Jet Set

thats a wrap, another early morning, another week of hills and dirt, it's been good, see ya when I get back

Dreaming of Autumn

It is true, I saw some french cooking show the other day and and watching the leaves and naked trees in the countryside of France reminded me of home. The smell of decaying leaves, cold breezes and wet dirt. I find myself going through phases when I really just want to leave Phoenix and for good reason, but for now with no options on the table I just keep chugging along complaining when I really shouldn't but one day there will be what were looking for achieved. I woke mega early to beat the heat, I was successful obviously, just one more ride before take off for two weeks!

Dragons Breath

Out for a ride in the monring at the normal time, im extremely fortunate to have a shot at the cooler temperatures of the morning beofre they reach the days high. It was regular ol hawes for me, solid and accomplished.

Tuesday Special

Well the other day I hear Siri saying stuff, this day I put it together Siri now tells me when I am moving and stopped on my strava app. Glad that got figured out, maybe convenient makyeb not. It's tuesday and I am riding South Mountain, nothing crazy just passing the time, it was fine and dandy

Hawes Habit

Here we go, last week of rides and then a solid two weeks off the bike and looking forward to it. This week just the normal, started off with Hawes and had a good ride on the regular stuff.

Rain Falls

Rain came! It fell all over the valley and we eagerly awaited our turn! I was off at 4am, it was very dark with all the clouds, it make s a big difference when I hit the trail on early mornings but I had enough to be without a light until I hit the pavement. It was drizzling outside, I thought I would be more escited but it was only mildy exciting. I was however happy it was not soaked and I could ride. I hit the trail and a light rain caem down keeping me cool and damp, it was welcomed. It stayed that way the entire ride, just steady and light. I was remembering the wet rides in CT when the forest trees would slap you with wet leaves as you go, I sure miss CT I hope to see it soon, ot at leats some fricken normal trees.

Heat goes up

I was quite torn on even riding this day, desire and heat were on my mind and even as I rolled onto the trail I almost cut the cord. But obsessiveness prevailed and off I went, I ended up enjoying it pretty good, heat was obtrusive but only a minor discomfort once you get rolling, the sweat pretty much dries itself and you end up only sweating on your bottom against your seat. I ended just a little short since desire was lacking and I had plenty miles.

Clouds roll in

Beautiful mornig ride, I was slow and felt off but I got te job done none the less!

Excessive Everything

Excessive pollen, heat and pollution waning was my headliner for this ride since that was the current weather situation. Fortunately a cool down was in the forecast and even some rain, we will have to see about that..... South Mountain has become the regular Tuesday ride, calm and slightly boring but good clean one as always.

Back to hot dust

Well I had to come home, Monday came and I had the time to ride as usual but not much desire in a way, I went to Usery for a mild fill of riding and it turned out ok

SEDONA!

