I did my part…

Help set a record (and get a very nice web browser):

117° F?  Really?  No, it was only about 100° F. I think the Subaru was a little optimistic.  Good ride though, and not too crowded. 

As you can see, I took the Subaru from Maryland to Utah: 4,559 miles and 157.556 gallons of gasoline.

What else? Well, the Subaru averaged 28.94 MPG with the best average mileage of 33.05 MPG on a tank from Glenwood Springs, CO to Castle Rock, CO. The worst mileage, which was still better than the average mileage to date, was in the Denver metro area that was driven entirely with two bikes on the roof. This partial tank averaged 25.45 MPG. Overall, the Subaru’s lifetime average fuel economy increased from 22.9 MPG to 24.4 MPG. The longest day of driving was the first day from Maryland to Missouri, and which covered just over 1000 miles.

During the trip the load ranged from two to four bikes, luggage/camping gear for one to two people and one to three actual people. The bikes were inside the car for the most part, but occasionally were mounted on the roof. Average speeds stayed within about 5% of posted speed limits, which are 75 MPH in Colorado and Utah.

Aside from driving, we also rode the Kokopelli trail in Fruita, CO, Slickrock in Moab, UT, and the Apex trail near Denver, CO.

The Erkisen made it back to the Kent Eriksen shop where it received a professional tune-up, new cassette, chain and handlebar. The cassette was more worn than I thought, and the Wippermann chain was causing (or at least contributing to) chain suck. The Titec handlebar died at Moab where a strategic fall ripped one of the end plugs out of the bar with some of the titanium…