Quad Bypass Ride Report (photo heavy and long)

[rockcrusher]

The alarm went off. 4:30am. I pried myself from bed and got my stuff out into the car. By 5:30am I was on the road, a small black coffee in hand the Rolling Stones on the radio. Around Casa Grande I realized I didn't oil my chain after cleaning it. Dang.

I rolled into Tempe at around 7:15am, I was way early so I slowed down and hit the 60. A lot of traffic for early on a Saturday. Jumping on the 101 it was at FLW boulevard before I knew it. I navigated my way to the parking lot at the Bashas and I was the only one there.

I headed into Bashas and picked up a bottle of 3 in 1 oil for the ol' chain and grabbed a towel out of their bathroom and headed back out to the parking lot. There was Walt. I drove over to where Walt was and we chatted a bit and then cars started to roll in. The sun was just starting to breach the mountains



it was a little brisk outside and we began the process of awaiting the final arrivals and determining what level of clothing to put on and we chatted perhaps somewhat nervously about what we were going to subject ourselves to



We embraced what we were going to subject ourselves too, perhaps even convincing ourselves that it wouldn't be that bad, and at least I wasn't the only singlespeed as 3 others showed up as well and 2 of us were rigid, so at least I would suffer with others stupid enough to attempt this. We meandered into the desert and then it began



I stopped to take some picture under the pretense of documenting the ride but admittedly I was already hurting. I wasn't the only one



yay climbing!



we reached a junction point and I exclaimed "whew that was some tough climbing" to which Walt replied "yeah now the real climbing begins" Haha that's a good one, I think, but he ain't laughing and so it began.



Most walked this final stretch before the first bypass but not all



It was a little overcast and the shade of the mountain a tad chill and still that didn't make the first bypass seem any closer. Always it looked like it was just around the next corner.



This is only the first? What have I signed on to do? Man, I did not eat enough breakfast? The first peak was surmounted



Finally unhindered descending



yay more climbing!



and by climbing I meant hiking in stiff plastic soled shoes with a bike



it was beautiful up there though, very beautiful




The second saddle was surmounted and we began a serious descent that would end way down in the houses out there, technical wasn't so much the issue as was the issue of steep descent grades. We suffered our only technical here where an OTB led to a bent front derailler. A little flintstone tools and muscle and it was back running adequately and so were we.



Walt grinnin' cause he knows we are gonna enjoy this descent immensely.



We wove through a wash between houses that was fun and techincal, it is so cool to be riding between houses in a little wash unbeknownst to the home owners



bordering the subdivision we made our way back into the hills, riding a jeep road to the next bypass




the climbing began again and even though the top of the switchbacks look like the top they aren't even close and even though Walt warned us of this is was still a shock to make it there and realize that you still had many feet of ascending left.



around every corner there was another climb. Ugh.



At the top we regrouped and then began the descent towards the half way point. The descent was flowy, smooth with a glazing of small bearing like gravel and Fast.



zoom!



brappp!!

[rockcrusher]

We regrouped at the water fountain at the halfway point, refilling our drinking bladders and bottles and steeling our nerves for the next set of peaks and valleys, we left saying goodbye to some that headed back to the cars and pedaled off into the neighborhoods and finally hitting the jeep road that would spell the end for one more rider. Hooray for jeep roads



while deceiving this road gains a lot of elevation and we were getting a little spent.





It was getting warm and we were getting spent. We look to the distance and saw the coachwhip trail our eventual destiny and final climb of the day but between that and us was a navigation through the newly built development retention basins and roads, and some very beautiful and fun trails



The start of some really fun and twisty singletrack.



twisty turny fun and gorgeous scenery



Eventually we are to end up in the saddle between the two mountains to right but first some more fun singletrack.



Regrouping at the turnoff at coachwhip and the final climb, Johnathon saw Shaun ahead on the barely visible trail to the right and stated "i'm going to catch him" and freshly re-energized from a coupla clif-bloks he threw down and left the bonk behind and he did catch Shaun which is no mean feat because Shaun, turning a 32x19 on his Niner Sir9 was an animal all day.



the final climb was the toughest of the day. With the knowledge of one final descent from Windgate and food and beer beckoning we dug as deep into our reserves as possible and we search our bodies for whatever molecules of energy we could spare and we rode, struggled, pushed and crawled our way to the summit.











windgate pass was surmounted a second time. Those that were fast waited and those that were last recovered.



The descent was just as painful going down as it was 7 hours earlier going up. It was loose and steep, inundated with deep water bars and muscles spent from pulling and pushing were unresponsive and full of complaint as we locked them in a position and held on as we plummeted towards the finish.

>

It was every man for himself. We dug deep for the energy to hold onto our bars, spotting civilization I crudely grabbed my camera and shot a pic



tires on pavement where such a foreign feeling to rigid mary barred SS mountain bike on rock trails for 7 hours that I reveled in its uniqueness and absurdity pausing to snap another picture



At the car, phews where let out, clothes were stripped, bikes and gear were strewn with abandon and malted hops and grains in a liquid form made an appearance.



ahhh




the pride of having survived



Kudos were given, beverages were consumed, some went their own way, others went the chipotle way but eventually we all crawled home, some immediately and some after a time

into the sunset I drove, sated, exhausted and gratified.



oh and the 3 in 1 oil? Worked like a charm. Thanks.

