20 Days

As of last fri that is how many days I've been off the bike. Due to the worst case of Flu I've ever had.
We had a lil snow storm in town so out to Pinyon I went. Did an easy spin just to gauge myself and just had a Ball.

About to descend the switchbacks.

Trying out the Pro Moto carbon Flat bar from Salsa. So far I'm really diggin it. More on this after a few rides.

So on sat I stayed close to home and rode May Valley. A lil snow at the start but things got really good from Log Piles and down. Looks like my strength is still hangin with me. Will find out about my endurance on sun. Tony B is coming over for a Palm Canyon run. Should be fun but I hope I'm not over doing it, I tend to do that kinda thing. Well hopefully pics and write up later.

To all my friends at the Pueblo, Hope you're enjoying and puttin pressure on the pedals.

Looks like Siren and AA bikes is going to make the podium in the top spot barring any freak happenings.

Redhawk and Jay's team are fighting for a podium spot.

Chads rockin his 1st Solo.

PEDAL 1 LONG

Word

Interesting words here

SO................

I'm ..... IN

See you there.

Pedal 1 long

Chill in the Air

Wow had pretty cool temps today. Fit my comfort zone perfectly. Once again the Home trails was the call for today. Ended up with a good 5 hour ride linking trail after trail. Ran into Marlin & Dawne, really good seeing them....it's been a while.

View of Tahquitz from Sunset Trail.

Cloud level riding.

All in all a really good day on the bike.

pedal 1 long

Home Sweet Home

Been staying away from the local trails lately. Just a bit to muddy. All about keeping our trails primo.
Finally ventured out last monday. Seemed like a good time waiting for them to firm up a bit.

I'm so glad I was patient. Trails were as good as it gets.

Started @ Cowbell and linked every trail I know in the May Valley system.

It was one of those times that I truly feel fortunate I have access to this system of trails.Many thanks to the trailbuilder (you know who you are) and everyone else who puts there time into maintaining.

tOP OF sUNSET tRAIL

cOUPLE OF bEERS THAT WERE ENJOYED OVER xmas EVE dINner

pEdAL OnE LonG

PALM RUN

Palm Canyon was todays Flavor..
Tony B joined.
Good cool temps.
Broke a power link today for the first time.
Good fast pace run.
Local riders should be on this.

Up on the ridge looking at where we will be going.

Looking back at where we been.

Pedal 1 lONG

Pinyon Back to Back Days

Been ridin Pinyon the last couple of days. So many options can be put together riding in the high desert. A couple days of rain and snow opened up a trail usually to loose to ride.

Switchbacks dropping you into Olmstett Wash.

Started on the Pinyon trail and connected to Palm Canyon.

Roshon riding the slalom course with Cats Claws and cactus as the borders.

Signage for our cutoff and the start of Potrero Canyon. Found out this connector should only be done after a rain. If timed good you pedal the wash for about a mile and a half and then connect to the ol' 4X4 double/singletrack.

Ran into a Longhorn Bull on the Upper End.

View of the Old Grove after a stout climb.

Been kinda nice on the eyes. High desert really shows off after a lil bit o water.

Pedal 1 Long

All Day Fun

Started early sat morn out of Paradise Corners. Cold temps for SoCal prolly in the low 30's. Layering is always an issue low temps in the am may lead to high temps in the pm. My lightweight winter layering was solidified this season by the purchase of a Windwall Vest.

1st climb of the day.

Usually this climb is a good constant spin...areas you can attack and just a good fun climb. This ride was a different story. Crunchy soft top layer felt like pedalin sand.

Then there was snow in all the wrong places.

My steed playing camera whore on the Connector Trail.

First time conditions for me, normally I'm visiting at the other end of the spectrum.

Frank on his first snow ride.

The Jedi trail was just plain special. Snow was as deep as a couple of feet in many spots. It was just hold on and ride. Flew over the bars once to the delight of fresh deep snow. It's kinda goofy how a couple of grown men giggle like lil schoolgirls in conditions like this.

View of Potrero Canyon.

Found some trails in this area I will try to loop this coming weekend.

Looked kinda ZEN to me.

So this ride had some objectives to it. One hearing from a local Pinyon Cowgirl/MTBer was that there was Butta near.........We didn't find it but enjoyed the hiking we did in a few canyons.

Second was finding tha Ol' Live Oaks trail to Palm Canyon trail. Had a failed attempt in the fall of 2006 with the Raptorman. That trip is named "carry your bike up and down canyons and bumming a couple of Budweisers from some hunters" ride/adventure. This trip was a failed attempt too. This time it was a hike down a water drainage gap in the side of the canyon.

Hiking the bikes down Boulders.

