After years of tinkering with various options for the "ultimate PMP" ride, I've finally come up with a really fun "do it all" route in the Phoenix Mtn Preserve that involves a lot of everything -- classic swoopy XC, gnarly DH, long climbs, short climbs, and traditional T100 fast-as-hell hardpack. And it's a nice long ride to boot.
Last week I made a few more changes to my route and I think I finally have it all dialed in. Bob Monahan (Chongoman) and I rode it this weekend and it worked out just the way I hoped. It's hard...long...and fun. I still don't have my GPS working, but I am guessing it was around 30-35 miles. It took us right around 4.5 hours with a few short breaks (YMMV). And this isn't for the feint of heart -- some of the downhills are pretty damn difficult. Bob and I were both on XC bikes and had to walk a number of sections...and even walking was difficult!
Anyway, here's the general route starting at Shea (where it dead ends). Obviously you can jump on anywhere along the route.
1) Starting at Shea where it dead ends, jump on T100 and head West.
2) Ride West on T100 all the way past 7th St and the Visitor's center. Stay on T100 proper the entire time.
3) When you get near the Shaw Butte dam, veer right and head over to the Shaw Butte parking lot.
4) Climb to the top of Shaw Butte on the 306
5) Ride down the back side of Shaw Butte on the 306 (careful - this is really gnarly in spots)
6) At the bottom of the 306 you will climb and descend yet another hill. Go over this and hook back up with T100.
7) Ride East on T100. Go past Pointe Tapatillo.
8) Just after Pointe Tapatillo is a small hill and another drop. Look for a trail here (just past the road). Turn right. This is "Tapatillo Loop" in Dale's map.
9) Climb up the pass and go back down again. When you hit a neighborhood stay left. The trail swings around and meanders and eventually turns uphill again. When the trail widens, look for another trail that goes uphill to the left. Climb this. It's steep. And it hurts.
10) This trail connects back with T100 again. Get on and ride East.
11) Just East of Cave Creek Rd, veer left at the junction and take T100A ("Disneyland"). This runs behind 2 hills and eventually connects back with T100 again.
12) When you join T100, ride East all the way past Dreamy Draw parking lot.
13) After the DD lot, T100 climbs a sustained hill. Near the top is the 1A junction. Climb 1A and stay on it going East.
14) At the intersection of 1A/VOAZ, hang a right at VOAZ. Go up and over. Drop down Cheesegrater (careful -- another tough section).
15) Cheesegrater runs into the 1A again, which in turn connects to the 8. Go East/South on the 8.
16) At the 8/8A junction, veer right to get on the 8A. Climb to the top -- all the way to the A&W House.
17) After the A&W House the 8 climbs even more, drops down, and then splits. Take the 8 going downhill (NW direction), not the 8 marked as "To 40th St".
18) Take the 8 downhill and circle around to the 1A again. This time ride West on the 1A.
19) At Irregular Link, veer left and climb up Irregular to the top of the saddle.
20) Go over the saddle and descend down 1A/302 ("Hairball"). Be *very* careful as this is a really nasty descent.
21) At the bottom of Hairball follow signs to stay on the 1A. You will climb another steep hill and then drop down the back side. Careful -- this is yet *another* really nasty section.
22) 1A climbs once more and then drops down to meet the 51. Veer right and follow the 1A North/East.
23) Take the shortcut to get back on T100 again. RIde West on T100.
24) Once you go under the 51 freeway, T100 makes a hard left and goes uphill. Turn Right here.
25) Climb Birthday Hill. Once you go over, the trail joins into T100 again.
26) Continue on T100 until your starting point.
There are plenty of options for more distance or climbing. This can easily be extended to include Porcupine Rim, Zipper, 220 "Black Diamond", 8 (to the 40th St side), and Rocky Ridge (on the West end).
Anyway, if you have any suggestions for improving on this ride, feel free to share your ideas.
Hopefully some of you will try this route. It really is an epic route with a fun mix of everything...all within the city limits!
Thx...Doug
Last week I made a few more changes to my route and I think I finally have it all dialed in. Bob Monahan (Chongoman) and I rode it this weekend and it worked out just the way I hoped. It's hard...long...and fun. I still don't have my GPS working, but I am guessing it was around 30-35 miles. It took us right around 4.5 hours with a few short breaks (YMMV). And this isn't for the feint of heart -- some of the downhills are pretty damn difficult. Bob and I were both on XC bikes and had to walk a number of sections...and even walking was difficult!
Anyway, here's the general route starting at Shea (where it dead ends). Obviously you can jump on anywhere along the route.
1) Starting at Shea where it dead ends, jump on T100 and head West.
2) Ride West on T100 all the way past 7th St and the Visitor's center. Stay on T100 proper the entire time.
3) When you get near the Shaw Butte dam, veer right and head over to the Shaw Butte parking lot.
4) Climb to the top of Shaw Butte on the 306
5) Ride down the back side of Shaw Butte on the 306 (careful - this is really gnarly in spots)
6) At the bottom of the 306 you will climb and descend yet another hill. Go over this and hook back up with T100.
7) Ride East on T100. Go past Pointe Tapatillo.
8) Just after Pointe Tapatillo is a small hill and another drop. Look for a trail here (just past the road). Turn right. This is "Tapatillo Loop" in Dale's map.
9) Climb up the pass and go back down again. When you hit a neighborhood stay left. The trail swings around and meanders and eventually turns uphill again. When the trail widens, look for another trail that goes uphill to the left. Climb this. It's steep. And it hurts.
10) This trail connects back with T100 again. Get on and ride East.
11) Just East of Cave Creek Rd, veer left at the junction and take T100A ("Disneyland"). This runs behind 2 hills and eventually connects back with T100 again.
12) When you join T100, ride East all the way past Dreamy Draw parking lot.
13) After the DD lot, T100 climbs a sustained hill. Near the top is the 1A junction. Climb 1A and stay on it going East.
14) At the intersection of 1A/VOAZ, hang a right at VOAZ. Go up and over. Drop down Cheesegrater (careful -- another tough section).
15) Cheesegrater runs into the 1A again, which in turn connects to the 8. Go East/South on the 8.
16) At the 8/8A junction, veer right to get on the 8A. Climb to the top -- all the way to the A&W House.
17) After the A&W House the 8 climbs even more, drops down, and then splits. Take the 8 going downhill (NW direction), not the 8 marked as "To 40th St".
18) Take the 8 downhill and circle around to the 1A again. This time ride West on the 1A.
19) At Irregular Link, veer left and climb up Irregular to the top of the saddle.
20) Go over the saddle and descend down 1A/302 ("Hairball"). Be *very* careful as this is a really nasty descent.
21) At the bottom of Hairball follow signs to stay on the 1A. You will climb another steep hill and then drop down the back side. Careful -- this is yet *another* really nasty section.
22) 1A climbs once more and then drops down to meet the 51. Veer right and follow the 1A North/East.
23) Take the shortcut to get back on T100 again. RIde West on T100.
24) Once you go under the 51 freeway, T100 makes a hard left and goes uphill. Turn Right here.
25) Climb Birthday Hill. Once you go over, the trail joins into T100 again.
26) Continue on T100 until your starting point.
There are plenty of options for more distance or climbing. This can easily be extended to include Porcupine Rim, Zipper, 220 "Black Diamond", 8 (to the 40th St side), and Rocky Ridge (on the West end).
Anyway, if you have any suggestions for improving on this ride, feel free to share your ideas.
Hopefully some of you will try this route. It really is an epic route with a fun mix of everything...all within the city limits!
Thx...Doug