Primary Suspect: Dude rode his first bike race on July 4th, circa 1953, on the dirt streets of Nome, Alaska, on a green Roadmaster with a bright red saddle.
Accomplice: Innocent Melody, who was tired of chasing her mate every weekend. It’s been two and a half years on these contraptions.
The long bike journal begins. It was a bright …and stormy day.
29 August 1998, Saturday
Questionable color?
Drove to Scottsdale, Arizona, Landis Cycles, to test ride a moly and aluminum tandem. Respectively, a Co-Motion and Santana. Did twenty or thirty quick paced parking-lot laps to the right and an equal distance counter-clock wise. Both frames felt similar in the stiffness and response categories.
The aluminum machine was equipped with expensive equipment, including the newly designed 'forth generation', according to marketing blurbs, Formula disc brake. Within five or six parking lot laps, the prime suspect managed to lock up the 'forth generation' disc. Not a good sign. Call Santana. The man himself, Bill McCready, answered and I was presented with fifteen-minute lecture on hydraulic disc brake design, which I admit impressed me, since this information was not forthcoming in any of my tandem research literature. Lesson: Don't mess with the little twisty things until reading, ack! instructions. Do real men read instructions? Oh, I also learned how to adjust and replace the brake pads when the time comes. 10,000 miles? The skinny. Even though I will have to learn to embrace this tangerine color, technology won the day, Santana received the nod, and Tucson has a new tandem riding pair.
Ride 1- 5 September 1998, Saturday
Maiden voyage, a whopping... 22 miles??
The planned maiden voyage, at least 40 miles and see how we feel. In for a penny, in for a pound; let's try a real hill, two miles up Christy Dr. Oops! About halfway up, on the first quick shift to the granny ring, the chain bails and wraps itself, several times, between the chain ring and frame. Good-by brand new tangerine paint. Had to drop the rear wheel and carefully pry, twist, and torque the chain back into position. Lesson: Don't slam shift on a hill? The remaining mile or so up (with a couple very careful practice shifts) was without incident, smooth and precise gear changing. Evidently the Santana had learned its lesson.
The two mile drop on the other side, down Magee, tested the Formula disc under moderate hill conditions, and I am pleased to report a slowly growing confidence in this 'forth generation' technology.
Just as the stoker and I were settling into our maiden voyage rhythm, the back tire died. Nuts, but not the end of the world. I always carry two tubes; however, I had opted not to purchase the high-pressure frame pump, penny wise, pound-foolish. My little bitsy jersey pocket tire pump became smoken' hot as I managed to force, perhaps, 80 measly pounds into the 125 pound rated Continental. We decided to head back to the barn, just in case, on a soft rear wheel and within a couple miles, a soft front wheel ... soft front wheel? Ah double Nuts. Thank you front tire, you traitor.
With this flat, the stoker decided to go down with the ship. At about 30 degrees list to port, she reported that she was still clipped in; ergo, the captain saluted those who were about to go asunder and as gently as possible lay the ladies, ship and stoker, down. Happy to report no damage to either the crew or long bike.
I melted my shorty pump again, and we limped into our local homeport, Tucson Bicycles. I immediately purchased a high-pressure frame pump, a saddlebag, and fifty or sixty tubes. We will be carrying four replacement tubes until I have trained the Tangerine not to puncture.
All in all, a pretty good shake down cruise. Lost both tires, wrapped the chain around the frame, chipped the new paint, dumped the crew on her butt, and melted my wussy pump. I prefer to get these little maladjustments out of the way as soon as possible.
Capin' Steve
Ride 2- 7 September, 1998, Monday - Labor Day 45 miles! Wrong Foot Up?
The plan was to do a real ride… like break the 22-mile record? The team fueled up on pizza the night before, slept in a bit and hit the asphalt around 9am. Traffic was holiday light and the sun was up.
