Business took me over to Phoenix this week for a conference that I was leading. So I called my buddy Chuck to see if he wanted to do a night ride. The bad news, he broke his ankle hiking down Humphrey’s Peak in Flagstaff on Sunday. The good news, he won’t be riding his bike for 5 weeks and his friend Todd was available to show me around. Phoenix North Mountain Preserve is barely a mile from Chuck’s house, so I don’t ever turn down a chance to ride it.

So after flying into Phoenix Monday afternoon and getting some prep work done, we drove over to Chuck’s house. The rental car thermometer said a balmy 102°F. Just great. By the time I got his bike setup for me it was already close to 7pm and the temp was down to a more tolerable 95°F (so I think, but it’s a dry heat you know?). So off we went. I’ve ridden out here before w/ Chuck, but Todd knows this area since he lives 10 minutes from Chuck on the other side of the Preserve. He also knows how to climb since road biking is main passion. So as a recovery ride from Saturday’s 48 adventure, I tried to keep up. I took only a few picks when he stopped or I needed a breather in one case. Once on the trail, temperature was the last thing on my mind.



Trails when past in a flash with turnoffs here and there.



Evening is always better as this is a heavily used trail system by foot, bike, and horse users and the city is always a nice backdrop.





There’s certainly more trails than on the map the parks department publishes: http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/hiknogud.html This was nice as Todd had us doubling back and hitting all the good (and technical) singletrack before we needed full lights. Once the sun was down, we railed back on trail 100 being the main through fare and completed the ride in under 2 hours. I guess this is like a miniature version South Mountain but with not quite as much rock. As a great host, Chuck had margaritas waiting when we returned.

You really should get out and ride more...

You're right. I'll be on Mt. Tam on Friday.

A trip to the motherland . . . .

_________________
A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway