Tami Ritchie: Tami's Tucson Training Trip (T4) Day #1

For my first full day in Tucson I rode Gates Pass. Besides the temps (highs in the 70s) and the cacti doting the scenery, the big climbs reminded me that I am not in Iowa. Coming from Iowa, even the littlest ant hills seem like big hills to be. And they are tough! But I love every second of climbing and descending them. In my future I see more training trips and more driving from my home before starting long rides so I can ride more varied terrain.

But I digress, back to Tucson. It is AMAZING! Bikes lanes everywhere in town. Share the road sides everywhere outside of town. Bikers everywhere. Central campus of the university even has 'bike valet' (and it was a giant area to park bikes, I mean giant) I have not seen a single driver get upset about a biker, graze too closely, yell at, honk at, or anything else negative at a biker. Drivers here are so respectful of bikers and pedestrians. They wait for you to go by or cross rather than try to rush in front of you or get stopped in your way. It is wonderful to feel like the roads and paths really can be shared by all. Those doing good for themselves and the environment (by walking or biking) are respected by motorists, so far I feel quite safe biking here.

Later in the day I went for a run with no route in mind, just enjoy the city of Tucson. I ran through some of the University of Arizona campus. It reminded me of Iowa State University in April. People were outside everywhere you looked. Walking, running, biking, throwing a football, and it's February! The campus was very pretty and I would have liked to explore home but Mom said to be home before dark so I headed back toward home. Until I wasn't quite sure which way home really was. I only had to ask for directions once and did make it home safely before dark, per mom's instructions.