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View Full Version : Trip to Scottsdale, Arizona


davidd
03-15-2008, 07:18 AM
Spent three days riding in Scottsdale, Arizona last week at McDowell Mountain Park.This park has over 20,000 acres and more than 40 miles of trails. They also have a competitive mountain bike track consisting
of a 3 mile Sport loop, 2.7 mile Technical loop and a 8 mile long loop. You like
to ride fast? You like jumps?- then you would love the comp. tracks.
The comp. tracks ( especially the Sport loop ) have plenty of whoop-dee-do rollers that do anything but straight. More fun than any roller coaster I've ever been on. Plenty of rocky tech tough climbs on Dixie Mine, Scenic Trail and the comp. tracks as well.
Lots of trail well suited for beginners too, so there's something for every skill level.
If you are ever in the Phoenix area, you should spend a couple of days at
McDowell -it's well worth the $6 a day fee. The scenic views out there are amazing.
Here's a link to some pictures if you're interested (best viewed by selecting "view in slideshow" option).

http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/dfdubose/

Endo
03-15-2008, 08:31 AM
got to love desert riding. nice pics. looks like you had the the place to yourself...did you see a lot of other riders?

davidd
03-15-2008, 09:47 PM
Thanks. Yeah, desert riding is a great experience during this time of year.
Didn't see many people at all on the trails. I was there during the week
and that may have had something to do with it. I'm sure it gets more busy on the weekends.

davidd
03-15-2008, 10:40 PM
I saw about 7 other riders each day I was there.

Pilotman28
03-17-2008, 09:53 AM
I think Nate would agree with me, as a hardtail rider, when I say "OUCH." That looks painful without full suspension.

davidd
03-18-2008, 06:36 AM
I ride a hardtail as well.
Tried to rent one in Scottsdale, but at the shop I went to all they had
available that week was full suspension so that Giant FS in one of the pics
is what I got.
Pedaling that extra weight (of the full suspension) up all the elevation changes really wore me out. I'm used to a 27 lb. bike and the Giant must have been 31 lbs at least.
I found the extra cost & weight of the FS to be well worth it on the rocky uphills and downhills.