BCT on 11-11-11

With all the upcoming endurance races, I've been trying to up the ride mileage each week. On Friday, 11-11-11, I decided to take the day off and do just that...go out and put in a good long ride at my favorite trail, Black Canyon. My plan was to start at Emery Hendersen Trailhead off New River Rd, ride north, exit the trail at the Rock Springs Trailhead, ride through Black Canyon City (to get water), then up Maggie Mine Rd to the top of the climb at Arastre Creek, then come all the way back south on the trail. It was a perfect day for weather, overcast but topping out around 70F. All in all, the ride went quite well...although the final climb just south of Table Mesa Rd was a real sufferfest. That climb starts essentially at a small creek crossing north of Table Mesa Rd and gradually increases in grade until you top out roughly 4 miles later...not a huge climb by any means, but loose and rocky in many spots. I always feel that some suffering helps you get stronger both mentally and physically. Looking back and thinking about my "low" points, I really didn't eat or drink enough. When I did take a big swig of my homemade energy gel, my legs and mind woke up and I became more focused. (thanks to the instant coffee in the gel!) In any case, below are the ride stats...BCT can be a bit deceiving since there's really no long, truly brutal climbs. But since the trail winds in and out of several creeks and rivers, the climbing adds up...just ask my legs today.

Slow is good for the soul...and marriage!

Riding MTB's is something I do for exercise and the challenge. Second in the list of "why I ride MTBs" is the outdoors, scenery and such. Most of the time, my type A personality and lust for pain and suffering means my head is down and my thoughts are focused on finishing a long ride in a respectable time. Today was different...my wife who loves the outdoors but doesn't share a love for a good sufferfest wanted to come out and do a nice fall ride to see the colors. So, I took her up on the AZT NE of the peaks...it would not disappoint....

I rode a long way today...

Finally, I mustered up the huevos to do the ride I'd planned for most of the summer. Start at the bottom of Schultz Creek... ride north, up the AZT, east on FR418, up to the inner basin trail. Planned to ride to 10kft, but the IB trail was a beatdown; figured I need to save a few "matches" to burn for the way back. So I stopped about a 1/2 mile up the IB trail and turned around. Kinda figured it was the last >70F day this fall with no chance of rain that I could pull off a long, all day ride close to 70 miles. The day was as good as it gets... perfect... Riding on a carpet of yellow at times...

Arrived...at Locket Meadow...

On the way back to the AZT...

The final ride stats....I'm tired...

Ouch...

I think one thing I like about long, endurance type rides is that is doesn't feel like an all out hammerfest. I mean, at least at my current fitness level I certainly can't go "balls-to-the-wall" for a 6-11 hour ride. However, scale back the distance to something accomplished in <3hrs, and certainly, the possibility exists for more of a real hammerfest. I rode a few weeks ago with a few guys who also ride SS (Race them too) and it taught me a good lesson about pace. We had set out to do about a 32 mile ride at BCT starting at Emery Hendersen and heading north around the Little Pan Loop. They were running 32x18's and were able to put the hurt on me. I had to ride above my normal pace which definitely exposed weaknesses in my bike handling and paid the price by doing an OTB roughly 1/3rd in to the ride. No major carnage, but definitely a warning. By the end, all 3 of us were pretty toasted as it was also getting pretty warm. It was a great lesson for me and an eye opener as far as training goes....sometimes you really have to ride with other guys faster than you to push both your fitness and your skills. Flash forward to today, I decided to do a solo ITT out at BCT where I rode the quintessential BCT lolipop ride; Start at Rock Springs and go south around the Little Pan Loop and back. I've done it many times before but today felt the right day to go as fast as I could muster; with a sub 3 hour goal. The weather was perfect...about 65F when I started. I reached the top of the loop in 57 minutes so I knew I was on pace. At the bottom of the loop which is pretty much the 1/2 way point, I was at 1:21...excellent...still looking good. Reaching the top of the loop, which is 2/3's of the mileage, I was at 1:47....sweet...keep the hammer down. Crossed back over the main road at 1:59 and only 8 miles to go... I figured it was gonna be close. Kept my head down climbing back up to the skyline section then bombed down to the river (as fast as fear would let me!). Crossed the river at 2:35...picked up my bike and ran across the sand and riprap, hopped on and then hammered up the last section. Rain started to fall right then but there was nothing at this point to stop me...rolling over the last gate, I glanced down and knew the goal was in the bag... rolling into the lot, hit stop...2:46...whew, that hurt.

Lynskey - Back in Action

Lynskey turned around my frame repair in a few days so with shipping on each end, I was basically out the bike for about 3 weeks. Got it back a week ago, reassembled it and took it out on a shakedown ride...sure enough, like an idiot, I used a broken BB cup spacer that midway through the ride, started to work it's way back out. Of course, had it come out, the cup would have been completely loose and a bb cup tool is not something I bring! Back home, I replaced it and today set out for a long ride on the AZT. Conditions were immaculate...damp soil, cool (46 degrees at the start). The unfinished section of AZT is pretty much done now although the trail crews look like they still have a bit of rock to move in some areas. The climb is a good one, from where it crosses SB road, it climbs from 7600ft up to 9000ft, all singletrack. Had an annoying creak anytime I really put power to the pedals which I later solved with a grease on the headset conical surfaces...amazing all the things that can make noises on a bike and I feel like I've developed the ability to diagnose things on the bike. Nothing destroys a good "zen" climbing experience than a creaking or clicking bike. I probably stopped 6 times to try and adjust things to make it stop. Oh well...another lesson learned...Anyway, still a great ride and good beatdown.

