That is the folks from Shenandoah Bicycle Co from Harrisonburg, VA.
Yesterday was chilly and very windy. I had a 1:30 chiro appointment in west Sedona. I bagged the ride and did my wash which is next door to chiro clinic. Plan is to spend 1 hr @ chiro then go for a short ride. Have clean clothes. Chiro visit went sideways time wise and I didn’t get out till just about 4. Started heading down to BnB. As I passed MBH I caught a quick glance of what I thought was Tim’s reddish colored Sprinter. I swung around and greeted him head on. They rode one day on the Syllamo in AR then drove straight across. New plan: I lead them back out to Deer Pass rd camp for the night. Timwho owns SBC & s.o. Sue Haywood, Colin who works for Tim, and Nate are here. They set up their car camp on the big flat under full moon light. We piled into Tim’s van sitting on seats. He heated us w/ a Little Buddy like I first used but hooked to a big propane tank which meant long burn time over the 1# can. Very chilly night. Got down to 23 when I crawled out of bed.
In the AM I hung in my van for bfast & cleanup waiting for the sun to do its job. Tim built up Sue’s Turner Flux. 4 Turners out of 5 just like our ride back @ Big Schloss in VA last summer. Most Turners I have ever ridden w/.
Day wore on before we headed into town. Tim knows Ross Schnell who is still in town, he and Susan were teammates on the Trek factory team. Sue was denied a position on the US Olympic team back maybe 2 Olympics ago by a clerical error. She’s that good.
We headed out from Ross’ rental up to airport and they took off leaving me behind. My maximum was wait @ every intersection for me to catch up and direct the route. We rode the west Sedona look that I am getting more familiar with. Both route finding and riding. They smoked the desert. I rode a few more pieces. I finally made the last climbing switchback on Sketch although I thought my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. We parted company @ MBH. Sunday night they move into their rental for a week.
My move was driving down to BnB to visit as I had been gone 2 days. Pulled into parking lot and there was Doug from Wed’s ride and the guys from Moab that are staying @ Ross’. I joined in the post ride baffonery @ the shop.
Load up & head south as the sun was going down. I planned on staying @ Black Canyon city TH but several guys said locals are tweakers and I would not be safe. I had spent 3 nights there previously. Instead i drove further south to tomorrow’s ride end TH. Pulled in and read sign that said closes @ sundown & camping by permit only. Bummer. Turned around & drove 10 miles back up I-17 to were i would have stayed. I’m here for the night.
Interesting chiro visit. I saw DR Holladay on the last day I was in Sedona last year. She treats world class athletes. She gave me 2 breathing exercises to help fight the COPD. Bicycling creates a hunched over position causing the chest to collapse. Result is to move my shoulders back to straighten my hunch out.
Tomorrow is the 48 miles on the Black Canyon Trail in the Sonorran desert. Shade is in the shadow of Saguaro cactus, don’t throw much. Forecast temp is 69 under clear skies.