My wife dragged me to Phoenix over the weekend and I negotiated to bring the bikes. I posted on mtbr for some local guides and Ryan volunteered to show me White Tank Regional Park on Friday. I really wanted to get in a ride on T-Day but it was pouring that morning.

Ryan kept mentioning a HAB at the beginning of the ride, how hard could it be I though to myself. We road a few hundred yards up the trail and he was right, rocks and lots of them. You needed a motor to get up that crap. It last FOREVER and the legs were burning. I think we carried our bikes a good 40 minutes up this stuff and then the singletrack appeared. This was awesome! We were going to do a out and back to the top before the real gnarly downhill (check out goat camp in mtbr in the Arizona forum) We climbed forever and it was awesome. The weather was cool and crisp, ok cold at times, but the sun was out and it was great to ride some place different.

We got to the turn around spot and back down we went, talk about fast and fun. I was flying down this stuff. Then it happened, the HAB was nasty going down and I went OTB. Not bad I actually kind of knew I was going to do so I didn't get hurt. Not the case the second time, yes the second time. All I know was I was airborne in the wrong way. I came down with the bike on top of me and I was in pain. Those rocks hurt like hell when you land on them. Sad part is I was 200 yards form the end of the ride, I road what I could but my left had hurt like hell, so I couldn't hold the bars very well.

Ryan was great guide and come to find out we grew up 30 miles form one another in Kansas. He was rocking the rigid 29er 1x9 and didn't laugh at we when he road on by me as I was limping down the rocks.

I took a hundred picks and the link is for a few, enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32935982@N03/?saved=1

Here is Ryan's RR from mtbr.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=472208

I tried to ride on Saturday but I was in so much pain. I did ride most of the desert classic trail at somo on the SS but being on a rigid bike was not fun with one good hand. I haven't been to the hospital yet but may go today and get some x-rays of my hand and my ribs.

I am planning a post deployment AZ trip in the fall so start saving your pennies.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

Aside from the gnarly over the bars, sounds like you had a good time. Hope you didnt break anything...

Looks like the hand is getting better, but my wrist has turned a weird color. I know they can't do crap for the ribs so I am just dealing with it. I'll still ride this weekend. (I have some news wheels to break it)

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

Nice Treaders Report Eric but some of those pictures look just like Sweetwater, I think you making this up and never left the hood

I wouldn't have eaten crap at Sweetwater, I could ride that place with my eyes closed.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

Take it from former "tough guy", denial only delays the healing period. It's probably a good idea to atleast have it looked at. It's not like you you have to pay for medical expenses, right?

Hopefully it's nothing serious and you heal up quickly.

Sounds like a great ride (except for the OTB part, but that's part of the experience, right?). Hope you heal quickly.
Nice pictures.

We stayed in Surprise over the holiday and got to ride South Mountain on Friday. The weather was just right and so were the trails after that rain. It looked like it could get real slippery out there when dry.
National trail was a blast.

Sounds like another trip is in the future.

crazyhouse

I can't wait to go back, but it will have to wait until next fall.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

Looks like if things don't get better by Thursday, I'll go spend my only free day at Balboa Naval Hospital, Joy! Yep it's free, thanks to all of you that pay your taxes.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

[/quote]
Yep it's free, thanks to all of you that pay your taxes.[/quote]

It should be free!

And lets get one thing straight, it should be us thanking you for preserving our way of life! THANK YOU!

I just got back from Balboa Naval Hospital and look what I have. They think I may have a small fracture but my wrist is jacked, they couldn't specify what was wrong but it fell under some catch all wrist issue. So I'm in this thing for 3-4 weeks. Anyone ever ride with a cast?

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

damn man that sucks. Hope you can get back in the saddle quick.

That cast looks might white. Maybe you should slap on a "Dirt Treader" sticker on it and get it signed by some kids or something.

Aw man, that stinks!
At least you did it at one of the most technical trails around... and got to finish the ride. Not something like, "Well, I was just riding up the curb and..."
And the best part is, you still want to go back!

I agree with Phonger, that looks pretty white. Maybe some tire tread marks on there, or something.

Don't know about the riding with one of those. Perhaps on smooth trails, or road. I would think bumps would hurt the wrist.

Heal up quick

crazyhouse

I have some ideas for the cast, I am just not sure on the Navy's policy on decorating these things.

Time to dust off the road bike!

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul