On to the Mountains
Wickenburg, AZ to Prescoott, AZ on Thursday May 16, 2019 60 miles
6,087 feet ascent, 2,798 feet descent.
Highest Elevation: Yarnell Pass- 4,780 feet
Prescott, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ on Friday May 17, 2019. 44.3 miles
2,380 feet ascent, 4,851 feet descent
Highest elevation : Mingus Mt.- 7,815 feet
Cottonwood, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ on Saturday May 1, 2019. 46.8 miles
5,093 feet ascent, 1,511 descent
Highest elevation: Flagstaff. 7,000 feet
Cumulative 546 miles
I decided to put some of the vital statistics at the beginning of each post for anyone that is following this just to see where we are now, how far we've biked, etc.
After 3 days of. desert biking we headed north out of Wickenburg, AZ on towards Prescott, AZ.
At our morning "Route Rap" we discussed "false flats", which have to do with an optical illusion in which you appear to be traveling over a flat stretch of road, but in fact are climbing. This turns out to be very demoralizing as your eyes are telling you that you should have no trouble pedaling, but you legs are telling you this is hard, what's wrong. These false flats frequently preceded an actual obvious climb which added to this demoralization as the mountains can be seen for miles before you reach them. The mountains themselves may have been physically harder, but were much easier for your brain to accept. We did plenty of climbing, 6,o87 feet, on the road to Prescott. If you have not climbed a lot of hills, that is a lot. So, despite a considerably lower mileage, 60 miles, this was not a particularly easy day. It was cooler though.
Friday we covered 44.3 miles on the way to Cottonwood, AZ, and reached our highest elevation to date,7,815 feet at the top op Mingus Mountain. I can vouch that the effect of altitude on physical performance is real. Despite the shorter distance and relatively small amount of ascent, it was not exactly an easy day, although definitely shorter.
I have heard from multiple sources that if you can bike the hills and mountains of NY state, PA, and New England that you should be able to handle the mountains of the western US. So far, I would say that is true. The western mountains are steeper and there is the altitude effect, but they build their mountain roads here with endless switchbacks so that the grades so far has not exceeded what I have encountered near home. Also, after struggling to the top of a mountain, there is a downhill on the other side, also with endless switchbacks, providing a thrilling descent, and Friday we enjoyed 4,851 feet of descent, most of it after summititing Mingus Mt. This descent was interrupted by an enjoyable lunch at Haunted Hamburger in Jerome, AZ. Jerome is a picturesque revived ghost town, formerly a mining town built on the side of Mingus Mt., with a panoramic view of much of northern Arizona.
Saturday we rode the 47 miles from Cottonwood to Flagstaff, AZ including another near mile of vertical ascent. We travelled through Sedona which has been compared by some to travel along the base of the Grand Canyon. Beautiful. We stopped there for pastries and fancy coffees before biking through the canyon culminating in a significant climb to a summit, with a small park with Native Americans selling there art, jewelry etc., and with a beautiful view of Seona and the climb we had just made. There was also a SAG stop at the park to refill our water bottles and get some fruit, Clif bars, etc. Which was good because instead of a real summit, we actual had a gradual climb over the next 12 miles into Flagstaff, almost another mile of climbing for the day.
At around 7,000 feet elevation, Flagstaff is our highest stop so.far. Route 66 passed through here, still does actually, and some of the kitchy signs and statuary associated with pre-interstate Rt. 66 is still around. The University of Northern Arizona with it's 31,000 undergraduates is here as well, so there is a distinct college town feel.
I have definitely noticed the altitude effect, and in retrospect at least some of my fatigue over the past 3 days was due to this.
We are currently enjoying the first of 5 rest days, in Flagstaff. I am told that last year it was about 50 degrees warmer when the tour was here. High today was 50 with winds steadily above 20mph with gusts above 40mph. Good day for a rest day, except that tomorrow is expected to be worse: Temps low 30's to 50 with 80% chance of rain and even a little snow. Not the kind of weather that I would choose to bike in, except that we have reservations in Holbrook, AZ, and somewhere else the next night.
OK, new record for longest post. I will try to post on a daily basis with much shorter entries. But it won't always happen.
6,087 feet ascent, 2,798 feet descent.