WOW got to Sedona on Saturday and enjoyed a fantastic evening with my family, we relaxed by the pool and met some friends for dinner and continued to enjoy the evening relaxing as much as we could with a active 5 year old. Sedona was a breath of fresh air, I was amazed how nice it was, more vegatated, cooler and just beautiful! So previous to the trip on trailforks I linked up some high rated trails and options to get me from my room over to Hi Line. On the trail by 5:15 and really not feeling the greatest, my body was beat, energy and mind wise, I got a horrible night of sleep. I Headed off to the first trail just a few hundred feet from my door. The Sedona Vista trail was short and bumpy, I ws reminded quickly I brought a scalpel to a gun fight. Then it was onto the Aiport Loop which continued as a nice but bumpy downhill. As I was going down this 800ft of trail I was realizing how completely screwed I was going to be when I was heading home. The rocks were going to be trouble on worn singlespeed legs. Still in a fog I rolled down into a cool wash and enjoyed my hands getting cold, the cool temperature was extraordinary and I loved it. After a nice smoother stint on the Old Post trail I was enjoying narrow trail. Then Skywalker, narrow and some challenges and a bit of elevation gain for the first in the ride. The onwards to Scorpion for some even more narrow awesome!Then a link to Rams head which was nothing special but still good as it got me to the river crossing. Shoes off and a dip into the stream and a beautiful scene along a cool relaxing river. The vegatationw was lush, reminds me of the desert canyons I love so much, plenty of smells and could spend all day in a spot like that but onwards I went. Onto Templeton with some hike a bike, now I felt the sun and things warmed as my heart raced on the steep hiking. Things mellowed and I began my traverse along the steep rocks above me. Views were vast and I missed my turn for made in the shade, chose not to turn around and face more elevation but good trail. Now closing in on Hi Line I was feeling much better than the first two hours of the ride. I was in no way fast but was steady. Now climbing to Hi Line and looking for relief it turned onto the trail and excitement grew. Some hike a bike and then I could ride! Very narrow sketchy ribbon along the rock but absolutely delightful! Reminded me very much of Hangover trail but this was better in a riding way. Passed my first group of riders and they probably scratched their heads at this rigid singlespeeder without pads. The trail dropped a bit as it prepared for a crazy technical descent. Without lowering the seatpost I rode ALOT of it, some was not going to be safely done on my bike or desire. After the rough was over it was time to make my way back. I rounded Baldwin and enjoyed a descent down to the stream. I changed my ride choice now for better or worse. I took Buddha Bench which kinda sucked and so did the Ridge trail hike a bike. Very close to home but still an adventure ahead of me I went off trail and fund some unmarked stuff to avoid the Airport Loop hike. Cut some miles and did more hiking, rode some narrow grown in stuff but arrived to the hotel with some scratches and feeling complete with plenty in the tank. Loved this ride what an adventure and breath of fresh air. We then enjoyed the rest of the monring before we had to head home.

River of allergy

Well it's the summer allergy time I guess, I have mildy affected this year far more than others, very very thankful, the kiddo however is suffering every week for the last 4 months. This was another early moring act of desperation before we headed out for Sedona!

McGazza and my Five Tens

Got these Endura socks last year as part of a fundraiser for McGazza, can't say I have ever owned athletic bike socks before but these do the trick after I put holes in all my over the ankle socks. I really really need new riding clothes, while mine are perfectly good condition I have about 3-4 years into these shoes and riding shirts. One pair of shorts about a year old now. Pretty pathetic but I am cheap and not wasteful I guess. It was standard South Mountain Classic for me, easy loop, just found out we are headed to Sedona this weekend and I can bring my bike with the family! I will have Sunday morning and I am so excited I have been dying to get out of Phoenix and this will be a really nice refresh not heat wise. I plan to finally ride Hi Line and link some good stuff in between, bring on the weekend!

Temp rises, so does anger

Ugghhhh its getting spicy out there, not enought to stop me luckily, was just about 100F by the end of the ride, scared as to whats to come, luckily it's not my 1st summer here in Phoenix. I got thru this one unscathed but a little angry. I actually had two very big saves on this ride, which is strange since I really only have a a hadnful of scares a year but two on one ride? Glad I was magical on both saves and was thankful for coming out cleanly.

Charming Hawes

I had some desire to ride around Hawes Monday, I felt good doing it for a change, still it went by in a blur with music and my ears and mind completely side tracked, bring on November already.....

Morning Obsession

Somehow found myself awake early on Saturday morning and off I went, glad I did :)

Hello June

Well June is here...... we have a family vacation coming at the end of the month and I can't wait so I have set my sights on some good downtime with the family and disconnect from the world and my bike on beautiful Cat Island. For now it's 3 weeks of early sweaty rides and the trucking thru July and August while keeping my mind off the desert and loooking forward to getting the heck out of here for good! Another early ride came Friday, desperte, anxious, obsessive maybe all three.

Dirty Browns

Finally stretched my boundary a little further on some much needed change in scenery. No master plan loop here but somewhat organized what I had in my head, just a easy nice ride at Browns per the normal.

Beauty of a morning

Another extreme early morning, I must say it does feel tremendous to beat the heat and sunight, here in Phoenix it's coming to the point where unless your in the pool you want to hide from it and pretend it's not there. This was an absolute eyeball stunner of a ride, I took pictures to try to document it best as possible, I felt very good too.