Wife's work Conference in AZ = New Bike and 2 great rides

lilbuj

Active Member
I rarely post here but lurk quite often, so I had a great few days in AZ and figured you all would be interested in some of it. My wife works in the day care industry and each year at a different location they have an annual conference for all their franchises. This year was in Scottsdale AZ. We flew out on Wednesday the 8th and got up early Thursday morning to visit the Grand Canyon.

Day 1 Adventure

My wife and I drove to Sedona had breakfast at the Red Rock Cafe which was excellent and then proceeded on to the South Rim. We arrived at the Visitors Center 2 hours later and took a shuttle to the South Kaibab Trail to hike into the Canyon. [GALLERY=media, 924]20160609_171048[1] by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 925]20160609_171137[1] by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM[/GALLERY] A little bit past Cedar Ridge looking North and South I believe. [GALLERY=media, 923]20160609_160504[1] by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 5:30 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 922]20160609_160436[1] by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 5:30 PM[/GALLERY]
Cedar Ridge [GALLERY=media, 921]20160609_155820[1] by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 5:30 PM[/GALLERY] It was about 85 degrees in the shade on Cedar Ridge when we arrived. The total hike took us about 2.5 hours and we descended about 1200 ft into the canyon. We headed back to Sedona to pick up my rental bike for the next two days. On our way we took the scenic route through Oak Creek Canyon which was almost as beautiful as the Grand Canyon. Got to Over the Edge Bikes in Sedona at 5pm where they set up the suspension for me and sent me on my way. We ate at Tamaliza in Sedona an excellent tiny Tamales shop and headed back to the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia for the 7pm conference reception cocktails and meet and greet. We were both exhausted and ducked out as early as possible and were asleep before 9pm. Over 8 hours driving in one day but worth it.

day 2 in the next post.
 
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rottin'

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Team MTBNJ Halter's
Thats a fun hike, and a great drive coming back to Sedona from the Canyon...OTE are a solid shop. Took care of us in February
 

Mumonkan

Well-Known Member
so many feels!

next time im back in AZ im hiking / running rim to rim to rim. when we were up on the edge all i wanted to do was be down in the punchbowl feeling like an ant

i miss AZ.
 

lilbuj

Active Member
Day 2 Adventure

We were basically keeping to East Coast time as it helps beat the heat. So my plan for the day was to go ride South Mountain in Phoenix ride the Mormon National loop. Up at the front entrance waiting for my rental car to come out and there are two Cadillac Escalades with the doors open and up come a group of about 8 guys going golfing. Mark Wahlburg gets into the front seat of the SUV about 10 feet from me. They pull off and I put my bike in the car and head off. 25 minutes to South Mountain with a quick stop for bananas and ice. I parked in the Pima Canyon Lot got ready and was on the trail by 6:38am. Up the Javelina Canyon Trail which had some difficult technical rocky climbs. Onto the Mormon Loop Trail which was more of the same. Then onto the National Trail which had a short climb then mostly downhill with some nice technical features. then Up the Ridgeline Trail which was about 300 feet straight up of hike a bike back to the Javelina Caynon Trail for a nice downhill again. 8.79 miles total in about 2 hours. It was getting hot towards the end of the ride.

National Trail[GALLERY=media, 927]20160610_104731[1] by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 6:25 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 926]20160610_104715 by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 6:25 PM[/GALLERY]

View from one of the peaks on National. [GALLERY=media, 928]20160610_105942 by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 6:25 PM[/GALLERY]

It was a fun ride. National was the treat. The ground was so much looser and drier than I am accustomed to. Back Scottsdale for a nice breakfast at the Henry Spicy Sausage Scramble with a side of Breakfast Potatoes.

[GALLERY=media, 929]20160610_125116 by lilbuj posted Jun 13, 2016 at 6:40 PM[/GALLERY]
 

lilbuj

Active Member
Day 3 Sedona

Up early again to return to Sedona and get a ride in before returning the rental bike. It is amazing that with the lack of trees what you see for miles. The views are outstanding.

