Coconino Stage Race [part two]

Day 3 on the Coconino Loop dawned cold. There were five of us left, plus David Jones out ahead in thru-rider mode. Tim was off at first light, with the rest of us following at irregular intervals.

I left last, just like stages 1 and 2. This time it wasn’t so much planned as how it happened.

Yaeger Trail was supah dupah, as expected. The additional challenge this time was to try to control the bike over ledges and through rock fields, all while losing feeling to the feet. I thought all the body english required to get a loaded bike down this trail would be enough to generate some heat. But even wearing everything, I was cold.

I forgot lower Yaeger had so many jumps on it. Yeeah!

Things warmed up quickly on the powerline, where I rode with Lee briefly, then met Rob off route at Coyote Spring. The water there is so clean you probably don’t need to treat it. I did anyway, and it was some good tasting stuff.

A pleasant surprise was how fun both the powerline and railroad grade section were at speed. Tail winds help in the at speed department, too.

Before I knew it, I was talking to Tim down filling up at the Verde River. Rob rolled up just as I was pulling out to begin the big climb. Mingus is the hardest, but from the Verde there’s more than 5000 feet to gain before you’re at the top of Bill Williams Mountain, at 9000′. It was easier to think about getting to the base of Billy Williams, some 2000′ lower. I knew the singletrack would inspire and motivate once I got there.

I set a good pace for the first half of the climb. Both Chad and Jonesy’s tire tracks looked fresh in the road. The trail was warm with bikepacker blood, and I was on the chase.

But mid way up my knee started complaining in a bad way–sharp pain when hammering out of the saddle. So I stayed seated, for the most part, and it led to a slow down. I also foolishly thought I could subsist on twizzlers and sour gummy worms for a hard 8+ hour ride. I knew better, but just didn’t want to admit that I knew better.

Pedaling the flat roads near Pine Flat (imagine that!) was a relief. I should have taken that as a sign, but I chose to suffer on rather than stop to eat some real food. I finally succumbed at the base of Williams, resorting to Don Miguel power. One burrito was all it took and I was good to go, pumped and primed to clean as many switchbacks as possible.

I lost count of the number of times I’d roll up to a switchback and think, “this one’s not happening”, only to roll out of it. I had a good rally of 12 in a row going once. I don’t think I’ll ever be less amazed at how extremely bikepackable this trail is. 2000′ of uphill, and I’d say I rode 95% of it.

I learned midway up that the switchbacks were a good place to recover — catch a breath or two while you finesse your way through. Usually the opposite is true — you recover between the switchbacks.

It was thoroughly autumn on the Bill Williams descent. It’s hard to imagine a better way to end a stage. I was very thankful they rescinded the fire closure so we could ride it.

Chad had already visited the store and was riding to the motel when I rolled into town. We did the math and it was the closest stage yet — I was a scant four minutes faster. Chad was able to find a rapid SS pace on the roads, but was slowed by hiking nearly all of the Bill Williams climb. Makes me wonder how the race had turned out if he’d had gears.

After 3 challenging days on the trail, the comforts of a motel room were very welcome. Though there is “a lot” of time available (in comparison to thru-racing), there still isn’t ‘enough’ time. Or at least it doesn’t feel like it.

Rob, Tim and Lee rolled in, heading directly to our left over pizza boxes. There was plenty of story swapping and laughter before we all crashed out.

Tim and Rob left very early. When I rolled down to find breakfast (time does not start for Stage 4 until you leave town at the railroad bridge), it became quickly apparent that I didn’t have enough clothes to be pushing a fast pace on ~flat roads at these temperatures. All the more reason to get a big breakfast and wait for the sun to gain some influence in the world.

Literal breakfast consumed, we then proceeded to feast on quiet forest roads, blasting through at a wholly unquiet pace.

photo by Chad Brown

It was not too hard to catch Chad. Too flat for a singlespeed!

photo by Chad Brown

Once on Sycamore Rim, though, it wasn’t easy to get away from him! We set a good pace until he broke a cleat screw. Once I knew he could fix it, I pedaled on, enjoying more scrumptious Sycamore singletrack.

Back on roads, this section was new-to-us and courtesy Dave C’s GPX track. It held true and even held a surprise Mustang convenience store. Just as I was thinking, “wow, this gatorade is tasting GOOD today, wish I had more….”

The bike ranch?

From Wing Mountain I knew it was not far to Flagstaff, and on mostly familiar ground. Familiar and very sweet ground that is. Wing is a hoot, with its banked moto turns and high speed revelry. Semi-tech climbing is the order of the day until the route connects with classic ‘moto’ trail, after which it’s a long downhill run straight into Flagstaff.

The trails were utterly empty (weekday!) so there was no excuse not to pedal for all I was worth and stay off the brakes as much as possible. Flow and railing turns became an extended sensation, a way of life. What a way to end a 4-day ride.