|   Crown King Ride Report [0] | pedalAZ
Oct 19, 2003 11:47 AM | | Paul B organized the AZ chapter of the Geek Minions for its annual shuttle up to Crown King for the ride to Lake Pleasant. This trip covers about 35 miles, starting at over 6,000 ft and ending up at the Lake, elevation 1,625. Most of the drop comes between miles 3 and 10, with a lot of ups and downs in the latter half of the ride.
Participating were Jay, Eric, Don (flew in from Oakland), Sonia, Linemaster Les, along with Passionites Paul B, Jm_, and yours truly.
Last year, we went in November, on a really cold day, the mountain shrouded in fog and visibility near zero for the treacherous, rocky steeps after mile 3. This year, we had the opposite. We're in a record heat wave, with daytime highs down in the Valley still topping 100. Due to the afternoon heat in the low desert, three riders would eventually bonk and opt for a van pickup in the final miles.
The ride starts in beautiful downtown Crown King. This place is a cross between where Jed Clampett came from before moving to Beverly Hills and a training ground for citizen militias. The weight weenies hit the lovely outhouse in back of the store to eliminate excess weight before the 3 mile climb.
Sonia Overholt, our token female and valued AZ trails advocate, took a digger on the big descent in a section where everyone else was waiting and watching. The old handlebar in the gut drill. Ouch.
Another mile down we got to Big Air Jim's favorite luanch pad, so I snapped a couple of him.
We have a traditional lunch spot in the shade after the main descent. Here, Linemaster Les, PaulB and Sonia take it easy before the hard work starts on the 2nd half.
Paul has ridden a different bike every year. Last year, he was immortalized on this forum pushing his rigid single speed up one particularly frustrating hill. This year I promised to take the same pic as he cleaned it using his geared Stinky Dee Lux. I think his forearms preferred this year's choice to last.
Not long after this point we had our annual 4x4 golf cart encounter. These things are actually golf cart bodies on gas powered 4x4 chassis with big ATV tires and wheels. The local club loves to take them on this jeep route up to Crown King.
What kept us motivated as the thermometer kept rising were the comments from the 4x4's, motocross bikers and golf cart drivers that we were crazy to be attempting this on our own horsepower. Les and I actually gave a jeep and 2 ATV's a pretty good race for about 10 miles in the latter part of the ride before I finally ran out of gas and had to take a couple of rest stops to re-energize for the final push.
In keeping with the traditions of this ride, we enjoyed a pot luck dinner lakeside after a refreshing swim. Marinated pepper steak, salmon, and chicken gumbo were offered as main courses after the chips and dips. Carrot Cake (thanks to Paul's Bike Widow) and toll house cookies finished us off. Linemaster Les became Winemaster Les when he rescued a bottle of Pino Grigio from a stubborn cork.
Hats off and thanks to PaulB for another memorable ride and mini gathering. |
| Complete participant list | Paul B
Oct 19, 2003 12:24 PM | | This year's participants were:
PedalAZ (Scott O)
Silversurfer (Brian Cannon)
Jim Howery (Jm_, aka bible-thumper)
Sonia Overholser (our esteemed state IMBA rep)
Don Knapp (flew in from SF -- yes, my group rides are worth the flight!)
Eric Haflett (long time 24 hr teammate and 3-time CK veteran)
Jay Dwyer (another 3 time CK vet)
Les Price (line master and old guy role model)
and me.
This was my fifth run from CK to the Lake, and each year it gets faster, funner, and safer. As long as we were riding, we kept a good pace. Sonia was over her head on the descents, and an early crash really rung her bell, but she got (mostly) through it and knows she can finish it next year.
The weather was brutal. Easily mid-high 90s at the end, when you're already spent and facing the interminable slog back to the lake, took its toll on otherwise strong riders. Lots of bonking, cramping, dizziness, etc. I got lucky and snagged cold water and a Dr. Pepper off a very nice family that had brought their quads out, so I avoided that fate.
Every year I've ridden a different bike on this trip. This year I had intended to take the modified Cannondale back down -- the first time I would have done the "same" bike twice -- but it's in the shop getting some emergency headset work done. I rode the rigid singlespeed last year, and knew it would beat me senseless this year, so I took the big bike. It was actually an EXCELLENT choice, as the new Romic shock has turned that bike into a good climber. Of course, it's never much fun to pedal 40-ish pounds of bike up the steeps. But too too fun to take down the rugged, choppy descent.
Brian rode his singlespeed, which was a very cool choice for him. It really is a great accomplishment to finish this long and difficult ride on any bike, but singlespeeding it (heck, even hardtailing it) just adds to the accomplishment.
Naturally Scott rocketed up the climbs on that little helium balloon he calls a bicycle. Gosh he's strong on the climbs; I wouldn't want to face him in a triathalon, as I'm quite sure he's overall way way faster than I am. And just as naturally, old guy Les bombed the scariest, loosest descents without even flinching -- his guiding philosophy is, "don't think about it." Whatever works!
