Sedona: West Side Loops

 My friend, Kara, has been training hard this year for the AZT800. She wanted to get some more technical miles in and some hiking so she put together a route in Sedona. A few of us tagged along for the fun. Kelly and I carpooled and met up with Kara and Mike B. (I met Mike last year during the Queen's Ransom)

Kara and Mike were there a bit before us and did a short loop while we got ready. We started with a short out-n-back once we realized we were riding our loop the wrong direction!! Haha. It was a nice mile warm up for the gradual climbing that ensued.

We eventually topped out then made our way around the Cockscomb towards the Aerie trail. That's one of my favorites in Sedona. However, being on the singlespeed, I was leery of the upcoming technical section. It generally climbs, has some loose rock and a few bigger power moves. I usually do pretty good on this section, but even with gears I get tripped up on occasion.

I led the group out after our break and was pleased with my riding. I made the entire first section clean to the Doe Mtn. access trail. We took a couple of minutes there, but I knew the second half was more challenging.

Our fearless leader for the day, Kara.

Kelly was smart to use bright colors here, good for photos!!

Mike rolling in.

Once again I was keeping good power and momentum. I almost stalled out on the big move here, but had just enough momentum to keep it rolling. Next thing I knew the downhill began. I couldn't believe I made the entire thing, no dabs. To put it in perspective, I had ridden at Hawes the day before and felt like hot garbage, walking on a few easy grades. Amazing what a day difference does.

Kelly on one of the cooler natural trail features around.

Kara's turn.

Mike incoming!!

We snaked through the hikers near the trailhead and made the tough, short climb up Mescal. I had to dismount twice on that, but I'll take it. Mescal trail is super scenic, has nice sections of slickrock and generally has a bit of a Moab feel to it.

Mashing along. Photo by Kara.

Kara leading the group to the goods.

Just another boring bike posing photo.

Find the riders.

Somewhere in this section the trails splits and is signed: Intermediate this way, Expert that way. We took the intermediate direction, but it still has a tricky spot or two. The others were up ahead as I approached a dicey area. There was a group of four hikers taking a break in the shade offering cheers as I rode up. There's a giant boulder on the left, a smallish gap with a tree on the right. In the gap is a series of medium sized rocks that want to grab your tires before you go up and over the obstacle.

I gave it a good effort, but stalled out. Hmmm, I can get that, I thought. So, I backed up for a re-try. The hikers appreciated my determination and one fella noted the singlespeed setup and was amazed. He doubled down when he also noticed I was on a hardtail. 'Where's you suspension?' Huh? I told him it was fine the way it was, but he seemed skeptical. Another fella who was standing next to him joined in late, finally putting 2 & 2 together and he too, aghast, noted the lack of gears. I tried to convince them that I still rode all the same trails I rode with gears, but I'm not sure it was getting through. I then hopped on the pedals and rode right through the gap and over the rocks. Easy. As I dropped over the backside of the rock pile I heard one of the guys cheering!! Haha, yeehaw!!

We then made our way down Yucca to Canyon of Fools, where trail conditions were unknown.

Kelly blending in with the walls here.

Mike weaving through the serpentine.

Kara flying by.

Canyon of Fools was ok, not as much fast flow as I recalled, but still fun. We looped around and back through the trailhead we staged from. Next up was a loop on Chuckwagon trail, but there was some discussion on which direction to go. I had always gone CW because of the AES route, but Kara and Mike thought it rode better CCW. CCW it would be.

We began grinding up a bit of semi-steep pavement and I heard Kelly tell me she was going to keep going and get a smoothie. I thought she was joking, but she said again she wanted a smoothie and would hang out while we finished up. Mike had already peeled off to head home, so Kara and I continued onto Chuckwagon.

Huge sideslope riding here.

Lucky for us, it was a bit warm and now after 12 noon, not too many hikers on this popular trail that accesses the wildly famous Devil's Bridge of Instagram fame.

Kara sending it on a techy section.

Moar crappy Sedona scenery.

Near the end of Chuckwagon, my legs had finally had enough. I did concur with the CCW direction though. I felt the climbs were shorter in this direction. We popped out on a dirt road, then a short ride later were back at the car. People often say how Sedona miles feel like twice the normal miles. It's all the short, punchy, max effort stuff. No real long climbs anywhere, it's a few hundred feet up, then a few hundred down. All day long. Add in the singlespeed effect and it's more like 2 1/2 : 1 !!

Anyway, it was a great ride, cool routing and a bit of a redemption ride from the previous day for me. We found Kelly chilling at Layla's Bakery and joined her for lunch to round out the afternoon. What a day!!

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