Monsoon A'happenins...

As much as I love Arizona and monsoon season, this girl is pointin' north toward the heart of the Rockies!  Later....

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A Bike Race via Photos...

Ok ok, there was a bike race in Colorado, my first "real" road race actually.  But, the camping and awe-inspiring vistas along the way far outweighed the leg/lung busting event.  So more on the race later.  For now, escape in these pics -- pics which frankly don't do the real vistas any justice.

Recommend zooming in on the pics individually....

(Zoom in.  Can you see my truck? the incredible remote campsite? some rafters 1000s ft below? the "mittens" far to the SW (center/right of pic)? Yum yum.)

Token race pics...at the finish line w/Jen.

(Far above the treeline in the best part of the Rocky Mountains....a quiet rarely-used jeeproad pass.)

SBFL-Redux

Well, another day on the bike, what's new?

55 miles? Doesn't seem so far compared to Trans-Andes, or considering the Whiskey 50 was last weekend, rode a lot this week, and oh yeah did a Splash&Dash race three days ago (winner winner chicken dinner!), but oh my holy cow, rough stuff out there.

The Sedona Big Friggin Loop is one of the Arizona Endurance Series (AES) events, grassroots, low-key, no prizes, nothing official, just good sufferin' and great camaraderie.  Most of the AES usual suspects are incredible riders, regularly pushing themselves out on multi-day (week) ventures and racking up rocky vertical like it's nobody's business.  They are rock gawds for sure!  The original 2013 SBFL was scheduled for early spring, but it rained that day, and like the good riders they were, cancelled it for the year as to save the trail from unneeded abuse.  Since we were putting on the Sedona Singletrack Festival (SSC) a few months later, we thought it'd be a good opportunity to try a redux & got the blessing from Scott and Chad.  It would definitely be hotter out there this time of year, but what the heck.








We all met up at the start point around 630am and launched on dirt.  We also knew that some others would be starting about an hour later.  I was so clumsy for the first few miles (sorry Brian)...not sure if it was because of no warm-up (the inner triathlete in me) or nerves not wanting to fall too far behind the group or annoying my friend Strars who'd graciously agreed to muster through the route at my less-aggressive pace.  Knowing that much of these trails are far above my personal riding ability (rock stairs straight up and/or straight down), I knew I had quite a bit of HikeABike (HAB) in front of me for the day, so I'd worn my more agile Izumis and they worked out great.

Once we got through the first half which is definitely the most techy and took far over half the total time, we hit the flowier dirt of the dry creek area.  Of course, by this time, although I felt decent overall, I was definitely feeling some fatigue.  Fighting w/that bike up, down, over rocks and boulders all day is unlike any other feat for sure.

Surprisingly, especially for a Sunday, we didn't run across too many people out there (except the 2 places I wanted a QOM ha!).  Even being local, much of this course was "new" for me...as I had avoided certain sections due to mere techiness/cursing (Thunder Mtn, Huckabee, etc.) and others I'd never done in the SBFL direction.  Fun stuff!

In all, we rode for about 7 hours course/ride-time (w/a total of a lttle over an hour stopping...mandatory double espresso at safeway starbucks...a little bike maintenance, running across friends along the trail, etc.  No major crashes -- neither bikewise nor emotionally haha!   A few minor bonks, a massive bee sting, some chainsuck, a few F bombs tossed around, lots of comedy....all in all, an absolute epic single-day ride.  Oh and wildflowers were in full-bloom!  Incredible!   Threw on a sundress and compression tights (ahh the fashion sense of a dirtgirl!) to go chow down on some well-earned Mexican food (Cinco de Mayo after all) and some chocolate ice cream and rolled into the SSC site just in time to see John and Tim hop off their dusty bikes still in tact.  Those crazies (who started later than the group), finished in the darkness.  Hard enough in daylight, but those guys rocked it and still seemed pretty peppy.

Not sure if I'll push it beyond this, at least as far as the techy goes, but this will definitely go down as a "been there done that" ride.  Kudos to everyone who showed up and encouragement for anybody who attempts it next year (check out the AES website for next years route/dates...TBD).

Go ride....

(Everybody loves "HILINE" and it's incredible descent, except for me.  Are ya nuts?  Mr. Claus apparently did it on his rigid SS.  Holy crap!)

Whiskey 50...again!

Whiskey 50 Off-Road MTB  Race  Event.  

Never disappoints.  

