Today the town was chock-a-block full of bicycles. The occasion, the 6th annual Whiskey Off-Road, a trial by elevation for some 7-800 mountain bikers. No, I do not have pictures of all those buff folks as they maneuver up dirt roads and trails through the pines. Instead as befits an 82-year-old who sleeps late, I caught the tail end of one of three races...(Note: Karoliina is much younger and full of more energy than I -- if you want a picture of the race over some of the rough terrain, her blog is the place to go. Wonderful coverage!
More: another batch of photos from the mountain at The Courier site.)
...starting over at the corner of Gurley and Park, where the right hand turn lane was set aside for contestants coming down from the hills.
Half of Cortez Street was also dedicated to the racers (above and below). Frankly, they looked pretty full of pep as they reached the end of the trail. Especially considering that the 15-mile and 25-mile cyclists probably had a climb of nearly 2000 feet on their course. On the other hand,the final portion of the course was pretty much all downhill.
This racer, his run complete, takes a spin with his young son.
Here it is -- The End. At the Courthouse Square, of course.
A Must for every event these days -- an official T-shirt. Plenty of fancy bikes were on display (below).
Tired bikes (above) and bikers (below) rest. I suspect that none of the 50-milers were back from Skull Valley, however. I cringe just imagining their long, steady climb up from 4600 elevation to the top of the Prietas.
Some contestants take time out for a beer or other goody at The Palace, while others pack it in.
If you're curious as to the course laid out for the cyclists, full details at the Epic Rides site. Yes, maps are also available. The Courier has a good pre-race roundup of info and tomorrow's paper will doubtless offer more. You know what? Just looking at those racing pictures has worn me out!
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16 comments:
Looks like it was a wonderful event. Good "show", Prescott area!
~Anon in AV.
Great review -- even if you did arrive late.
Official T-shirt for every event. So true. Then there are the golf benefits by large corporations. At one time, I had the logo emblazoned attire in my possession. Where do you wear that stuff. You don't. It ends up at the thrift stores -- or in the third world.
anon av -- yes, I'd say that it was a very good event, tho no one in racer garb valled on my friends at the outdoor store...
wandrin -- it makes a difference if the official T-shirt has some good art on it. If it's just a corporate logo, forget it.
"Just looking at those racing pictures has worn me out!" I'm totally with you there, Granny! The most appealing aspect, other than your excellent photos, is the name of the event. ;-)
deck -- we also have the big Whiskey Row marathon, in which people run up those mountain trails (and I get tired just thinking of that, as well.)
Le Tour de Prescott!
Granny J, I saw two, not one, but two separate wrecks on the backside of Mnt. Francis. Both wrecks involved flat front tires and steep downhill grades. This guy who wrecked in Skull Valley about tore his knee cap off!
lucy -- you're so right!
style -- Yikes! Are you posting pictures from the race?
Question:
Jabberwocky meme note: the captcha word below is plogide is an instrument for automating farm equipment.
What do it mean?
hah! ron -- you missed this post, where it was all pretty much explained...I have taken to playing with the captcha words at peoples' blogs...
I'm always thinking something should--or could, at least--be done with those things, and here you've gone and beat me to it.
I'll be back, at an earlier and more sober hour...
deck -- be my guest & do the same as I do -- I'd like to see the idea catch on
Granny J, The only pics I got from there are of crystals. The course ran right past our secret collection area! I'll be posting some soon after I'm done cleaning them.
style -- then I look forward to pix of your crystals!
As you probably know, I love cycling, but, hell, that looks too energetic for me. I prefer to meander amongst the lanes.
Still if there is whiskey on offer I could be persuaded to turn up - just to drink their healths, you understand
avus -- I don't see as how any mountain biking can be low energy exercising. Suspect they get that way from eschewing whiskey in favor of chai!
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