Kentucky Camp Pre-Ride

Despite rain in the forecast, a group of us met out at Rosemont Canyon near Sonoita to pre-ride the Kentucky Camp short/long course this past weekend. We started out with sunny skies before it quickly turned to hail.



After a quick onslaught, the sun slowly came out making for some amazing cloud and lighting moments.





Even a full rainbow.







A few guys (Beto, Gabe, Steve, and Mike) headed to do the long course while the rest of us turned off to do the short course.



The semi-new segment from Box Canyon to Rosemont....









After the ride, we talked a bit, waited for some of the recovery socks to come out.



Even ate some killer Omega 3 Mini Bites, courtesy of Paula. Gabe showed up with this having bailed to the highway



8 months of riding his Ti Voodoo frame. Makes me really enjoy my Ti Lynskey SS all the more.

11 months

...of riding in this shoe (left side). If you are looking for a hike-a-bike shoe, consider this one. I ordered the new pair a few weeks ago. The old shoe is still being used on short rides, but the ratchet is now super glued on.

Ripsey Canyon

Scott and I have been talking about the Antelope Peak Challenge course. I was thinking about taking the course. Scott, in all his wisdom, suggested we go north on the Boulders Segment of the Arizona Trail. This section, with the addition of the Ripsey Segment is brillant singletrack.

Scott passed me the GPX track for the Ripsey Segment of the AZ Trail as he left for UT. On Black Friday, Ty and I headed out from Freeman road to ride the 50-mile loop.

As usual, singletrack prevailed during the route

A simple reason to support the Arizona Trail Association...their belief in rideable singletrack

Photo Courtesy of Ty


Photos Courtesy of Ty

One of the best climbs anywhere. A few switchbacks were super tough, but on the whole, it is a very, very well built trail. Check out those switchbacks on the side of the mountain.

Here is the view from the top, courtesy of Ty. This is the first endurance ride on the geared bike in over a year. This bike is going to be a singlespeed by this weekend.

Stunning views, great singletrack...this route is going to be a classic.

The only thing this trail is lacking is some riders. We saw 2 cars in the 8 hour ride (on the Kelvin-Florence Highway). No tracks, riders or hikers.

After the riding the ridge for a mile, we descended down to Florence-Kelvin Highway and headed back around to finish the Ripsey Segment loop, before finishing the out-n-back on the Boulders Segment Trail.

The new 116-mile option for the Antelope Peak Challenge is going to start around 3am (need to confirm with Scott). More info to come.

Turkey...

..Recovery Ride at 50-Year Trail!








A comment from yesterday: We need some rain, this place is getting too sandy.





I also saw an old friend on his AM rig...guess who this is?



Antelope Peak Challenge pre-ride tomorrow (at least half of the 116-mile option in Ripsey).

Tucson Mountain Park Loop

Scott and I had plans to do some a good epic today, the new route for the Antelope Peak Challenge. The route and info are not up on the site yet, but the new 116-mile long course option is not going to disappoint. Anyway, that fell through after some car trouble on Scott's end.

We opted for a milder, closer to Tucson loop... The Tucson Mountain Park Loop from each of our respective houses (see below for route and profile).

I met Scott at CDO and continued on toward Starr Pass and Robles (shown here)



up and over Golden Gate



and then to Sweet Trails and [I]over[/I] Brown Mountain






[I]Pictures Courtesy of Scott[/I]



After Brown Mountain, I began to bonk. My legs felt like Jello. Excited to see the Coke machine at Saguaro National Park visitor center, I was only let down by the fact that the $1 sucker machine was broken. Epic failure. After about 15 attempts, I finally got it to work.



2 Pepsis later (the iced tea button was actually Pepsi), the epic failure averted for now.

One of the few dirt road sections in all the loop is in Saguaro National Park, providing some good scenery




Before riding back on the gasline (Scott had to return to Sweetwater to ride since we met at CDO Trailhead and then home to get the car).



[B]Post-loop food:[/B] Nico's Breakfast Burrito

The loop info:
[B]64.5 miles
6861 feet of climbing
about 75% singletrack/dirt road[/B]

McDowell Monstercross V.2

Results are available here. Props to Craig from Moab for the route idea.

Route is as follows:
Basha’s to Gateway Loop
Gateway Loop to Paradise
Paradise Trail to Quartz.
Quartz to Lost Dog.
Lost Dog to Ringtail.
Ringtail to Sunrise.
Up and over Sunrise.
Connect to Dixie Mine.
Dixie Mine to Windmill/Coachwhip
Windmill/Coachwhip to Pemberton
Pemberton (ccw) to Comp Track connecting via a gated utility road
Long Loop and Sport Loop
Back to Pemberton via utility road
Pemberton (ccw) to Bluff
Bluff to Granite
Granite to Pemberton
Pemberton (cw) to Tonto
Tonto to Pemberton
Pemberton (ccw) to Windmill/Coachwhip
Over Windgate Pass and down Windgate.
Gateway Loop

GPX file is available here




I can already see a few changed in next year's route.