High Heat & Adversity

High noon and I'm 48 miles up the highway, about halfway to Payson, AZ, the day one destination.

Unfortunately circumstances are not going our way today. The extreme heat, coupled with an overweight load, has caused some serious cramping in my legs. I ride many thousands of miles a year and to face this is extraordinary.

I'm dehydrated too even after drinking 6 of my 7 liters of water in the first half of the trip today. The ascent is so steep with this load, I was only able to go 4 miles an hour so I wasn't getting any cooling from any breeze, with too little water to get to Payson.

I'm under an overpass right now and this is about the only shade in the high desert enroute to Payson.

Given the circumstances, extreme heat, my cramping and some heat exhaustion, low on water, overweight bike, I've decided to return and reassess.

It's 20 miles to the nearest town, in the hottest part of the day, so a friend is going to pick me up and give me a lift back home.

Will keep you posted.

Let's Roll!!!

Thursday, July 19

CycleQuest 2012 is underway! I left my home in Tempe, AZ at 5:30a. It's a beautiful morning and 83 degrees. It really helped to take yesterday as a final prep day. Everything is just right on the bike and I'm well rested. I awoke shortly after 4a and feel good.

I'm riding the Surly 'Long Haul Trucker,' a bike that is perfect for a long tour like this.

I'll be riding more than 1,400 miles between now and early August to raise awareness of the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer which claimed the life of my dear wife Susan in 2005. She was an amazing person who would love to be riding this ride with me. And she is - in my heart.

By the end of the day I will be in Payson in northern Gila County. Its location is almost exactly the geographic center of Arizona. Thus, it is often called "The Heart of Arizona". The Payson Rodeo, held since 1884, is considered the world's oldest continuous event of its kind.

This is Zane Grey country, too. In 1918 the famous western author made his first trip to the Payson area. He would come back with regularity through 1929, and purchase two plots of land near Tonto Creek. Grey wrote numerous books about the area and also filmed some movies, such as To the Last Man, in the Payson area in the 1920s.

During the 1930s an effort began to try to get Payson a better road to connect it to the outside world. At that time Payson was very isolated with a Phoenix to Payson trip taking four to five hours by motorcar. Throughout the 1950s work on a paved road from Phoenix to Payson progressed and the paving was completed in 1959. A few years ago this highway, State Route 87, the "Beeline Highway," was expanded to four lanes. And, for that, I thank them. Still, it will take me a good chunk of the day to get to Payson. No motorcar for the 10,000 feet of climbing over 90+ miles today.

Please share the blog with family and friends to widen the circle of compassion. Together, we can raise awareness about the 'silent' disease of ovarian cancer.

Oh, I again have my satellite beacon with me. When I activate the ROVER beacon it shows my location. We'll be sharing these beacon links regularly. Click the link below to see where I was shortly after departure. http://fms.ws/8hlWN/33.43053N/111.93674W

More later...

Brad

Departure

I decided to depart on the CycleQuest ride tomorrow morning. I worked yesterday and there are just too many last minute things to wrap up.

I especially want to look at getting a smart phone to have 4G service during the ride. That will help enormously with communications enroute, and enable me to get encouraging messages.

So, the plan is to roll out of my driveway at 05:30 tomorrow and head to Payson, 90 miles away and nearly 10,000 ft. of climbing.

Please share news of the ride and the blog link with all your friends and loved ones....let's make this a memorable, collective effort on behalf of those who need to know about this 'silent' cancer.

Brad

T-minus....

I'm planning on rolling out of my driveway in Tempe, AZ at 5:30a tomorrow morning.


The destination - with nearly 10,000 feet of climbing - will be Payson about 100 miles away.


The plan is to traverse all or parts of seven states, finally rolling into Hannibal Missouri on Friday, August 3rd.


On the right side of the blog is information about how you can make a difference and get involved to support the ovarian cancer awareness cause.

All proceeds go to OCA efforts. Not a single cent supports this ride. My expenses are my own.


My brother John is writing the blog during the ride.

Look, there's only so much I can do riding 100 miles a day across drought-parched America! :-)

More once I'm on the road!


Brad

CycleQuest Summer 2012 is About to Begin!

Upcoming Ride: On July 18th I will depart on a 17 day cycling effort that will start in the Sonoran desert, cross the southern and central Rockies, span the Great Plains and eventually, if all goes well, end in Hannibal, MO on the banks of the Mississippi River.

All in all The CycleQuest Tour for Ovarian Cancer awareness 2012 will touch seven states.

I am riding once again, to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer presents with few symptoms and is often late stage when it is diagnosed. This cause is very personal for me and my family as the disease took the life away from my dear wife Susan.

Please share the signs and symptoms with your wives, daughters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters and friends. And be sure to check back as I will be updating this blog with stories from the road.

Here is roughly the first half of the route: Tempe-Payson-Show Low-Pie Town, NM-Socorro-north to ALB-Santa Fe-Taos-North to Alamosa, CO-Buena Vista-Breckenridge-Frisco-Loveland Pass-Idaho Springs-Nederland-Boulder.

More from on the road!

Brad

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best of Health and Happiness in 2012!

Upcoming Road Ride...

On Sunday I am riding in the Tour of Scottsdale. It is a 70 mile road ride and after the hot summer we have had here in Arizona, I am really looking forward to getting back on the road.

My message has not changed...please continue to share the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer with your loved ones...you never know who's life you can effect.