[rockcrusher]

oh here is a link for all the pictures I took, 219 in total. These were only a sampling and you may find that you are on many other ones here

[u2metoo]

dood, awesome set up pics and write-up. You know how to take a pic.

This is my second winter in the desert, and I know it didn't look this green last year. Kinda kewl to see grass growing on the hills.

Peace!

Sam

[chollaball]

sweet dude. i forget your name but remember the green rigid. nice meeting you.

and a correction - it was Jonathan who took the polka dot jersey today and ran me and Shawn down on Windgate. that boy can climb! i am just steady and antisocial.

[waltaz]

Nice pics, David - you sure have an eye with the camera. Great account of the ride.

I enjoyed meeting and riding with you, and look forward to more rides. You'll have to hook me up on a Tuksun trip!

[GoodStash]

Good read!! I envied you and felt for you at the same time. I'm new to AZ riding. What is the name of that ride, and how do I get there?...

[AZ Mikey]

Nice to meet you David, and that's a comprehensive set of pics you linked to. The SSer's killed it on that ride, congrats to all finihsers.

[chadfbrown]

Amazing pictures! Still bummed that I missed this classic ride.

[rockcrusher]

I fixed that Chollaball, a lot of names of people i have never met before. Thanks to all the phoenicians that showed us Tucsonans the easy way around your mountains :P

[jdub347]

Great pics David. It doesn't seem that a short 24hrs ago, we were suffering on that ride. I am def. feeling a bit worn down today.

John

[chongoman]

nice! great to meet you. thank for the pics.
hope to ride with you again. Bob

[S-Works]

Nice pics! But what's with all the outerwear in AZ That's what I wear for a mid-20's ride here on the Colorado front range.

[scanjok]

Thanks Dave for stopping and taking the time for pics. They turned out fantastic. AZ is soooo green right now. I just showed my fiance the pics to help explain how beautiful it is out on the mtb. Trying to getting her interested without being pushy The pictures help.

[AZ Mikey]

Originally Posted by GoodStash

Good read!! I envied you and felt for you at the same time. I'm new to AZ riding. What is the name of that ride, and how do I get there?...

The ride name is in the title of this thread. From there you can read the 1st post of the This will hurt ride thread for more information. Search the AZ board for the following terms and you will find lots more information.

quadruple bypass
triple bypass
windgate pass
bell pass
sunrise (there's also a skiing/mtbing park in NE AZ on the rez)

[GoodStash]

Thank you, SIr. Very much appreciated.

That sounds like an intense ride in the description. I might have to put that one in the back burner until next season...

[cactuscorn]

ahhhh... quit yer whinin j. its been cold here this weekend. dont you have some snow to shovel? i hear theres some waitin for me when i get home.

op: nice thread. way too much ride for this old fart. i did 90 mi on a quad instead.

[rockcrusher]

Apology's to all as it seems i linked the same picture 3 times at the end of the second part.

[Enel]

I hope you posted that to passion.

Tremendous.

[rocknrun]

Hey, it was great to meet you all out there! I'm new to mtn biking, coming from a mountain running background. So, if you want someone to climb the hills with, I'm in! Walt, thanks for putting this event on. Dave, good job on documenting the ride. You guys rock! - Jonathan

[rockcrusher]

Hey nice avatar. Sorry about the crude fix on the front derailleur though, but at least it was somewhat functional. It was good riding with you, hope to make it up to PHX more often to ride.

[u2metoo]

Great riding with ya, and welcome to MTBR.

Peace

Sam

[waltaz]

Originally Posted by rocknrun

Hey, it was great to meet you all out there! I'm new to mtn biking, coming from a mountain running background. So, if you want someone to climb the hills with, I'm in! Walt, thanks for putting this event on. Dave, good job on documenting the ride. You guys rock! - Jonathan

Jonathan - Welcome to MTBR, and very, very stout riding. You kicked some serious ass, even after endo'ing down Bell. Well done! I look forward to more riding with you, and look for group rides, including an upcoming BCT (Black Canyon Trail) epic when the water goes down a bit. You'll dig that one.

[rocknrun]

Dave, I'm just happy that the derailleur was workable. Many, many thanks for that! Your pics of me are the only ones I have of me on a bike. .. and it made a good avatar. Walt, the BCT ride sounds amazing. If I'm not racing I'll be there.

[V02 deficient]

chollaball, rockcrusher, et. al.,

good meeting you guys in person as you looked down into the Eagle's Nest development. great pictures and strong riding. Dan (orange 575) and I (green Canzo) were doing a clockwise 1.5 bypass (over Windgate, Coachwhip, Dixie Mine, Eagle's Nest, 145th Way, Via Linda, Lost Dog) during the quad due to mere mortal status.