Flounder
11-21-2009, 09:47 PM
I've been on a jones for a big epic for several weeks. Maybe I'm getting nervous for my first solo 24 hour race, which looms in only 11 weeks. What ever the motive, I finally got the green light from my dear wife to burn a day on the bike.
I rolled down my driveway at 8:45 with a definite chill in the air and a good load of energy gels, bars and fluids weighing down my Camelbak. I had a general idea where I wanted to go but nothing too structured. I started with a 900 foot climb up a paved and gravel road to the first stretch of singletrack. Within the first hour, I had climbed 1600 feet. The rest of the ride unfolded beautifully.
Prescott is a fantastic mix of hardpack, rock gardens, pine forests and high desert scrub. I think I hit it all. I only encountered one other rider on the trail, which even for Prescott is unusual. By 2:00 pm I had covered much of what I set out to ride. It was a spectacular day. Trail conditions were a little loose, but the weather was awesome for late November.
Ride Stats:
Total Ride Time: 6 hours (5:35 in motion - stopped to take perdy pics)
Total Mileage: 48 miles (Not too shabby for a singlespeed.)
Total elevation gain 5133 feet. (Did I mention singlespeed?)
Total calories burned: 3200 (Burger time)
*36 miles of singletrack and fire road.
Sandy conditions in the turns made it a little exciting at times.
34882
34886
34883
Granite Mountain off in the distance was my objective. I made it out there, did a 10 mile loop in the shadow of the mountain and headed home.
34885
Self portrait ;) You can only have so many photos of just trail
34884
It felt great to get out and link up a huge loop of trails. I probably could have put in a few more miles, but I didn't want to risk missing another ride tomorrow! I'm not sure if anyone has told you this, but.....
Bicycles are cool.
I rolled down my driveway at 8:45 with a definite chill in the air and a good load of energy gels, bars and fluids weighing down my Camelbak. I had a general idea where I wanted to go but nothing too structured. I started with a 900 foot climb up a paved and gravel road to the first stretch of singletrack. Within the first hour, I had climbed 1600 feet. The rest of the ride unfolded beautifully.
Prescott is a fantastic mix of hardpack, rock gardens, pine forests and high desert scrub. I think I hit it all. I only encountered one other rider on the trail, which even for Prescott is unusual. By 2:00 pm I had covered much of what I set out to ride. It was a spectacular day. Trail conditions were a little loose, but the weather was awesome for late November.
Ride Stats:
Total Ride Time: 6 hours (5:35 in motion - stopped to take perdy pics)
Total Mileage: 48 miles (Not too shabby for a singlespeed.)
Total elevation gain 5133 feet. (Did I mention singlespeed?)
Total calories burned: 3200 (Burger time)
*36 miles of singletrack and fire road.
Sandy conditions in the turns made it a little exciting at times.
34882
34886
34883
Granite Mountain off in the distance was my objective. I made it out there, did a 10 mile loop in the shadow of the mountain and headed home.
34885
Self portrait ;) You can only have so many photos of just trail
34884
It felt great to get out and link up a huge loop of trails. I probably could have put in a few more miles, but I didn't want to risk missing another ride tomorrow! I'm not sure if anyone has told you this, but.....
Bicycles are cool.