El Tour!!!

Roughly 9000 cyclists participated in this year's El Tour de Tucson. I calculated the first group would arrive in front of our place at 9:30am so rode out and dang, there they went, around 30 of them.  I warmed up and soon....

....a second group came by having about 25 cyclists.  My intent was only to ride with them long enough to get through Moore Road.  I asked a guy what was his average speed to that point and he said 24mph. I hung with them for about 12 miles and upon reaching the turn south on Twin Peaks Road, bugged out.  I coasted down Twin Peaks and....

....ouch!  A touch of tires in the front group and 9 cyclists either went down or stopped to render help.  Police were quick to respond and soon a EMS truck arrived.  I cruised into Marana and stopped at....

....a gas station for a snack.  Groups of cyclists continued to ride by and check out the gas price!!!  It has been consistently at or a few cents around $2.25.  Not sure why it is not susceptible to the price swings in Ohio, maybe distribution cost difference?

I headed south on Silverbell Road and quickly was swept up by another group.  We were ushered through all intersections with a heavy presence of police and we always thanked them for being there. After a few miles I bugged out again and....

....headed northeast toward Oro Valley and home.  Finished with 41 miles.