Arizona's last ride for a bit

Headed out San Tan since the boy was happily in school, it was a cooler day with lots of clouds and a nice breeze, a nice way to start off the week. The legs felt wonky in the climb but I got my speed and spun as fast as my one gear would let me. This was a good one

Saturday

Stars aligned and off me and Chris went on a good one at South Mountain. I have been blabbing about this loop for some time and we went to tackle it. I have ridden it twice before and very much enjoy this one. I arrived early and decided to turn the tires since he was running a bit late, pedaled up Beverly and over the ridge for a quick up and over, picked up a KOM on that one I guess, not worthy but just something no one rides. Then met up with him and we began to climb Bevderly Canyon. He was smoking me from the begining, I am a bit slower on my YT given the drastic difference between my rigid singlespeed. I chugged along at a happy pace not pushing myself at all, I knew it was going to be a long crawl up Mormon and National and before I knew it up we went. I cleared lower Mormon but failed again to clean the ridge. Something to work for I suppose, after the ridge we dropped into National and found everyone else in the valley using it too. I caught up with Chris at this point as my tech skills are on point and we headed on up to the lookout. A nice rest at the top was awesome, not pressed for time and enjoying the surroundings. Dropped down the steeps and then to the parking lot and onto Corona De Loma. Such a fun chunky trail, Chris handled it very well, I took my time and enjoyed every bit of it. Then once it was over way too shortly, we pedaled like mad back to the car. Very very much enjoyed this ride!

Friday

Met my friend Chris over at Gold Canyon for an afternoon rip. We made our way in with the plan to hit the new trail Phatnom and then fill in some trails I have not taken him on yet. It was a speedy ride in and he really enjoyed the trail. I think I have rode it 4 times now this month, a bit out of my way but a good excuse to head out there. After that we rode K trail to Mojave, then to Gila Monster to Vortex and headed for the car. This was a nice one, a much cooler day with a strong breeze was major relief, still sweating my face off but it's slightly better.

Thursday

I had to stay home to await a package signature on Thursday, I was all ready to go in my bike gear since the mail person usually makes it to the area around 11. By 11:55 I had the package signed in hand and off I went for about 40 minutes. Usery was fast and simple as usual, I went for the outer loop and was feeling pretty good despite two runs this week. So I guess I kind of took up running, looking for more exercise and can't beat the ease and location I have to run near my house so I guess it will become a thing. I had the shop put on my Shimano Zee brakes finally after sitting for over a year, all seems well, might have a possible leak in the lever body but keeping an eye on it, the bike was run over by a truck.....

Monday

I Decided Monday while the kiddo was in school that I would hit Hawes. I guess I was as eager as ever to hit the trail and should have been dealing with cooler conditions. I could say it felt much better outside, the sun still beating down hard but but cooler for sure. Really excited to be growing so near to our Utah trip, torn on what bike to bring but happy with either one of them. The desert is taking it's spring form again, the vegatation is glowing green and cacti have begun to flower again. Pretty wild to be getting flowers while most are starting to loose leaves. This ride was fine, Hawes gets the job done, nothing too exciting.

Gold Canyon Photo Bomb

Been wanting to get some shots of me on the bike for some time. At times I wished I had a tripod and finally used my brain to pack one in. I decided Gold Canyon had a few good tech spots to get some shots. So after I got the boy into a very rare nap I was out the door thrilled for an afternoon session. With mellow in mind I pedaled until I felt ready for a shot, that happened to be shortly into the ride and got a wheelie shot. Then rode Cougar to K trail and had a session on the rocks. Got what I needed but definitely room for improvement. Absolutely love this app called burst mode, it's exactly what a camera user needs to get the shot. The after the pics I rode down K trail and hit the new Phantom trail with a little bit of speed emphasis to keep my KOM for maybe just a little. Then a ride to the car and major stoked when I got the pics pulled up. I should do this more often!

San Tanning

Rolled myself out to San Tan to avoid a ride at Hawes, turned out to be a pretty good idea. I wasn't sure how to use my 90 minutes completely but I happily pedaled around everything except for the outer loop. I am dying for an extended DH, in about a week I will be back in Utah tearing it up! Then I get home to AZ and go back to Utah for Rampage! So excited about this trip, I will leave October 12th and planned on 6 rides and about 100 miles or riding. I will fill in more details as things go down, absolutely excited!

Useria

Out to Hawes I went as the boy headed for school Thursday. I had some wonky legs since I decided to go for a run wednesday night. Haven't ran at all in years, decided to try to burn some extra weight I can't get rid of. This one was a turn n burn, it was only 92F out and humidity gone made it one of the most comfy rides in weeks despite being the middle of the day. Oh how I look forward to October!

