Sedona Marathon Bike Trip

Biking as much as we do, we are always looking, searching for new areas, trails and adventures. For quite some time Sedona Arizona has been on our list, but the 8 hour drive was just farther than we wanted to drive...normally. However, when we had a free weekend and over the edge sports had just published some pictures with a brief story about their trip, we decided it was time.

We left Utah at 5:00 Friday night and arrived home 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning. 17 hours driving, 12 hours biking. It was amazing!

We arrived in Sedona around 1 a.m. and found our campsite out side of town, with no real map, we were going on the details and explanation of the staff from Over The Edge, which luckily was accurate. We pitched a tent and were asleep by 2:30. We woke up at 6 and by seven were in the car ready for the first trail.

Our Morning View, no clouds, Bikes...we knew it was going to be a great day.

The First trail we rode was the Aerie/Cockscomb trail, a short 6-7 mile loop that is fun. It essentially winds around a small mountain, is somewhat technical in places but also flowy and fast in others, and the scenery was amazing. Definitely a repeat.

After the morning ride we headed into town to visit Over the Edge sports and get more beta about which trails to ride, including a map. (One side note here, there are trails all over Sedona and the map is not great, we got lost multiple times and even had a gps. Next time we plan to download tracks and follow them.)  We decided to do a big 35ish mile loop that started right at the shop. So we headed out of town;

And begun to climb, and Got Lost. But just look how gorgeous this area is.

We ended up doing Airport loop, the climb up was technical with baby head sized rocks, surrounded by cactus, but still a great time.

Flat tire, I hit a cactus.

Descending the airport loop is fun and scenic!

Now this is where the Pictures of Guthrie end. We began the actual real loop and my rear hub started having issues. I didn't want to get stuck out on the trail 15 miles from town so I rode back to the shop and rode a smaller loop closer to town that will still a blast, then rode in to meet Guthrie.

The new/used bike, (New to me) 2007 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert. I loved how it rode, plus now the blood doesn't show when it gets on the frame. This is where I waited for Guthrie.

He never showed because he got lost, and found his way back to town on a different trail, so I rode back to town alone, arriving at 6pm, just before dark.

We packed up the car and drove home. It took me 4 liters of mountain dew to make it home without falling asleep. I was in bed by 6am, then awake at 11 for church...I had to teach. Then I slept.

Sedona is an amazing place to ride, we will definitely be doing it again. However, some things we learned.

1- Gap (a town in AZ is creepy at night).

2- In Sedona, maps are not enough for a long ride. Ride with someone who knows the trails or download gps tracks before. (this is what we will be doing)

3- The trails and scenery are amazing, this is atleast a once or twice a year trip.

4- I want to go and stay over night to see the town, it looks sweet.

Last First bike ride?

Every year, when the first snow falls, I try to do one last ride. This year, or I should say season, was a little different however. Because the temperatures were so mild and there was a lack of snow, we continued to ride through November and December. Last week I even was able to do two night rides, wearing only a long sleeve jersey and long pants, that is crazy!!

This year the first snowfall, that stopped biking (maybe, as it was so minimal) , didn't happen until January 7, 2012. So I rode from Timpanogos park up racecourse to the "altar" (the pile of rocks in the first picture), Down crank to Beginning of Dragon's back then dropped into Johnson's Hole and back down to the parkway trail and my car, about 9 miles overall. Not long, but long for January 6th.

This picture is looking down into "Johnson's Hole" as it is called. This is a newer trail we just recently found and is a fantastic addition to the trail network at the mouth of Provo canyon.

Utah is such a fabulous place to live. Within one hour of our home there lies, Payson canyon (black hawk, Bennie), Spanish fork canyon (Three fork loop, Monk, Strawberry ridge), American Fork Canyon (Ridge, Ant's knoll, Tibble fork) Corner canyon, Lambert...Etc. Within two hours there is Price, The San Rafael Swell and  Salt lake valley. Within 3-4 hourse lies the world famous Moab with all it has to offer and St. George/Hurricane with what some regard as the best trail in the United States, Gooseberry Mesa and it's twin, little Creek, among many other greats (Guacamole, Slickrock swamp, Grafton, Zen, etc).

People travel around the world to ride these trails. Trails which grace the cover of multiple magazines regularly. Bike tests are done there. Outerbike is held in Moab. MBA action devotes entire photo sections just to Moab because they receive so many pictures from there.

And we can ride it almost any time we want.

Yes Utah is quite a place for the Mountain Biker or Outdoor adventurer.

I am glad to call it home. 

New Years Eve Kokopelli Ride

It is rare to have good biking on New Year's Eve. Moab occasionally has lower level trails rideable, St. George may have a few of our non-favorites and other than that, locally, there just isn't much available.

We have been wanting to explore the Kokopelli trail system near Grand Junction Colorado for some time. So with the weather holding, Guthrie wanting to test his new Christmas bike  and the trails in decent condition we decided to head down Saturday morning at 4 A.M.

The trail system around Loma (near Grand Junction/Fruita) is quite expansive. We wanted to ride as much as possible so we hit Mary's Loop, Horsethief, Steve's Loop, Lion's Loop, Mack's Ridge and returned on Moore fun.

The views are gorgeous with the river, the red rocks and the light dusting of snow.

Testing out the suspension and seatpost that drops at the touch of a button.

Mack's Ridge, the trail follows the Rim. The climb up was a steep fire road, but the sweet singletrack on top and the descent to the bottom was worth it.

The look out off Moore Fun or Mack's Ridge, I forget. The day began windy but by afternoon we only had a long sleeve shirt and leg warmers. Actually a great day for riding.

This is a section of trail on Moore Fun, or as another rider put it; "ain't moore fun". It stood out in my mind because I was on a hard tail (no rear suspension) and it was a little rough, but still worth it. The ride/hike in the snow up moore fun was a little tedious as the trail is steep, rocky and had about 4 inches of snow on it. But the riding at the top and descent was worth it.

Grand Junction is worth trying out. With Tabegauche and these trails it could easily provide an enjoyable and long day of riding. Plus, any time you can ride 25 miles on New Years Eve in 30-40 degree weather it is worth it.

Gooseberry's Fraternal Twin - Little Creek Mesa

Gooseberry Mesa -  for Mountain bikers the name evokes images of winding around and through trees while hopping rock ledges, skirting cliff edges and riding one of the prime trails ever created. Little known too most is it's twin; Little Creek Mesa.

While similar in riding, many have suggested that Little Creek rivaled and even surpassed the riding to be had on Gooseberry. The trails are less marked, but for the adventurous in spirit that becomes and indeed is part of the allure that keeps them coming back.

We had ridden Little Creek before, but I broke a rear hub after only a few miles. We went and bought a new rear hub and rim, but with daylight fading we were only able to get in 10 miles or so. We had heard rumor that there are many more miles of trail (actually up to forty according to over the edge sports in Hurricane) so we had to go back.

We didn't end up taking many pictures. We were too busy riding.

After riding much of what little creek has to offer, I guarantee we will be going back again and again!

Night Ride

Sunset

Back to Blogging....Saturday morning I awoke with a little cold so I didn't go biking. Later that night I still wanted to go so I went on my first night ride of fall...alone. It was a little Creepy, but with some music on it wasn't too bad. I rode the pipe line road up to the corner canyon trails then to the Altar.

The City

The "Altar"

The City upon returning

The Highlight of the night, if you can call it that, or perhaps the most vivid memory was this; While riding up a small hill two sets of eyes came running over the hill towards me, they darted in the bushes then slunk back through the grass towards me. I was, well, very, very startled. Shortly after a very large animal came bounding over the hill behind them...I got off my bike very quickly. They turned out to be two dogs and a horse, followed soon after by a horseman.

I was relieved that is all it was.

Miners Run...the trail with no trail

Okay, here it is, I love to bike.

 There it is finally out.

It sure feels good after so many years of keeping it in

to get that out in the open.

One of the things I love about biking is the adventure of finding and riding new trails, or non-trails in this case.

riding along the Rim

We heard about this trail through Utah Mountain biking.com. It is basically on the edge of the San Rafael swell, right off I-70 in the middle of nowhere. Its unique because there really is no trail and it winds in and out of old mining claims and equipment.

It begins on a dirt road then just takes off into the hills. No trail, only Gps tracks to follow.

This is an example of the non-trail, trail.

The trail itself is only about 11 miles long so we figured 1-2 hours maximum ride time. It took us four. Yes, we could have walked it faster. We got lost countless times and had to backtrack and find the right way, couple that with the rain the night before and sinking in about 3-4 inches, it made for a much longer more difficult ride.

The riding is very unusual, except for the return via dirt road there are no sitting sections. It is all on rough slickrock which required constantly changing of body and hand position.

On the way Back, Guthrie wanted to rest so faked a flat. I always believed that the moon landing was real until I pedaled through this place. Now...I'm pretty sure it could have been faked.

Now I know you are thinking...

"That ride sounds horrible"

O' Contraire...We loved it and plan to return next year. That is the adventure that leads us to bike.

Sometimes it's a lot like life. You know where you want to go, or think you want to go, but getting there is the real fun and it may require backtracks, retracing of steps, or just riding into the dark...

Like Miner's run.

Room to Grow

Last year on our annual M.A.T. (Moab Adventure Trip) My three oldest and I rode Gemini Bridges which is about fourteen miles. On the trip I took a picture of them that turned out rather well. MBA Action Magazine, a mountain biking magazine I enjoy asked for some pictures with children biking so I sent ours in...

And they chose it.

So here it is and here they are in all of their Glory!!

Middle Picture!

Just a little update on our adventure family;

E (The middle one in the picture) wants a harness and helmet for rock climbing for her birthday.

C - Not in picture, he is 9 wants a sit on top Kayak for his.