Scott just called.

He stayed up most of the night sure he was going to lose his cookies.  When his alarm went off at 4 he decided to eat a giant sandwich  and go back to sleep.  He slept for another 2 hours and did not leave until pretty late in the morning.  As a result, his accent up the ridge was sunny, warm and windless.   Progress was slow as much of the ascent is not very rideable.  I had some good laughs at his expense about how ridiculous it all sounded.  He said that he would decide at Prison Camp if he would continue on or just head back home.  If he continues on, he is a crazy masochist, so I place my bets on him continuing.     

What part of Oracle Ridge, regardless of direction, is a good idea *anytime* that you're traveling by bike?!

Shhhh--they do drug tests after these things now....!

I'm enjoying watching his creepy-slow progress up Oracle Ridge this AM, probably almost as much as he enjoyed watching the 3 of us get tortured along the ridge last year...

MC

Hmmm, I had no idea that you put drugs in that...it just looked petrified.  If he makes it through this you can take the credit

He is going very slowly up the ridge.  I can only imagine what is going through his head. 

Your funny Mike...very nice how you changed my name.

. 

Scottie he shall forever be, to me. 

Feel free to call me "hottie"

I just talked to Scottie he is in Oracle at a hotel.  He was thinking about going up Oracle Ridge, but because he was feeling like going to sleep he decided to get a hotel.  He also thought since he has never gone up Oracle Ridge that it might not be a good idea in the dark.  He plans on leaving early tomorrow morning.  He spent a lot of the conversation raving about some concoction that Mike C gave him.  Although he is tired he seemed to be in very good spirits.   

Let me give some back-ground....

So Scottie decided despite my warnings to go try the AZT 300 in reverse this weekend.  Just prior to the AZT 300 Scott was sick for a few weeks.  While still under the weather and poorly trained he decided to race.  Sadly, he ended up dropping out of a very competitive race that he had been looking forward to for months.  Recently he has been getting out for more rides and feeling better.  Last week, on what he called the last cool day before Summer, he decided to take back the TMP Rock 'n Road Challenge record.  He had very bad leg cramps during the TMP and was only feeling good again about mid-week.  Imagine my surprise when he backed out of our weekly Sweetwater ride yesterday because he was leaving at 4 a.m. the next day to do the to do the AZT in reverse.

Here is what he said in his diary just before leaving:       

http://www.topofusion.com/diary/

Here is a url link to his spot: 

http://topofusion.com/tracker-sm.php

I just talked to Scott.  He was taking a break on the gas line.  He said that he has had a bit of cramping and legs feel like the 2nd day of riding.  He said that blood-sucker wash really sucked and that he had to walk most of the way.  He said he might call again when he gets to Oracle ridge.  I can not wait to see how this plays out.       

I'll start.  I rode at this sweet trail    that was just made here in Tucson, at the Sweetwater Preserve.  It is a pretty tame ride, but I do it as a part of a weekly ritual with my boyfriend and I love it.  It was one of those great nights where the temperature was perfect for riding.  I had a ball dodging the cacti and dipping into cool washes.  I did about half of the 90 minute ride after dark with my HID.  These lights are awesome.  They confuse cars and let you see a large section of the trail so that you can go fast.  As I write this I am really looking forward to the next time I put my wheels to the ground for a roll.

I know everyone here must do other riding other than bikepacking.  So let's hear about some of those rides.

I prefer 29.  I rode for many years on a 26.  I am not a very good technical rider and have found that I am surprised at what I can ride over with the 29.

Quote from: sewinkleman on October 14, 2008, 06:27:24 AM

Looks like a great trip! 2000 feet more climbing than decending?! Hang onto that girl, she sounds like a keeper!

Scottie is the keeper.      I am pretty stuck on him.

The rating system seems to be backwards.  It is confusing the way it is.