Stepping our way down.

Scaling our way down.

Finally after a couple of hours of scaling we hit the bottom wash. Hooked in to Palm Canyon about a mile north of the Bottom Canyon trail. Running Palm in this direction is just plain fun.

Climbing is a lil more but this trail is good in both directions. Day was running out on us but we had 2 hours b4 sunset. So we decided to ride as much or did I decide that we would ride as much as we could b4 sunset knowing that we could get something warm to eat and a fresh pint of Guiness at Sugarloaf Cafe. So when we hit Palm Canyon drive we hooked into a couple of techy horse trails looping in and around Pinyon Flats. Finished these off just as we ran out of light and pedalled over to the CLOSED SUGARLOAF CAFE. So as we froze our ASSES offwaiting for Yumi to save our frozen ASSES and all we could talk about is what we could of had. What we did have was an experience on and off the bike we won't forget for a long time. This will be a Great story to tell the Grandkids.

Pedal 1 Long

Explorin' Pinyon

It is that time of year I do some Pinyon expeditions. Been looking for a good loop and have a few options out there.

Pinyon trail.......Palm Canyon Trail.......Indian Potrero...........Dry Wash thru Rock Canyon.........
Heinous climb from Hell..........Palm Canyon rd.

Pinyon Trail

Dutch Charlie..........Have a loop on the hit list.

Dry Wash 3 miles of fun.

Out of the Wash

Turned out to be a beautiful gruelling ride.

Mileage not so much.

Climbing was plentiful.

Vistas put me in awe.

Pinyon options.........Potrero Canyon,Dutch Charlie and Live Oaks are on the hit list.

Pedal 1 Long

Sunday at Home

Finally got some rain the last couple of days. Even got a dusting of snow on sat. Driving myself crazy by not getting out in it but twas feeling it would be super mushy. Waited till sun and it was just some damn good fun. Clear skies and a good 6 hour ride in the backyard.




Pedal One Looooooooong

Bla Bla Bla

It's been a while since I've BLOGGED.
I guess I tend to state that every couple of months.

Recaps:
Solo attempt at the 12 hrs of Temecula great race but I blew up my legs and my rear hub. A big shout out goes to Brendan and Brett for the huge effort in the race.

T-Day rode a geared full sussy bike with Andrew at Noble. Has to be at least a year since I rode one. Took a bit to reacquaint myself with this style of pedal machine but once the climb up Indian creek was over it was just GOLDEN on the descent.

Enjoyed some time spent with my lil bro. Been a while for the two of us. He is really diggin the Colorado thing....I really need to get out there in 2008.......must find a epic near Co Springs.

Started the niteriding thing again. You know it is just that time of year. Been running a cheap lil 10 watt just to spice things up. Temps are dropping and the trails are fresh.

Got one of those forbidden rides this sat am. Good fun route with a warm food destination smackdab in the middle of the ride.........I hope it is open.

If you are in the Tucson area Chad has one of those Undieground things going on the weekend of 12/8. Check it out looks to be a good one.

PedaL 1 lOnG

Pueblo '08

Sorry boys but I won't be able to help in the defense.

Thanks to Siren Bikes I will be running this one Solo.

Delivered

A few Idyllwildians set out to link some local trails together. A set of trails that I have thought about for the last couple of years. It was time and the trail delivered over and over again.
There will be no descriptions,details or stats just let it be known that this was a GOOD day of riding.
PEDAL 1 LONG

PMC

Travelled out to Prescott a few weeks back to enjoy tasty trails.
Dave C put on a fun lil race which gave us all a good feel of the riding in his area.
Went out a day early to relax and enjoy linking trails in the Lynx lake area. Really good swooping AZ single track.
Got a little hungry and lazy so I went into town for some beer for the weekend and Mexi grub.
Next morning hooked up with the Raptor and was ready to race with a Bro.
Many many things happened in this scramble .............
Magic gear thatb went awry
Prescott Roaster ladies
Holistic medicine and Dentistry
Forgotten team number
trail 126 or 128 just couldn't tell from the map
Cool Peeps
Singlespeed
half link & a new Surly ring
Moose drool Beer
Pizza

Good race highly recommend http://kaibabmonstercross.blogspot.com/ if you are into that sort of stuff.
I've got it on my schedule for next year.

Thanks http://bedrockandparadox.blogspot.com twas good times.

Pedal One Long

Flag/Sedona a few weeks ago

Our Host the Raptor Man.

What happens to a brand new Surly ring when you lose 2 bolts.

Just an Ego pic.

Frankie rockin Sedona for the first time.

Good trip but a warning to anyone that knows the Raptor do not and I emphasize DO NOT eat any of his Blondies.