El Captain turned east on Sunrise headed for Saguaro Monument East. We flew south down Paseo Otono testing the new fangled disc brake again and wondering just how fast we were going? Communication and teamwork are smoother but could be more refined. First challenge, efficient communication. "We have enough time to get over for that left turn if you go now." How far back are those cars coming up behind us?" The captain wants specifics, not just "Back a ways". Second challenge, he pedals fast and ALL THE TIME. The stoker wants to coast a bit more and she says we always stop with the wrong foot up. She is thinking, "I have NO control here, what have I gotten myself into? I want my Mostowy!"
We made it to the Ramada and the Captain wanted to keep going, around the loop. No way, she needed a break so park this thing and let me off. He gives her at least 2 or 3 minutes and a wet bandana to tie around her hot neck. Well, at least the cold water is refreshing. We drop into Dead Man's Gulch, the first steep down hill. Wait, the stoker has no brake levers, she closes her eyes and is ready to bail. Oh Captain My Captain. We are sailing up the other side. The stoker has never cycled so fast up the two mile incline and we probably finish in record time, for her that is. The captain actually stopped again at the Ramada before heading back to the Hacienda.
She realized that she was getting tired when she almost caused us to fall at Camino Seco and Broadway. Something about pedaling, then she couldn't find her saddle. "What are you doing back there?" She was ready to be finished 28 miles out, and there were HILLS, lots of hills, yet to pedal. Of course, he turned on Tanuri. What was she thinking when she envisioned the easy River to Swan route? (My feet really hurt and I wanted off the saddle.)
We did it, a real ride, 45 miles almost non-stop in record time for the stoker, and the captain was never out of her sight once. Apparently Tangerine trusts that the Captain is competent and he did not have to fix any flats or wrestle with the chain. She walked through the door and collapsed on the floor unable to eat, shower, or move any leg muscles. He just smiled down at her on his way to the kitchen and says "Great ride, you did good."
Ride 3- 3 October 1998, 40 miles, Saguaro Loop
Ride 4- 18 October 1998, 64 miles, Gene Chapman Tumacacori Memorial
A pleasant ride, little windy on the way out, so we pulled several riders to the halfway point, rested 5 minutes and flew back. Three and a half hours. Tandem has 130 miles.
Ride 5- 10 October 1998, 60 miles, Started with the TNT group to Sahuarita, then to Joe O'Donnell 'cause we blew a tire, at El Con Mall, bummers.
Ride 6- 11 October 1998, 34 miles, Vistoso Loop
Ride 7- 1 November 1998, 45 miles
Supposedly a long Biosphere Tour training ride, turned messy at El Conquistador. Poor George Runger drafting the long bike tried to stop quickly at El Conquistador light on the way to Saddlebrook. The bike did stop quickly, but poor George kept going, flying over his handlebars. Fifteen stitches in his arm to keep the white ligaments at his elbow from falling out.
An Engineer who was not from
Nantucket.
Took a flyer and broke his
brain bucket.
He cracked his ankle, his
arm.
His back received harm.
I can not say that he loved
it.
Ride 8- 8 November 1998, 65 miles of the Evergreen Century.
Poor Joe O'Donnell not to be outdone by archrival George decides to pedal away from the long bike on Picture Rocks hill. Ten minutes later, about two miles along Sandario, the long bike pulls up to a cloud of dust, a lost shoe, and other debris, including Poor Joe O'Donnell and a couple half bikes. Seems Joe touched a wheel in the young-blood pack and did a 'Runger'. Cracked his helmet through and through, but saved his cabeza. Old O'Donnell tried to fly E-I E-I Oooo… crash, tumble, etc.
375 miles logged on the long bike, another great ride… for some of us.
Ride 9- 29 November 1998, 40 miles… wet
Joined our Cannondale tandem friends, Jane Kramer and Ed Rios on a trip to Saguaro Loop East. Brisk morning. After the loop, at the gazebo we ran into Burl and Brenda Sousa who were trying their new Da Vinci long bike. Took everybody's picture when the first drop fell. The three long bikes headed for the barn, but too late, as the gully washer caught us halfway down Old Spanish Trail. The Cannondale throws a pretty nice rooster tail, even with fenders.
Ride 10- 6 December 1998, 36 miles
Cold morning, 33 degrees, but sunny. We led the scheduled GABA (Greater Arizona Bicycle Association) ride to the loop. Only two half bikes showed, one fellow decided to ride alone, but Dick Strayer rode with the long bike. Explored some alternate routes, i.e., Otono, Velasquez, Tanuri, Four Winds, River, Calle Amigos, Cloud, and out to Sabino Canyon - quiet streets. By the time we made the monument, the clouds rolled in, temp dropped, and we decided to forego the loop this ride. Home to hot chocolate for the stoker and a nap for the Captain.
Ride 11- 12 December 1998, 50 miles
Jane and Ed on their Cannondale, the Dude and Melody on the long Santana, Chris and Ram Salcedo and Ken Gibson on the half bikes. Out to Colossal Cave the back way into the wind, one deer spotted, and we flew back to town in record time. We decided that the road back from Colossal has deteriorated to the point where we expect to always return via Colossal Cave Rd and Camino Loma Alta, the back side, besides the rollers are more enjoyable. Everybody felt grand, another great cycling day. To date, 501 logged on long bike.
Ride 12- 18 December 1998, 48 miles
Udall to the Loop the back way, Bear Canyon, Snyder, Soldier's Trail, visited the Agua Caliente Park, up Freeman to Monument and around loop. 50 degrees, about twenty people, and the long bike with its new saddles, Terry, was a blast. I thought Melody was her strongest ever-climbing Freeman, as we chased down several half-bike riders. Also caught and passed all but one rider, Senor Salcedo, on the Loop hill, so I know Melody was feeling spunky.
Have decided to change the 9 speed, really 8 speed with a Ritchey 9th bail out, which we never use, Shimano levers to Campy Chorus ergos. Will end up with a bona fide 8 speed for now and later in 99 the expectation is one or two manufacturers will have a nine-speed cluster if we decide we need one.
Maybe for a tandem rally in Colorado? J
549 to date.
Ride 13- 23 December 1998, 13 miles
Well, shoot. A planned 34-mile ride around Vistoso with Ed, Jane, and DC Don Pablo turned into crapola half way up Christy. Lost the chain from the granny gear sucking it between the gear and the frame AGAIN. This time I couldn't extract and Ed showed me how to use the master link to remove and replace the chain to its proper position. We need an anti suck doohickey for the long bike. In the meantime, I went to the shop, pulled the crank, dropped the granny, and cut the incorrectly designed tabs off of the chain ringbolt holes. This allows me to easily lift the dropped chain back to the granny next time it flops off. The Campy ergos work well.
Ride 14- 25 December Merry Christmas 1998, 45 miles
Nice brisk ride to the Saguaro Loop today with Kevin PT, Ken, DC Paull, and good old Joseph no thank you, I'm an athlete in training O'Donnell to keep everybody in good cheer. Joe was in top social form as usual; or else he had been into the eggnog early. Took the residential Otono route, which people seem to enjoy as it breaks up the same ol' same ol' dances with cars on the main bicycle trail. New Campy gears worked splendidly, as did the new Xmas cyclometer, until a certain Stoker played with the little buttons at the gazebo and erased everything back to zero J
Call it 600 'long bike' miles since September, and it isn't so bad pedaling with my darling. She continues to be a great sport. This next year we hope to continue one 'long bike' ride a weekend and a half bike ride on the alternate day. We have met some very enjoyable long bike people this year, especially Senor Ed Rios and his compadre the delightful Jane Krammer. We are working on their Ohio emigration status and hope to get their Arizona green cards soon. I figure he could save 60 or 70 pounds by taking off his Ohio tires, fenders, tools, packs, snowshoes, umbrellas, radios… J
Ride 15- Arivaca New Year's
Eve 1998, 46 miles
Great weather, 70's, seven
tandems, and four single bikes. Melody was in good form as we chased down
Joe, Ram, Ken and Kevin to my favorite little village, Arivaca. We averaged
almost seventeen miles an hour to the halfway point, about an hour and
twenty minutes. Good effort out, so we relaxed and putzed on the way home.
It is the compromise I have with the stoker, she is obviously afl/cio union,
after we aerobically exert to keep our condition for an hour or so, we
can kick back and enjoy the scenery and the company of other tandems. A
dozen of the riders stopped for a late lunch at the Amigos in Green Valley
and wished Rudy a happy birthday. Good cycling, good friends, and good
food on the last day of the year.
Ride 16- Saddlebrook-Vistoso Loop, January 3, 1999, 53 miles
This ride brought out two tandems, ours and Scott and Peggy, along with six singles, Joe, Ken, Ram, Chris, Jay, and Kate. Fought a killer head wind out, but we flew with the wind coming home. 2,200 feet of climbing according to Scott's altimeter. Averaged a little over sixteen miles an hour.
Ride 17- Northwest figure 8, January 9, 1999, 37 miles
Tandems: Don and Barbara, Jane and Ed, singles: Ken Gibson and Bob Rogers. Started at Silverbell and Cortaro, Camino de Manana is a nice seven-mile curvy climb. Couldn't catch the singles on the climb today, but revenge was ours flying down Tangerine. New route with very little traffic – we liked it.
Ride 18- Ed and Jane’s Oh Baby, Oh Baby, Oh Baby, January 16, 1999, 52 miles
Singles: Ken, Wayne, Bob and Ram. Tandems: Don and Barbara, and Oh Baby, Oh Baby, Oh Baby, the Black Beauty of Ed and Jane. Sleek, shiny, swift, lean, limber, and lithe. What Ed did was to strip off the European touring equipment, couple of suitcases, tent, truck jack, Gerry cans…. In addition, two pounds for EACH wheel was saved by trading out the US Department of Defense anti minefield forty-pound tubes, tuffys, and slime for regular tubes. The Black Beauty went from a hefty Clydesdale to a stealthful Arabian. Very impressive.
Oh, the ride. From Spanish Trail we headed through Vail bound for Corona de Tucson looping back past the IBM/UA Technical Park on Houghton. This route climbs slightly to Sahuarita Rd, with a head wind of course, but we flew back smartly over the last twenty miles or so. Ken is showing his oats on these rides as he prepares for the Senior Olympics. Poor Melody is learning what it means to sprint as we attempted to chase down Ken, Ram or Bob’s escapes at twenty-eight miles an hour. And Hamma Supper coaches the group periodically with his sprint tactics. His tactic is to yell Hamma and watch the mosquito half bikes fight for position like a pack of rabid dogs. Sometimes I forget I am on a tandem and sprint too. Poor Melody. Half a mile from home, Ed tested his light tires by running over the mother of all goat heads. Jane walked into camp and I went back in the truck and picked him up. J
Ride 19- Short one to the Loop, January 30, 1999, 36 miles
Supers, Hamiltons, and us rode tandems, along with four half-bikes on this easy and relaxed pedal. Hamma Super, Spider Gibson, and el magnifico, used this ride to warm up for the following day’s events at the Senior Olympics. Melody has received several email inquiries re tandem riders from our recent GABA article, and the list is now ninety plus for the Tucson area. We hope to garner more tandem interest, and hopefully offer more tandem led rides for our Southwest cyclists.
Ride 20- Joe’s Picacho Peak, February 7, 1999, 64 miles
Bit chilly at the start, maybe 200 or more riders including the 100, 62, and 32 milers. Slight tail wind out helped our small group achieve 21 miles an hour average for the 62 miles. Maxed 31 mph across the fifteen-mile stretch to the turn around. Spider Gibson and Sojourner Bob Rogers wouldn’t let go of the tangerine. During the crunch pace out they stuck like glue, but they did help the pace line on the return route.
895 miles, 716 on the replaced back Specialized Turbo 23C. Top tread is gone and the choice is to ride maybe another two hundred miles or as Rudy and Hamma suggest, rotate front and back. Hmmm Have ridden approximately 350 miles with the Campy shifters and rear derailleur. Very satisfied with performance; however, have twice dropped, inside and outside, the chain on quick front shifts, which is easy enough to fix. I have thought about replacing the front Shimano with a Campy. The Formula disc continues to work as advertised so no complaints there.
Ride 21-