There is an Arizona

Sunrise from South Mountain near Phoenix

South Mountain

South Mountain

South Mountain, Desert Classic Trail

Red Mountain, Hawes Trail

Red Mountain

Red Mountain

Country singer Jamie O'Neal(There is No Arizona) is nothing but a no good liar. After we got there, I thought "there is an Arizona you stupid b*$#^!" We drove down there to see some family and I definitely, ya for sure, took my bike. It was great, if you know where to go. I did a lot of research on the internet on what trails to do and luckily my mountain bike magazine came 3 days before we left and it had a whole big article on trails around Phoenix. It talked about what trails are best and it was a great tool.

First, I did the Desert Classic Trail in South Mountain Area just southwest of Tempe, and this area is the biggest bike park in the world they say. About 60 miles worth of trails. The Desert Classic Trial is more cross country bike friendly while the rest of them were downhill bike specific trails. The trail goes right on the foothills of the mountain. This trail reminded me a lot of the Road Apple Trail in Farmington, NM. A lot of fast rolling trail kind of riding, so I did an out and back in about 20 miles in 2 hours.

The next morning, I got to do another ride in another place, a better place for XC riding. Red Mountain Area. A cousin down there in Mesa told me about the area and recommended me to go there. It was great because it had more extended climbs and more steeper, technical downhills. This area was more prettier and more out of Phoenix area, and I really liked this area. I did about 13 miles in about an hour and 20 minutes. The cactus were more closer to the trails and the trails weren't as overused as the Desert Classic Trail so that's what made it more fun and challenging.

The weather was perfect and of course I went out there 6 in the morning every morning because it would get hotter later in the day, plus I was just got too excited to get up and do some riding in those mornings. It was great and I hope to go do some riding down there again some other time. Phoenix spring is like a Utah summer, that was so awesome.

Cholla Challenge 2011

The lap went all the way down there in the red rocks, great singletrack loop, 7.5 miles each lap and I did two of them and it was great riding

Me in a lot of post race pain and still grinning

Mom and sister were spectators.....with books

The Cholla Challenge MTB race turned out better than I thought it ever did. I was worried that I didn't get rested enough before it but I did. I was surprised that I could do 2 laps with no problems. They had the Clydesdale do two laps in this one and I did want to do two laps in this race by the way. Everybody thought it was too hot but I thought that was a bunch of crap and hooey. I thought it was perfect weather, a bunch of whining babies. Just drink a lot of water that's all you got to do and you're all set. I did hydrate enough and the race turned out too smoothly for me, I also refueled with Hammer Gel just right during the race. That's why I had a good race this time. I stayed in second place most of the time and this guy in 3rd kept catching up to me and we were just going back in forth during the whole race. The 1st place guy was just 10 seconds ahead of us during the whole time and he kept a good pace. I couldn't catch up with him but at the end of the last lap, the 3rd place guy caught up and passed me(I am not good on flat land, I could pass him easily on the uphills), so since the last part is mostly flat I couldn't pass him or the 1st place guy but at the end we all finished just seconds apart. It was a good race.