I actually got back yesterday but was too beat to write about the ride.
The good part about the hotel stay was that it was near
- A pizza place and grocery store for dinner
- An excellent coffee shop for the morning
- A dollar general for paper and a pen so I could post a note at the nearest trailhead asking anyone who might find my tent poles to contact me. Those things ain’t cheap.
The bed wasn’t bad for my battered self either.
Anyway, I was on the road at 8. Despite taking the easier way, I did manage to find suffering. First on some steep and chunky ATV trails and then through some riverbeds.
The thing is, riding these rough spots almost always rewards you with solitude and beauty. The side of a paved highway just isn’t the same. If you ride a bike enough you can come to view cars as a nuisance at best and even violent on the more extreme end.
This kind of riding only lasted about 2 hours before I got to the outskirts of town. Phoenix is the dictionary definition of urban sprawl, it is HUGE. Fortunately it has a surprising amount of cycling infrastructure. I rode primarily on mountain biking systems (I took the green trails!), separated bikeways, canal, freeway and golf course adjacent paths, and other bike friendly stuff. I was maybe on streets with cars for 10 of about 80 kilometers.
And I had a real treat waiting for me at my parent’s house. Moms are great, and mine is greater.
Wrap up
I love the Sonoran Desert. But I’m not sure it’s reciprocal. It’s a sharp, hostile and unforgiving environment. Riding a bicycle through it is tough, very tough. So I got what I was looking for in that way.
Since Colombia, where I was totally underbiked and unprepared for what I was up against, I’ve wanted to explore what’s possible with a more robust bike, an ATB (all terrain bike).
This route has shown me that, with the right equipment, I can ride some pretty rough stuff and live to tell the tale (day two). It has also shown me that I can ride even rougher (The Black Canyon Trail), but I probably won’t be seeking that kind of terrain out. In short spurts I can do blue and maybe even some black MTB trails on my fully loaded Panorama, but tens of kilometers or more of relentlessly technical, chunky and dodgy singletrack is beyond type 2 fun as far as I’m concerned. Limit pushed and limit found ✔️
I am also going to become extremely cautious about making sure everything important (meaning everything, frankly) is in bags that are very securely fastened to my bike. Losing things like tent poles could easily be a trip ending problem. That’s not good. Also not cheap.
Overall, I did love this ride very much and am happy that I was able to do it. The desert was new bike trip territory for me and I will be returning without question.
Trip stats
- 4 days
- 390 kilometers
- 4670 meters climbing
- 0 cactus spines still stuck in me
P.S. despite the intense amount of rain the region received just before I started riding, all the river crossings I did except one were bone dry. I carried 8 liters of water and was never under 4 at any point. But I also managed to make it to a campground every night. Those reserve 4 liters would have been required had I not made it to places with taps.
P.P.S. I have never been so sore after a bike trip 🤕
A major accomplishment well done.
Wow, what an accomplishment. And smart enough to realize you’ve done a black trail, you don’t need to do anymore, LOL!! I love the beautiful photos, showing those that aren’t familiar with the desert that it can be beautiful. I did miss the food photos although I know you had nowhere available to stop. Still freaks me out you slept in the wilderness with no one around but critters. You did miss a photo of my apple dumplings. That should have been a highlight. Rest up. I’m wondering where your next adventure will take us.
I was too excited to start eating to take a proper picture. Those dark makings were divine
Great trip report! Hope the tent poles make it back to you.
Chad,
This ride was particularly interesting to follow. I’m impressed that your bike and your body were able to navigate that rocky terrain and emerge intact. It’s also surprising you had no tire troubles. Flats were a recurring theme of a couple of the first rides of yours that I followed. Great photos, as always. The desert looks beautiful. What a collection of great adventures you’ve had. Take care.
Tubeless tire setups are a miracle. I rode right over cactus with no flats. This was a particularly interesting one. I’d love to find some middle ground on the ruggedness scale.
I hope you’re successful finding that middle ground. You’ll undoubtedly enjoy the search, too.
Chad, I learned so much I didn’t expect about desert riding and surviving! WELL DONE on both of these accomplishments!You also sound even wiser than you did a couple of days earlier! No doubt due to the rapid aging effect of those desert conditions ;D I like the results!
LOL 😆