Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
I've been on a jones for a big epic for several weeks. Maybe I'm getting nervous for my first solo 24 hour race, which looms in only 11 weeks. What ever the motive, I finally got the green light from my dear wife to burn a day on the bike.
I rolled down my driveway at 8:45 with a definite chill in the air and a good load of energy gels, bars and fluids weighing down my Camelbak. I had a general idea where I wanted to go but nothing too structured. I started with a 900 foot climb up a paved and gravel road to the first stretch of singletrack. Within the first hour, I had climbed 1600 feet. The rest of the ride unfolded beautifully.
Prescott is a fantastic mix of hardpack, rock gardens, pine forests and high desert scrub. I think I hit it all. I only encountered one other rider on the trail, which even for Prescott is unusual. By 2:00 pm I had covered much of what I set out to ride. It was a spectacular day. Trail conditions were a little loose, but the weather was awesome for late November.
Ride Stats:
Total Ride Time: 6 hours (5:35 in motion - stopped to take perdy pics)
Total Mileage: 48 miles (Not too shabby for a singlespeed.)
Total elevation gain 5133 feet. (Did I mention singlespeed?)
Total calories burned: 3200 (Burger time)
*36 miles of singletrack and fire road.
Sandy conditions in the turns made it a little exciting at times.
Granite Mountain off in the distance was my objective. I made it out there, did a 10 mile loop in the shadow of the mountain and headed home.
Self portrait You can only have so many photos of just trail
It felt great to get out and link up a huge loop of trails. I probably could have put in a few more miles, but I didn't want to risk missing another ride tomorrow! I'm not sure if anyone has told you this, but.....
Bicycles are cool.
I rolled down my driveway at 8:45 with a definite chill in the air and a good load of energy gels, bars and fluids weighing down my Camelbak. I had a general idea where I wanted to go but nothing too structured. I started with a 900 foot climb up a paved and gravel road to the first stretch of singletrack. Within the first hour, I had climbed 1600 feet. The rest of the ride unfolded beautifully.
Prescott is a fantastic mix of hardpack, rock gardens, pine forests and high desert scrub. I think I hit it all. I only encountered one other rider on the trail, which even for Prescott is unusual. By 2:00 pm I had covered much of what I set out to ride. It was a spectacular day. Trail conditions were a little loose, but the weather was awesome for late November.
Ride Stats:
Total Ride Time: 6 hours (5:35 in motion - stopped to take perdy pics)
Total Mileage: 48 miles (Not too shabby for a singlespeed.)
Total elevation gain 5133 feet. (Did I mention singlespeed?)
Total calories burned: 3200 (Burger time)
*36 miles of singletrack and fire road.
Sandy conditions in the turns made it a little exciting at times.
Granite Mountain off in the distance was my objective. I made it out there, did a 10 mile loop in the shadow of the mountain and headed home.
Self portrait You can only have so many photos of just trail
It felt great to get out and link up a huge loop of trails. I probably could have put in a few more miles, but I didn't want to risk missing another ride tomorrow! I'm not sure if anyone has told you this, but.....
Bicycles are cool.
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