Ah, what a Mountain Bike Heaven ride yesterday w/ a gaggle of the usual riders and a bit of bushbashing hike a bike on some infrequently ridden trails. And Rama is in Hawaii. Our numbers tallied 14 as we started out on paved streets. What group of adult delinquents as we rode the sidewalk. I reconnected w/ riders I hadn’t ridden w/ since last spring. Doug from Alaska is back & healthy. A large group of varying abilities jams up @ the tech moves or uphills. i ride in the back as i am slower and less skilled to avoid either causing the back up or stalling because of one in front of me. We mixed up system trails w/ social trails such as Bike Path, Under the radar, Witch Doctor, & the bushbash trails I forgot the name of as they are not trails that I will seek out on my own. Freezing conditions still exist on N side of Airport. On the whole trails are getting better each day w/ some places the mud has reverted back to sand. Our group fractured as the ride progressed decided by each persons agenda. Wes and I finished out the longer ride. There is no after ride revelry @ MBH.
I drove back down canyon to BnB to engage in the ongoing live entertainment to which I contribute. Flat screen TV w/ Eagles Packers game on and some beer. Hung till closing time. I asked Jimmy for a shower @ his house that he granted. He is a good friend and we enjoy each other’s company. Add Jan, his significant other, and we have an interesting time. They gave me a Kenny Goodman’s Torch of Freedom pendant as its creation matches what i am doing: A symbol of personal excellence, free to be the best person you can be. An external validation for what i have been doing.
After dark return to Beaverhead flats. Temp drops just below freezing.
Today is a ride w/ Jimmy & others from BnB to trails that MBH rides. This ride we will drive out Verde Valley road to a bridge crossing Oak Creek that will give us access to West Sedona trails. Riders from BnB ride trails down here as there are numerous to choose from. Ultimately is a ride over Highline down baldwin, cross @ Red Rock crossing and go wild as long as energy lasts. The ride back would be a killer. Yesterday’s ride was 13 miles that took ride time of 2 hrs 22 mins for a perspective of how tough the trails are.
Weather forecast predicts above freezing night temps on Sat night. Daytime temps are in the 50s during the week.
Saw Quentin from OTE in Hurricane @ BnB. He’s a nice guy. The 3 OTE stores are in Sedona for their annual meeting and ride fest. Earlier I visited w/ several guys from the Fruita store. Max fessed up to stickying my van.
Beautiful day. Leaving to get ready for ride.
And what a ride day. Met @ BnB w/ Jimmy & Scott. Jimmy drove us to the parking lot for Red Rock crossing where when Oak creek flows low enough it exposes stepping stones across. Today we rode by road to cross the creek on a bridge in a new housing development that has remained raw land. Somebody is holding the paper. I lead them on trails that I have learned from MBH rides, we rode some of what I rode yesterday. Climbed up to Ridge to leave on Sketch noddling along a rock band then dropping down to Bike Path ove to high school to pick up Special Ed that Jimmy is riding for the first time, the dropped off Pyramid down to Chavez rd that we climbed aways till we picked up a system trail up to Secret Slick rock,
exiting down a system trail to Red Rock crossing. If we are able to cross here we are just maybe a 1/4 mile from truck. If not it is over 3 miles of road riding back.
Fly fisherman buddy Tom told me to wear wool socks when stream crossing as the socks almost cling to algae covered rocks. We removed our shoes and stashed them in our pack and wet footed across. I went first eager to prove the wool sock method. I pushed my bike on the up creek side of the rocks. The creek flow was strong enough to make that move bogus as I wrestled w/ a shifting bike. All made across w/ just wet feet. Great ride 13.66 miles in 2 hrs 1 mins climbing 1777 feet.
Tomorrow I get to ride w/ Quentin & friends.
Stopped @ PJs for a beer, dinner and to watch part of the college football bowl down here in Phoenix. Great chicken salad that had protein, vegetables, & fruit. Add a small fry and 2 nut browns. I left @ half.
Back out @ Beaverhead flats alone again.
The SE is being hammered by a snow & ice storm. Not a place to spend a winter again.