Some days are just meant to go to shit...

...and last Friday was one of those.  My road trip for an overnighter in Flagstaff had been on the books for a few weeks, I guess.  My plan, as I described here, was to park at the bottom of Hart Prairie, climb all the way to Bismarck Lake(?), catch the AZT and ride it (mostly down) to the highway back to the truck.  As all my plans do, it got moved around & swapped around and soon my longer gravel climb > singletrack ride turned into two days of singletrack...'cause more funner.  The plan was to ride something tamer on Thursday, grab sleep in the hotel then head to Snowbowl to park for an out-and-back-and-out-and-back on the AZT.  Either I would hit the chunkier south side to the road, climb the road back to the truck and jump back in and head north to White Horse Road and once again back to the truck... or vice-versa.

Thursday came and I had this nervous energy, almost anxious feeling.  Why I had no more confidence in my decisions up to that point,  I do not know... but as I rolled in, I wheeled over to Fort Tuthill and prepped to get in a short, easy(ish) ride.  Suited up in typical mountain bike gear:

• Twin Six gravel bibs ('cause pockets)
• Race Face loose jersey
• small Camelback
• ??? socks
• Giro lid
• Giro gloves
• Lake shoes

The squish was aired to 105 & 280, front & rear.  Tires were set at 22 & 28.  I had two bottles of Infinit hydration mix and 1 liter of water in the Camelback.  There were GU's & Shot Blocks in my pockets.

Roll out, still feeling the jitters.  As I start up the rockier, steeper climb up Soldier Trail, I have to remind myself to just be cool, ease into this and ride.  There's nowhere to be... and since this is pretty much an out-n-back, I can turn around & call it done if I am not feeling it.

The bike was rolling great.  Lines made sense and soon the rock gardens turned into just areas to weave up, over or around.  When I reach the Rogers Lake Trail, I stop for a quick adjustment to the shifter and keep going.  My heart rate is solidly in Zone 3 but since those zone ranges changed, Zone 3 isn't really that deep... not like it was.

The Rogers Lake Trail has been a love-hate-love affair in the past.  I love being up there in the cooler air but in the past I have hated the chunky flow of the trail - haul ass into the next rock garden, choke it up hard and sprint out.... then when it's over, I always look back on that time with love.  However, on this day the rock gardens seemed to flow easier.  My brain was watching from afar, looking ahead and I found myself easing off, catching the right gear and power through not fast but at a pace that worked.  Clean it all, get back on the gas and motor to the next one.  This went on over and over until I reach the climb up Woody Mountain.

I had already decided in my head that I would climb to the top of Woody Mountain (not a long climb and barely a mountain really), turn around and come back down.  I didn't wanna burn too many matches the day before a longer, new-to-me ride.  As I start up, my HR shoots up... and I ease WAY off.  Then the unexpected happened - my legs start working again.  My HR eases into low Zone 3 and soon I am rolling the moves with ease.  The only section I did NOT clean (and I am not sure I ever have?) was the ledged-filled hill before the switchback that leads to one more big ledge... at the top of rock.  I roll in...start to give it the gas but decide...no.  I stand there, coaching myself, "don't be the dumbass.  Ride smart, ride smooth and give more tomorrow."

I hike up a bit, attempt the second ledge... but just don't have the kick.  One day I will try it again... but not on this day.

The "second half" is easier, flowier but still a grind.  There are fewer rock gardens to navigate but they are still there to suck away some of the speed.  Soon I am closer to the top, weaving through piles of chest-sized boulders.  I have walked portions before...but today I am weaving through with this confidence I haven't felt in awhile.  Stop as the trail turns downward, take some pics to send to Meghan and refuel a bit.

 

Obligatory Pensive Pose for the Facebook Zealots

I take off downhill, weaving through those same rock gardens & trying to slow up enough now that I am coming in faster than I did a few minute before.  Clean a few ledges I didn't expect to and soon I am back on the switchbacks.  I botch one but the rest just flow under me.

Back into the more open flatter areas, I focus on riding smooth.  My speed is... decent but the fun is there, moreso than if I were trying to push even harder.  It was one of those moments when it felt like "just riding" the Mach Wu was the best place to be.  The front end was soaking up chunk in the middle of the corners.  The rear was tracking perfectly.  That 1000-yard stare was feeding my brain with better timing, telling my fingers to brake a little earlier and set up a little smoother for the chunky moves.

