TrailLove Episode 1: Sedona, Arizona
Episode 1 of the 4-part #TrailLove series comes from Sedona, AZ, where the BMC Trailcrew would have the opportunity to meet some of the most influential people behind the local mountain bike community, and explore some of the trails they've worked so hard to provide. This red rock oasis is as equally scenic is as it fun, and is the result of a lot of hard work between builders and land managers, and a very progressive approach to trail design.
Sedona's beauty is hard to truly convey, even with spectacular photos like this. There's a texture to this landscape that needs to be experienced firsthand.
The Trailcrew from left to right: Derek Bissett, Brice Shirbach and Adam Snyder. One of the challenges from this week you won't see in the video was the severe allergy attack Adam and Brice had to work around. As it turns out, the desert is full of flora and early March is prime blooming time in this part of the world.
Derek seemed to have some immunity to the pollen swarms that Brice and Adam struggled with, and was up to speed rather immediately.
This and some of the other shots came from the Pigtail trail, a flow trail with some jumps and berms scattered throughout one of Sedona's newer additions.
Hiline is a Sedona must-ride, and the boys had a blast chasing the sun down the western slope of the ridge it is found on.
Another thing that you won't find in the video is the removal of cactus needles from various parts of the body by all 3 members of the Trailcrew. Having never ridden in the southwest prior to this trip, Brice was often picking them out of his shoes between takes and shots. However, current Durango resident and Sedona veteran Adam Snyder would have the single worst cactus encounter that week, shortly after this photo of him was taken. The shower that followed the ride was hilariously loud.
Derek Bissett is a purveyor of fine style.
There are a lot of reason why Sedona is the location of choice for so many magazines and websites for bike testing and reviews: the climate, the terrain, and the trail infrastructure are all primed for mountain bikers. The local advocacy group, Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, have a strong working relationship with local land managers and forestry services, and have a much more progressive design approach than many other trail groups found throughout the country.
The Brewer trail take riders down into the heart of Sedona, with high speeds, lots of rocks, loose corners, and beautiful scenery along the way.
Thunder Mountain Bikes
The Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition
Click here for the full image gallery, shot by Devon Balet.
Click here to learn more about Sedona's vast and amazing trails.
Want to join the BMC Trailcrew?
BMC is searching for local riders; the men and women who are on the trails riding, digging, and shooting every chance they get. These individuals are the core of their local crew. They organize the rides, are a regular at their local bike shop, know the best lines, and always have cold beers ready at the end of an epic day. Interested? Find out more at:
http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/bmc-trailcrew-program
If you like what you see then please support our friends at the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition and earn some Trail Karma while you're at it.
MENTIONS: @ridebmc / @briceshirbach / @trailforks / @devonbalet
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check photo 9! there is a great article about kauai scene but you have to subscribe to read (i read the printed edition), although kauai is no sedona!
Speaking of the official, marked trails, Sedona is more tech both uphill & down. The uphill is going to be more significant for most riders: on the black trails, there is very little gradual, rolling, or flat terrain. If you're not on top of your fitness & an expert climber w/ some trials skills, expect to walk a lot of uphills. The climbs on Highline & the Hogs are steep & keep coming at you: down & bang! back up, w/ virtually no place for recovery.
As for Sedona's downhills, I've been a competitive rider for 30 years, and there were 3 or 4 sections of the Highline descent that were too burly / tech for me to clean the first time down, sight unseen. If you're not a highly accomplished gravity rider, I'd recommend pre-walking the top half of Highline, or wear lots of armor & be ready for the consequences of blowing a line in really steep terrain.
If Highline scares you, up or down, expect more of the same on the Hogs, and even worse on Hangover.