After Charles Pelkey and I wrapped up Live Update Guy’s coverage of Paris-Roubaix yesterday I pedaled off for my own little adventure.
See the cobbles off to the right there alongside Tramway? Those are the rare Duke City mini-cobbles. Some people might call ’em “gravel,” but they’re really cobbles. Itty bitty cobbles. You can trust me. I’m in the media.
Mad Blog Media 
So you rode the minicobbles? Not sure I would trust my back to Albuquerque traffic at 50 mph, even with a really nice shoulder.
So how is old CP doing these days? I emailed him a couple times and never heard back. Politics got him too busy?
Tramway is an insanely popular route with the local leg-shavers, recreational riders, loaded tourons, etc., et al., and so on and so forth. Especially on the weekends. I think the motorists have gotten used to seeing us. When they think to look up from their beers, bowls, phones, etc.
The shoulders are wide enough to run a double paceline, and the only real pinch points are on the descent — at FS 333, the road to the La Luz trailhead, and down by the casino.
From I-25 you have a pretty nice half-hour climb without interruption, save for the one stoplight at the casino. This makes it almost worth the paranoia and that itchy feeling in the spinal column.
CP is a busy fella lately. He’s full-time lawyerin’, part time legislatin’, a superdelegate for the Donks, and god only knows what else. I couldn’t get him to return any emails for the whole week leading up to Paris-Roubaix. I was kind of surprised to log in on Sunday and see him at the controls.
So has CP betrothed himself to Billary or is he holding out?
The Bern’ won Wyoming, and CP’s boy Philip has been working for the old socialist, so CP is very much the Bernie Bro. Even introduced him when he came to speak in Laramie. There’s video available on Facebutt.
I don’t do Faceplant. Wonder if it is on a publicly-available Faceplant page. But good for CP.
It’s on youtube Khal. Here you go.
Good morning! Haven’t turned a pedal since 20 March. But, my back feels damn near normal, so I will try a ride next week. Going to sign the closing papers on the new digs this morning. I’m going to use my Waterman fountain pen. Hardly get a chance to use it anymore.
Khal, are you off the injured reserve list and back on two wheels?
Yeah, but have not done a long ride yet. Did 22 miles, heading up into the Jemez yesterday. Still some discomfort but I finally bit the bullet and put the 17 degree rise stem on the Cannonball so I can sit a little more upright for now. Bike doesn’t look quite as bad as I thought it would.
Pat: Return to cycling advice from a 69-year old: “Start out slowly and then taper off!” Congrats on the new crib!!
Khal: Sittin’ upright on a bike is way better than crouched over a computer!!
34 degrees here today in the Bibleburg environs……will try to MTB a bit this afternoon.
With a day like yesterday, I’d put a 90 degree stem on the bike if that’s what it took to ride it.
Main problem is I still occasionally have this feeling like the surgeon left a few reams of Kevlar and Teflon in there.
Probably just the odd sponge or two Khal.
Looking at the scenery is better than looking at the front wheel. Easier on the neck and back. When the bars are level with or higher than the seat, it looks like the bike of an expert rider to me.
Congrats indeed, Pat. Closing is always so much fun, except for the boring and scary bits, which come to think of it are most of them. Glad to hear everyone is getting back in the saddle, no matter how up-tipped the stem or chilly the weather.
Patrick, you may be interested to know there is a new member of the OGWGFIW team. Just got back from Germany where I presented friend Michael Schuette with a version 2.2 jersey as a somewhat late Christmas present. He sent me a message later that he ran a half marathon in 1:29 over the weekend in Hannover, wearing the jersey. I don’t think he GFIW very much. If I can persuade him to send a photo I’ll forward it along.
Hey, Jon — always delighted to welcome a new comrade to the ranks. Even if they can clock 1:29 for the half. Zoom zoom. And thanks for buying him such an excellent present.