The only reason urge to "gas it out" was when I made the turn to head back to the park.  It was a familiar climb 'cause it has some chunk... but about three years ago, an old guy on a full-squish would NOT get out of the way regardless of how many times I politely asked.  As we hit the incline, I close in tight on his wheel...and sit there.  It was KILLING me but it was killing him more... but only after the top did he pull over.  I stayed in the gas to open the gap.

The same feelings rushed over me as I hit the climb.  The Mach Wu cleaned all the chunk much more smoothly than the singlespeed Smurf did long ago.  Still I found myself on the gas, hammering a bit harder to finish out the singletrack.  I stop at the sign, drink a bit then take off... the ride is pretty much done after that.

In the parking lot, I chat it up with Luke, a Preskitt guy here with his wife to escape the heat as well.  As I stand there, the heat I built up from riding is leaving... and I am getting COLD.  Yea, it was still 75 degrees but the chill was creeping in.  Load up just as the rain begins to fall.  It has stopped by the time I reach the hotel.  Check in, unload the bike and roll up to the room.  I lounge for a bit before deciding to head out for lunch.

Pizza and beer was GREAT at Beaver Street Brewing.  I was reminded on the walk back how much I dig Flagstaff and it's little college town scene.  It reminds me of Boone, NC to some degree.  Back at the hotel, I pass out for a few minutes before getting up to shower.  Then it's on to figure out the rest of the evening, mainly food and rest.

I would end up grabbing Chick-Fil-A after I stopped at Walgreens for a phone charger.  Get back, hang out and try to settle into bed about 9pm.... and that was when it started to go to shit.  It was a series of fuckin' deterrents:

• the AC unit would come on and roar as loud as a JET taking off... not a bad thing except for the fact it was coming on for 10 minutes at a time every 30 minutes.  I tried drowning it out with white noise from the phone... but even my phone wasn't loud enough.
• the neighbors get home... likely drunk.  The TV is loud but tolerable.  This went on til about 11 when they decide to call it a night... but not before they have about a 4-5 minutes of sex with her grunting out "unh... unh... unh".
• the next morning I am up by 5, dressed and down in the lobby for breakfast that was apparently "included" for $11.  I grab two bland hard boiled eggs, a bagel that was toasted over a weak flame and orange juice.  I had no more appetite after that...
• coffee at the shop down the street sounded good.  The baristas, a guy with LOTS of single-line crappy tattoos and stern-faced, would-not-shut-up girl dressed like a rapper, had the attitudes to make ya think they knew what they were doing.  They did not.  I pitched the dirty bean water in the trash before loading the bike.

I roll out and again the nervous energy is there but with different reasons stirring in my head.  The temps outside were COLD... as in mid-50's.  I was referencing Accuweather which said I should be riding in mid 60's by now.  Accuweather was... wrong.

More later.

The Mach Wu...

 ...is probably my favorite mountain bike ever.  And I have had a number of bikes I have loved.  And a few I have TRIED to love.  This bike has just proven to be everything I have wanted... even if I keep making changes.

It was late 2022 when I bought this Pivot Mach 4 SL from Competitive Cyclist on closeout.  The bike had been on my radar for the last 6-8 months since it had the right geometry.  Dropped the money and just before Xmas, I was back on a full-squish mountain bike.  In the last three years, it has went through more than few changes.  

The first change was the dropper post.  The bike came with a Fox Transfer... that was at the minimum insertion point once I dialed in the fit.  After a few rides, I need more height... and didn't have enough post.  I swapped in a Wolftooth Resolve dropper... and haven't looked back since.  This post has been serviced once and still feels great.  The only thing I would suggest to anyone looking at this post is 1) service the post sooner than ya think and 2) LOAD UP on the Slick Honey when you grease the internals.  The function of the dropper has been way more reliable and consistent since I did.  The Muc-Off rim tape is my "gauge" for the saddle height... 'cause I have put in LOTS of time dialing in that.

The saddle is a Bontrage Verse Comp... with the Cr-Mo rails.  Lighter rails do not hold up under all this ass.  This saddle has been my favorite... so far.

The Twin Six spare bag has been cool - plenty of room for everything I carry (tube, Co2 & Prestacycle inflator, quick-link & tool).

The next big upgrade was the wheelset.  It came with some good (now spare) DT Swiss alloy rims.  They never felt unstable... but they didn't feel quick either.  This is a set of DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs (with the 56 tooth ratchet upgrade) laced to a set of Nox Teocalli carbons with DT Swiss 2.0-1.8 Competition spokes, 32x rear & 28x front.  I am using Muc-Off tubeless valve stems at the moment with Stan's sealant and Muc-Off tape inside.

They are a bit noisy, they engage as quick as any other hub I have (Chris King, Industry Nine) and seemingly always feel stable.  The rims have been great - I think this was the third set of wheels I built with Nox rims.  Every rim I have purchased from Nox feels great when building... and seems to hold up REALLY well.  Once or twice a year, I will pull the wheels off my bikes, yank the tire off and go through the truing process to see where the wheel is.  Using a tensiometer, I measure the drive-side spokes for consistency... and these wheels always seem to be great.  The only time I had to make much of an adjustment to the front wheel was when I slammed into a rock in Flagstaff, endo'd the bike and the tire rolled off the bead for a split second.  The next day I pulled it apart, checked it over... and had to bring the tension back up in 1,2 spokes.

The tires are Maxxis Forekaster 2.6 in the front, Maxxis Rekon 2.4 in the rear.  I don't know the specifics of which casing and ??? off the top of my head, but these have been my choices in tires for a few years now.  About once a year or so, I step off the bus and order something else to try.  Back in June, I put in ONE ride with some Continental Kryptotals.  Before the next ride, I switched back.

The next big upgrade was a 2025 Fox 34 fork.  I would love to say I bought it because I am so fast that I needed the latest and greatest.  That would NOT be true.  I needed it for one reason - dialing in my fit.  I chopped the steerer tube on the original Fox 34 too low.  After more than a few fit sessions with MyVeloFit and experimenting with riser bars and pointed-to-the-sky stems, I plunked down the $$$$ for an uncut fork.

Which I cut down again before my last ride.  I have not had the gumption to measure and see if this fork is MUCH higher than the original... 'cause I think I would tear up a little.

The original reason aside, I can say the '25 fork is better than the '22.  The feel in ROUGH, chunky is more confident.  Cornering is a bit more controlled regardless of terrain.  The two-position switch (versus the original three-position) is more decisive - you are either open and soaking up everything or closed(ish) and riding firm & fast.

The other interesting note about the fork is it has never had a star-nut installed.  That is a Specialized SWAT tool that serves as a compression tool.  

Now... let me clarify why it's a big deal for me.  The tool comes with an assortment of bolts to connect the two, NONE of which will reach the adapter if you have 1) an XL frame & head tube and 2) more spacers to accomodate a higher position.  I had to fabricate an extended version.  Big deal?  Not for anyone but me...  The other note if you find you want the SWAT tool as well - cover the quick links with black tape (as they will bounce out).

The stem is a longer RaceFace 70mm stem.  The bars are carbon Salsa risers.  The grips are Wolftooth lock-ons with foam covering.  The Togs... are just something I dig and have on all the mountain bikes now.

If you read the last post, it's already obvious the latest upgrade - SRAM AXS shifting.  That's an X0 rear derailleur controlled by the rocker switch shifter up on the bars.  So far... I dig the electronical shifting.  It's quicker, feels WAY lighter than expected... and has been reliable.  

I was against electronic shifting on THIS bike until recently.  My reason had always been I wanted the reliability of cable operated shifting.  My reasoning was a battery will run outta juice... and I didn't want to be stuck 3 hours away from the truck with no shifting.  Then someone pointed out on a blog post (after switching to electronic themselves) that they carry an extra battery.  I did the same on a recent 3 hour gravel ride... and had to swap the battery 2 hours in.  

The last thing I will admit to is an aversion to complicated squishin' systems.  Years ago I started on a single pivot... that sucked and inspired me to buy a whole series of hardtails.  Even my first Horst-link bike (a Jamis) was a disappointment after breaking multiple times (... but admittedly that was more on Jamis' cheap alloys & my fat ass).  

Fast forward to buying the FrankenEpic (another Horst-link) and I gave into loving full-squish again.  While I grew to love that bike, I was working in a shop in Tucson that saw a few different brands come in... but it was an Evil that turned me off to having more pivots.  That bike sounded horrible, creaking from so many places.

One of the reasons I held off buying the Mach 4 SL for awhile was ALL those pivots pictured above.  I talked to friends who loved the DW-link (...stands for Darrell Waltrip, if ya didn't know) and others who hated it.  When the opportunity came to buy this bike at a closeout price, I gave in.  

I have NOT regretted the purchase yet.  While it did take some time to dial in the feel, it has been incredibly predictable, one of my complaints with the Stumpjumper I had before this bike.  It responds as well as my hardtail when climbing ROUGH shit.  It descends better than the Stumpy did... but that can be attributed to the fit and geometry as well.  The only place a hardtail feels better in on the road to the trail.

So far I have serviced the bearings once... and after you find the videos of how to do it, you realize it is incredibly easy.  

