I didn’t have anything to buy or sell, so I skipped the swap. But I rode down there anyway to meet Chad as he was closing up Arizona Endurance Series t-shirt shop. Lee joined (making it a 3x Lenz Leviathan ride) us and we pedaled west on the fastest path to Brown Mountain.
The road. Add in some tail wind and we blasted over Gates Pass.
Chad caught on film.
Going down.
Trail time.
People keep complaining when I take a picture of them hiking their bike. There’s an easy way to avoid that — never get off.
Ridgeline cruising. It’s been too long since I challenged Brown.
Another in the longstanding essence of Chad series.
We met up with a SDMB/TucsonMTB crew heading the other (harder) way on Brown. We turned around to join them, meaning we missed out on the hardest descent, but it was interesting to ride most of the trail backwards.
On the way back it was supposed to be a sufferfest of headwinds and attacking Chads and Lees. We had some fun surges, but not much headwind. At least not as much I expected.
Still, my legs are good and cooked. A good 6 or so hours on the bike on a beautiful day.
We need to do this more often…. a lot more often. Pencil me in for the bikepacking trip.
Hi Scott, this may be a ride you will like:
Hi folks, friends & bike maniacs,
now here’s some inside information – or let’s just say “in my own concern”. I was looking for another real adventure, real sport, ya know.
Had to invent something myself. What turned out is called “Grenzsteintrophy” and I’m looking for some riders to join in!
So I’d be glad if you would spread the word or forward the link to anyone attached to extreme sports and biking. Or you post it on you blog or homepage — I’m looking forward to support and feedback.
I’d gladly send you web banners and logos if needed, just drop me a line.
Thanks, Gunnar
Grenzsteintrophy 2009
[Gunnar Fehlau]
Ortelsburger Str. 7
37083 Göttingen
Germany
t: +49-(0)551/70 76 91 54
f: +49-(0)551/50 31 547
m: +49-(0)171/41 55 331
e: info@grenzsteintrophy.de
w: http://www.grenzsteintrophy.de
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX INFORMATION XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
E V E N T — I N F O R M A T I O N # 01/09 [Feb 10th 2009]
“Grenzsteintrophy” — Germany’s Mountainbike Boundary Experience
The “Grenzsteintrophy” (Boundary Stone Trophy) will offer Europe’s first mountain bike self support ride over a distance of approx. 1,300 kms (800 miles). Starting June 24th 2009, the GST will take off-road bikers along the former border that divided the former two German states FDR and GDR — 20 years after the frontier’s fall.
“Where the front line of the Cold War used to be, Germany’s longest green corridor is now flourishing. Its topography and course promise a very diversified mountain bike tour”, GST initiator Gunnar Fehlau states. “You don’t have to cross Alaska on your bike to get the ultimate nature challenge!” he adds. According to Fehlau, the GST will offer the experience of a self support ride for the first time in Europe and thus present “an antipode to sports mass events with all their negative side effects like pollution, doping and commerce.”
The GST follows the former border between the two Germanys — 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. “We’re riding on soil steeped in history”, Fehlau says. “On that account we’re not only providing a highly demanding physical task but also a political and historical memorial ride.”
The Grenzsteintrophy is neither a race nor a bicycle tour. In fact, it is a conjointly starting but individually accomplished and athletically demanding mountain bike ride of approx. 1,300 kilometres (800 miles). Fehlau counts on avid participants to ride from the shore of the Baltic Sea near Lübeck to Mittelhammer in the region of Vogtland within seven days. There will be no time limit in which the participants have to finish.
As role models for GST Fehlau claims the world’s longest mountain bike rides: Great Divide Race and Tour Divide, leading 4,360 km (2,709 miles) from Banff, Alberta (Canada) to Antelope Wells, New Mexico (U.S.A.).
Hence the rules of the GST read rather archaic: no starting fees, no prize money, no service, no time control and no organization along the route. Riders have to supply and resupply themselves. All gear or victuals are to be carried either on the bike or bought along the way. Any kind of prearranged services or use of private assistance is strictly forbidden. All guiding means have to be equally available to all starters. Riding in company of other participators is permitted, whereas the sharing of supplies and equipment is prohibited. It is the goal of this event to challenge the individual rider and not a support crew.
There will be no monitoring of the riders, only a call in number. “We won’t have ranking or prizes — except of course for the feeling of having honorably mastered an extraordinary task. So cheaters only deceive themselves”, Fehlau explains.
For more information or enrolling to this adventure please visit http://www.grenzsteintrophy.de. For participation, a letter of intent and/or standing at the starting line will be accepted.