Loop de Leupp 300km Brevet

Ride Report
June 2015

Tom Baker and RBA John Ingold at the start

Eight riders lined up for the Loop de Leupp 300km Brevet. This is the third brevet of the 2015 Northern Arizona SR series.  7 of the usual suspects (Tom Baker, Mike Sturgill, Roger Peskett, Bob Larson, Michael Mooney, Carlton van Leuven, Steve Atkins) and newcomer Andrew Frehs of Sedona lined up in the cool early morning light at the Flagstaff Mall.

Usual Suspects leaving Flagstaff

The Usual Suspects rolled out together for a series of twists and turns to the first informational control in the Doney Park area. John had driven ahead and waived us through the first control and we made our way back to Townsend-Winona and eventually Leupp Road. With a slight tailwind, and gentle downgrade, the group arrived at the first control a few minutes before it opened. Establishing a pattern of support we would appreciate all day, John was there in his brevet wagon to check us in and provide a wide array of supplies.

Leupp Control Outbound

With the extra time, we were able to strip off a layer or two, apply sunscreen, and generally just hang around until the control officially opened. Groupo Suspecto exited the control just as it officially opened!

Wildflowers on the road to Dilkon

7 leaving Leupp

On the road to Dilkon, we were greeted with wild flowers and wild horses as we continued to enjoy a tailwind heading east to Dilkon. The route gets a little choppy with some rollers. Tom decided to drop off along the way and ride at a more sensible pace. And then there were six.

Dilkon Control

With a little route confusion outside Dilkon (Turn left when you see the Bashas!); we found John in the shade of one of the few trees in the area at the Dilkon Giant C-Store. Again, we arrived before the control opened and were able to take a leisurely break, enjoy the ample supplies, and roll out just as the control officially opened!

6 leaving Dilkon

Rolling out of Dilkon we entered a beautiful valley with interesting clouds, green grass, wildflowers, and hoodoo formations. This was another great route with interesting scenery around every turn!

Hoodoos outside Dilkon

We rejoined the traffic when we turned onto AZ 87 for the run to Winslow. Even with the building headwind, the downgrade helped us maintain our fast pace. Winslow was an open control and we mentioned to John that we wanted to stop at the 'Standn' on the Corner Monument' in downtown Winslow. Pow! As we rolled in, John pulled up and viola, an official control!

Oh my Lord, its a flatbed Ford! Where's the girl?

Roger and Bob in Winslow

We hit Control #5 in Winslow before it opened but decided to take a longer break and left about 30 minutes later. The route winds through Winslow and joins the I-40 Interstate for 6 miles before heading north and back to Leupp for a second time.

The route tilts up and with a building head and cross wind, Carl was the first to drop off the group. Just as we turned off the Interstate, I decided to let the group go, and the fast movers were soon out of sight. I rolled into Leupp while the group was still there. They rolled out and I decided to take a longer break and enjoy some shade.

Carl rolled in a few minutes later with building case of hot foot. John applied some first aid materials and we headed out for the final run to Flagstaff.

Leupp #2 John Ingold with the med kit

It is a long run to Flagstaff, so John established a water control 2/3rds of the way up the hill, so we had that goin' for us, which was nice!

There were several thunderstorms in the area, and while none unleashed rain on us directly, they blocked the direct sun and provided an evaporative cooling effect that made climbing into the wind much more tolerable.

Another 300 in the books!

Carl dropped off and I finished solo arriving in Flagstaff exactly 12 hours after the start. Another great brevet, with outstanding support, thanks John!

Steve Atkins