Road Trip Tucson part 2

There was a comment to the last post that needs its own post in response. Eddie (fast or crazy take your pick just don’t mix them) asked; “ There are a bunch of pro cyclists out there this time of year... come across any?” Now this is a very good question. Tucson is a winter magnet for riders all over the country. Mt. Lemon is one of the top 100 climbs in the country. 7,000 feet of climbing in 27 miles with an average grade of 6%. It goes through seven climate zones and I would have challenged it myself this year were it not for the ice five miles up. (Sometimes I get all the luck.)

Tom Danielson was in Tucson recently and whupped on the locals in a 14 mile TT. He also set a course record. That’s what happens when pro’s show up to local events. I am sure there are more pros lurking in the shadows of Mt. Lemon. Some of the guys I rode with are former pros.

But all of this colorful discourse does nothing to answer Eddie’s question. Did I come across any pros? First of all I am called Speedo because I don’t believe in wasting time. I am the first one out of the parking lot every time. I am usually the first to empty my tank, why wait and get dropped really far from home? Unless there was a pro in the parking lot I doubt I would have come across one.

I might have seen one but, I wear bifocals, not binoculars. To have been close enough to see one, he would have had to have been in the parking lot. Then again, I’m so quick getting out of the parking lot, I probably missed him. Damn I’m fast.