Spring Break Shredding the Red: Before we hit the bike festival we went for a ride
The guys took off like rockets and I was a bit worried they’d bonk just a few miles in. To get ahead of the crowds of the shuttles from the 10th annual Sedona Mountain Bike Festival, we got to the trailhead at about nine in the morning. Still a bit late for us, but the weather was perfect and the trail conditions were prime.
We rode down Deadman’s Pass, one of our favorite trails. It’s fast and flowy with a few chunky bits to roll down or pop off. From there, we climbed up Mescal, and L’il Ripper wasn’t slowing for anything. It’s a chunky, technical climb, so there were a few hike-a-bike on some short sections.
Fast forward down Canyon of Fools, a trail that’s at the bottom of a deep box canyon. Skilled riders have built jumps and steep, sharp berms along the walls to challenge themselves. One such berm came up to all of us by surprise. It was about 10 feet tall, hairpined to the right, and featured a small drop that you’d have to pop off the end. It came up so fast that none of us had a chance to be scared, we just had to send it. We all did it safe and sound, and what a rush!
Making sure we kept going safely
We stopped a few times for food. Clif Bars for the win! We threw back a few Skatch gummies for a burst of fast-burning energy and caffeine. They guys continued to push that hard pace for the entire 12-mile ride. Only twice did we hear “I hate this trail” which meant it was time for L’il Ripper (he’s almost 13, I guess he’s not so L’il anymore) to have a snack. It was also the toughest, most technical part of the climb.
Ripper hasn’t been riding much because of basketball. He didn’t do any more obstacles than normal, but he did take the ones that he does a lot faster. Daniel and I both crushed many more than we’ve done in the past, and it’s such a high to be able to clean things we haven’t before.
We got back to the truck feeling tired but in good spirits, then stopped at Famous Pizza. A quick change of clothes, and an entire BBQ Chicken pizza later, we headed to the bike festival to explore.
Inside the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival
At the Sedona Mountain Bike Academy booth, Evan convinced us to buy tickets to the official festival raffle that’s held every year. All proceeds went to Wheel Fun, a non-profit that provides bikes, gear, and more to after-school MTB programs around Arizona. (Something I’m going to be looking into for our little club for kids.)
We checked out some new bikes just because (we got new bikes in 2021), then I entered a push-up competition and lost by one. One! (I blame the fact that we just got done with a 12-mile ride. Even my leg was shaking!)
As we were leaving, we stopped by the SMBA booth again when one of the coaches pointed at Ripper and hollered that he just had to see his mullet. We must have stared gape-mouthed at him because Ripper was wearing a hat. How could this guy tell??
Turns out Adam runs the Coconino County fair and has held a growing-in-popularity mullet competition for the last two years. He has a knack for picking out mullets just about anywhere, even on kids wearing hats. He got all fired up about it, and it was contagious, with Ripper soaking it up. So, come August, he’s going to be entering a mullet comp in Flagstaff. He’s got some work to do, and our hairdresser is going to need to bring her A-game. Adam says the competition is fierce.
While we were hanging at the booth, we also found out that we had to be present to win one of the amazing prizes from the offical festival raffle, including a brand-new bike frame. Which meant another three hours of hanging at the festival. Ripper was stoked! It meant three hours of riding the dual slalom and various jump lines at the Sedona Bike Park.
Drawing names for the official festival raffle
Daniel and I hung out, had some coffee, moved the truck to a closer parking spot, and watched Ripper head down the lines.
A bluesy rock band played on the main stage when I settled into a spot for the raffle. The sun was right in their eyes, but the iconic Sedona red rocks in the background sure made for a pretty picture.
Evan had promised the odds in the raffle were pretty good. At a dollar a ticket, we were pretty skeptical. There were 75+ prizes split into 10 packages, so we figured there would be thousands of tickets to draw from.
As they drew names for the “lower” prizes (all the packages were pretty amazing) we saw our chances dwindling, though we still hoped for the bike frame. Other prizes included a wheelset, a bike-packing trip, helmets, handlebars, gloves, frame bags, and much more.
Everyone was present and accounted for until the second-place prize. Kenneth didn’t come to the stage. They gave him some time in case he was getting a beer or dinner, or…just about anything else you could think of that could be keeping him away. Then they counted down 10, 9, 8…and still slowed on the last few seconds. Finally, the MC announced that “Kenneth can suck it” and it was time for a new name.
“Okay, the second name drawn for the second place is…Jacque Hamilton!” Woot woo!
In our surprise, I whooped and headed up to collect our prize. Ripper was supposed to be the one who went upstage on the off chance that we’d win anything. I left him standing there with a slush cup in one hand, a spoon in the other, and red-stained lips and tongue.
The sweet bike swag we won
We didn’t win the bike frame, but we did win an amazing back-country bike-packing trip from San Juan Huts. It’s a 215-mile gravel-road ride from Telluride, CO across the Rockies down into Moab Canyon Country over 7 days and 6 nights. They provide the huts, beds, food, and maps, and nature provides all the spectacular views. I’m stoked for the trip, but the guys aren’t so much. We’re trying to figure out a way for me to go; there are some logistics involved. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Our prize also included a helmet, handlebars, a hydration pack, gloves, a frame bag, a drivetrain maintenance kit, and an online fitness training program of our choice (for Enduro, XC, or gravel riding). I’m thinking about choosing the gravel riding training program and putting together a schedule for getting in prime shape. The ride is about 30 miles per day, but some of it is at 11K feet in elevation. At this point, I don’t know how well spaced the huts are.
Sunday biking at the festival
While we had such an epic day on Saturday, on Sunday we split up and did a little of our own thing. Ripper had a clinic with the SMBA and was told that next year he had to be an assistant coach (he’s done one of their mountain bike clinics at the festival since 2018). Daniel took off for a ride before Ripper’s clinic started so he could be back around the time Ripper did. He had a little trouble and climbed some trails that are normally downhill and said the ride was “tiring” but he was in a good mood about it. I left a bit after Ripper and hopped on an all-ladies group ride.
It was so cool to ride with 30+ ladies. We split into three groups eventually, because that was way too many people to take up trail space and keep track of everyone. I did the medium spicy trail. It happened to be one of the first trails I ever learned downhill tech with the Vida Clinic at the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival also back in 2018. We flew down the trail and the lead stopped to show us a few things here and there.
It’s empowering to see other women overcome the obstacles with ease and talk the rest of us through them to attack them smoothly.
That’s one of the many things I love about MTB. This trail wasn’t “easy” but it was “easier” than the last time I went down it. The challenge and the progression are addicting.
Relaxing after two long days on the bike
After the ride, we spent a little time with the dogs at a nearby creek. I got eaten up by bugs while Ripper and Hondo splashed around in water too cold to swim. That night was burgers and s’mores, and a good dog that didn’t eat the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Daniel laid out on grahams.
It was one of the best weekends and best mountain bike festival ever and I am so incredibly grateful for my family and this sport.