Highest Elevation: Yarnell Pass- 4,780 feet
Prescott, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ on Friday May 17, 2019. 44.3 miles
2,380 feet ascent, 4,851 feet descent
Highest elevation : Mingus Mt.- 7,815 feet
Cottonwood, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ on Saturday May 1, 2019. 46.8 miles
5,093 feet ascent, 1,511 descent
Highest elevation: Flagstaff. 7,000 feet
Cumulative 546 miles
I decided to put some of the vital statistics at the beginning of each post for anyone that is following this just to see where we are now, how far we've biked, etc.
After 3 days of. desert biking we headed north out of Wickenburg, AZ on towards Prescott, AZ.
At our morning "Route Rap" we discussed "false flats", which have to do with an optical illusion in which you appear to be traveling over a flat stretch of road, but in fact are climbing. This turns out to be very demoralizing as your eyes are telling you that you should have no trouble pedaling, but you legs are telling you this is hard, what's wrong. These false flats frequently preceded an actual obvious climb which added to this demoralization as the mountains can be seen for miles before you reach them. The mountains themselves may have been physically harder, but were much easier for your brain to accept. We did plenty of climbing, 6,o87 feet, on the road to Prescott. If you have not climbed a lot of hills, that is a lot. So, despite a considerably lower mileage, 60 miles, this was not a particularly easy day. It was cooler though.
Friday we covered 44.3 miles on the way to Cottonwood, AZ, and reached our highest elevation to date,7,815 feet at the top op Mingus Mountain. I can vouch that the effect of altitude on physical performance is real. Despite the shorter distance and relatively small amount of ascent, it was not exactly an easy day, although definitely shorter.
I have heard from multiple sources that if you can bike the hills and mountains of NY state, PA, and New England that you should be able to handle the mountains of the western US. So far, I would say that is true. The western mountains are steeper and there is the altitude effect, but they build their mountain roads here with endless switchbacks so that the grades so far has not exceeded what I have encountered near home. Also, after struggling to the top of a mountain, there is a downhill on the other side, also with endless switchbacks, providing a thrilling descent, and Friday we enjoyed 4,851 feet of descent, most of it after summititing Mingus Mt. This descent was interrupted by an enjoyable lunch at Haunted Hamburger in Jerome, AZ. Jerome is a picturesque revived ghost town, formerly a mining town built on the side of Mingus Mt., with a panoramic view of much of northern Arizona.
Saturday we rode the 47 miles from Cottonwood to Flagstaff, AZ including another near mile of vertical ascent. We travelled through Sedona which has been compared by some to travel along the base of the Grand Canyon. Beautiful. We stopped there for pastries and fancy coffees before biking through the canyon culminating in a significant climb to a summit, with a small park with Native Americans selling there art, jewelry etc., and with a beautiful view of Seona and the climb we had just made. There was also a SAG stop at the park to refill our water bottles and get some fruit, Clif bars, etc. Which was good because instead of a real summit, we actual had a gradual climb over the next 12 miles into Flagstaff, almost another mile of climbing for the day.
At around 7,000 feet elevation, Flagstaff is our highest stop so.far. Route 66 passed through here, still does actually, and some of the kitchy signs and statuary associated with pre-interstate Rt. 66 is still around. The University of Northern Arizona with it's 31,000 undergraduates is here as well, so there is a distinct college town feel.
I have definitely noticed the altitude effect, and in retrospect at least some of my fatigue over the past 3 days was due to this.
We are currently enjoying the first of 5 rest days, in Flagstaff. I am told that last year it was about 50 degrees warmer when the tour was here. High today was 50 with winds steadily above 20mph with gusts above 40mph. Good day for a rest day, except that tomorrow is expected to be worse: Temps low 30's to 50 with 80% chance of rain and even a little snow. Not the kind of weather that I would choose to bike in, except that we have reservations in Holbrook, AZ, and somewhere else the next night.
OK, new record for longest post. I will try to post on a daily basis with much shorter entries. But it won't always happen.
So impressed with the adventure you are on Jeff! You inspire! Love the blog, thanks for sharing this journey with all of us!
ReplyDeleteSedona is one of our favorite places-nice you could bike there. Prescott to Cottonwood sounds nice-the descent 2x the ascent. Hope it warms up a bit-but not too much
ReplyDeleteSteve S
Enjoying reading your detailed descriptions and impressed that you are taking this on Jeff! You sure logged many miles in training, dig deep and get this thing done! Hang Tough and also enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMike A