Biking Breakaways 2022

 They took it easy on us today with an almost-level ride along the Colorado River. Towering red rock canyon walls on both sides gave a spacious hallway effect to our route, and there were several places to stop to be a tourist. Climbers were scaling impossible-looking rock faces along part of the road, there were petroglyphs to gaze at in other areas, and Jug Arch was certainly worth a photograph. Today was nice conclusion to our four days of rides. We set another cold PR for our start, as I think it was 30 to 32 degrees.  ☮ And with this post, I say, thanks for reading. Bye! ☮  

We made it all the way through Arches NP and back, no problems, but now back at the hotel we have the familiar feeling of being whipped up on by the elements of Utah. Wind, sun, hills, everything that is part of the arid outdoors here was coming at us for the 4.5 hours today while we were on our bikes. Below is a selfie I took as soon as I took my helmet off, a little dazed, but happy! My eyes were hurting from the sun's glare, but better now after my drops. Unfortunately, my bike computer battery died at about mile 40 of 42 miles. So, I'll try to get Fred's Garmin stats, but it was something like 43 miles, 12 mph, on my Wahoo computer. (Garmin doesn't pause for rest breaks and I think that's why a different mph. ) We are headed out to check out Main St. in downtown Moab. I haven't had a chance to browse the cute stores. I'm the speck wearing white breezing down this serpentine entrance road into Arches. I'm behind the car in one of them, in front of the

This photo, someone else took it, was from yesterday.  Now, it is Monday morning and, unfortunately, around 32 degrees out, but we must get going. We have some strict time regulations for when we get to use the roads in Arches NP today. So, we are bundling up and setting off soon. It is a "dry" cold, we joke to each other. Which, truthfully, does make it seem not as cold as an Atlanta 32 degrees. But, still.  

Here is our 42 mile route for tomorrow in Arches NP. (Or is it 46? Hoping 42, TBH.) The Skinny Tires website describes the ride (and Arches NP) this way: The crown jewel of rides, touring through this National Park will leave you breathless for its scenery and awe-inspiring views. Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms, and textures unlike any other in the world. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins, and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets. Here's hoping our fantastic pasta dinners tonight at Pasta Jay's will help fuel our journey tomorrow. Honestly, tonight we are feeling pretty leg tired. Our legs felt heavy and weary just walking up these small sets of stairways in our hotel. So, we need a good night's sleep.  

  Today's ride did not disappoint but it didn't exactly live up to the promise of easy. I'd been told that Utah people were fit and tough, in fact, I have sort of secretly internalized the tough part as a mantra for this trip. So, I'm not complaining, but I'll just say the rides and climate here, when mixed together, are no joke. And, the wind is usually in your face. Our route took us out of Moab toward the east. We started out when it was maybe 38 degrees, which is a cold PR for us both. But, wow, the sun was generous, the route and scenery was first-rate and reminded us of every western movie we've seen. Lunch was amazing and efficiently served so it was an A-plus day any way you look at it. I was able to take more photos today because I remembered how to squeeze the sides of my phone to take a photo. It was still clumsy with two gloves on each hand. But, things warmed up by the time we had our delicious lunch at the Red Cliffs. And Fred took some of these ph

The Skinny Tires peeps have set up something special for us today, an easier ride and a fancy lunch "on the road" as we pedal a total of, I think, 48 miles today. Yes, we sprung our clocks forward here in Moab and are feeling lively and ready for a calm trip along the Colorado River.  This is a photo of the Red Cliffs Lodge  where a hot lunch will be served. It is going to be nice, because right now it is cold outside. Maybe around 33 degrees at 9 a.m. and 40 at 10 a.m. We are supposed to start our ride no later than 9:30 but, dang, it is going to be chilly. Sunny, though. Another bundle up, double gloves day. Want details about today's ride? Here you go .

The sunny ride out to Dead Horse Point and back is done, and we have the pleasant weariness to prove it. Plus, this photo and a Strava screenshot. For the cyclists out there, I'll break the ride up into, let's say, three sections which actually match the U-shaped orange line in my screen shot. It is out and back.  Section one is out of Moab and along a very nice paved bike path. An arched bridge took us over the Colorado River and from there it was scenic and safe, and offered wide open views: everything you want in a bike path. We did about 10 miles on it. This bike path does go seriously uphill but you are mentally prepared for the uphills anyway if you are on the Dead Horse ride, so you just spin your way up.  Section two is along a highway (Hwy. 313) but there is a fairly big shoulder for the cyclists to ride on. Scenery becomes outstanding along here. A rim canyon is on the right, and it is really close by so you can gaze at the arches, openings and swirls in the rocks w

It is finally almost time for our first ride. I'm nervous, especially since we drove into Dead Horse Point State Park today, and went up one certain winding uphill. See the graph, it is somewhere in the 12-15 mile section. It all looks pretty uphill but around the 12-15 it is sort of drastic up. I'll watch the percent incline setting on my bike computer tomorrow and let you know how #^*$#@* it gets.  But, we loved the views in Dead Horse, and the yurts looked cozy and would be perfectly situated for stargazing. Maybe next time.  Dead Horse Point State Park Overlook. This is our turnaround point on the ride tomorrow.  A yurt I'd like to live in for 3-4 days. We also visited Canyonlands National Park and hiked along the rim trail. Quite the drop-offs there, and no safety railings along the rims like you'd see down at Grand Canyon. The vibe here is a lot more 'buyer-beware.'  We took so many pictures but they don't give you much of an idea of how vast the sce

