I have not ridden my mountain bike since my ride along the Arizona Canal — aka the “Homeless Highway” — March 2, 2014, nearly eight years ago. The only “biking” I have done since is in hotel gyms.
There are some Maricopa Trail segments too long & boring to hike — also along canals — so it would be better to bike them. And if I was going to bike them, I would first need to get my Trek tuned up, and then get my mountain biking mojo back. Such as it was. 😏
I figured the smart thing to do was to take my Trek out on flat terrain. Biking Biscuit Flat from the Bob Bently Trailhead on Carefree Highway seemed appropriate. Seemed. I had forgotten how different biking in general, and mountain biking in particular, is from hiking.
Biscuit Flat is the area crossed by the first segment of the Black Canyon Trail, from Carefree Highway to Emery Henderson Trailhead. On the south side of Biscuit Flat, between Carefree Highway and Loop 303, is where a massive $12 billion chip fab is being built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
No improvements north of the highway, and the old jeep trails were much rockier than I remember from walking. I was hoping to do around 12 miles, but after only seven jarring miles, I had had enough: My shoulders are sore, the back of my right bicep is sore, my knees are tired, and I definitely stressed my cardio. 😫
Despite regularly hiking, I’m definitely not in mountain biking shape!
Distance: 7.09 mi.
AEG: 125 ft.
Time: 1h 07m
