Good Arizona Loop Today! - Ducati.ms

**Chuckracer** · Jul 2nd, 2006, 12:16 am

Arizona sucks in the summer. It's been so damn hot here that riding is just terrible. It sucks not being able to even go for a quick ride. Every ride needs to be an epic to get anywhere cooler, then you still hafta come home. Theoretically.
I'm tired of reading about all you guys' riding!

Left Chandler at 9am, already 90-something and going up fast. Headed up the Beeline to Payson. It's a fun high speed sweeper road, but I kept it cool cause it's a holiday weekend and I knew the law would be out...didn't see one police car the whole way to Payson! That's a first!

Stopped in Payson and gassed up, 89 degrees. Not bad! Continued up Rt.87 to Pine, stopped by a friends cabin to see if anybody was around -nope-, continued through Strawberry and up the hill through the sweepers to the top of the rim. Ahh...83 degrees and semi-cloudy...perfect! Traffic was suprisingly light, that was a plus.

Took my time heading to 260 and Cottonwood. The plan was Jerome, Prescott and on home via 89A (White Spars - KILLER road).

About halfway down the hill towards Cottonwood, it was now 95 and climbing. I looked at the clock and thought, "Chuck, what the F*ck! You just left paradise and it's only noon....why?". Brakes! U-Turn! Back up the hill...ahhhh...much better!

Stopped in Strawberry at a cool little restaurant and had a great lunch, flirted with the really cute waitress, left a fat tip and rode on. Back to Payson, topped up the tank again and looked at the clouds. Yeah, storm forming in the northeast, but that's common for this time of year. We're good to go!

Headed east out of Payson on 260, traffic was heavy but moving right along. It's early in a long holiday weekend and people are still wanting to get somewhere. Driving with a purpose. That is until we (about 10 assorted cars and trucks) got caught behind a cop in an SUV driving 5 under on a divided four-lane. Don't suppose anybody had the balls to pass him doing -gasp- the speed limit? Oh hell no! I finally worked my way to the front of the group and motored on by. Poo-Poo looked at me with suprise, I waved and accelerated up to 5 over. Buh-bye!

260 is a pretty route, following the Mogollon (mogy-on) Rim, and is fun where it turns to sweepers and goes up the rim for good. At the top is a Ranger/Info station with a porch out back with a spectacular view of...most of Southern Arizona, I think. Really wish I would have remembered a camera.

Anyhoo, remember those storm clouds spotted in Payson? Right over our heads at this point. Suddenly it started sprinkling, then pouring. Those of you in the rest of the country don't realize what an event this is in Arizona. We tend to lose it and stand outside looking straight up, trying to drown like the turkeys we are. But the, the best part: Hail! Yeah, this rules!

After a few minutes of this, I realized it's been years since I've ridden in the rain. Better get busy, then! It was great! I was wearing a Vanson mesh jacket and was soaked instantly! I was froze, laughing in my helmet! I haven't been frozen since winter before last in NY! Awesome. Now my bike is a muddy mess, and I don't care!

Anyhoo, rode out of the storm a couple minutes later and was pretty much dry ten minutes after that. Continued on to ShowLow, stopped for some coffee, then right on 177 headed to Globe via Salt River Canyon.

I haven't been to Salt River Canyon in years. Boy is that a fun road! Super smooth, medium high speed sweepers, some 180 degree, killer! I rode probably too fast, but was having a ball killing the little Michelin Men on the edges of my Pilot Powers! Traffic was light, too! Gonna have to go back there more often!

And so...on the way to Globe...more storms in front of me. I'm hauling ass, heading southeast, trying to beat the storm coming in from the east. I didn't make it. WOW!!! Pouring rain (again!), this time with high winds and lightening strikes on each side of me! Once again I'm soaked, froze, and loving it! The lightening had me a tad worried as most of them were of the Flash/Crack variety, but I held firm and continued on...and once again, ten minutes later I'm dry. Coming into Globe, another gully-washer hits just as I'm gassing up. I talk to a Beemer rider who is waiting it out. He's headed East, so he can. These storms are headed west, and so am I. It does me no good to wait them out, because I'll just catch them on the road. So I ride through them - two more - and finally ride out from under the cloud wall just in time to drop into Superior and start the sweat process. Onehunderdsomething, I didn't look. Hot. On home...damn hot. Sweat...home at last. Beech the filthy Duc (good girl), shower time!

What a great day! I needed that!!!

Leonard · Jul 2nd, 2006, 1:56 am

Chuckracer, sure sounds like a fun ride. BTW, you have more gonads than I do to ride in the rain, did a couple of times this spring and my bike sure was squirrelly.

**Chuckracer** · Jul 2nd, 2006, 2:29 am

I'm a freak...I actually enjoy riding in the rain. I don't get to very often out here though. You've just got to be loose and let it move around. Be gentle and smooth with the inputs and you'll be fine.

It certainly helps that while there was standing water, the pavement I was on drained very well and had a coarse texture to it.

I've raced in the rain a few times as well...THATS a trip! You wouldn't believe how well rains stick in water! I've raced in the rain on DOTs a couple times, too. That was a little scetchy. They don't give a lot of feedback, just snap you sideways right when you think you've got them all worked out. It's difficult NOT to snap the throttle closed and yank the bike upright in that situation...just be cool like Fonzi...

**SouthsideDuc** · Jul 2nd, 2006, 8:25 am

Chuckracer,

You made me nostalgic for my time in Tucson in the '90s. I love all of those roads. My favorite road of all time is just east of you. Running between Clifton AZ and Springerville, AZ 191 (used to be named the much more appropriate AZ666) is 120 miles of non-stop curves and crazy fun.

Thanks for reminding me of some great times!

Tony

Bill_Anderson · Jul 2nd, 2006, 11:08 am

I lived in Phoenix from 1984-85 and was very glad when I got transferred to Monterey, CA. It was always nice to get up on the Rim and out of the heat and I know what you mean about those summer monsoon storms.

mals900ss · Jul 2nd, 2006, 6:04 pm

Thanks Chuck.. what a buzz of a day you had, but I don't think you're a freak. While I don't really like riding in the rain, I will dress up and head out into it. I do it because I need more confidence riding on wet roads. I still start out tippy toeing around but the more I ride the stronger it feels. Hail?? I'll stop and listen to it pound my helmet while I lay across the tank under a tree.

Do you often ride alone?

Mal

**Chuckracer** · Jul 3rd, 2006, 2:58 am

He he...all the time. Howdja guess?

dietrichpfeifer · Nov 7th, 2006, 12:39 am

AZ riding tip of the day: If you haven't been to Prescott from Wickenberg before, and are getting ansy to pass slow moving four wheeled vehicles between Yarnell and Prescott, be patient and you will get passing lanes right after you pass the officer's favorite outlook. Don't ask me how I know....