Arizona is an incredible state for numerous reasons, and I just found the most recent while in Flagstaff this weekend. I did complete the Arizona State Road Race on Saturday, but coming off of my recent two-week off season, the results produced were neither spectacular, nor noteworthy. It made for a solid 76 miles of training however, and I avoided being the racer at the race who didn’t race. I hate being that guy…
Sunday was the real motivator for me to make the Flagstaff weekend. With the company of Chloe and Brian, along with our host Kevin, and friends Mel and Kyle, we set off for some spectacular riding into the thin alpine air. Driving just four and a half hours from Tucson you find a different world at this elevation. The weather was pleasantly cool and fall-like. The leaves were changing on the trees and the traction of the dirt had that wonderful late-season feel beneath my tires. We climbed for an hour before descended the Cat Walk singletrack. Some more tough climbing was followed with even more exhilarating singletrack descending. This pattern was repeated for four hours and somehow each turn of the trail became more thrilling than the last. Perhaps it was the altitude, the onset of fatigue, the views, or likely the unique combination of the three that made this ride one of my favorites in recent history. Its hard to beat hypoxia in such a wonderful setting. I’ll surely be back for more weekend mountain bike adventures in Flagstaff.
I hope you’re enjoying the ride as I surely am, -TJ
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