Mini Marathon Monday's

First " proper " MTB ride of the year.  As always the trails in Uxbridge were in mint condition.  It seems that people really payed attention and did not give into temptation before the trails thawed out properly.  DMBA gave the go ahead for all the tracts on the 14th so after a few hard days on the road bike a nice jaunt through the woods was just the ticket.  50 km and 3600' of climbing later and the inaugural ride was over.

Dagnar MTB Trails 

Carbon Fiber Footprint

Santa Cruz Tallboy 2 - Durham Forest

Dog Days of......June

Spent the last few weeks riding up at Durham and Walker Woods.  The trail gnomes have been busy with a few nice new sections of trail and the conditions and weather has been nothing short of amazing ( minus the mosquito's and poison ivy ).

I wish DMBA / IMBA or others would take a few minutes and offer up some rider etiquette lessons for new riders.  While this idea is nice to float around I realize the logistics and access would be difficult to capture the right audience ( keep in mind even seasoned riders could benefit from a refresher ).

Maybe the onus sits with riders in general to pass on some knowledge ?  I'm not sure but when you see hikers literally jump off the trail to avoid bikers and downhill riders making zero attempt at yielding to uphill riders you gotta wonder if people are even aware ?

Places like Durham are heavily used by many different groups on non directional trails and while this won't address all the issues it sure as heck would be a good start.  This is part of the reason we have been going there at different times hoping to avoid the morning mad house that the weekends seem to turning into.

Kris is starting up some night riding in Durham so if this sounds good to you reach out to me and I can get you the nights and times we are meeting up.  

i9 bling in the woods of Copeland Forest

Santa Cruz Tallboy on the Rocks...

A little late to post this pic but one of my favorite from AZ 2014

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. 

The Crash Trail Panoramic

The calm before the storm.  After getting off a 2 mile rock garden the trail pointed up towards Windgate and Tom's Thumb.  This ride was a out and back and on the descent that's exactly were I ended up....  My back. 

Gateway Trail - Scottsdale AZ

A Few More Trails...

Tom's Thumb Trail - Phoenix AZ

Backside of Highline Trail - Sedona AZ

Cone Mountain Trail - Phoenix AZ

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

Back to the Red Rocks Over Sedona...

Hooked on Phonix...

Shaw Butte

Been saving this one a bit.  The access road is only hard for the first 4 switchbacks ( my Garmin said 16% grade ) once you get about half way up the grade levels out to about 9% and it's about a total  2.5 km climb to the radio towers.

Gary would have liked this one for sure being his namesake Butte.  This one was for you Gaz....

Shaw Butte from the Towers

North Mountain via Trail 100

Different route on the 100 again, rode up towards Shaw Butte but ended up on the top of North Mountain.  The climb up to the top was off good and tough and the views worth it.

Funny thing about Phoenix is coming from Toronto I am used to seeing people walking around the streets.  This is not the case here but they are a lot more people out in the parks hiking, trail running, walking etc.

Another good thing about the trail is the free water at various spots along the route so you can still rock a waterbottle.

Everyone I have run into, ridden with, talked to have been great in the 5 rides here and rolling out the driveway at 8 or 9 you can get your daily 2 hours and be back before lunch.

Heading east to meet Dave Thursday and probably riding out at McDowell again but hitting & Dixie Mine then on Fiday its Red Mountain.  Black Canyon is still on the list as well as FINS north and a few more to check off the long list.  Are there really 7' Western Diamond Back Rattlers out there or is Ray trying to sell books ?

Mandatory Bike Shot on Hackamore Trail Brown's Ranch

Browns Ranch

This is far from technical but what it lacks it makes up for in flow and scenery.  A good break for the constant barrage of rocky trails.  Did a 35 km loop with a climb up Browns Mountain from both sides for the view / descent.  Did not see any scorpions or rattlesnakes but the trail signs seemed to indicate they were around.  Another killer 80 + day in the saddle.

This area reminds me of Hartman Rocks in Gunnison CO with huge rocks and loops

Ramble on.....

Trail 100 Options

It's hard pressed to load up the car and venture out to ride when this is literally 2 min away.  Over the past 3 rides tried to cover off some new options.  The spin off trails are abundant and the climbs up and around the buttes are tough.  The more you ride the chunks the more you get some flow happening.  This is so drastically different that any trail back home it certainly keeps you focused.

South Mountain Preserve

See the theme ? Hot and dry and rocky.  Checked out South Mtn today this shot was from the Desert Classic trail if my memory is right.  Decided not to do the National trail...yet.  These rocks are not forgiving and when you get up close it changes your invincibility factor.  This place was packed for a Friday afternoon.  Would not want to hit this on the weekend.

Can't get this theme song out of my head while I'm out there.  Could not find the heli pad climb ?

Scuse me while I kiss the sky..

This is the view from Trail 100 right before the switchbacks heading under the hwy.  I am not sure what the green haze that visibly hangs on downtown Phoenix but I'm guessing it's not good.

This is day 2 on the trail and went to the Dreamy Draw Lot from the 7th st entrance.  Had a chance to see the group that were building the new singletrack up around Cave Creek.  They're the American Service Corps and are a federally funded program that lets them earn money for their college education.  The program is essentially community service on a large scale.  It was tough work clearing rock and churning up dirt in 80 degree heat so we can shred on it later.  Hats off to them.  It was a good loop too.

Trail 100 is pretty neat and it snakes up around buttes and around some pretty sweet homes perched on the rock and sees quite a bit of use like running, hiking, horseback riding and dog walking.
Everyone I ran into was nice which is a welcome change on a multi-use trail system.  The trail is not particularly tough, 2 + hours yesterday covered 27km and 690 m ascent.  There is a lot more stuff in here to explore on the non driving days coming up.  A good local haunt !

Trail 100 Phoenix Mountain Preserve

This is the local PHX equivalent to the trails in the Don Valley.  The similarity being it's a great urban mountain bike trail right in the middle of the city.  Difference for Phoenix is the fact they have mountains... and while the main trail is 11 or so miles long it has pretty much everything you need like spin off loops, multiple entrance / exit points, climbs, descents, and chunk. Cave Creek entrance is a 2 minute ride away and with the temps climbing up into the 80's it's time for the camelback on Wednesday's ride.  Saw my first Coyote cross the trail today.

Imagine this view at Bayview & Pottery Road