The rest of the bike is pretty much stock:

• the stock XO cranks have a Cane Creek tensioning ring...
• the 32 tooth chainring is stock
• the chain has been replaced twice (I think)
• the bottom bracket was replaced when I installed the CC ring...
• the brakes are SRAM Level TLM (?) with MTX pads and the thicker HS2 rotors.

About the brakes:  I know so many people hate SRAM brakes.  I did, too... until I gave these a try.  I have Shimano on the Smurf now.  What I will say is this:  learn to dial in your brakes before you bitch & switch.  Once I wrapped my head around making these Levels work and figured out the bleeding procedure, they have been GREAT.

"But Shimano is SO much better" is what some internet experts might say.  No, they aren't.  I own both brands and while I will not say SRAM is better, I will say SRAM is just as good if you know how to dial em' in.  While I am not the fastest guy on the trail, I am one of the heaviest... and I make brakes earn their keep.

Wanna argue about it? Go ahead...somewhere else.

Looking back through all the notes here, there isn't much of this bike that hasn't been touched.  Even the brake hoses were trimmed to the correct length when it got here.  Am I done with it?  Definitely not.  I always find little things that need adjusting, like:

• the position of the shifter is still in my brain... it needs to be moved so I can more easily shift with the forefinger...
• the upshift needs adjusting after that last ride when it was a touch slow when climbing under a heavy load...
• the squishin' stuff pressures are always in question...
• just like tire pressure...

It never ends.

Later.

First Time on a Mountain Bike...

 ...since late June went about as I expected:

• a bit slower 'cause it was hot already (86 at the start, in the 90's when I finished)
• a bit slower 'cause the hangover lingered...
• more than a few stops to adjust new stuff and...
• as fun as I expected... 'cause mountain bike.

The Mach Wu has been through a few changes since that ride in June, so I was showing up with a major change to sort out:  AXS shifting.  I had been thinking about it for about 6 months, never would plunk down the $$$ but waking up bolt upright from a nap one afternoon, I took the plunge & ordered an X0 rear derailleur and the rocker paddle shifter.  A few days later, I was shifting with a "wwwhiiirrRRP-clunk".

And then it sat.  I would pull the bike down every once in awhile, check the tires and shift the gears.  I tinkered more than once with the position... knowing full well I would tinker more once I was out on the trail.

But the weather... and other goals got in the way.  I was riding the DiiVerge more in July 'cause I had signed up for Bear Howard... and was pre-riding the course and "training" when the days cooled off.  The rest of the time I was on Zwift, squeezing in road rides in the EARLY AM or in the gym.  Loading up and driving anywhere for 30-60 minutes meant I had to be up 30-60 minutes earlier.  And I just don't fuckin' get up early.

However, this week started looking good last week - cooler mornings with the 100's hitting later.  It is still gonna be in the 80's at 5am but it lasts longer, too.  Add in school being back in session and I had no interest in trying to ride the road with the minivans and SUVs as they drop off the rugrats.  So... I loaded up.

Roll into the Alma School parking lot, suit up and roll out.  As I hit Browns Ranch Road, my HR is climbing into high Zone 2 right away.  I remind myself that I reset the HR zones... and Zone 2 is still pretty comfortable but it's more clear that my legs are trying to push ALOT of shit along with all the blood.  I give into the idea that my warm-up is gonna be slllooowww.

Ease out Vaquero, up Watershed and left to Cathedral.  I ease off more and more as my HR climbs into Zone 3.  Starting to feel better but still I seem to be riding HIGHER in my heart rate than I expected.  Get to the intersection with Stagecoach, stop for a break.  HR drops to Zone 2.0 and I roll out.

Up until this point, the shifting had been pretty easy - I reversed the original set-up with my big paddle downshifting.  As I make my way up the climb, it doesn't feel as natural as I would like.  Push on, HR goes into Zone 4 and I focus on managing the effort moreso than does my thumb feel right.  Grind to the top and stop for some pics:

The shadow is HORRIBLE but it's still a decent shot.  I took a bunch more but those are being saved for a deeper explanation of the bike.  Not much is stock at this point...

Anyways, drop down and weave over to Granite Mountain.  Stop and adjust the shifter, reversing the paddles to make the big paddle upshift.  It feels a bit more natural... but we will see.  As I approach the downhill portion, I give it one last kick... and let it roll.  I want to see if I can coast ALL the way to the next intersection (with Chuckwagon).  With more than a few pumps to get over some SLOW knolls, I reach the left turn and drop down the south side of Granite Mountain.

The dust & smoke in the distance is real.  The Billy Fire is still a burning more than few miles away...

