Stages 3 and 4

So the first mock training in preparacion for AMC is over.
4 days, 17.5 riding hours, 185 miles and over 10000 calories burned.

Stage 3 was Saturday up in Flagstaff. I drove up with Art and Wendy then we met Dan and Darrin on the way. After a quick stop in Mayer to get gas, we made it to Flagstaff where we met up with Tom Ament on his singlespeed Jabberwocky.
Tom had already been riding by the time we got there and he was sporting an ear to ear smile. Soon we too were sporting the same grin, except for when we had to climb up Little Bear, a 3.5 mile climb to Mt Elden. We ran into the Schampa guys at the top on their Saturday ride.
The rest of the ride couldn't have been better. We connected to Secret Trail which brought us to Lower Moto which was part of the final MBAA race. We got back to the cars to refill while loosing Tom on the way. I guess he found some fun trails to ride back but eventually met up with us.
Tom and Darrin called it after the 3 hour mark, then Art, Dan and I went for a little more. Art and I rode Rocky Ridge then decided to head back as the skies started to look treatening. Dan in the other hand kept going. His plan was to ride 6 hours in preparation for Breck 100.
Wendy did a 2 hour trailrun from Buffalo Park and was waiting for us to get back so we could all get some deserved food. Pita Pit was the place. After the quick bite it was time to head down the mountain to the hot temps in the valley.
On the way down, I heard from Norma who was dealing with car trouble, so after getting to Art's house I had to go play mechanic in 106 degrees. Thankfully it just needed a jump.

Stage 4 got changed at last minute. Art had to do his time with the Mountain Bike Patrol at South Mountain and I didn't know if anyone else would join me for the Quad Bypass. In addition to that Norma took my car to a family gathering, so I decided to do a ride closer to home, so I could ride from my garage door. The plan was to ride to South Mtn and back with as little pavement as possible. The how was left out to improvisation. I found a gravel road (probably White-Parker) that took me to Casa Blanca then I connected with a canal trail thru the indian reservation. I crossed Hwy 347 and kept going thru the reservation until I made it to Riggs Rd. I rode about 1/2 mile on the road then found another gravel road the headed north and cut thru some farm lands until I made it to Pecos. I ran into fellow Proconers Patrick Rhodes and Ben Erlandson on Pecos.
I rode to end of Desert Classic then hike-a-bike up Telegraph. After taking a little break to let a snake cross the trail, I continued to the top. While I waited to get my breath back after a tough hike I saw Melissa Buhl go by on her road bike, fresh off of winning the ONLY US medal a the World Championships in Italy. Congrats!
The hike continued to the top of the western side of National which I followed all the way down to Bajada. These two trails were really loose due to recent rain, I had to dismount on a couple of dowhills. After Bajada I was running low on water and fuel, so I headed down to the Circle K on Central to refuel. After getting water, a liter of Coca-Cola, a Clif bar and a bag of peanuts with salt and lime, I headed up the road to Telegraph pass to start the ride back. Half way up the paved climb I saw another Proconer, this time it was Judah. He turned around and rode with me to Telegraph pass.
It was a little toasty on the way home, so I filled the now empty Coke bottle with water and poured some over my head every so often. The ride back thru the reservation felt a lot harder. Soft ground and sandy trails are tough on tired legs but I made it home after being out for a little over 6 hours to take a nice shower, get some food then watch Le Tour.
Sorry for the lack of pictures. I needed the pocket room for food and supplies so I didn't bring the camera.
Now I am ready for a day off tomorrow followed by another week of high volume but mostly on the road before heading to Minnesota for work.

Time to go to bed, I am beat after four days of endurance riding.
Pura Vida!
Jeff

Stage 2 - Mt Lemmon

No not the road ride, today we rode the backside of Mt Lemmon starting from Oracle.

5 hours and 15 minutes, 57 miles and over 5500 feet of climbing. Art, Bob and Jonathan joined me on today's "parade."

And the climbing begins. The goal is up ahead. The cows just stared at us

We made it to Summerheaven where Art went to eat a giant cookie while the rest of us climbed to the very top. Jonathan and I pushed the pace a little at the top until I couldn't keep up.

Here's Art on one of the switchbacks near the top

On the way down we refilled our bottles and headed back down. The last few rollers were felt more difficult than they were. I guess it had to do with the heat around the low 90s.

Tomorrow is stage 3 up in Flagstaff.

Pura Vida!

Mock Stage Race

So in preparation for AMC in August, I planned a 4 stage training simulating the race for this weekend.

Today's stage was supposed to be a 16 mile TT on Desert Classic. Bob joined me for the 5:30 AM start (even though I showed up at 5:40...sorry Bob) from the west end of Desert Classic. The plan was to ride to Pima Canyon and back. Unfortunately my Larsen TT 1.9 (the road tire according to Trever) got a leak and I discover that Stans dried up a lot quicker this time while sitting in a hot garage for the last few weeks. Anyway, we stopped and put a tube in while Bob did the Corona de Loma loop. We got going again but I pinch flatted shortly before the Pima Canyon entrance. Bob had patches, which I really hate using them because they never work for me. After one failed attempt, Bob decided to ride back to the car. I gave it another try with more patience. I cleaned the tube a little better and put it back in. It held up to 15 psi, so I rode to the nearest street and found my way back to the car.  I had to stop and pump some air but I made it to the parking lot just at the same time Bob was pulling out to go looking for me.

Anyway, I got 2 hours of riding including stops, half of it on pavement.

Tomorrow is going to be a suffer fest up the back side on Mt Lemmon in Tucson for Stage 2. I need to put a new tire in the back.

Saturday we'll be heading up to Flagstaff for some riding around Mt Elden.

The last stage will be on Sunday with a 4+ hour ride around the McDowell Mtn Preserve area.

Pura Vida!