New Phantom trail in Gold Canyon

Monday my legs were feeling a little wobbly from saturdays big ride, but willing and able I had time with the kiddo to school and off I went. It was a moody day with lots of clouds and rain showers nearby. As I headed for Gold Canyon I felt a new excitement, there was a new trail built and I had not been there for some time. As I headed into the network I realized the clouds offered little relief, humidity was in the air and sweat began to pour. I lazily rode in and felt all of a sudden lazy and low on power. Not sure what was going on but I chugged on anyway. After hitting the K trail I was set on the new Phantom trail and getting closer. Soon I was on it, riding many of it's technical features despite my lack of enthusiasm. It was tough coming out of a few washed but all in all a well built addition the the Gold Canyon network!

Phatty good one

I am trying to spread my wings a bit with the redundant rides lately, and trust me I'd spread them further if I had the time. Having to be home by 10am on Saturday gives me some travel and ride time if I am willing. This Saturday I was off to Mcdowells for a third time and hunting down fresh trail. I woke at 5am and off I went, the highway had a bunch of closed lanes but I made it there just fine. I started of on a sweet trail named Escondido, a nice cut trail along a bench that winded around the foothill and was an absolute blast! It was over to soon as I rode onto Pemberton which was a mellow crank but a boring one to say the least. At the furthest out point I decided to ride a section of Pemberton downhill and then took Bluff which turned out to be a sweet riding trail along you guessed it a bluff. With hitting gold on Escondido and Bluff I decide to keep trying my luck. I rode another new trial to me Granite to Delsie which were nothing too exciting but far better than Pemberton. There I was back at the point and adventurous and with time I headed on Gooseneck to Rock Knob. I could see this Granite Hill all morning and wanted to go take a look. It offered narrow sweet sweet single track with fantastic views. I was really happy with how this ride was coming together, I was thinking 30 miles and it looked like I was going to to add more than that as I rode back to Pemberton and then onto Tonto tank trail which was mellow and narrow and good enough, I think I will never ride Pemberton again! I had options and decided to make my way to the long loop among the competition loops. Done this one before and it was good, really felt like I could have easily kept riding but I had 35 miles and was on time so celebrate a good ride this time

Friday

Had my normal time and off I went for Hawes, stupid hot again and man I am not in the mood for it now that it's September. I saw Utahs lows in 39 yesterday and I got a bitter about my situation, you won't hear me complaining in another month or two but lil then I am sweating my face off. Utah in about 2.5 weeks! Bring it on

Thursday

Thursday took awhile to come but it eventually did. I was excited to ride but somewhat dragged down by the monotony of rides lately, stoked as ever to be riding but the trails are getting used, I guess I should ride less but wheres the fun in that. I chose Usery for a hot ass ride, even at 98F it was terrible out there, some moisture was in the air which makes a huge difference. It was a fast spinny ride as normal and all worked out.

Mellow Friday

Another hot afternoon while the kiddo was in school I was off enjoying the trails. Usery was fast and easy as it always is, not much to say about this one.

Browns Delight

I was planed to ride with a homie but he bailed and I was left with a be home by 10am rule. I used this time to head out to Browns early morning for a leisure ride, I love riding this place, yea it's pretty mellow, but its flowy and very fun. It's an extensive network and I am learning it for the third time now, I like to use the two mountains granite and Cholla as my markers and try to ride something different every time. I headed for Balance Rock which is a highlight in the park, it turned out to be pretty sweet! This trails in this area have a really lively feel to them, tons of gigantic boulders that seem to have just placed themselves on top of one another forming endless shapes and cool images. Also the vegetation is slightly different, there was this sweet smell in the air I could not figure it out but it was yummy. I connected a bunch of trails with the plan for 2 hours and doablo thrown in. Halfway along Diablo I heard a voice looking for a pump. I went down to help them and sure enough they had no tube, no pump. Kind of annoying people go out this far from the trailhead without being prepared but I am always happy to help, couldn't get his tire to seat so I gave him my tube and off I went. Got back to the car faster than I thought but realized if I had more time I could easily ride another 20 miles. This was such a great fretful ride, new trails really cheer me up.

Thirsty Thursday

Well it's still plenty toasty around these parts, but still got two afternoon rides in that were uncomfortable but happily done noe the less. Thursday brought me to Hawes, I did my normal 15 mile route pretty much adding in a trail and avoiding the rock I hit unhappily two weeks ago. I reversed the trails on the other side of the road but no no avail did I find much spice in the ride. I ride a lot, I even wish I rode more, and certainly wish I had more ride locations but 5 wishing 30 minutes I can't complain. I sold a bunch of bike stuff this week and found myself with some cash, I can't help but think of the next bike, but I also have to stop myself and realize how much I like my Trek, my only complaint would be the aluminum, just doesn't ride like steel baby. I always like the unit, lifetime warrant, good price, they put 27.5+ tires on it this year and while I had a short ride on 27.5+ I was not impressed enough. I found the added weight rotation, turning feedback and hop were no reason to get rid of normal sized tires. I do get the traction thing, it's biggest bonus,but I like challenges, I don't need fat tires to making obstacles and what not easier, I am good. Still maybe a frames and I can slap 29r wheels on, or give 27.5+ another go and can always sell them I suppose.