McDowell Pump Track

I headed out to the McDowells this morning to check out the pump track with the GT Ruckus.  I was feeling pretty down on even owning a dirt jump bike after taking it out at Papago last week.  Other than reading a lesson in Dirt Rag about pump tracks, I didn’t really know what to expect.  There were a few cars parked for some of the competitive tracks, but I had the pump track all to myself.

I wasn’t very good at it, but I had a great time.  I don’t really know if I was even gaining any speed by pumping, to be honest.  I got a workout and got a little scared when I exited a berm over the edge.  I cannot wait to get out there again.

After I finished at the pump track I decided to drive over to the Pemberton trailhead.  I rode up the trail counterclockwise up to the service road, and then turned around to cruise back.  I was in one or two sandwich deficit, so I was pretty tired by the time I got there.  I was hoping to make up my sandwich deficit at the visitor center, but it was just a weird place with no snacks.

When I finished up I decided to stop in at Slippery Pig in Fountain Hills to see if I could get some help with my bent derailleur. Doug dropped what he was doing, put my Ruckus in his work stand, and straightened out my derailleur hanger.  The other guy (I didn’t catch his name) took over, finished fixing up my shifting, and shimmed my back brake so it wouldn’t drag anymore.  I was expecting to have to leave my bike there for a few days, but I was out of there in 15 minutes.  I never expected service like that.  Thanks to all the guys at both Slippery Pig locations for all the help and advice all these years.

Papago and Desert Classic

It was only 97 degrees yesterday in Tempe, so I decided to ride out at Papago Park. I hadn’t really been out on a bike in an entire week. I figured since I got my dirt jump bike put together this weekend I would go out on that. It was immediately apparent that I was not riding a cross country bike. After just over an hour I was exhausted. I could even feel the ride last night in my legs while I was trying to sleep. I am pretty sure that I left the trail grumpier than I arrived.

This morning, however, I am leaving the trail in great spirits. I hit Desert Classic before it was light out. I got a flat almost immediately, and by the time I finished changing the tube there was plenty of light for riding. In the past two years that I have been riding, it was the first flat I have had to fix on the trail. The CO2 inflator works like a charm, and once I was back up and running it turned into one of the best rides I have had here at South Mountain. I only rode to the water tank and back, and it was by far the flowy-est I have felt on DC. I think maybe the flat might have helped me clear my mind and get my head right for the ride. As much as I want to enjoy the GT Ruckus, the budget Dawes Bullseye is a much better tool for the trail.

The road bike is sort of in pieces right now, but hopefully I will get out riding somewhere on some bike this afternoon or evening. The weather is just starting to be great here in the desert. It is going to be a great fall and winter.