Though this year's Whiskey 50 was definitely a "not-to-miss-for-absolutely-anything" event, it was not officially an "A" race for me this year.  Still taking advantage of base fitness from Trans-Andes a few months ago mixed in w/quite a bit of travel and non-structured training (no bike), but lacking power and punch and grit needed to do well here at the Whiskey.   But who the heck cares anyway?!!   The Whiskey is about more than the race...it was a fun hard fun fun day on the bike w/1000+ other MTBers in the Arizona high-desert mountain sunshine!

The hardest part about the weekend, however, was not the sufferin' on the bike.  Rather it was trying to be able to squeeze in getting to hang out w/so many different (groups of) friends that traveled here from all over the country!  Never enough time...but so glad to see everybody!  (Sorry about your sidewall LB!)

Lots of dirt ridden, elevation climbed and descended, beverages enjoyed (maybe even a sip or two mid-50...damn you DrunkCyclist!), tunes appreciated, bedtime/curfews beyond ignored and friends reunited!   

Kudos to all you freaks who pedaled up and over the mountain and back again.  Double mad respect for those who took the little side-journey to Skull Valley.  
Again in 2014?  Heck yeah!

Fri night pro crit...flared nostrils and raw talent!

Pros negotiating the final techy singletrack of the 50.

Friend and local speedster Scott K cruising in on his final 2 miles of dirt.

mwaaa...loving the climbing
(zazoosh)

The local boys re-hydrating after "just another day" on their bikes.

Reunited w/Tina and Sarah...who won the 25 on her FORM single-speed!

The Cams chilling in front of the Courthouse lawn....awesome family and badasses on their bikes!

And to watch a bit of the course...video.... 

(...and no, i did not clear that creek-crossing, and definitely, heck no would i even try with those tired clumsy legs.  that is the spot however where i may have been seen snagging a cup of foamy beverage from a strange man.)

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Peloton...wha....???

My friend, Jen, somehow talked me into doing some road racing this year.  Not sure why, since I don't ride a road bike, nor do I even live anywhere with lots of roads, nor enjoy riding on terrain not dirt, rocks, singletrack, nor have I ridden with people (i.e. peloton) nor know any tactics/strategy which, as I am now learning, seems to be about 70% of true road riding. 

So, first (draft-legal) race: a major state champs race.  Wha?!!   Granted it was in a beautiful location.  Remote region of high desert with empty roads, great views, good hills to climb, etc.  My goals were to (a) not crash (road crashes are worse than MTB by far in my opinion);  (b) stay with the group as long as possible (per Jen's instructions); and  (c) if I were to get dropped to not get discouraged but rather enjoy the 44-miles of riding in such a beautiful place and consider it a good training day!  

I felt ok and was "hanging on" for the first 12 miles or so.  Actually, I did get dropped on one of the first descents but caught back up on a steep climb.  It's just so AWKWARD for me to sit that closely to someone else's wheel.  We don't do that in MTBing, and especially not in MY style of loner MTBing.   Also, one of the things I've been working on in MTB is to STOP braking so much.  A friend snapped at me a few years ago while we were descending on some techy singletrack "Stop scrubbing your speed!"  That has stuck with me, and while it's reflex (and self-preservation), I have been improving a bit, staying at least more aware and trying to be more selective with my braking fingers.  So, in the middle/back of the pack in a peloton, ya do a LOT of braking....the speed/pace is determined by those in front, those doing the "work".  (GP, I'm trying!)

Bottom line, I fell off the back on a long (6-mile?) descent and simply couldn't catch back up....partially due to lack of bigger gearing on my bike (I was on a loaner bike; Thank you Absolute Bikes!), partially due to lack of strength, but honestly, it was mainly due to my lack of experience and willpower to STAY in the group.  I ended up sharing the load of the next 10 or so miles with a Masters-category woman who was great and was not reluctant to share some advice for me that I definitely appreciated.  I climbed solo the final 7 miles back to the finish....getting passed (like I was standing still) by most of the pro/elite men who were finishing up their longer course.  

Yeah, my tail was a bit tucked in between my legs as I've never finished so close to last place before...ok yes VERY close to last place.  But, to be honest, I was ok with it.   I had pedaled hard and though that might not be the main part of road-racing as it turns out, it was a good training day.  I was happy that I'd forced myself to do something far outside of my routine comfort zone, and I got a whole new respect for that style of riding!   As there are few opportunities for me to train in an actual group, I don't have the best road bike (for racing), and I simply prefer the dirt/techy stuff, I probably won't make a habit out of road racing.  That said, I might do a few here and there.  Jury is still out.  

Shout out to Jen for sticking to her race plan and getting a podium spot!  She killed it against some solid riders!!


Lessons learned from road race #1:

 -don't overestimate my climbing ability.

 -better yet, don't underestimate others' climbing abilities.

 -they weren't kidding when they said "don't get dropped from the peloton".

 -that headwind that ya keep bitching about might not actually be a headwind,

        rather it's a self-imposed headwind due to you pedaling fast on a ROADbike.

  -don't expect MTB manners out there; many roadies are not the friendliest

        layed-back crowd.

 -make sure ya get all of the dish soap out your water bottle before you use it in a race (ugh).

 -take the extra time to make sure the bike fits properly (aggressive position mo betta).

 -don't listen to Jen (unless she brings snacks and promises to go ride dirt afterward).

And to get back in my element (and do some last-minute panic-mode training), we put the road bikes in the truck, took the MTB bikes out and rode 25+ miles up and over a few rocky mountains.  Whiskey 50 anyone?

UPDATE AS OF 16 JULY 2013: The above pic was taken facing SW toward Yarnell, and where 19 local hotshots were killed while fighting the Yarnell Hill fire on 30 June.  
Respect and RIP.
 -- http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3461/
 -- http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/03/19266801-faces-of-the-fallen-granite-mountain-hotshots?lite

Inspirator...

Some of the most potent advice I ever received...

- Travel the world.

- Never tell a story "as is" if you can add to it to make it more interesting.

- Never turn down a free meal.

Just one of the super-strong women influences in my life.  

Wow, we sure were lucky to know her!

Teaching trust?  Or planting seed in chubby niece's mind to climb high?

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One-Legged Sand Pedallin', Literally!

Little did I know that last fall, when I wrote a short blurb here -- One-Armed Sand Peddlin' -- that I'd ever really think about it again.  When I wrote it, I was a bit nervous about some life stuff, possibly some mortality mumbo jumbo.  RIP Benghazi crew.  

So, then I went out for a short ride during which I remember getting caught up in a bit of sand (while I was fidgeting the phone or food or something w/one hand).  Having to push on through that thick sand, a bit off balance and in too high a gear, the "uneasiness" sorta resonated w/me at the time, at least metaphorically.  Obviously, everything worked out.  I'm alive and well.

That mantra came straight back at me recently, in far more of a literal way than I would've hoped.  Recently, on a short travel layover, I thought it'd be smart  fun to enter a local grassroots desert double-duathon -- mountain bike 20K, run 5K, mountain bike 20K, then run again 5K.  I thought heck yeah, I LIVE in the mountains, I KNOW the mountains, I'm sometimes even considered a REAL mountain biker.  This is perfect!  There are no mountains in this region, so I might be able to make it a good training day, an honest way to drop some of this post-TransAndes-eat-everything-in-sight weight and most likely seal the deal w/a podium spot!

I begged, borrowed and nearly stole to try to find a bike to use.  Come to find out...not really an option 'round there.   One expat guy offered me his - a sweet cf stumpjumper - although XL.  Even after adjusting the stem (6" yikes) and some other things, it simply wouldn't cut it -- still simply way too big for this shrimp.  Ended up getting a "rental" from a mall.  So, imagine those bikes ya see at walmart (can't believe I actually referenced walmart in this blog...yuck!).  Now imagine one of those as a hardtail. About 40lbs. Cast iron.  Too big.  With reflectors...about 10 of them.  Tubes (wtf are those!?).    I'd always learned to 'love' my crappy old cast-iron beater bikes in Iraq, and so for this little race, I thought I should focus on simply being able to come out to play rather than focus on the machine and all its inadequacies.  "Be the machine", I said to myself!   Yeah, well, that was the plan anyway....

The event was on a tiny barren desert peninsula, at least 15k away from any roads.  It was pretty flat, but w/surface a combo of hard-packed "road" (there really was no actual road), super thick sand and really jagged rocks.  I showed up at the startline which was really just a handful of people in their 4x4s and who had arrived on site based on directions which yes did include references to sanddunes and grid coordinates.  Trust me, you see nothing, not even a tree when you recon the grids on google earth.

Confident in my own abilities be what may, I must admit I was a bit embarrassed about my gear.  I was surprised to see that there were full-on carbon fiber S-Works, Niners, Orbea, etc., racers in full kits, etc..  There I was w/my crappy walmart bike, a $15 child's helmet, a Lululemon fanny-pack (with a TUBE etc. haha).  But I was still confident that between my "done-harder-than-this" approach and my improved run speed, my performance would eventually overshadow my short-term humiliation.

The race started - about 20 people in all for my heat (the full course) (about 100 total for the trail run and MTB-only options).   We followed along the shoreline for a few kilometers which again was a crazy mixture of terrain: for 100m, you could get by w/a TT bike, the next 100m, you'd need a DH bike, then the next a fat-tire snow bike.  

The boys pushed the pace hard, but I did what I could do to keep up on my wanna-be bike.  I was a little nervous I might get lost out there because basically it was only white sand/sea as far as you can see, pretty flat (w/hidden drops/washes/cliffs), and we were supposed to just ride from flag to flag, but sometimes you couldn't see the next flag.  I figured as long as I kept the lead riders in sight for the first lap, I could buckle down on the run and then push harder on the 2nd lap once better oriented to the route. 

Of all the flags in all the world (in this totally desolate spot on the globe), the wind blew the most awesome one right over the only American tourist in the lot...priceless!
[Photo courtesy of D. Catalan]

I kept worrying about getting a flat.  Since going tubeless, about 4-5 years ago, I haven't had a flat.  Seriously, I haven't changed a tire in years.  I did get a few in Iraq, but never turned down offers by CB and LP to fix em...doh!   This terrain was like Bootleg canyon....really really sharp edge rocks; made the Sedona rocks look like marshmallows.   Don't take a walmart bike to Bootleg!

I first discovered the bike was not a good choice when, at my first attempt of downshifting, the chain dropped.  Doh. Get off the bike, fix, get back on, go.  Stick to 3 gears for the rest of the day.  

A few minutes later, a handlebar grip slid right off.  Doh.  I wouldn't have cared, but seeing how I didn't spend $ for this, I was sans gloves and w/the humidity and rocky ridin', that would've been brutal.  Fix. Resume riding.  

The good news is...no flats!  The bad...my left friggin' pedal pedaled right out of the crank.  I'd put my own SPDs on (always travel w/them, for gym bikes, etc).  Turns out, this walmart bike had crank sockets made of some crappy material and the left one totally stripped out - couldn't even screw the pedal back in.  OMG.  

So I pedaled ONE-LEGGED for about 4 miles.  Seriously.  Had there been even one tree or bush or stick out there, I would've tried to make some sort of temporary platform to at least rest that left leg on, but nooooo.   So I'd alternate by "resting" my non-pedaling foot up on the toptube of the frame and simply holding it mid-air to the side.  Not easy. 

Did you know that one-leg pedaling for 20 minutes sucks?  Heck, it sucked after about 2 minutes (the most I'd ever done/for drills).  Try it.  Better yet, try it on technical terrain.  Try dropping down a 20-foot berm.  Yep, that was my morning.  I never really got upset though.  I kept thinking about that adage "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey."  Then I thought who ever came up w/that was surely just some slacker trying to justify slack-arse efforts.  

Then I remembered the rockstar Alejandro who did all of La Ruta  (the epic 4-day mountain bike stage race in Costa Rica) with only one arm (smiling more than most!), as well as lots of other people who get out there and do it and feel lucky to be there.  So, I sucked it up, tried not to be a big baby, and relished in the idea that one day I could say "this one time, at band camp....".

I finally made it back to the transition area (surprisingly NOT in last place), and though I told the race-folks that I was calling it a DNF (my first ever), that I wanted to do the run...make the most of the day.  Had a solid 5K run though the same deep sand, rocks, etc..  Then congregated at the beach w/the rest of the racers - a really solid mix of expats mainly the always-athletic Filipinos, south Africans and Brits.  Apparently, I was the only "tourist" and everyone seemed quite amused by that.  The primary sponsor, a wealthy young local Shaykh (who yes was quite sheek as well w/his white dishdasha, raybans and brandnew white LandRover) was beyond curious how I even found out about it.  (A girl does her research.)

Overall, I had a great day!  It was a unique area that I likely never would've seen otherwise, met a bunch of cool peeps, experienced a true grassroots race (I love that vibe!), and later in the afternoon survived nearly getting lost in the desert and w/out water...after the race exploring.   I didn't make the "podium", but I did deserve 1st place overall for one-legged sand pedaling.  Boomya!!

(zoom in on this one)

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