why didn't you throw your bike into the ford flatbed and hitch a ride to Holbrook? Sent 2009-05-18 from Old Uncle John