RR: Little Bear Loop, Flagstaff

This days ride promised to be a lung buster. The trail book said it was
15.7 miles (wrong, it ended up being just under 17) with two tough climbs.

We started from the same parking area as the previous day, except we started
out by climbing Schultz Creek. The first 3.5 miles of the climb were pretty
easy, we were getting used to all the boulders and marbles. We went from
7,200 feet to just under 8,000 on this section.

We then turned onto Little Gnarly for more fun technical climbing, gaining
another 400 feet in about a mile. The wide open meadow of Dry Lake was a
beautiful sight, but more climbing was in our immediate future.

We hung a left on Upper Brookbank for the final push of the first climb of
the day. In that 1.5 miles we gained another 600 feet. It doesn't seem
like alot, but when you throw in the technical aspect of the trail you are
paying for every inch.

After a short descent down Sunset Trail, we turned onto Little Bear for 4
miles of downhill fun. Switchbacks, more boulders, scary exposure and very
loose shale kept our concentration at a peak. The day was not to be blood
free. As I was traversing a very loose, shale covered section of the trail
(did I forget to mention exposed) my front tire decided to take a little
excursion down the hill without me. The left side of my body came down like
a ton of bricks, leaving my leg and arm a bloody mess. I even got a bit of
a raspberry under my shorts and three days later the bruising is a nice
shade of blue.

We did make it to the bottom intact and made another left onto Little Elden
for the just over two mile climb up to Sunset Trail parking lot. We had
tried to video the previous descents but were unsuccesful due to technical
difficulties. I made sure the camera was rolling for this final descent of
the day.

We rejoined Schultz Creek for the 4 mile descent. More twisting, turning,
jumping technical fun was had by all. As I was videoing I tried staying
behind my buds for most of the ride, but I was tempted to pass a few times
to get some good speed. The fates were not good to me on one of these
passes. I had the chance to get ahead of Mike on a sweeping left hand turn,
which I did without a problem. What I didn't count on was the sandy section
that led into a right turn. My front tire washed out on me and down I went
again, on the same side as my previous fall. It looks pretty hilarious in
the video: Picture perfect pass, dirt, tires passing within inches of my
head.

We made it back, tired and happy. I will be back to Flagstaff for more fun
very soon.

Total ride time: 3 hours, 8 minutes. Total elevation gain: 4,600 feet

http://www.geoladders.com/gps_route_...?route_id=2091

Chris Glidden wrote:
This days ride promised to be a lung buster. The trail book said it was
15.7 miles (wrong, it ended up being just under 17) with two tough climbs.

We started from the same parking area as the previous day, except we started
out by climbing Schultz Creek. The first 3.5 miles of the climb were pretty
easy, we were getting used to all the boulders and marbles. We went from
7,200 feet to just under 8,000 on this section.

We then turned onto Little Gnarly for more fun technical climbing, gaining
another 400 feet in about a mile. The wide open meadow of Dry Lake was a
beautiful sight, but more climbing was in our immediate future.

We hung a left on Upper Brookbank for the final push of the first climb of
the day. In that 1.5 miles we gained another 600 feet. It doesn't seem
like alot, but when you throw in the technical aspect of the trail you are
paying for every inch.

After a short descent down Sunset Trail, we turned onto Little Bear for 4
miles of downhill fun. Switchbacks, more boulders, scary exposure and very
loose shale kept our concentration at a peak. The day was not to be blood
free. As I was traversing a very loose, shale covered section of the trail
(did I forget to mention exposed) my front tire decided to take a little
excursion down the hill without me. The left side of my body came down like
a ton of bricks, leaving my leg and arm a bloody mess. I even got a bit of
a raspberry under my shorts and three days later the bruising is a nice
shade of blue.

We did make it to the bottom intact and made another left onto Little Elden
for the just over two mile climb up to Sunset Trail parking lot. We had
tried to video the previous descents but were unsuccesful due to technical
difficulties. I made sure the camera was rolling for this final descent of
the day.

We rejoined Schultz Creek for the 4 mile descent. More twisting, turning,
jumping technical fun was had by all. As I was videoing I tried staying
behind my buds for most of the ride, but I was tempted to pass a few times
to get some good speed. The fates were not good to me on one of these
passes. I had the chance to get ahead of Mike on a sweeping left hand turn,
which I did without a problem. What I didn't count on was the sandy section
that led into a right turn. My front tire washed out on me and down I went
again, on the same side as my previous fall. It looks pretty hilarious in
the video: Picture perfect pass, dirt, tires passing within inches of my
head.

