SUMMER is here!

[XJOK2PLAY]

Sounds like you at least have early morning cool...

We usually do here in Tulsa...for a while.

Last summer, i would meet up with a couple of riding buddies around 5 am, ride around for 150 miles or so, then be back home by 9 am...

We'd have to be... by then it was so hot we couldn't stand it.

We get so much humidity around here, it's like a sauna.

Never been to Ben's area, but can't imagine the humidity there...

110 in Phoenix is rough, but it's a DRY heat, right?
So, no biggee....
Ride on!
Bob

[madmax-im]

its just as hot and humid here Bob...this past week has all been 95+ and it sure dont feel like the desert...heat of the day riding isnt enjoyable for me either...early mornings and late afternoons evenings work for me...In Arizona after the sun starts to go down(in the cities)it actually becomes hotter because while the sun is still heating things up everything that has been absorbing the sun's energy all day starts give off that heat...so yeah about 3 a.m. to maybe 8 or 9a.m. at the most...for the cool rides...then again head up to Arizona's high country to cool off...Mt Lemmon (9000 ft) will be in the 80's while its 106 in Tucson...

[Prisoner6]

110 in Phoenix is rough, but it's a DRY heat, right?

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that over the years ...

Seriously, though, Bob, when it's 110* or above here, the humidity is usually in single digits ...

So yeah, it's normally pretty nice just before dawn ... until we come to mid-July and August, then the humidity rises ... and the temps are still well over 100* ...

But I don't want to deal with the kind of humidity that Ben experiences, or even your OK humidity, Bob ...

[Prisoner6]

...then again head up to Arizona's high country to cool off...Mt Lemmon (9000 ft) will be in the 80's while its 106 in Tucson...

Planning a ride down to Mt. Lemmon in August, Ben ... will be leaving Phoenix before dawn to avoid the heat ... barely 2 hrs. away ...

Can't wait!!

[madmax-im]

well Marco for a number of reasons I really want to relocate back to Tucson...I am not really satisfied living here in NC...its ok but not what i really want...so a plan in my mind is taking shape.....

[XJOK2PLAY]

Ya know, one thing to keep in mind is that wildlife tend to stir and move around a lot in the early morning and late evening hours.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Tim and I rode down to the Robber's Cave area near Wilburton, Ok.

The roads and scenery there are really nice. Cool area.
We began to head back toward Tulsa around 7:00 pm.
I had just reminded Tim to be on the lookout for something to jump out in front of us... when we came upon 2 deer next to the road in the ditch, 2 seperate locations about a mile apart.

Tim and I were intercommed, and I said, "Wow! Did you see that deer?"
He replied, " Where?"
I said, "That big buck that was 3' from the road in the ditch you just rode past!"

He never saw either deer...

What's the old saying...Can't see the forrest for the trees?
Can't see the wildlife for the scenery...
It's so easy to miss the stuff that can cause a disaster, so it pays to be aware.

That's the main thing I worry about when riding either early morning or at sunset.

[Prisoner6]

Ya know, one thing to keep in mind is that wildlife tend to stir and move around a lot in the early morning and late evening hours.

What's the old saying...Can't see the forrest for the trees?
Can't see the wildlife for the scenery...
It's so easy to miss the stuff that can cause a disaster, so it pays to be aware.

That's the main thing I worry about when riding either early morning or at sunset.

That's so true, Bob ...

I see a lot more coyotes, roadrunners, etc. on the side of the road (or crossing it!) when I ride in the early morning hours.

And riding in Colorado, I've seen many deer crossing the road in the evening. Never have come close to hitting an animal, though, thank God!

But you're right, I think you need to be even more aware of your surroundings when riding at those times of day.

[XJOK2PLAY]

I had one close encounter a few years ago when Maximan and I were riding across Talimena Drive.
The Drive's about 80 miles long, and we were about 40 miles along, up on top of the drive, running about 60 mph, when the biggest doe I ever saw jumped out in front of my Maxim.
I grabbed ALL the bike's brakes, to the point I'm sure the rear wheel almost came off the ground... and the deer was scrambling to get enough traction on the asphalt to move but couldn't...
That thing was bigger than my bike!

It's hooves finally hooked up, and I went right behind it...

Almost a disaster.
Of course, as usual, Maximan was about a mile ahead of me...and oblivious to my near-death moment...
That is, until we made the next stop.