Black Canyon Trail January 31, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Mountain Biking, trails.Tags: mountain bike, Mountain Biking, mtb, Outdoor Adventure, trails
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Eight of us drove down to Black Canyon City today to ride the Black Canyon Trail. We were joined by my friends from Phoenix, Rick and Bryan.
There were really 10 of us, but Bryan is taking the photo
It was a perfect day, and the desert was beautiful. We rode an out and back on the trail of a little over 7.4 miles one way. We had to cross the running Agua Fria twice. The trail is very narrow in parts and has a lot of up and down with some very tight corners and some pretty crazy exposure. It worked us (I guess I should speak for myself) pretty hard. In the almost 15 miles we had a total elevation gain of over 2000′.
In the photo left to right: Me, Tim, Ken, Cliff (his first ride with us), Ray, Hal, Rob, Rick and Shawn. And because I couldn’t get the camera to balance on this one little log, Bryan is taking the photo.
Me climbing back up from the river.
Tim cruises by
Rick rides a narrow section of side-hill trail
Ken above the river
Ray isn't bothered by the exposure on his left
Rob thinks I have a gun not a camera!
Shawn with the river in the background
Bryan is starting down toward the river
Keep the Hooves out of the Mud! January 30, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Mountain Biking, trails.Tags: Mountain Biking, Pioneer Park, trails
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Bob called me today to see if I wanted to get in a quick afternoon ride……..gee, let me think……
We rode from his house to Pioneer Park and burned through about 15 miles of trail. I punished myself on the steep ups, but somehow survived.
There have been horses on the Legacy trail while it was muddy again…dang them!! They tear the crud out of what is usually pretty nice single track. It kills me that horses and hikers complain about bikes damaging the trails….clearly, horses are the most destructive force on a trail. Sorry, just had to vent a bit.
Nice Ride in Granite Basin January 26, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Mountain Biking, trails.Tags: Adventure Racing, Granite Basin, Mountain Biking, mtb, Prescott, single track, trails
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Sunday afternoon was cold and windy, not exactly perfect conditions, but it didn’t stop four of us from spending some time in Granite Basin on our mountain bikes.
Hal, Rob, me and Mick (this was the first time Mick had been on a ride with me) put about 8.5 miles in on the fantastic single track trails in the basin area.
Because of the glue-like mud that is found above the cayuse area, we avoid it by doing an out and back on Ten Jumps Trail from the bottom. Rob commented on how different that trail is when heading south and up hill on it instead of bombing it to the north.
It was a nice ride once we got our bodies warmed up, and most importantly, everyone made it home without injury!
Beginners, Don’t Be Scayyerd! January 24, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Mountain Biking.Tags: fear, Mountain Biking, mtb
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It’s funny how when I meet people and start talking with them about mountain biking, they usually say something like, “Uh, uh. That sport is way too hard and too dangerous for me.”
Of course they are wrong. Fear is a great motivator, sometimes it motivates us to do something, but mostly it paralyzes us and motivates us not to do something.
I ran across this blog today, and I think some of you nay-sayers might find it helpful.
Riding in DG after the rain January 24, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Events, Mountain Biking, Trail Running.Tags: Adventure Recreation, duathlon, Go Off Road Duathlon, Granite Basin, mountain bike, Mountain Biking, mtb, multisport
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I’ll tell you, I am awfully glad that we have some areas with Decomposed Granite trails around Prescott, because the other trails turn to mud and muck when it rains.
Today Kent and I went out to Granite Basin Lake to ride some of the DG trails because we have had two nights of rain recently, and almost anywhere else would be too muddy to ride….well, not to muddy to ride, but so muddy that we would muck up our bikes and more importanly, we would have torn up the trails.
We only spent about an hour actually riding today, but it sure was nice. There was no one else on the trails, the DG surface was tacky, and the temperature was cool…..that spells perfect conditions.
Kent has decided to race in the Duathlon that I am organizing and putting on during the Ides of March. He is always such a good help as a volunteer, but I am very glad that he is racing instead this time.
You really don’t need to BEWARE the Ides of March, just sign up for the Go! Off Road Duathlon and spend them with us!
Prescott Off Road Duathlon is Coming January 23, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Racing, Events, Mountain Biking, Trail Running.Tags: Arizona, duathlon, Go Off Road Duathlon, GORD, Mountain Biking, mtb, sponsors
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Registrations are pouring in for the Go! Off Road Duathlon to be held March 14th in Prescott, Arizona. Entries are limited to 150, so don’t delay! We also are looking for able bodied volunteers who want to get out on the course and make sure racers do what they are supposed to be doing…..that’s right, YOU get to be a Marshall! (Sorry, no brass stars).
Thanks to Barry at the Runner’s Den in the valley for putting up our poster and for his enthusiasm for our event.
Thanks to Bill at Hensley & Co. for agreeing to make us up some banners and some promotional posters as well.
And another thanks to Matt at Buzzmug.com for his ongoing support.
Other sponsors that we are grateful to:
and there are new sponsors signing up all the time. In fact, you or your company could get in on the action and be one!
Robyn Benincasa Talks About Teamwork January 21, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Racing, Adventure Recreation, Events, Trail Running, extreme sports, team challenge.Tags: Adventure Racing, AR, coastal challenge, Robyn Benincasa, team work
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I was scanning through the Primal Quest web site and found a very good article about the Importance of Teamwork in Adventure Racing. This article was written by veteran adventure racer Robyn Benincasa.
As mentioned a couple of weeks ago in this post Robyn (along with one of my AR team mates) is on her way with the Project Athena Team to Costa Rica to participate in The Coastal Challenge strarting January 31.
I couldn’t agree more with Robyn’s article…..teamwork, and an understanding of your team mate’s strength and weaknesses is the core of AR
Duatholon Gets Another Sponsor January 19, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Racing, Events.Tags: Arizona, duathlon, gear, Go Off Road Duathlon, GORD, multisport, Prescott, sponsors
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One of the top multisport product suppliers has joined with us at the Go! Off Road Duathlon as an event sponsor.
They are TrisSports.com located in Tucson, Arizona. TriSports is known throughout the world as the place to get the best deals on the best multisport gear.
For your Pre-Race 10% discount on gear, please enter the following code when purchasing online from TriSports. G09-R
Entering this code does two things, first and foremost, it saves you money! Secondly, it shows TriSports that their sponsorship of our event is good for business, so they will be back next year!
Kicking it into High Gear January 18, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Events, Mountain Biking, Trail Running.Tags: bike shop, duathlon, Go Off Road Duathlon, GORD, Mountain Biking, mtb, multisport, Prescott
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Well with less than 60 days until the event, it seems as though things are getting fast and furious now.
We would like to welcome a new sponsor the the Go! Off Road Duathlon, it is the High Gear Bike Shop in Prescott, Arizona. Steve and Cindy at High Gear are donating some items for our prize drawing at the conclusion of the race.
High Gear Bike Shop in Prescott, AZ
If you are looking for a new mountain bike, they deal in Cannondale, Trek, Haro, and Scott USA in the mountain bike category, as well as BMX bikes and road bikes.
Steve has been in business in Prescott a long time too, I used to buy skateboard wheels from him in the ’70s.
Duathlon entry forms are available at High Gear Bikes at the corner of Sheldon and Mt. Vernon in Prescott. Of course they are also available at “other bike shops” which at this point will remain nameless. I would love to name them, but they haven’t agreed to give us prizes yet!
Mountain Biking Alone January 17, 2009
Posted by AR Guide in Adventure Recreation, Events, Mountain Biking, Trail Running, trails.Tags: duathlon, Go Off Road Duathlon, GORD, Mountain Biking, mtb, multi-sport, multisport, Pioneer Park, Prescott, trail running, trails
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Usually not such a good idea…..
But this morning I went out to ride all three legs of the Go! Off Road Duathlon that will be held on Brownlow Trails in Pioneer Park. I rode very carefully because I was alone…no hucks or jumps today.
The first 1.5 mile running leg starts out on smooth fire road type trail then after about .6 it turns off onto a windy but fairly smooth single track that weaves and wanders its way back toward the TA.
After racer transition to the 8.1 mile mountain bike leg, they will spend just about 30 seconds on the fire roads, then turn onto single track for about a half mile, where they meet fire road width trail again. The wide track is about 2 miles long before another section of narrow single track cuts across a hillside and back to the wide track where a pretty good climb begins. Once riders reach the top, there is a fast descent with some surprizingly sharp turns, then another and steeper climb. At the top of this climb, racers will go through a tunnel then follow the wide track around a roller coaster loop for another mile or so. Near the bottom of a descent, there is a very sharp turn onto a mile of twisted and narrow single track that climbs and descends up and over 2 ridges before it takes riders through another tunnel. With less than a mile to go, riders will traverse a hillside on a single track then join the wide track and head toward the TA.
After transitioning back to the last 2.2 mile running leg, racers will follow single track up a ridge then join the wide track trail for a while then back onto a fairly straight and fast single track. When they hit the wide track again, they have less then a mile to go to the finish line!
Next time I ride it, I will take some photos to edit into this post.