[GALLERY=media, 933]20160611_090132 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY]

View from the Bell Rock Vista Trailhead parking lot.

[GALLERY=media, 930]20160611_105507 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY]

I crossed the road and took Slim Shady to Hiline

Hiline coming and going
[GALLERY=media, 931]20160611_112205 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 932]20160611_112218 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY]

Hiline after first getting above the trees
[GALLERY=media, 934]20160611_112739 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY]

Hiline after getting out of the dirt onto the rocks.

[GALLERY=media, 935]20160611_114749 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 936]20160611_114758 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:19 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 937]20160611_114803 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:20 PM[/GALLERY]

And the end of Hiline [GALLERY=media, 938]20160611_120356 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:20 PM[/GALLERY] I wish I took some pictures of the chute I went down. But even finding some online they don't do it any justice.

after Hiline I took Baldwin down to Oak Creek

[GALLERY=media, 939]20160611_122138 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:20 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 940]20160611_122141 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:20 PM[/GALLERY]

Where I ran into two guys I chatted with in the parking lot. I joined them for the rest of the ride. Up to Templeton where you can see Cathedral Rock. [GALLERY=media, 941]20160611_124603 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:20 PM[/GALLERY]

Then we took HT to Little Horse [GALLERY=media, 942]20160611_131108 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:20 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 943]20160611_131110 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:23 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 944]20160611_131112 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:23 PM[/GALLERY]

Up to Chicken Point [GALLERY=media, 945]20160611_135313 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:23 PM[/GALLERY] in the photo above Slim Shady and Hiline are across 179 the road you see in the photo. If you pull up Google Maps the trails are shown.

The White Line is up in these photo is you look closely. [GALLERY=media, 946]20160611_135316 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:23 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 947]20160611_140525 by lilbuj posted Jun 14, 2016 at 5:23 PM[/GALLERY] It is kind of insane that people actually ride that White Line with the 300ft+ drop below.

We back tracked on Little Horse and HT to Slim Shady all the way back to the lot. 16.2 Miles of climbing, technical climbing, technical down hill, drops, and fast flowy banked turns. Not to mention some of the best views I have ever seen. This is one bike ride I will never forget. A little less than 4.5 hours with lots of time to take photos and just enjoy being out in nature on a beautiful Saturday. Thanks to the guys at OTE for the ride route recommendation and to Markus and Jeff who took me to Chicken Point.
 
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lilbuj

Active Member
And the New Bike

I have been on my Trek Liquid for about 10 years. I am shocked that it has not broken by now. I read about the Evil The Following online and it seemed to fit the type of riding I like and our rocky terrain in North Jersey. So when I searched for a rental bike OTE came up and low and behold the Evil was an offering. Sign me up!

The bike fit like a glove and I instantly felt at home on it. Once on a slow switch back I got caught off by the 29" front wheel but otherwise it felt like I still had 26" tires underneath me that seemed to steam roll over all the rocks. I was sold. I had to have this bike. The rocky steep chute on Hiline a DH bike would have been appropriate and I didn't feel out of place on the Following. My one big complaint about the Trek was it lost rear traction easily. This Evil had traction galore. I think I slipped the rear tire twice at South Mountain but I was able to pedal through and it grabbed. South Mountain is really loose and dry. This bike just climbs until you crest or you run out of legs. I had to have one. Luckily that bike was for sale discounted with a factory warranty, fresh suspension seals and fluid, and my rental fee went towards the purchase. I just can't wait until it arrives in a week and I get it out at Jungle and Mahlon. I just hope the wide bars fit between the trees at JH.
 

Mumonkan

Well-Known Member
theres no way to capture the insanity that is the backside of hiline except with the naked eye

i could barely walk down it, most of the slickrock i slid down on my ass

truly unforgettable, i have to go back
 
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