More than once I failed to downshift or upshift.  Clicking the right button was not as intuitive yet as I would have liked.  Still I clunked my way into the right gear til I hit Black Hills and Turpentine.  Right turn and I settle into the closest thing to an interval I was gonna try - Z3 Tempo....

And it was sluggishly slow... kinda.  I wasn't necessarily hauling ass but I wasn't losing time either (7th of 22 fastest times on Turpentine, 6:40 vs. 6:02).  Get to the end, ease off and drink more before Latigo.  When I hit Latigo, it was more of a bastadized effort to stay in Zone 3 than an interval.  At one point, I had just touched Zone 4 and eased off to drink & let my HR sink to 3.1 (or my 29th of 37 fastest times on Latigo).

Pass the exit to ??? Street and kick it up, decide to just let my HR ride where it's gonna ride.  When I cross over the top, I just stay on the gas.  The bike is skipping a bit 'cause... well, it's Summer and it's Browns and the dusty gravel gathers ALL OVER the trail, not just the edges (... but I still set a PR - 2:36, 8 seconds faster than 2nd...outta 37 tries).

Take the "new" exit to cross Alma School and when I hit the climb to the right, I give it as much as I can... but stay seated 'cause the trail has NO traction.  One segment says I was way behind, another says I set a PR.  All I know is I felt REALLY good...

When it was over, I sat in the back cab of the truck and sweated.  It was hot AND humid... and changing clothes felt like trying to get dressed in a swimming pool.  Eventually the sweat slowed to a small stream and I was loaded and ready.

Rolling back home I thought less about the ride itself and more about how I felt - sluggish for longer than expected, stronger than expected at the end.  I was happy with that.

The bike... was a great surprise.  It felt LOOSE in the dusty, dry conditions but apparently it was fast.  There have been as many days that I have TRIED to go fast at Browns as there have been days that I just cruised.  For a semi-half-assed effort to set PRs is more credit to the bike than the rider.  

The shifting is more FUN than I expected.  I like the quickness of the shift.  I like the multiple options with the thumb and the forefinger.  The only thing I do NOT like is the unfamiliarity in my brain space... but it'll come around.  Just like dropper posts.  Just like squish stuff switches.

More later. 

It'll Be No Surprise...

 ... that I bailed on BOTH group rides this weekend.  Not that I had signed up or even verbally committed to anyone other myself, Meghan (and I guess anyone reading this).  It just didn't happen... and the blame falls on me... and Summertime Booze.

Friday was Meghan's and my 16th Anniversary of Meeting at a Mexican Restaurant after the CycleTherapy Group Ride.  She blocked off most of the day and by late morning we were out running errands then settling into for an afternoon of lounging and sipping.  Beer & tacos at Loco Patron, wine sipping at Phoenix Wine... then home to just hang with Bea.  

I woke up Saturday morning, sluggish.  The cheap wine had caught up to me the night before and sleep had been crappy.  Still I got up, shrugged it off and after a swim & a tempo session on the Zwift bike, I felt good.  Still the plan had been to go out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.  Get there early, place is PACKED and the wait is 90 minutes.  Leave, find another Mexican place.  It sucks.  Find another place to hang out.  It's better.  Head home, drop in a local bar... end up hanging out.  Meghan is sipping some wine and I start sipping gin mules.  

It's 10:30... and the liquor has hit.  Hard.  She drives us home.  Wake up the next morning and... fuck, it's rough.  Needless to say, I never made it out of bed in time to even load up.  Even this morning I woke up worn out from trying to recover from the hangover.

Still... as I read folks' Facebook/Insta posts, there was no remorse.  Meghan and I talked in length this past weekend about how cycling USED to be versus how it is NOW.  That's where I started going in that last blog post about the Bike Culture.  Social media has crept into everything and when I read these posts, the FOMO (fear of missing out) dissipates and I ease back into the idea that cycling is mine... and I do not have to share if I do not want to.

Later.

The Bike Culture...

 ...when I started riding was seemingly much different than it is today.  And when I say "bike culture", I mean the culture in the road biking scene (and I guess gravel as well).  I first threw a leg over a road bike in 2003, I think... about a year after I started riding mountain bikes.  Mountain biking was a sport I jumped into organically, having grown up in Stokes County riding BMX bikes and road bikes on the dirt roads near home.  Riding trails wasn't a thing 'cause... well, trails didn't exist the way they do now.  We had farm roads that were as narrow as today's trails... but no singletrack to speak of.  However, my cycling ended when I was about 19 when I started working & driving.  I picked it back in 2002 after a few successful years in the custom paint business, now with enough cash burning a hole in my pocket to buy a real mountain bike.  And then I found trails.