For the first time ever, I had to go back and scoop up stragglers. The heat was just too much, and it was probably dangerous and a little stupid to try it so early in the year. But who could have guessed we'd still be having summer temps in mid-October? Gah. When we do it again next year, we'll hit it in early November. Better to be chilly on the top and comfy on the bottom.
Mad props on the food. Great way to wrap up a long day.
p. |
| Doh! | pedalAZ
Oct 19, 2003 12:30 PM | | How did I miss Brian (silversurfer) on his SS? Always brutal doing it on one gear. He's good company on these rides, so I can't believe I forgot him, especially after seeing his, errr, lunch. |
| and MIA: | Gnarly1
Oct 20, 2003 11:42 AM | | Gnarly1 -- wish I could've made it, guys. Life just had other plans for me.....I'm still bummed about my truck, thankful I'm alive and OK, and wondering how I'm going to deal with getting my truck cleaned out, buying a new one, making insurance decisions, and dealing with crutches & a cast (from the non-related foot surgery). :-( |
| RE: Complete participant list | KRob
Oct 20, 2003 11:57 AM | | Hey Paul, it sounds like a great ride. Glad no one keeled over with the heat wave. It's been mid 70s here which is unreal for this time of year.
Nice ride report and pics Scott. I'll be in Sedona Nov 7-8. Anyone up for a group ride/mini gathering?
BTW: I had a friend named Don Knapp who used to work over here in Nevada in the mines and raced off-road motorcycles who was originally from Northern California. Not too uncommon name, but it made me curious if this is him. |
| Probably not him | Paul B
Oct 20, 2003 12:04 PM | | This Don is a long-time magazine editor/writer dude. I don't think he's ever even been on a motorcycle.
E me re. Sedona. Might be fun to go up there, and it'd be a great time for it. Might even get below 90 up there, which would be downright arctic! I'll have to go dig out my windbreaker.
p. |
| Late Saturday 11/8 or Sunday AM 11/9 might work | pedalAZ
Oct 20, 2003 1:38 PM | | Keep me posted on your travel plans.
my first name at pvhacienda DOT com. |
| Awesome! I would been choppered out! (nm) | FourthAveRiots
Oct 19, 2003 2:08 PM | | |
| Parts of the shuttle started to fall off | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:13 PM | | 26 off-road miles to the top, but hey, its a rental!
"Yep, funniest thing, we were crusing along baseline in phoenix when that mirror fell right off...." |
| We decided not to stop at the super-walmart complex on the way | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:15 PM | | |
| them something else fell out | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:17 PM | | an air vent. But the great big hole provided for some nice A/C. |
| Think we'll fit? | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:18 PM | | |
| some rocks | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:18 PM | | |
| Is this Brian? | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:20 PM | | With the silver helmet? I think so. |
| This guy wasn't part of our group | Jm_
Oct 19, 2003 3:21 PM | | But he was a part of a group of about 70 motorcyclist going the opposite way. We got along fine. |
| Nice shot of Eric's field repair | pedalAZ
Oct 19, 2003 7:33 PM | | of the broken rear derailleur cable. Thanks for the McGuyver work, Les. |
| Nice report Scott | JJK
Oct 19, 2003 9:46 PM | | Hey Scott, i'm going to ride this ride next Sun. with some friends.
But we are going to climb up to CK, then eat some lunch and bomb back down. I hope i can make it all the way.
Talk to ya later,
JohnnyK |
| Where will you start from???? | pedalAZ
Oct 20, 2003 6:40 AM | | It's a pretty exhausting day just doing what we did, from the Crown King store to the west boat launch. If you've never ridden the route, you might consider the shuttle, just to experience it with gravity on your side, before trying to tackle the round trip. Going uphill, the main pitch is real loose and rocky, so it will be hard to stay rolling on your bike. Could be a lot of hiking.
Other options would be to have a SAG vehicle, like a big 4x4 pickup just in case of serious bonkage, or running out of daylight. Or, starting the ride 10 or 15 miles past the boat ramps to cut the mileage down. |
| In terms you can understand . . . | pedalAZ
Oct 20, 2003 8:09 AM | | remember when you and I ended up pushing our bikes up a good stretch of the Charoleau Gap climb from CDO, the day we rode off Mt. Lemmon via Red Ridge? Well, take that climb and multiply it by about 12-15 times and that's what you'll have to do to get up to Crown King, only with more loose rock and ruts. :) |
| Err... | Paul B
Oct 20, 2003 7:47 AM | | Johnny, have you ever ridden/driven the Old Senator Highway from that side? The climb would be unbelievably brutal on any bike, at any fitness/skill level. Not to squelch your good time, just fair warning -- I've done the ride five times and am very familiar with its ups and downs. E me if you want more info before attempting.
p. |
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