Ticket to ride, white line highway Tell all your friends, they can go my way...

This never made it up either from Feb / March. Better late than never.

It's a Wrap...

The sun sets on a killer winter weather swap.  Traded in one of the hardest and longest Canadian seasons for Arizona.

Was able to check out new areas new trails, terrain, bikes, skillsets and now that it's over heading back to the rollers as the tail end of winter hangs on to the bitter end.

Arizona has so much to offer it makes this destination so appealing.  The riding is as tough as you want it to be and the rocks will test you but in the end it's time on the bike and that's the point.

I am still putting Sedona on the top of the list but there are so many other areas to check out like Tuscon, Flagstaff, Prescott it makes the possibilities endless.  Unlike Toronto you can drive 90 min out of Phoenix in any direction and hit completely new topography and trails. 

A Few More Trails...

Tom's Thumb Trail - Phoenix AZ

Backside of Highline Trail - Sedona AZ

Cone Mountain Trail - Phoenix AZ

March Madness

2 days of rain and the trails are perfect.  Like sticky tacky perfect.  No 2" of fine desert dust perfect.   Arm warmers and shorts perfect.  No one on the trails early perfect.....

PERFECT 

Trails drying out nicely from 2 days of rain...

Highline

Another killer day.  Every time I have been here it seems this is the last ride and the weather shifts and your up high.  All proved true today as the bookends the Sedona leg and packing up Friday to head south in AZ for more desert trails...

The Real Slim Shady

Love this end trail.  Ended up on this at least 6 times so far as it leads right back to the Red Agave Resort and its a killer way  to end whatever epic or direction you head off in.

Views for Days...

Rode the Tallboy 2C today.

Going to have lots to say about this in the weeks to come down here but in the meantime here are some pictures.

Can't say enough good things about the SRAM XX1 kit other than this is the place to see if the chain stays on and it does along with shifting perfection and a nice single ring range.  32 when I am back home but the 30 is good enough for me.

Rock Shox Sid.  Immediate difference felt over last years Fox.  This for besides being light is very plush and maybe it was the fact I had the Talas I am really impressed.

This is a XL frame that came in at 25.1 lbs with Thomson, AM wheels, Bonty / Salsa cockpit and Schwable 2.4 / 2.2's.

The pedal strikes are a bit unnerving on these rock strewn trails but that will pass.  Sedona ( specifically Oak Creek ) seems to be the go to place for industry product testing or launches and that makes a ton of sense given the make up of their trail systems.  If the bike and set up can perform here is is good to go anywhere else you may end up.  These trails EAT bike parts.  The 2014 Fox CTD rear shock is smooth once you set up the sag properly.  Have not really played around with the different pedaling platforms as its kind of hard to take your hands off the bar to reach down and I found the trail setting to be a good all rounder on the trails covered today.  Lastly if your unsure of sizing go up.  I am just over  6'1" and that out me in between the L and XL.  The L would have been too small.

GoPro Day

Sedona 2014

Leaving all the cold behind of Toronto and having not posted anything here of worth I thought I would start off the years post with a senic pano taken today from sunny Sedona on the Bell Rock trail leading over to Templeton and Slim Shady ( Made in the shade ) Should be a great time here before Phoenix & Tuscon and just literally confirmed the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo in a few weeks time.

Sedona Day 7 - High Line Trail

Sedona Day 7

Well I opted not to rest on the 7th day and after a stack of panckakes and bacon headed out on the last ride of the trip.

Today started out with nice temps but the clouds started moving in and it was colder than the previous 6 great days. Can't complain really. Highlight of the day was watching the blur speed by of a team sky jersey descending the trail we were climbing and man that guy can fly off road as well. Impressive !!

Decided to end on a pretty tough trail called Highline. Rode out Bellrock to Bike Park loops to Templeton to Slim Shady to Highline and to Baldwin return ( that was the plan ) but bypassed Baldwin and got kind of lost so just as well ended up on the road as the rain started.

Life Behind Bar picture atop Highline courtesy of the Go Pro.

Got a solid 7 days of riding in and enjoyed the Santa Cruz. Be back behind a desk in 2 days but Sedona will get a repeat visit very, very soon. Met some really neat people and rode a small ( very very small ) fraction of the trails....

Sedona Day 6

Sedona Day 6

Today was EPIC. Huckaby, Mund's Wagon, Hangover, Cowpies & Schnelby Hill ? Fear Factor was high. Video to follow.

Sedona Day 5.0 & 5.1

This was shot just before Chicken Point and on the run off after the slick rock

This trail " Slim Shady " is becoming one of my favorites as you can use it as a out back and as the launching point to many trails instead of the Bell Rock which is way more of a multi-use trail. This video ( along with day 2 ) shows 2 different finishes within a block. 1 at the Resort the other at the doorstep of Bike & Bean.

Day 5 Continued.....

The ride today was a great epic and I can't really describe it so the video tonight should help with that. Here is what the Fat Tire guide book says about the ride ......

" The Most bang for your Sedona buck. Slickrock, stairs, and Mr. Toads Wild Ride. Danger lurks around every turn in the trail. If you've got time for only one Sedona ride, this is it. Sedona's Premier Shred "
Here is the Life Behind Bar shot from the Chicken Point Vista...

Sedona Day 5

What a day !!! Cant believe the weather and the TRAILS. Day 5 out the door and up the Bell Rock to Mystic to Hog Wash or Pig ? to Broken Arrow ( Submarine Rock pic below ) to Chicken Point down Little Horse a.k.a Mr. Toads Wild Ride to HT to Slim Shady back to Bike & Bean so the Santa Cruz Tallboy can get some TLC for the final 2 days.

Trail Shots....

Love the names of these trails. Today covered, Chuckwagon, Earls Cabin, Gunslinger, Mescal and Lower Lizardhead. Even on the more traditional xc loops ya gotta pay attention.

Crack Kills Baby !!



Lastly the Life Behind Bar shot for the 4th day.....

Day 4

No video today just a few pics of the ride. Hit up Chuckwagon Trail and did a bit more of a x-country loop today. No major rock strewn trails with exposure but almost 2ooo feet of climbing.