[Inline version available at: http://tinyurl.com/cxdb5]
I have made it clear before. I love Arizona. Whenever I get
the chance to get out there, I take it. I have a
conference to attend so I built in some extra time for
biking. I sent my bike out ahead. As soon as I got off the
plane, I got my rental car (a cool Dodge Magnum for $22/day) and checkin
into the hotel. Bike assembled in 15 minutes and I am on
my way to meet Gary at McDowell Mounta Regional Park at
3:00. Five minutes from the park, my cell phone rings and Gary
wonders why I didn't call that I was ready. Oops,
miscommunication. He's an hour away so I tell hime to not make the
treck
and I'll see him for a ride on Tuesday.
McDowell is a track as I am told by the guy at the entrance I hand five
dollars to. I could do the Pemberton Trail if I
wasnt to ride leasurely. OK, I say thank you and head for the
track, park and unload.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3031.jpg
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3032.jpg
There are three loops here, long, sport, and technical. I opt to
start with the sport loop.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3034.jpg
This is some fast rolling singletrack, I quickly pick up speed
while dodging the fallen Cholla balls . It rolls great but
going into the first turn I am remined the gravel is loose. I
quickly figure out that turning into the slide works well for a
recovery and I am ripping again.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3036.jpg
There's not a lot of climbing on this loop and aside from the
desertscape, it reminds me of home.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3037.jpg
I don't think you can do this loop slowly. It just flows so well.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3043.jpg
Towards the end of this three mile loop, there are some huge banked
turns. I feel like a bobsledder zooming through them.
It's all over pretty quickly and I head over to the long track which
starts off similar to the sport track..
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3046.jpg
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3047.jpg
There's some short climbs on this 9 mile loop. This would be a
perfect ride for a singlespeed.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3049.jpg
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3050.jpg
About half way through it's starts to get a little technical..
Mostly loose rocks on ups and downs. All are very rideable.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3051.jpg
Well, except for "the step". I attempt this four times and finally
dab up on the last try.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3054.jpg
After climbing the South Ridge (the highest point) in middle ring (never
thought I would ever say that), it's mostly downhill from
there.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3055.jpg
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3056.jpg
There are some cool features like the double dip. A steep drop
into two dips (the picture doesn't show the angle). Next time
I will pay attention to the name. The second dip nearly through
the backend of the bike over my head. Luckily I recoverd
with some white knuckle moments.
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3058.jpg
http://www.schnazuers.ws/mcd/IMG_3059.jpg
On the last stretch, I was burning down some technical DH with some nice
drops. Coming around a corner, I fly over a drop and
notice three riders on the side with one bike down. By the time I
land and slow down, I am too far to turn around. I never
do that to other riders. I wait in the parking lot and give them
15 minutes or I will go looking for them. They come out and
I apologize. They say no problem and that they were patching a tube.
OIn the way back to the hotel I think how lucky I was not to have a flat
with all the Cholla on the trail and using regular tubes.
The next morning, the front tire is flat. The tube has one tiny
hole, but I find five cactus needles in the tire. I put a
new slime tube in. We'll see how it works.
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o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws