Pistons Then Pedals

2026 has been a significant year for me on the bike. I committed to trying new things which pushed my comfort zone and got me into new adventures.

In January, I attended the Adventure Cycling Association’s 50^th anniversary weekend in Oro Valley, Arizona. The event was a multi-day celebration which featured group rides, campfires, and various self-guided activities. It was held at Catalina State Park, which is an easy drive from Phoenix. More information about the Adventure Cycling Association can be found at https://www.adventurecycling.org

My lodging for the weekend was the rooftop tent atop the Volvo. As for my bike, a last minute mechanical issue on my Fuji touring bike necessitated a switch to my Canyon Endurace road bike.

It was disappointing to lose the panniers and wider tires, but the lightweight frame and hydraulic brakes were nice to have. I also loaded up my cooler (ironically, also a Canyon, but an entirely different company). My sleeping bag, a Rumpl blanket, and many layers were also loaded into the 17 year old station wagon.

My trip began on Friday with a day off work. Around 10:45am, I said goodbye to my wife and dog, loaded up into the car, and hit the road. The drive to Oro Valley is easy from Phoenix and, on this day, I opted to take the back road on AZ-87 through Florence. The backway provides a two-lane scenic alternative to the widely-used Interstate 10.

The road was quiet since it was midday on a Friday. I enjoyed the lower speed limit and blasted my music. My playlist varied from an emo-style cover of Chappell Roan to Bad Omens to Duran Duran. All of it sounded great on the Volvo’s quality speakers.

Arriving in Oro Valley, I decided to grab lunch. One of our favorite restaurants in the area is Truland Burgers. I’ve been reducing the amount of meat I consume for various reasons, but their burgers are top tier. It felt odd having a sit-down meal by myself, but I grabbed a table on the patio with a clear view of the bike-laden Volvo. The meal, alongside a beer, signaled the beginning of my vacation.

Content with my meal, I headed to the campground. I had reserved a vehicle site in the group campground and it was time to check in.

As soon as I arrived, one of the volunteers beelined over to me. He was curious about the tent. We chatted about the pros and cons of the fiberglass Maggiolina and he shared his frustration about owning an RV. It’s interesting to me that, for nearly all of us, no matter how nice our gear is, we’re always fascinated by other options.  

The rest of the day was lowkey. I got my campsite setup and, shortly afterwards, befriended the camper in the site next to me. We chatted about our gear and shared stories about places that we’ve ridden.

A group welcome was held later in the afternoon by the ACA. As the sun went down, we all huddled around a state park-permitted campfire as the temperature plummeted.

I felt intimidated by some of the other riders. Some of them were sharing stories about epic rides which covered entire states. Meanwhile, I was lucky to have gotten a day off of work.

The next day promised to be strenuous, so, after having a glass of Kirkland red wine in a camp cup, I retired for the night to the tent.