Control

I rolled out of American Flag ranch with Odin and high hopes of completing all of Oracle Ridge. We began the rollers and he flew up them effortlessly.

An hour into the ride we saw Mick Flarnt (Mark Flint) and his crew nearing completion of his Haul Road loop. They were floating down a descent, so fast that they could not stop to say hi.

We pushed on, and after an hour and a half of up and down, finally started climbing–for good. The climb went well for me, loving the surroundings with my knee holding. Odin lost his motivation at some point. This is not a ride you want to lose motivation on. He was heard to wonder aloud, “I don’t know why I ever liked biking.”

The progress was not as I had hoped as we climbed near the top of Mt. Lemmon. The road was mostly clear (some mud and snow in places) and the air cold as we climbed. In three and a half hours we were at the start of Oracle Ridge #1, but the sun was failing us. It just so happens that today was the shortest of the year. Brilliant.

The first part of trail #1 was ok. Then the snow appeared. I had gambled on most of it being melted, and indeed it had. But I had underestimated the amount of snow received: in some spots we were post-holeing in 2 feet of snow.

The trail is normally a very scant tread (about 3 bike tires wide). With snow on it, it’s impossible to ride. Still, a few of the descents were bacon fat–super rocky but barely within tolerance.

As the snow got worse I lost all confidence in my hands, feet, tires, brakes. You name it, I didn’t trust it. We walked and toes grew numb.

Near Stratton saddle it goes to a 4×4 road. We slid through some fun powder and I noticed some HUGE tracks–bear.

It didn’t take too long to reach Dan Saddle. But the climb before us is beyond difficult when not covered in snow. It was 4:30pm, which meant we had an hour and a half of daylight left. We turned right, bailing. We might have made it, but I was not in the correct mindset for an ultimate challenge. Odin’s lack of motivation had its effect and my weak knee was not taking kindly to steep, rocky and wet downhills.

Through the mine roads we went, sliding through snow making fresh tracks. We were under the influence of ‘Redington Time’, where riding a 100% downhill dirt road takes longer than climbing it (at least in our perception).

Unfortunately, getting from the mine back to Oracle on the Control Road DOES take longer than the reverse. It is not a matter of warped perceptions, just endless up/down. Hitting it tired doesn’t help either.

I compared how I was feeling to the finish of the soul ride (on the same climbs), so I was able to stay well motivated.

The evening was very peaceful. I was able to enjoy the silence, both while riding and waiting for Odin on the climbs. As we rode the silhouette of Oracle Ridge grew taller across the San Pedro valley floor. I could see peaks Marble, Rice and Apache outlined in shadow on the Galiuros, burning golden in the sunset.

A few trucks stopped and kindly offered assistance. “Thanks, but we’ll make it.” By the time we coasted down to Peppersauce the sun was a distant memory. Fortunately after that the road is almost pavement smooth, so we were able to ride out with no problems.

El numeros: 45 miles, 7000 feet gain. 6:35 total time.