Back to road biking - I picked up a thrift store Centurion in 2003 after Brad F started riding with some co-workers.  He got faster, I wanted to be faster so I jumped in.  Brad F didn't last long with road bikes but I met Trace O, an avid cyclist who worked part-time at a local shop.  I still remember his awesome Specialized Roubaix.  I was envious as I tried to keep up on my stem-shifted, mismatched Campy / Shimano / Suntour-equipped bike.

Trace O showed me the basics of group riding - drafting, calling turns & trash in the road, leading & pulling through.  He had a smattering of friends he rode with and I was brought into the fold, albeit begrudgingly.  The air of dissidence was strong - NEW riders with unknown levels of skill were always met with a bit hesitation and LOTS of trepidation.  Luckily, I proved myself to be a strong student of Trace's teachings.

Trace O got hurt a short time later, a hard crash on the mountain bike in Westwood Park.  He wouldn't be back... at all, unfortunately.  The time off for his broken wrist and a young child at home, he found new things to do.  I jumped into another local group, the King Church Crowd.  The group was led by Jim N, a local Moravian minister with a penchant for entrancing people with his humor and compassionate counseling.  This was my first introduction to a more dedicated road crowd.

Everyone, except me, had been to a four-year college.  A few picked up road biking while in college, some had parents who had traveled abroad.  All of em' had a level of money that made the more expensive road bikes easily affordable.  Everyone worked in a white collar-type job, including myself.  (I had sold the custom paint shop to take a gig with a display company as a graphics department manager.)  

Within a few rides, I acclimated to Jim N's group ride philosophy.  Soon I was one of the stronger riders, younger than most and a bit braver.  I jumped into the scene DEEP, signing up for local charity rides with the group and committing to Breakaway to the Beach, a two-day charity ride in South Carolina.  Along the same time, two guys I went to high school with had joined the crowd, Kyle C and Sam M.  Both had been athletes, both came from more well-to-do families than I did.  I had only recently given up my Centurion rat-bike for a NEW Trek 1000.  They jumped right in with Trek 1000's (which were only $700, $800 at the time.)

Kyle and I were in the same business, graphics & signs.  Kyle's family had actually bought my custom paint shop (with it's client list, graphics files and equipment).  We were no longer competitors as I had moved into a corporate setting but there was still some animosity.  I was a bit surprised when he reached out to ME to go with him on one of his first local road rides.

Of course, he caught up quick and was riding at the front of the King Church Crowd.  We rode together alot more since we were closer in fitness than either imagined.  I learned that he had come into the sport the way so many professional men did at this time:  Lance Armstrong.  Lance's success had inspired many folks in such a way that golf (Kyle's sport of choice prior) had lost his luster... and road biking was touted by articles as "the new golf course" for young professionals looking to network.  (This will be an important note later.)

Through that winter, I kept riding...partly for the fitness, partly for an escape.  My corporate gig would send end, my marriage of five years would soon end... and I was riding for my own sanity.  The King Church Crowd had dissipated to some degree - faster people were riding longer, hillier rides and slower people were reverting back to a more comfortable pace in the local rolling hills.  I found myself with more fitness, more confidence and a need for a bit more of a challenge.

The Lewisville Group Rides were known for being structured, fairly safe and FAST.  The A-ride was a go-to for local pros and fast kids.  The B-ride was more of the typical group ride - longer route with more emphasis on riding as a group.  The C-ride the just a slower version of the B-ride.  I cannot remember when I showed up... but I do remember the nerves.  I am pretty sure I already had my Trek Madone 5.2, a Chi Red carbon road bike with Ultegra drivetrain.  I showed up somewhat LOOKING the part with a fancy carbon bike and likely just a basic kit.  I soon realized "looking fancy" to me was basically just showing up with another variation of the same ole' uniform.

Sometime back when I started riding with the King Church Crowd, I had also taken on a part-time gig at a local bike shop, Ken's Bike Shop.  Ken, the son of two UNC professors, had come to Winston-Salem and opened a bike shop near Wake Forest University.  All the cycling professors seemingly circulated through that shop and the students went there for everything as well.  The shop was doing well due to the close proximity, knowledgeable service and Ken's commitment to BUILDING a community.  Ken would later publish a book about the best rides in the area, a guidebook for the Lewisville rides.

So when I showed up for the Tuesday (or Thursday?) Night Ride that Spring, I already knew a few of the folks from having seen them in the bike shop.  I was still a NEW rider though and no one knew if I could hold my own.  Admittedly I can still remember getting shuffled to the back as much by my own accord as anyone else.  I was intimidated.

