Failure Is Not Our Option

There has been some talk of FAILURE around the B.P.R. head quarters recently. I'm here to tell you from the B.P.R. AZ Charter, we don't acknowledge FAILURE. We don't quit and we don't give up. Don't get me wrong, we have our bad days on the bike like anyone else, and teeter-totter that fine line of almost dieing due to dehydration, muscle cramping and the demons. What B.P.R. AZ does is change the game. That's right, we do what any 6 year old would do when things are not going according to The Plan, change the game. It's like when you are playing Monoply and you land on a space with like 4 hotels and you are about to go bankrupt and lose the game. What you do? I don't know what you do, but what we do is "accidentally" kick the board and spill your beer (that is correct, your beer, not my own, sucker). Game over. You didn't lose, you didn't quit, and you certainly didn't give up. You can't help it that some a$$hole kicked the board and spilled your beer. Game changes, and we never quit.

So for us...
Failure is Not Our Option

Since life is like a game, or a big race, and obviously the Elders are keeping score, I thought I would do my best to turn in an accurate score card this week, with some pictures.

Thursday Night Recreational Fun Ride - I mean RACE.
Fantasy Island North Shore

It isn't easy showing up to a Thursday night race loaded with full bike bags for training, lineing up against a bunch of Short Track XC Lycra dudes with massive gears. I calculated it was 567 gears to my one. I'm already a winner.

F.I.N.S Score

Showing Up = 1
29 Inches, Single and Rigid = 3
Bike Bags = 3 (1 for each bag, backpack excluded)
Sub-Total = 7

Sierra Estrella Training Climb - I mean RACE.

Decided to load the bags up again and put some climbing miles in over at Sierra Estrella and test out some new gear.

Switch Backs on P.A.W.

White Quartz

Rhino Homebrew Sealant = Success

Stopped by to see some kind of dancers at the Rodeo. It might have actually been Capoiera, but if nobody is getting punched in the face or kicked in the ribs, it's dancing to me. B.P.R. is no stranger to dancing , but I'm sure you didn't forget. Correction, that was a hard core workout, not dancing. No giggling.


Testing out the new Hike-a-Bike shoes. These are the Tahoe models, but for the next few weeks they shall be referred to the "Mingus" Model.

Estrella Score

Showing Up = 1
29 Inches, Single and Rigid = 3
Bike Bags = 3 (1 for each bag, backpack excluded)
Not crying about feet hurting with new shoes = 1
Rocking Homebrew Sealant = 1
Sub-Total = 9

Black Canyon Trail - I mean RACE.

Got a free ride up to the BCT and road the Emery Henderson Trailhead.

What do you think the lime green tree indicates over there? I've watched a few Bear Grylls shows.



This is the most beautiful site in the desert. I discovered this spring off the trail a little ways. The water was clean, cold and tasted great.

Single Track through some old Saguaros.

Bike Rock Art

BCT Score
Showing Up = 1
29 Inches, Single and Rigid = 3
Bike Bags = 1 (1 for each bag, backpack excluded)
Finding Spring in Desert = 5
Sub-Total = 10

Summary
According to my accurate math skills I calculate that my score card for the weekend should be a total of 41 points*

*points under review and currently waiting authorization from the B.P.R. Dictators.

yeah. win.

Steel Horses - the First American Bikepackers

My old man gave me a copy of his Elks Magazine to read, he thought I might enjoy it. He was right. What are the Elks you ask, I don't really know either, but I imagine it is something similar to the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes.

The article documents the the US Army's Bicycle Corps, 1896-1897 Twenty-Fifth Infantry Regiment.

I found the article interesting and thought the B.P.R. fans would too. America's first bikepackers. These guys are probably harder and tougher than anybody alive riding a bike today. You may notice that the B.P.R. Hustorian and the Twenty-Fifth Infantry share some similarities, such as carrying massive amounts of gear and munitions.

Rigid Singlespeeders.

Arizona Trail - Freeman Rd to Superior

The plan was to ride the Sedona (not so big) Friggin Loop this weekend. Since the race was shorten due to high water crossing, the cogs in the head started turning and decided to load up the bikepacking gear and put some miles down on the Arizona Trail instead. We decided on the AZT section heading north from Freeman Road to Superior.

Since my body is trashed and my brain is fried and I am having issues today formulating coherent non-run-on sentences, I will just leave you with some bullet points and pictures. Grab a beer and make up your own storyline They say pictures are worth a thousand words, problem is I suck at photos and my camera is jacked and leaves a fuzzy spots. You got ripped off, get your money back kid.

Signing at the Picket Post Trailhead

Tim (AZTripper) helped us out with the GPX files, shuttle, and water caches. Without Tim, we would have wandered the desert lost and dehydrated and hallucinating. Or we would have just rode a long two day out and back and returned home safely, but hey, almost dying sounded way tougher. Credit given, when credit due. Tim hooked the logistics of the trip up and answered my many of 1000's of questions as we rode for two days.

Ripsey - that big peak in the middle, one of the best sections of the entire Arizona Trail. (so I am told by crazy dudes - here and here. Their camera skills don't suck). Those sites helped with my recon prior to the ride.

Look at those switch backs on Ripsey.

My first wild Gila Monster sighting. Pretty rare, as I am told they spend most of their lives under ground. Saw this right after I startled a huge rattlesnake just off the trail. All on top of the ridge.

Try this for a few miles on a rigid singlespeed with loaded packs.


It was just like in 'Stand By Me'...


My favorite section - climbing north after crossing the Gila and riding the railroad tracks. Seems to be brand new single track. Pretty sure we had fresh tracks, didn't see any other tire tracks.

Steep.

Steep.

Steep and rocky.

Scrambling, pushing, pulling, carrying our bikes for one mile up a wash to access the Artesian Well.

Jimbo enjoying the high flows from the Artesian Well. Tasted great but the water was warm, unlike the Ripsey Spring water.

The Truth.


And I leave you with this sincere picture of myself to scare all your demons away and thought I rock a tiny mohawk for the adventure.

Adventures @ the Back of the Pack

Here we go. A site for all racers at the Back of the Pack. It may take a few days implement all the  template design stuff. So hang on, dude!