Arizona Dual in Desert Enduro – Feb 2010

Finished prepping bike after few sessions testing suspension after having forks revalved over the holidays, checked everything over and was just a matter of fitting wheels used in Spanish Peaks Enduro in October 2010 with lightly warn MX51 Dunlop tires, cleaning air filter and a quick lube of chain and other bits. I had been warned about the evil cactus so had fitted larger handguard deflectors to give a bit more protection just in case, ever bit helps. Had also done some more work on my Sprinter van and loaded up and headed out early Friday morning for second running of Dual Duel : Double Down in Wickenburg area on Arizona, north west of Phoenix. This was two x 1 day enduros’ on Saturday and Sunday run jointly by FastR’MC and Off Camber clubs from AMRA, also part of RMEC series which planning to do quite a few rounds this year.

Drove 6 hours from San Diego north and east into Arizona, saw some great views in mountains above Palm Desert which was a lovely twisty road for bike ride or fast car.

Got to the start and as I had pre-registered just signed up, got time card and check / race format info. There was to be 4 loops, 7, 17, 16 and 16 miles respectively, each loop being a timed special test then back to pit area for a break with a specified start time for each loop. Took bike to tech inspection where they checked time card was correct and mounted on front fender, verified had spark arrestor then did noise test which passed at 90dBA, 96 was limit, surprised it was so low. Had a quick look around track near the start area, lots of cactus from real big to little baby ones, going was dry, bit sandy, hard pack and rocky so glad I had good intermediate Dunlop MX51 tires from Spanish Peaks, had spare wheels with soft terrain Michelin S12’s but looked as though MX51’s would be better so left them on. Since the last race I had forks revalved by Trail Tricks and from testing they are much improved, looked as at least some of course had been well used before so would be rough with whoops and would be a good test of how they perform.

Back for food and sleep in van for the night, got down near freezing overnight so was glad I had put in some more insulation in rest of walls and was nice and comfy, also had power sorted so could do some work and listen to some music and watch videos on the TV, also have fridge working along with the generator but did not bother to use them but well sorted now, for next trip need to put the awning on then will be about done.

Up early Saturday as vans coming in at 6am, cold at riders meeting at 8.30, was explained that start and finish of each loop used same trails then split of different ways for first 3 loops and 4^th (which riders wouldn’t do) same as 3^rd but with an extra AA/A section that would be gnarly. They also advised that there were a couple of easy/hard splits on 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th loops that the easy route was slower but recommended for C riders.

Then got geared up and to start line for first riders off 4 per minute at 9:01am, decided as it was till cold and as we were coming back to pits after each loop to wear body-warmer for first loop. I was starting at 9:26, number 26C, top local rider Monster Energy Kawasaki and ISDE rider Destry Abbott was favorite in AA class a few minutes ahead of me, I was in Senior (over 40) B class along with about 20 others.

First loop was a 7 mile test, dead engine start with 4 other riders on my minute. Got through OK but it was quite dusty in places, some arroyos with loose soft dry sand, some fast hard-pack mountain tracks, some bit rocky, a few nice climbs and a some tight twisty single track trails in brush. Not too far into test came across a guy riding relatively slow behind what seemed to be his daughter, passed the guy easy then setup to pass the daughter as an obvious beginner decided to give her plenty of room passing on her right just in case then she veers across into my line. I could have backed off and lost more time but decided to squeeze past between her and brush, got past but then realized bush has been a cactus and my right forearm and thigh were hurting. Sat down on next fast trail to find a lump of cactus in my lap, swiped it off only to get spines in my fingers but did get rid of the cactus, didn’t want to be sitting on that. Made it to the end of special test check and there was a restart check with about 60 minutes free time so everyone gets back on time after being late on the special so back to van for some work. Tried pulling cactus spines out with gloves and ended up with some working and others getting worse so removed gloves and bum-bag and got out pliers to start pulling out cactus. Got fingers cleaned up then removed helmet, body warmer and pulled some out of right forearm but still hurting. So pulled off shirt and rolled up long sleeved T shirt and managed to get rest out of my forearm. Next was to remove obvious spines from thigh then pull down pants and get out the rest. Seemed to be Ok so put everything back on but still problems on thigh so had to do that again and finally confortable, not all removed but good enough. My right wrist was also sore, maybe from hitting the cactus but as had been broken many years ago was concerning. Still plenty of time so had a bit a food and drink then with new gloves and goggles back to start for 2^nd loop.

Second loop was bit tougher and longer than first but same theme with some single track, some fast tracks, I had a some real fast guys behind me and they were flying passed me, riding a bit better, bike was awesome, no cactus, caught and passed quite a few more riders. Was quite dusty in places so wasn’t taking any chances, some bits were also quite rough and whoopy. At end back to van and more food and drink, quick check over bike, add fuel, new goggles and back for start of loop 3.

Third loop was good, after split was definitely a bit tougher and I rode a bit better, about 16 miles long with more rocks, couple of harder hill climbs, some good downhill’s also, got caught up by less riders and didn’t get passed as much, reasonably pleased, could have done better for sure though. Fast guy behind on KX450 caught me later and I was trying a bit harder to keep ahead of him and dropping down a hard-packed hill I had a huge moment as suddenly over the brow I ended up in a rocky area. How I got through without crashing I’m still unsure, must have looked funny for guy behind, think the suspension and steering damper saved me. Had another incident with cactus later as ran wide on a corner and clipped a cactus with left side, painful and I must have looked comical with 2 lumps of cactus tuck to my left forearm, tried without success to brush them off clipping other bushes as didn’t want to use fingers again but to no avail. Finally came across guy at secret/observation check and got him to knock the cactus off my arm with a stick, well most anyway, much better then. At easy / hard spilt I took hard way and was fun, a waterfall section down an unused creek, no big deal but more fun than most of rest of course which was becoming more and more whoops. At end back to van and more food and drink and time to remove remaining cactus from left forearm, at least this time I’d been sitting so nothing in thigh as knee pads had saved my leg. As C riders weren’t riding 4^th loop we had less pit time but enough for refuel, new goggles and back to start.

4th and final loop was same as third except that AA/A rider had an extra section that as it turned out added about 5 minutes to their times so after split I got passed by some riders who had started a few minutes in front of me. Rode the loop better than previous, still not standing enough but riding smoother even though terrain was rougher, not happy for sure but much improved from earlier in the day. Also didn’t have to worry about catching up and passing C riders which made things easier with less dust.

After handing in score card each rider was presented with a finishers’ award of pack of cards, different. So packed up van and drove to Phoenix to stay in hotel the night and had nice shower and picked out few more cactus spines from my leg and arms. Then out to Outback steakhouse for dinner with a friend I have not seen in years who happened to be in Phoenix that day for a conference, fun evening.

Next morning my right wrist was still feeling very sore, and my leg and arms still hurting from cactus run-ins and as course was to be the same in reverse and even rougher decided not to race again and headed home to San Diego. Next year I probably wouldn’t race it again if there was anything else on, unless of course there had been some rain in week or so beforehand.

I ended up 8^th in class of 22 senior B starters which was not great but this was not my kind of event. My tests again got better all day, if I had done similar times on earlier loops I would have been higher up, 3^rd was quite achievable, I know better for next year if I do it and have something to aim for.

http://www.moto-tally.com/AMRA/Results.aspx

The bike performed great as always, could have been the perfect bike with good compromise, light enough for tight stuff but plenty of power in the deep sand and on the hill climbs and updated suspension was awesome everywhere, I could (and did) sit in places where others were get beat up standing.