Stuart Green's Excellent Adventure (Part 1)

Many of you all know local rider Stuart Green and are probably aware that he is doing a big cross-country tour thing. He left Austin a few weeks ago. Here's his first road report.

5.19.99

Greetings from Arizona!

Sorry that my first report has been so long in coming. I tried in El Paso, but was unable to connect.

Well, where to begin? I had company going out for the first week. My good friend Ruth Riffe came with me as far as Alpine TX. We had a blast! Poor Ruth had to wait on me forever and we finally got off about 2pm on Monday the 3rd. We rode off into overcast and rainy weather which held overnight and into the next day. We woke to a tornado watch the next day and rode into sunny skies within 2 hours. The weather has been great ever since. We pushed against some headwinds and struggled through the Texas Hillcountry with our loaded bikes making only moderate mileage until the 6th day as we headed into Marathon. We had a whippin' tailwind and made 135 miles! The next day Ruth grabbed a bus in Alpine and headed back for Austin and responsibility while I continued to head West.

That day into Alpine was the last of the tailwinds so far. Every day since I have been pummelled by headwinds sometimes as high as 25 to 35 mph. At times I would struggle along at a 9.5 to 10 mph pace working the aero bars in the wind! Sound like fun? I think probably the worst day was going into El Paso where I was routed along I10 for the better half of two days. No windbreak and major dust. My throat is still raw. That second day I made 127 miles to finish in El Paso and had spent over 10.5 hours on the bike. You do the math-average speed was around 12 mph. I was cooked!!

Enough of the negative! All of us that ride know that we have bad days on the bike. The reason that we ride is because the good days more than make-up for the bad. I have had some really beautiful days on the bike and have met some really neat people along the way. I am looking back through my journal and there was the day that I rode out of Las Cruces NM on my way up Emory Pass. Going through the Gila National. Forest was beautiful. Stopped in this one town of Hillsboro and made some friends in the bar (the only place that was open) The bartender let me use one of the motel room showers and I was off for another 8 miles up Emory Pass and a dry camp in Kingston. As I was riding up to Kingston, Mike (the other guy in the bar) drives by and says come by his place and he would give me a place to stay. Had a wonderful visit and spent the night in a house that was originally built in the early 1800's during the gold rush. Got lots of history about the town of Kingston which had been a boom town of something like 8,000 people in the 1820's and 30's.

Then there was the day that I was climbing up some pass in the Tonto National. Forest and startled the javelina. I'm not sure who was more startled, me or the pigs. I was climbing at about 6 mph when I heard the pigs snorting and the one took off running into the brush. I turned and looked and there on the side of the road, no more that 15 feet away, was an angry javelina. I could tell it was angry because of the ridge of hair all along it's back that was standing straight up. The pig was just staring me down. I really wanted a picture but Mike had told me to be careful around the javelina. He told a story of getting backed up onto his porch by the pigs and I had heard stories of dogs that had gotten pretty torn up by them. I continued to ride slowly past and was wishing I had my camera ready. I thought about circling back but decided not to take the chance.

Some stats about my trip: When I left Marble Falls I weighed my bike in at 94 pounds. That was with only two full water bottles. I usually carry 3 and some in my camel back when I am in areas where water stops may be scarce. So far I am averaging over 500 miles per week. I left with a 28/24 small gear on my bike but have since installed the 28 on the rear to make my final gearing a 28/28. This enables me to climb the long steep stuff at about 6 mph and still not throw my knees out. I have had some really neat descents that have been marred by strong gusting headwinds. You can't let up your attention for a second when you never know which way the next gust will blow you. (I got caught in a dust devil the other day that took me from one side of the road, out into the middle and back again in the matter of a few seconds, that was interesting!) The other day I had my first really great descent. A 6 percent grade for 3 miles and then 7 percent for another 2 miles. Through a tunnel at 44 mph and along a high narrow bridge. What a rush!

Well, tomorrow is another ride day (today was a rest day in Mesa AZ at my friends the Mele's) and I had better think about getting some sleep. I know that I am probably forgetting to talk about something of interest, so if anyone has specific questions, I will try to address them in my next e-mail. I should be in San Diego CA on Sunday night and that will probably be my next opportunity on the computer.

'Till Then, God bless.

Stu

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