Sedona

If I had to pick one place to       "train" and trail ride in the early season, it would most likely be Sedona. There is no other place that I know of that combines highly technical trail riding, perfect weather, and scenery that puts a tear in my eye to this day. This is a place where I can ride every day, all day and not ever get bored, due to the highly engaging trails it has to offer. The modern trail bike was designed to be ridden here. I don't enjoy smooth singletrack per say. I enjoy the sound of my rims hitting curb shaped rocks at high rates of speed. When my bike makes crazy sounds, and feels like it might be coming apart from under me, I am in my happy place. 

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Sarah was able to join me for a couple of weeks while juggling her work and commitments during this busy time of year. It has been fun watching her riding progress on the red rock. She actually likes Hangover trail now. #perspective 

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The afternoon light in Sedona is unreal. The red rock has a unique glow about an hour before dark. 

I rode until dark almost every day due to this. Maybe it was my brain malfunctioning after riding all day and running out of Honey Stinger waffles and water, but I just had to stop and take pictures. And then it was dark, and I was not home, again. I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon. 

After riding this bike a whole bunch….

And then this bike even more...

The jury was still out. I despise the wheel size debate and can have fun on either bike. They each have their pluses and minuses. Hard choice. I am certainly not complaining but these are not easy decisions for a man to make. Certainly first-world problems, to say the least. Yeti makes some proper rigs!



I even managed to squeeze in some trail work on one of my favorite sections. 

I was fortunate to be staying at the bottom of Hiline. After skidding down this iconic trail at least once a day, I figured I better help with some work. 

My buddy Lars and the Verde Valley Cyclists are responsible for much of the recent trail work and advocacy going on in town. If you ride a mountain bike in Sedona, you owe Lars a beer. Or seven.

If you ride a bike in Sedona and you are feeling like getting your ass kicked, you should try and ride with Lars. Enter pain cave. 

Token Hangover saddle shot. 

Josh Tostado and Marlee Dixon were in town after the Whiskey 50. What better way to rest after a long race than to ride all day…. 

After 3 weeks and 600 miles of trail, I am less fat now. And more tired. 

Off to Angel Fire for opening weekend and the Beti Allride clinic. Just me and 40 women, no big deal. 

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