We are here! Pretty amazing. A bit chilly. We've only had three issues so far and they were all mine. First issue was yesterday when the special Georgia peanut butter I'd packed for a gift for the ride director (in my carry-on suitcase) got confiscated by TSA at the Atlanta airport. I forgot that we'd be doing carry-on. So, that was sad.  Second issue was queued up for this morning when we were putting my bike back  together. My bike is a regular road bike but it has a small battery (tucked into the seat post) that allows the shifting to be done electronically. We'd had to remove the seat for transport and Fred didn't really understand how the whole thing connected but he thought he had put it back together perfectly. And, as an engineer  I know he is really good at that kind of thing so I had no worries. Everything looked okay, seemed okay, but when I tried to charge the shifter battery, which I've done many times before, it was quite dead. No green light, no

The weather at our destination, Moab, Utah, will be different from here at home (Atlanta), but not monumentally so. Ride days are forecasted to be a high of 55 or 60, with lows of 25 to 33. The climate is important to the traveler, if this research from the International Journal of Tourism Research is correct.   “How was the weather?” is a frequently asked question when people exchange their holiday experiences. Recent results from the annual German travel analysis , a representative survey among 7500 Germans (FUR,  2019 ), report that the most frequently listed positive memory of the last main holiday trip was neither landscape (70%), nor regional food and beverage (68%), nor the atmosphere (65%). It was good weather (73%). Also, extreme weather remains a part of traveler's memories: a study of Gössling, Abegg, and Steiger ( 2016 ) showed that people still report weather related events that took place while on holiday even after 10 years. The folks with Skinny Tires have been grea

"What is a high desert?" you ask. " And explain it to me like I'm a fourth grader." Okay: a high desert means it is located between 2,000 and 4,000 feet of altitude. Some call them "cold deserts" but it sounds so heartless and that's probably why most people just say high desert. The idea of a high desert captures my imagination, and I'm really looking forward to feeling a connection to a different landscape.   Also, I like thinking about the mighty Colorado River, which, at 1,440 miles, is one of the best-known rivers anywhere. Did you know it goes through or along nine national parks, including Arches National Park, and more water is exported from it than any other river in the U.S?  We will ride in the area of the Colorado River all days of our ride. I think, but I can't tell for sure, that we may have a great view of the river--one of those grand high up and looking down views--as we make our way through Dead Horse. We will earn it, and

The state of Utah has the most certified dark skies anywhere in the world, according to the organization, International Dark Sky Parks and Communities. Way to go, Utah. We are headed for Moab, Utah soon, and there are three certified dark sky sites nearby, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. To sidetrack with you, that last park name? Dead Horse? The name came from a legend that Dead Horse is called that because it was used as a natural corral by cowboys back in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the plan included a major downside for the horses since many, many seemed to die of exposure. So, not good.  Our longest ride of the Skinny Tire Festival is the first day, and it goes right through, you guessed it, Dead Horse Point. We are hoping to beat, by a wide margin, the fate of those horses of long ago.  Here's our route , one that will challenge me. It gains more than 3,600 feet in elevation. High desert elevation at that. At this link yo

The countdown is at hand, we have a FedEx receipt to prove that our beloved bikes are en route to our Moab Hotel. The bikes should get there the same day we do, March 9. We'll have two days before rolling out as first timers of the 2022 Skinny Tires Festival . Beth Logan, ST ride director, has been so helpful as she's answered several of my phone calls and emails during the past four months that we've been getting ready for the ride. She'll get her payoff soon: a treat bag of Georgia edibles and no, not that kind. I'm thinking Georgia Grinders Peanut Butter and Chick-fil-A sauce and maybe a bag of pecans if I can find some labeled as Georgia grown. I'm looking for the peanut butter but so far can only find this almond butter, which is very good, btw. The Skinny Tire people sent us an email a few months ago asking if we had any special dietary needs or requests. They were planning our lunch menus and snack offerings and just wanted to know. Isn't that so nice

  “Anticipation is such a valuable source of pleasure,”   said Elizabeth Dunn, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is quoted in a New York Times article about how many of us feel when planning a trip. It is an idea that's easy to agree with.  Fred and I found out about the Skinny Tires event on a cold November evening when we were just sitting around, not doing much. We read about it. Talked a little. Read a little more. Then, without much too much more consideration, we signed up. The registration fee, around $225 each for what sounds like an amazing supported cycling in an area we want to visit anyway, seemed like a bargain compared to full-blown cycling trips we've heard about.  Anyway, we clicked "register" and felt satisfied with the plan. We filled in all the other details of the trip, flight, hotel, bike equipment questions, in December. Anticipation has been brewing, in a very nice way, ever since. At some