Pioneer Park

Pioneer park is under valued by the hardish core (includes self) Prescott riding set. It is honestly a complete hoot to ride there.

All the trails are faster and more fun on a cyclocross bike, but the fun factor is still quite high with a MTB. Preferably rigid. Best of all, I can access the trail system at three different points from the house, the furthest of which is 10 minutes ride.

No time for a proper beating, so I went there for the 1:15 I had to ride on the newly rigid Ventana. Very fun. I was able to finally sample the newish single track that is hidden within the park. Not bad, but I really hope they expand it in the future. This comes the closest to the type of riding we did in Kentucky. Narrow, tight turns, short loops. Lather, rinse, repeat. It wasn't unusual to ride the same lap in KY 4-5 times on an outing since some of the very fun ones were only 15-20 minutes. Of course, everyone is racing everyone else to add to the fun. I definitely miss that sort of fun, no stress riding. Everything out here has to be so epic or technical or physically brutal. Those aspects of riding have their merit, it's good to test your limits, but they are no more fun to me (maybe less so) than chasing my friend (or enemy), balls out on an "easy" swoopy trail like Desert Classic.

I see real MTB potential to Pioneer Park if more trails like the Legacy can be built. Especially loop type trails. I also think there should be some sort of run what you brung type race in the evenings there once per week. Probably too much to ask, but it would be fun. Figure out a loop, meet at a certain time, and go for it. It could be a sponsored race series, but that is too difficult. The problem is that the trails are multi use and pedestrians/dogs/non-fast bikers could be a hazard (or at risk). Maybe a big cross race once per year? The terrain is ideal for it.

On to the bike. The Ventana is stiff and tight and you feel it immediately. It will not allow for high tire pressures, at all. I dropped them from 24 (on my probably inaccurate pump) within 5 minutes of riding to probably into the low 20s. At those pressures, it is fine. Not really much worse than the Zion. The thing just begs to fly on these types of trails, but unfortunately, 32 X 21 is just way too low geared for Pioneer, so I spent a lot of time learning to spin.

I like it. I think the Ventana will the the stiff, haul-ass bike for going out and hammering Granite Basin, Pioneer, etc. I will need to gear down I think to 32 X 20. Still to low for Pioneer, but I need some flexibility.

This leaves the Zion. It will get the suspension fork. Clearance will be provided by the +5 Cane Creek headset (already in), and a +7 Ventana Race which I have on good authority will mate up will with the Cane Creek even though it is designed for a King Headset. The poplock Reba will barely clear with 12mm of additional height. That's just poor design, folks. On the plus side, it will slack the HA around 1/2 degree which should help the front stabilize at speed which is this bike's weak point. The Zion also gets the mountain climbing 32 X 22 gearing for the long SS epics. I hope I don't break the head tube off this thing with all that fork and extra length for clearance. That would suck indeed.

That's the plan......for now.

Still awaiting the White Bros 130mm coil demo fork for the Curtlo? Not sure if I will want to ride suspension any more by that time. I'm sure I'll come around. It's just a phase right?

A mind will wander.... probably too much of a tightwad to go there, yet.