tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50951726890630651032011-10-24T21:15:09.888-06:00BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-76150814566344958892011-10-24T20:10:00.007-06:002011-10-24T21:15:09.988-06:00

It has been way too long, but I am back. Many hard lessons were learned three years ago on the GDMBR, and I will not be repeating the same mistakes. The two biggest lessons were: (1) trying to haul too much stuff; and (2) having a bike that did not fit properly. I was glued to the saddle, because I could not stand up on when it was loaded. It was too unstable. I also carried too much weight

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-34389362099779965182010-04-04T22:13:00.003-06:002010-04-04T22:30:10.817-06:00

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-12313856355856778842010-02-01T20:40:00.005-07:002010-02-01T21:29:37.081-07:00

It has been awhile since I have updated this blog. Although I have been slacking in that regard, I have been very busy working towards year-round gardening. In terms of the continuing the GDMBR tour, it does not look like 2010, will be the year that I get back on the GDMBR. It is more likely I will be available for at least a section or two in 2011. In the meantime, besides being available to

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-86119688372489481422009-08-18T21:07:00.021-06:002009-08-18T22:55:56.371-06:00

I was hoping to knock off another section of the GDMBR this summer, but all spring I had a feeling in my gut that it would not be possible. My wife had a Total Hip Replacement on April 1st, so I knew my time would be limited.On May 17th when I finished up the Santa Fe Century I turned my phone back on and found I had a voice mail from my brother. I do not ever remember my brother calling so I

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-70819074955195724872009-02-27T08:58:00.002-07:002009-02-27T14:37:39.881-07:00

I made this video after a near disaster at the same intersection (Moon and Academy) on Tuesday. The most common complaint motorists have of bicyclists is that they run red lights. At about 5:55 am (according to my SPOT GPS tracker) on Tuesday I was approximately at this position on the street traveling about 17-18 mph when this traffic light turned green. There was one vehicle making a left

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-73488508690490289882009-02-11T21:13:00.000-07:002009-02-11T21:14:12.581-07:00

Last summer I responded to an Internet request for help from one of the Tour Divide racers, Domink Scherer. Unfortunately, I did not review the Tour Divide Race rules prior to lending my rear wheel to Domink to finish the race. His request for help that was posted on the Tour Divide Race Blog completely threw me off guard. I assumed that the request would not have been posted if it was not

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-76683417031874522682008-11-28T19:26:00.002-07:002008-11-28T19:56:23.554-07:00

Naran extended the invitation to join him in Tucson in November for El Tour de Tucson during our GDMBR ride this summer. It would be the only official century event I would participate in this year, because the GDMBR precluded most of my road riding. Despite limited riding for three weeks prior due to flu symptoms, lack of sleep due to a lousy room, and no breakfast I presented myself at the

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-39170134385910748782008-10-14T19:34:00.003-06:002008-10-14T20:20:12.239-06:00

On my way home from the Chuska Challenge I stayed quite north of I-40, and for awhile I was on the alternate route of the GDMBR between Cuba and Grants, New Mexico. The Pueblo Pintado ruins are 1.7 miles off route, but well worth the detour if you have the time and ambition.On GDMBR Map 5B on the Chaco Alternative somewhere near mile 53 (on the map) there is a marked sign to Chaco Canyon. If you

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-50863324542656216882008-10-09T19:28:00.005-06:002008-10-09T20:24:15.277-06:00

The 2008 (14th) Chuska Challenge was progressing well until the rains came in. In the early afternoon the roads and trails were getting slippery, and then slick. Finally they became barely passable.After slogging through mud for a couple of hours, around 5 pm, the main mission became to keep from getting hypothermia. Even in my Canadian military style jacket and high tech clothes I was starting

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-70967209681579084132008-10-05T20:47:00.006-06:002008-10-05T22:26:02.487-06:00

I just got back from the Chuska Challenge and it took me four hours to clean up my bike and gear. We were out in the Chuska Mountains in the Navajo Nation just northeast of Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona. My camera lens cover stopped working after my second wipe out in the mud so I was not able to document the whole experience. Despite having to be rescued out of the mud I had a great

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-46686242578244333792008-09-30T20:16:00.002-06:002008-09-30T20:28:05.678-06:00

On Sunday we took a geology tour at the Valles Calderas National Preserve near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Like the archaeological tour that we did in July this one was also fantastic.The van ride was quite an adventure by itself, but consider that each van had 12 people including the drivers and the tour guides. We started at 9:00 am and ended about 4:15 pm.Frazer and Cathy, our geologists tour

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-45240726417411550472008-09-01T20:50:00.001-06:002008-09-01T20:51:23.245-06:00

I do not know the scientific name for them, but I sure know what "goatheads" do to my bike tires. I had an interesting dialogue with some people about the pluses and minuses of using sealant in tires or tubes for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route ride this past summer. "I don't believe in sealant." "There are no cacti above 4000 feet." Personally, I use sealant in all my tires year round.Most

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-48180394903018155142008-08-03T21:33:00.004-06:002008-08-04T21:31:07.194-06:00