We made it back, tired and happy. I will be back to Flagstaff for more fun
very soon.

Total ride time: 3 hours, 8 minutes. Total elevation gain: 4,600 feet

http://www.geoladders.com/gps_route_...?route_id=2091

Hey, did I see you there? I was there on Saturday, alone, wearing a red
shirt on a black Trek Liquid FS bike. I rode a similar route, up Shultz
Creek, but rode up Sunset, then down Little Bear. I had intended to
take a fairly easy ride to acclimate before the Tour of the White
Mountains next week.

Little Bear is one of the best trails I've ridden. The descent isn't so
steep as to keep you on the brakes all the time. The exposure is a
little nerve-wracking, though. I just remembered the admonishion to
Stay Safe that I received from a couple riders at the top and kept this
as a warning to keep my speed up so that I'd have good control and flow
through the rocky sections.

At the bottom of Little Bear, In an altitude-induced delusional state,
I made the decision to turn right at Little Elden instead of left, in
order to turn my ride into a loop. First a whooping-good downhill
section. Then lots of gently rolling trail, some sandy but nothing too
technical. Beatiful gold aspen colors amongst the rocks back there in
no-man's land. Near the sandy seep I stopped for a while to rest and
take in the view.

Then some nondescript trails behind the Flagstaff, Koa, missed Fatman's
loop, then the first part of the Pipeline trail. Rocky and very
challenging. Then the boring first part of the pipeline itself, hit
private property, a bit of orienteering through the woods, then a bit
more boring pipeline.

I stopped to ask a guy on a single speed for directions, who mentioned
that he tries to ride the loop around Elden, climbing Little Bear,
about once a week.

More boring pipeline, then some more woods. Briefly considered taking
the Elden road back to the car (and the food and water) but decided to
take the interesting Rocky Ridge trail to fry my legs on a moderately
technical descent down to the car.

Anyways, what started out to be a light acclimation ride turned out to
be 24 miles and 3100 feet of elevation gain, all above 7000 feet, which
was pretty stressful for a valley-dwelling flatlander like me.

Chris Glidden wrote:
This days ride promised to be a lung buster. The trail book said it was
15.7 miles (wrong, it ended up being just under 17) with two tough climbs.

snip

Nice. Sounds like fun. Too bad about your beat-up side!

Matt

Chris Glidden wrote:
This days ride promised to be a lung buster. The trail book said it was
15.7 miles (wrong, it ended up being just under 17) with two tough climbs.

We made it back, tired and happy. I will be back to Flagstaff for more fun
very soon.

Total ride time: 3 hours, 8 minutes. Total elevation gain: 4,600 feet

http://www.geoladders.com/gps_route_...?route_id=2091

Awesome! Enjoy the rides and keep the RRs a comin.

CDB

wrote
Hey, did I see you there? I was there on Saturday, alone, wearing a red
shirt on a black Trek Liquid FS bike.

I don't know. We started our ride around 9:30, I was on a gray Specialized
FSR, two other guys with me. I was sporting a helmet cam.

The trails up there are great, I'll definitely be back.

CG

"MattB" wrote in message
...
Chris Glidden wrote:
This days ride promised to be a lung buster. The trail book said it was
15.7 miles (wrong, it ended up being just under 17) with two tough
climbs.

snip

Nice. Sounds like fun. Too bad about your beat-up side!

Matt

It's the price we pay for this sport. I was due, haven't had a bad crash
ina few years.

CG

"Paladin" wrote in message
oups.com...

Chris Glidden wrote:
This days ride promised to be a lung buster. The trail book said it was
15.7 miles (wrong, it ended up being just under 17) with two tough
climbs.

We made it back, tired and happy. I will be back to Flagstaff for more
fun
very soon.

Total ride time: 3 hours, 8 minutes. Total elevation gain: 4,600 feet

http://www.geoladders.com/gps_route_...?route_id=2091

Awesome! Enjoy the rides and keep the RRs a comin.

CDB

Right on brudda.

CG

Chris Glidden wrote:
wrote
Hey, did I see you there? I was there on Saturday, alone, wearing a red
shirt on a black Trek Liquid FS bike.

I don't know. We started our ride around 9:30, I was on a gray Specialized
FSR, two other guys with me. I was sporting a helmet cam.

The trails up there are great, I'll definitely be back.

CG

I started my ride just after 10:00, and there's no way I caught up with
you. I'm too slow.

I just took a look on Google Earth ot the dry lakes areas. Too bad I
missed this -- looks interesting.

Dave