Cracked!

Well, I suppose that everyone who rides bikes for enough years is going to experience a cracked frame. I cracked a steel road bike frame years ago. However, my latest bike purchase, a Lynskey Ridgeline 29SL, was the last frame I figured I'd crack. I've had it since April 2010 and although I have around 3k miles on it, I didn't expect to find it cracked. I was cleaning it up yesterday after a ride and if I weren't so anal about keeping the bike clean, I probably wouldn't have seen it. Right behind the BB, but forward of the brace between the chainstays was a small crack. Kind of an odd place for a crack but judging by the location and appearance, I'd tend to believe there was some sort of weld occlusion that created a stress concentration. I've dropped Lynskey an email with pics so we'll see what they say. By the way, I think they make a great product and don't think anything less of them based on this. I'm hoping they can turn the repair around quickly and in the mean time, I'll spend some miles on the road bike.

The Weeks Rides

Spent the week in MP doing some work, some house projects, and of course some riding. After my usual 36 mile road bike ride in PHX Friday morning, I decided Saturday AM’s ride would stay close to MP and I’d explore a bit more of Mormon Mountain. Took the northern route from MP over to Mormon Mountain and headed up the climb on FR648. Expecting to simply turn around, I stumbled upon the trailhead to Mormon Mountain trail…what? Single track heading off the east side? What an idiot I felt like not knowing this was here. (http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/mormon_lake/mormon-mtn-tr.shtml) It was a great trail, a bit rocky in places but going downhill was great. I figured it would intersect the AZT (which it did) which I could take to FR240 and back to MP. 34 miles, 3100vf. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103043242

Monday, I decided I’d venture up to Flag and do something a bit different than my usual. Parked at Buffalo Park and took lower Oldham over to Elden Lookout Rd, climbed that thing(ugh) to Sunset, down Upper BBank, to Little Gnarly, then down Schultz Creek and back to Buff Park. Felt like a pretty stout ride even though it was only 20 miles, and 3000 vft. I’ve found although the ride down Sunset is fun, I almost prefer coming down Upper BBank….the fast rooty turns, mild exposure, make it a hoot. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103582618
Cool fungus...

Tuesday, I decided I needed to build a bike stand for the cabin workshop...Since I have one in PHX that works well, I basically repeated the design, with a few mods. Although I don't usually do any major maintenance at the cabin, it's nice to clean up the bike between rides and do any necessary adjustments.

The base on this one is great...VERY stable.

Wednesday, I took it easy and did my usual short climb up to Crystal Pt here in MP. It’s the closest singletrack in MP and with the new trail that climbs up from south side, it’s a good 18 minute or so steady climb. Although you can descend off the north side, it’s fairly rocky and more techy (still fun). However, the south side descent is like a pump track…fast, well spaced ups and downs, and lots of fun. Definitely not a trail I’d drive from far away to ride, but a nice option that can be connected with other double track and forest roads around MP. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104118399

Thursday, I headed back up to Flag with the intent to ride the newish section of trail called “West Secret”. After crossing over the road from “east” to “west” there is an intersection which I mistakenly took the left fork then missing a right turn I ended up on the old Super Moto Trail. Ughh…Although I like a bit of a chunky challenge, there are some drops on that trail that I just can’t man-up and try. Out there by myself, no armor, I figured it was walk time. Finally, emerging from the chunk-fest, I hit the AZT and did an out and back to the end of the trail. It’s getting really close to being done…as I later found out on Sunday. All-in-all, a good ride, 30 miles, 2800 vft. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104118393

I took a few days of rest since my quads were feeling pretty beat up from the rides and the projects around the house I was doing. Building 40 feet of rock wall caused me to do 100’s of free squats that took it’s toll on my back and legs. Finally, with two days of rest I opted for a long ride; not brutally long but the goal was over 40 miles. Did the usual “Flag Epic” where I started at the bottom of Schultz Creek and made my way up to FR418. Took FR418 a few miles east where it starts to drop in elevation. I really wanted to ride up to Lockett Meadow, but decided I could get a bit stranded up there, tired and no really good bail-out options. That would have pushed the ride into the 60mile range so I decided to turn around. Back south on the AZT, I HAB’d/rode the unfinished section of trail. Can’t wait till it’s finished. It’ll be a great climb on the SS. The day’s tally: 45 miles, 4400 vft. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104894765
Weird fungus...

View looking south at the peaks from FR418...

This section of AZT is just amazing...I can't get enough of it!

So, for the week, 137 miles, 14,300 vft, 14:40 of saddle time…not too bad.