It started off as a lazy hazy warm day cruising by bike through the Valles Caldera National Preserve. When I started there was not a cloud in the sky. Despite my late start, the weather was so nice that I decided to take the high road to Redonditio and do a clockwise loop through Valles Caldera National Preserve.Only four days out of the entire year are set aside for semi-supported mountain bike

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-74192203323357268572008-07-24T22:37:00.007-06:002008-07-25T13:01:29.034-06:00

After our White Mesa and Ojito Wilderness excursion I asked my wife what she wanted to do tomorrow. "Something less athletic," was the immediate response. "Okay, give me an example," was my reply. So today we had reservations for an Archaeological tour in a van at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains near Los Alamos. I have paid to ride my mountain bike on the preserve, but

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-13051726834215042672008-07-22T16:18:00.001-06:002008-07-22T16:19:26.136-06:00

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-40334166450126866552008-07-19T22:18:00.008-06:002008-07-25T12:05:04.179-06:00

The trails are called "White Mesa Trails" because of the abundance of white gypsum, but a lot of colors are represented in the soils and rocks of this incredible mountain biking and hiking area about 35 miles from Albuquerque.In the distance you can see the real "White Mesa."Riding on the "Dragon's Back." The drops offs to either side were a couple hundred feet.Cabezon Peak is in the distance."

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-83195080702969364532008-07-04T10:34:00.001-06:002008-07-04T10:36:17.270-06:00

Unless you are a Superhero, there are aspects of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route that will probably take you by surprise the first time through. Nevertheless, regardless of the amount of physical and mental preparation for racing, or even touring, equipment failure can still stop you anywhere along the route. I am not criticising, just reporting what happened to one well prepared Tour Divide

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-24971777266715975132008-06-27T17:24:00.017-06:002008-06-29T09:20:02.794-06:00

By Hachita we were six strong as a group. From Deming, Lordsburg, and Silver City (?) we converged on the Antelope Wells border crossing on May 23rd. Howard and Judi, the tandem team, arrived about an hour after we departed the border, but joined us in Hachita at Sam Hughes' home. By sheer good luck we escaped the intense Chihauhaun Desert heat. We anticipated temperatures as high as 104 degrees,

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-80352137428825492902008-06-26T20:04:00.004-06:002008-06-27T09:25:24.952-06:00

I signed up to do SkyWarn Spotter training through the National Weather Service several months ago. The first available training was during my GDMBR trip. However, another training was available today. I have always had an amateur level of interest in the weather; especially if I am out in it.Today's SkyWarn Spotter training focused on severe thunderstorms, lightning, flooding, and tornadoes.

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-29073665752174584652008-06-25T14:00:00.004-06:002008-06-26T20:50:56.811-06:00

As we swelter in mid to high ninety degree heat in Albuquerque, many people I meet here are wondering why I am not still on my "big trip?" When I tell them about the the miles of snow and mud, and the strong winds that nearly blew my off Brazos Ridge they don't seem to be able to conjure up a picture of that in their minds. They ask: "How long have you been home?" Perhaps I am referring to some

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-25624978939556454532008-06-24T19:31:00.004-06:002008-06-24T23:08:00.043-06:00

This might be funny or just plain pathetic depending on your point of view. For me I thought it was comical. This morning I decided to go on a club ride. I have not been on a club ride in months. While training for the GDMBR I rode my mountain bike everywhere almost exclusively. As with many cycling clubs, if you are slow than you get dumped in a hurry. The club I belong to has that

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-83193890502926393832008-06-23T10:53:00.003-06:002008-06-23T11:03:04.243-06:00

I should have gotten up early to ride before the heat builds up, but I was a lazy bones and slept in. Right now I am working on editing and writing captions for the pictures in the Picasa Albums located on the left sidebar. I think I will have them all done by tonight, so check them out when you get a chance. I will also post the story of each day with more details as time permits, and I will

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-85814549348924362192008-06-22T09:04:00.001-06:002008-06-22T09:06:03.787-06:00

I know there are people who don't cook when they backpack or bikecamp, and that approach makes sense if there are sources of food during the day. If you travel lightly, then you can go faster, further and make it to the next watering hole more easily. This year in New Mexico I went to the other extreme, but even carrying food, cooking gear, fuel, and water I still lost almost a pound per day.I

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-22639419892515840412008-06-21T14:34:00.010-06:002008-06-22T07:58:29.439-06:00

Now that I finally accepted the fact that I am not going to do more of the GDMBR this summer I am starting to chill out. After a good night's rest I thought I would go for a little ride up Bear Canyon this morning, but then I got whammed with a wicked migraine headache. Usually I only get them when I am not exercising enough, and with a week off from the strenuous exertion of the GDMBR my body is

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095172689063065103.post-90718480873696217072008-06-21T06:00:00.002-06:002008-06-21T14:04:43.080-06:00

From screws, nuts, bearings, and seals back to a whole bike and BOB trailer again.I was very pleased about how well everything withstood the abuse from the New Mexico part of the GDMBR. All that extra preparation really paid off with very few minor mechanical problems.The front shock had too much negative pressure and was held down by it. My headset had loosened up some too. The great mechanics

BikerBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11085684938294494722noreply@blogger.com0