2009 White Elephant Parade (WEP)

No one was airlifted off of South Mountain so the 2009 WEP was a success!
2009 White Elephant Parade at EveryTrail

White Elephant Parade - Projected Route

I posted a projected route for the 2009 White Elephant Parade. I didn't have data for two segments:
1) National Trail from Buena Vista to Telegraph Pass: Stay on National. The GPS data follows the road.
2) Bottom of Javalina: Take Beverly Canyon all the way back to Desert Classic. The GPS data follows the East Loop.

Other than that, the GPS data should be pretty accurate. GPS route is ~32 miles. I think it will be just a couple miles longer because of Beverly Canyon. Let's call it 35 miles. Still, that is 5 miles less than I thought it would be.

See you tomorrow morning! It's gonna be cold...40 degrees @ 8am.

Short trip up and down National Trail from Pima, SOMO

Didn't have a lot of time to ride but wanted to put in one more ride before the White Elephant Parade. Kevin and I rode up National to the saddle just before Buena Vista and back. Saw a downhiller clear a big step...UPWARDS. Didn't think you could do that kind of stuff on a downhill bike. Jeesh. I cleared that step on the descent for the first time (scared the heck out of me). First ride on the GEAX Saguaros - not bad.

Silent Sundary Road Ride, TV Towers Out-And-Back, SOMO

This was a South Mountain Silent Sunday ride (no cars allowed in the park!). Ryan and I rode to the TV towers and back. This was my first ride with Ryan - he and seem pretty well matched on road bikes. Hope we can ride together again. Another great ride!

Desert Classic + National + DCX, SOMO

Kevin and I rode West on Desert Classic to Telegraph Pass. Met up with Matt. Kevin turned around and rode home. Matt and I hiked up TP. West on National Trail. Hooked up with the Desert Classic Extension. Headed east. Dropped Matt at his house. Took Desert Classic home. Got home just before dark. This is the first time I cleared everything on the descent from the ridge on National (west side of the trail). Outstanding ride!

Huckaby and Jim Thompson, Sedona

Squeezed in a Sedona mtb ride during Tessa's tour de AZ trip. Parked at Tohawkaloogie, crossed the bridge, rode up the base of Schnebly Hill Rd. Jumped on Huckaby. Crossed the Oak Creeek (brr!) and climbed up under the bridge to Jim Thompson. Back into Sedona on Jordon Rd back to start.

Desert Classic Extension >> San Juan >> National Loop, SOMO

Jonathan S was our tour guide on my first Desert Classic Extension ride. We started near Pima Canyon and took Desert Classic to Telegraph Pass. Took the road for a ways and then hopped on the Desert Classic Extension. It wraps around the west end of South Mountain and hooks up with the west end of National Trail. Took National to the San Juan road. Road up to Buena Vista and then down National and Mormon and Pima Wash to home. Awesome ride! Thanks Jonathan.

Fury and Dawn To Dusk, McDowell Regional Park

The 24 Hours of Fury went well. I completed 13 laps. Finished 7th again. No mechanicals. No injury. Cramped up again - I think I just need to take longer breaks and go slower on the first couple laps (which is much harder than you might think).

I was in good spirits the whole race but the 3am lap was mentally challenging. Had to get off the bike for a while and nap. Felt much, much better after a ~3 hour nap. Got back on the bike and hammered out lap after lap until I ran out of time.

My left big toe is still numb from the race - might be permanently numb. I think my days of 24 hour solo races are over. Next year, I'm thinking 12 hour solo.

My friends, Kevin and Ryan, who raced in the 12 hour duo category finished 11 laps. They were flying! Great job guys!

I haven't ridden since the race. I had planned to avoid riding the week after the race but then I got sick. Had a bad sinus infection, then a cold, then pink-eye. Now everything has cleared up except a persistent cough...I feel fine, I just cough frequently.

Worst thing about being sick: I missed the Flight of the Pigs this year. :( Major bummer.

The Dawn to Dusk race is tomorrow (Dec 5th). I plan to participate. We'll see how it goes.