URBN GRVL AZ STYLE
WHEN TRAVELING we are often fortunate to meet up with a local and get invited to the local ride. There are so many opportunities for this to go wrong...
... or be the best day ever.
Today was a lot of both.
My local pal Terry invited to meet up for a social ride and rip some urban gravel.
Like a total newb, I...
- got anxious and did some pulling
- stayed in the front rotation
- most chilled in back
... was wondering why the first 10ish miles were so chill.
Scottsdale is so flat, makes ya wonder how the heck these guys can climb.
Then the shift hit the spokes.
The roadies pinned it, the pitch changed to 3-5%, the speed shot up...
... and I slowly shot backwards.
Not knowing where the heck we were going, or where I was, the little hamster was spinning and spinning to keep 'em all in view.
We regrouped at a gas station,
split off from the roadies,
hit the dirt.
Spoiler alert: the desert single track on a gravel bike is insanely fun.
I was wondering why I don't spend even more time out here.
It's that fun.
Massive insight: the reason the dirt racers in AZ are so freakin' fast is because of the terrain.
Today was sprint...
- out of turn
- up short climb
- across the bluff
... basically 2+ hours of intervals.
Wahoo don't lie.
Put out some of my best power numbers of the year...
... because the fear of getting dropped and left for the dead in the dezi is a hella motivating.
Final opinion...
- the riding is awesome
- the community welcoming
- the weather, mostly perfect
... I need to spend more time in AZ during the winter.
My friend Mike's Edge Nutrition did me right for first 3 hours,
then the bottles were dry.
He gave you a code if you want to test it out: FRIDAYDEAL
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/edge-nutrition-products
===
162 lbs
700ish
7.5ish hours sleep
no Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, gripper, heel & toe raises
no Lower Body: split squats, step ups
84/98/-15 <- haven't see a big negative number for quite a while.