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Merino wool socks and shirt. Below 30 I wear a mid weight shirt, above light weight. The socks are essential, espically if anything is wet. Stepping thru a frozen stream my feet didn’t get cold. ALWAYS wear breathable layers if any hill climbing is involved.
True, as I’m 140 pounds nothing on the bike gets stressed. Everything is built for heavier riders.
There may be no mountain biking in Bryce or Zion but right next to Zion is Guacamole Trail and Gooseberry is across the valley. A few miles from Bryce are more hoodoos at Thunder Mountain Trail and Lossee adds even more interest nearby. If hot go to Navajo Lake and the Virgin River Rim Trail (steep). Flagstaff in Arizona but read much will be closed the next 2 years, by Schultz Creek. For big descents several ways off Brianhead (ski). Wanna sightsee? Rainbow Rim Trail and the North Kaibab Section of the Arizona Trail.
Sure love my new Turner Flux. California company. While the frames are now made overseas this bike rocks! I can descend so much better with the new slack geometry. And climb so much more with 27.5 wheels, at age 65 riding most trails faster than ever. My previous bike a Turner Burner ’04 was made in the USA.
Fantasy Island, Tucson, Arizona. 72 degrees in the desert sun. This trail is mostly about leaning into the many curves in the trails, G out. Saguaro cactus forest, Sonoran Desert.
Arizona is more than Sedona, Phoenix has several trails around town, don’t miss Gold Canyon. Black Canyon and South Mountain. Tucson also with 50 Year, Tucson Mountains and the AZ Trail as highlights. Prescott and Flagstaff also, but March is early for there.
One area I haven’t hit yet but may around then is Big Bend, TX.
This month’s Dirt Rag has an article about Velo Cuba. With the US embargo they struggle getting things like shock oils and brake fluids so a trade might have barter power. Women run shop.
Once I figured out I’d punctured the rim strip by using a flat screwdriver to get the damn tire off and cleaned all the crap on the rim and tire strip, I love tubeless. I had lots of problems with tubes stems breaking because the rim strip was wrinkled just enough, my fault.
San Diego-Noble Canyon
San Francisco-Coe State Park, Annandale SP, China Camp SP/Tamarancho
Las Vegas-Bootleg Canyon, Blue Diamond, Bristlecone Pine Trail
Phoenix-South Mountain, Hawes, Gold Canyon, Black Canyon
Tucson, Tucson Mountains, 50 Year Trail, Arizona Trail, Tortolitas
If you have a strong back and don’t ride where it’s rocky and rooty full suspension is less important. With my old back and the rocky trails of Arizona it’s a must. The new geometry (lower riding position) of my Turner Flux is helping me descent faster than ever at 65 years! But if you want to travel west the full suspension is helpful in these Rocky Mountains.
Doesn’t get too cold here but below 45F light weight merino wool shirt and socks, light jacket and cycling vest. Below 30F medium weight merino shirt. Tights are a must or cycling pants. Merino socks will still keep your feet warm even when you put your foot thru a frozen stream into the water. Wear wool skiing, too. Winter cycling gloves down to 30F, below that ski gloves. Have light and heavy tights but rarely wear the heavy ones here in Arizona.
I have a new Turner Flux with the new lower sitting position geometry that I bought I April, just turned 65. My old bike, a Turner Burner ’04 I had plenty of crashes on but never a serious one. But on the new bike zero crashes!!! I’ve been taking aggressive lines and cleaning stuff with the bigger wheels that stopped me many times. It’s the bike.
Cholla cactus balls, goatheads and rattlesnakes. Espically rattlesnakes coiled into a flat pancake that looks like a cow patty.
Take my Vaude Hyper Air everywhere. Biking, hiking and skiing. In Arizona we need lots of water and always a spare tube, so many pointy plants. Hip pack should be fine in mild weather but start talking winter or storms and you’ll need more room. As my pack expands via a bellows zipper from 14 to 17 liters and breaths for the summer heat I like it. Another plus is it’s bright enough to get noticed if on a road.
You have to hit Noble Canyon when it cools off. Near Alpine. Best trail I know in socal.
First road bike Japanese Campana 1970=$125 First MTB Raleigh M80 $600, 2nd Giant XTC $2200, Third Turner Burner $3100, Fourth Turner Flux $2650. Fourth is over $2000 below retail but not spec’d the same.
You pay a penalty with 26″ wheels. Slower and more rocks will stop you. Newer more progressive geometry makes descending easier. If young and have a strong back, just buy a hardtail.
#1 is above Libby, Montana, a 2900′ climb that had me so winded at the top I had to do a double take when I saw a moose on the road coming right at me. It ran by 4′ away before I could even react. Then the deer flies decided they wanted fresh meat and left the moose to attack me. You have to kill the vicious biting blood suckers.
#2 is the San Juan Trail in southern California. Hot, steep and dusty this climb just sucked.
#3 is Tewksbury Trail in southern Colorado. Totally torn up by ATVs you’re climbing up a long hill of loose dust, cough, cough!!! Stay away.
Next to those Porcupine Rim was easy.
Clark Fork River Trail #223 by St. Regis, MT if taking I-90.
My old bike which I just replaced and use as a road bike now has XT brakes from 2005 and they have performed flawlessly for 13 years. Try the new pads and next a larger front rotor. Bigger guys need bigger parts, I’m light.