By Summer I was in the mix, having proven I knew how to hold a wheel and not overlap.  I was not going to pull too long or ride too fast.  I had respect for the other riders even when they had little respect for me... or others.  I still remember Rick R standing with abandon, shoving his rear wheel into my path.  I eased left and mashed the pedals, coming around him and clearing my way again.  

Over time I began to get to know more about these folks.  Some were professionals - doctors, engineers, professors, executives.  Some were craftsmen.  Some had been introduced into cycling from other sports, most often speed skating.  Richie & David F were both INCREDIBLY fast riders.  Richie, a tile setter, was one of the most cordial guys I ever got to know.  David F, owner of a landscaping company, was a shit-talker... and had the legs to back it up.

The Lewisville Crowd held one characteristic high though - respect.  Regardless of your background or career choice, you were afforded respect once you earned it on the road.  Ride smart, ride smooth and ride with the group in mind - those were unspoken rules.  Ride without those premises & you would be shuffled to the back.  This attitude reminded me of the unspoken rules of the community I grew up around, not just the farming community my grandfather led by proxy or the automotive crowd I worked in before I sold the paint shop.  There was a genuine respect for others, regardless of income, education or inheritance.  

However, that overarching cloud of respect began to burn away with the introduction of the "Lance" crowd.  Some of these new riders were strong athletes with a presence in some of the same offices of the long-time riders, so a certain amount of lenience was given... by others.  I held on to the standards, begrudgingly much like those folks who looked down at me when I started.  Soon it seemed that lapses in judgement were more easily forgiven or overlooked.  Paceline etiquette was dying a slow death.

I found myself reverting from trying to ride with faster people to riding with SAFER people.  The B-ride had turned into a hurky-jerky hammerfest with little rhyme or reason to the pace.  The smooth flow that I had enjoyed years before was filled with choked-up descents and uphill sprints.  It wasn't fun anymore and it definitely wasn't safe.  And no one was willing to make it safer.  Feelings got hurt when someone barked at another.  

More later. 

 

As Always...

 ...the plan has changed.  After scouring the weather forecasts, the decision was made to move the Flagstaff Overnighter to the END of the week (plus Meghan's schedule cleared up).  The heat is creeping away supposedly, some rain is moving in... which means the trails will be a bit tackier, a bit cooler.  That does NOT mean the accommodations got easier.  Drury Hotels was booked last week for $155.  Moving it to Thursday meant the price went to $322!  Cancel that one, book a room at Hyatt Place for $160-ish. 

The level of Jonesin' has reached the typical peaks of Summer.  Outdoor riding is limited to EARLY mornings in the Valley or EARLY road trips up North.  Last year the road trips were limited 'cause monsoons were blowing in early... so it was sometimes a mad dash to get to the trailhead, squeeze in a couple of hours of riding before the clouds unloaded.  While Flagstaff is a bit more forgiving, Pine becomes the Land of Peanut Butter (Mud). 

Yea, that was August 2022... but the dirt hasn't changed up there.

This year the monsoons are NOT blowing in like they were.  Call it global warming, call it a heat wave... just figure out how to call in the Rain Gods to unzip the clouds and get some relief to this dry, dusty ground.  

Even Flagstaff has been drier... and hot.  Back when I started making regular pilgrimages to the high mountains, the high temps were usually in the low- to mid-80's.  This year it's been touching the 90's.  Riding in those temps at 8000 feet is a bit tough for my valley-dwelling lungs.  Still... ya gotta try.

I have also been itching to jump in group rides.  Maybe it is the loneliness of being stuck in the house after 10am.  Maybe it is a need for my local rides to expand beyond my 15 mile radius from home.  Maybe I want to weave my way back into the bike community.

I go through this every few months - a group ride pops up on social media, it looks fun and it piques my interest.  The last time that I actually jumped in a road ride was March '24.  I went back to redeem myself (in my eyes) after crashing on a curb on my very first ride with this group (that's a story for another day.  It was ALL my fault...and more embarrassing than painful).  While the route was great, the group was a bit scattered.  The urge to go back sputtered to a stop.

Now, 17 months later, it's on my calendar to go back.

The last gravel ride I jumped in was a Cyclologic group ride from the Pima-Dynamite Trailhead.  The two folks who lead the ride are cool (I have known Barry since we moved to Scottsdale... and Tammy sometime after I started selling off bikes for people).  While the group dynamic was well-organized, that was one of those BAD days for me.  First of all, the headset bearing I installed was wrong - it was 1mm too shallow, creating a slight rock in the steerer tube.  Not bad as I was climbing but REALLY bad if I had descended at any speed.  Second, my lower back let go (a recurring issue) as we hit the powerline climbs.  

That was a year, last August.  Surprisingly, I had just returned from a week-long trip back to NC with three continuous days of riding in the humidity.  They were def'ly SLOW rides... but I had had NO issues with my back.  Maybe I overdid it once I was back in the desert:

• a fairly intense hill day on Zwift
• a short run in the heat
• an easy(ish) tempo ride on Zwift
• and finally, a hangover ride outside for two hours on a cool(er) 78 degree day

Looking back, I didn't set myself up well.

Anyways, both groups have rides coming up this weekend.  The North Scottsdale Cycling Club rolls at 7am Saturday morning,  Barry & Tammy's ride leaves at 6am.  While both routes are relatively short (less than 25 miles), there is plenty of climbing... which wouldn't hurt me to get more of.  Will I wake up and go?  

Saturday will depend on how Friday goes.  Tomorrow is the 16th anniversary of the day Meghan and I met (after a group ride).  The only plans so far are to check out some furniture for the house, drop in a wine bar to sample some interesting juice and head to a Mexican restaurant up north.  If I can brush off the (potential) hangover, I will jump in the NSCC ride.  If not, I'm sure I'll spin around the 'hood.

Sunday will depend on how easy I wake up.  The ride starts PROMPTLY at 6 am, so I need to be there by 5:30 or so.  It's a 30 minute drive...so out the door by 5:00.  I would like to eat a bit beforehand, so I need to be up by 4:30.  I struggle with early AM wake-up calls... unless I really want to go.

Wish me luck.

Later.

New blog, Same ole' blogger...

 After dealing with Wordpress for the last few years and their overly-complicated way (unless ya pay more $$$) of making a page look good, I am back here.  Blogger is easy to use... and free.

With all that being said, the timing may or may not suck.  It may suck since the only things to write about are the sporadic trips I get to take between that moment the sun comes up and the moment the "oh fuck, it's over 100 degrees" hits.  It may NOT suck 'cause there's plenty of free time to dial in the look of the site, sort through some ideas... and maybe figure out how to upload videos.

This week has been one of the worst, hotter than ever here in the Valley.  This morning it was 84 degrees when Bea (the boxer collie) walked outside at 5:30 am.  By 11:00 it was over 110 as I climbed back in the truck after a short stint at the gym.  The next time I go outside will be to jump in the pool... if I go out at all.  Even the water is hot.  Enh.

There is a plan to head north next week, a rare window of decent temps up in Flagstaff.  At the start of the week (this week), it showed there would be stretch from 6am until just after noon when the air would be below 80 degrees.  Of course, that window has narrowed from 6am until 9, hitting the 90's (RealFeel) by 11am.  In other words, it's just gonna be hot.

There are two routes laid out, a short bit of singletrack on Monday morning & a longer gravel > singletrack on Tuesday morning.  Monday will be just a fun rip up Schultz Creek to the AZT, down Moto, Flue & Chimney.  I've ridden it a few times before... but it's a great way to shake the shit outta my legs.

Tuesday will look like this:

That is my "Hart Prairie > Bismarck > AZT > Snowbowl Exit route.... 21.5 miles of Flagstaff gravel & dirt and just over 2000+ feet of elevation gain.   It will be a 7.8 dirt road climb from the highway with 1391 feet of climbing (2.8% average grade), 7.6 miles of AZT singletrack (-3.2% average) and finishes with 5.9 miles of pavement & one gravel side note to avoid the highway climb if I feel so inclined.  Should I decide the highway traffic isn't so scary (it wasn't bad a few weeks ago), I can cut off 1.3 miles and get to the truck quicker.

I did the climb a few years back on the DiiVerge.  I made it within rock-throwin' distance of the AZT before turning tail and bombing back down.  I had ridden the two previous days (both days behind the townhome I rented, one not so good...one was pretty good!)  When I reached the top, I was drained... so I am thinking if I show up fresher, I can push on through.

I am taking the Mach Wu this time, my 2022 Pivot Mach 4 SL.  Maybe one day I will break down the details of the bike but Monday will be the first day I ride the bike with it's new electronical shifting.  A few weeks back I plunked down the money to buy an AXS XO derailleur and a rocker-style shifter.  Riding in the 'hood they feel GOOD... taking some of the clunkiness out of the ergonomics.  Will it feel as fun on the trail?

Guess I will find out Monday...