2022 Scorpion 600km Brevet

 

Sunrise at Sonora Desert Preserve

Mike Sturgill gives the rider brief

Day 1

Just under a dozen riders lined up for the unsupported Scorpion 300/400/600 events. Mike Sturgill was riding the 300, and once he completed the instructions, we all rode out together just before dawn.

James and Debbie from Green Valley

At the start of most brevets, the group is fired up and heads out like a bullet from a gun. Today I decided to start at a very easy warm-up pace and try to keep that pace all weekend. James and Debbie were using a 'slow but steady' pace also and we rode together at the back of the group.

Many balloons launching in the park.

I dropped off the pace about an hour after the start for a nature break and spotted a mass balloon launch over the shoulder! James and Debbie were caught at the light on Cave Creek and we were back together.

First control in Carefree

We reached the first control in Carefree about 2 hours after the start. James and Debbie rolled through but I stopped to fill bottles and grab some provisions. It's 45 miles to the next control in Wickenburg, and my goal was to make it there non-stop. Top off the bottle, grab a Frappuchino and some Oreo cookies, and I'm back on the road.

Rolling though Cave Creek and back to the Carefree highway, the route turns west for the 40 mile run to US 60. Traffic is heavy until we pass Lake Pleasant but thins out in the open desert. Winds that were on the nose all morning are now light and favorable as we head west and north!

Yarnell Hill Sentinel

I arrived in Wickenburg around 11am and stopped at a convenience store for a quick sandwich and a 15 minute break before heading toward Congress and the Yarnell hill. It is starting to warm up, so I stop 16 miles later in Congress to top off the bottles with ice and grab some chips and a Mountain Dew!

The Green Toad is on watch at the base of the climb, but does not appear to notice my passing, and I roll right by! Its 6 miles of steady climbing up Yarnell hill. The views are fantastic, and we reach Yarnell, but not before the temperatures hit 90!

Its a bit cooler in Peeples Valley and I stop at the Mountainaire Convenience store. Its only another 30 miles to Prescott, but those miles go over the White Spar mountains, so I grabbed a cold drink and took a break in the shade and visited with a motorcyclist who was also passing through.

White Spar Mountains

Back on the road, I enjoyed a gentle tailwind through Peeples Valley and the climb to Wilhoit. Just past the town, a few twists and turns bring you to great views of the White Spar Mountains. Today, even a little snow is still visible.

High point of the ride!

Don't be fooled by the descent, its only one of several 'intermissions' on the climb to 6100 feet outside of Prescott! Reaching the high point, its only one more roller before the 3 mile descent into town and the turn around at the Yavapai County Courthouse.

Yavapai County Courthouse

There are many places for a sit-down meal in Prescott. I opt for speed and stop at a convenience store on the way out of town for a can of Hearty Campbell soup. Feeling the salt stains all over my body and kit, I figure a sodium reload is necessary, so a V8 Juice and more chips are the 'side dish.' The sun is going down, so I finish my sidewalk meal and saddle up to head back the way I came!

Sunset on the 'Spars'

Leaving the Spars in a light show!

Back in the mountains for the return, the sunset provides new and spectacular lighting around nearly every corner! This was clearly the high point of the ride!

Peeples Valley at Sunset

With the sun fully beyond the horizon, and the air rapidly cooling, I stop to add a clothing layer at Kirkland Junction. With all the descending, we are back in Peeples Valley in no time. So with a full bottle I skip the stop at the Mountainaire store and press on through Yarnell and the descent to Congress for the next stop.

Most of this went down the hatch!

A banana and another Frappuchino in Congress held me over until the big feast in Wickenburg. Luckily, I arrived a few minutes before the McDonalds dining room closed at 10pm! After that reload, the only stop I made before the hotel was to pick up a couple of chocolate milks for the room. I checked in about 0130, cleaned up, made some soup, tossed down a chocolate milk, and was in the sack by 0230.

Day 2

Another sunrise on Sonoran Desert Drive

I woke a few minutes before the alarm went off at 0600 and cooked some oatmeal in the room microwave. Kinda rubbery, but better with some chocolate milk mixed in! Checked out, packed the drop bag and headed back out on the road at 0640.

The plan was to ride to the Circle K at Pinnacle Peak and have a hot breakfast there. Its 24 miles into the day, but more importantly, at the top of 9 mile hill. Easy downhill riding after a good breakfast is a great way to start the day.

I found a hot croissant sandwich and a large Frappuchino and settled in at the shaded picnic table for a great meal. It was delicious and in retrospect, maybe I should have gotten two sandwiches! Another rider, not on the brevet, who was visiting from New Hampshire on a rented bike joined me for breakfast.

Wildflowers near Fountain Hills

It took about 20 minutes to descend the 9 miles toward the Verde River, I was in no rush and enjoyed the easy riding. Turning toward Fountain Hills, one of the few tailwinds of the day kicked in and soon I was rolling through town. I decided to continue to Fort McDowell, about 5 miles further along the route, to make another snack/water stop.

Verde River at Ft. McDowell

The heat was on and building on the run up the Beeline Highway. I spotted another rider up the road and caught him about a mile from the top of the climb. He was not on the brevet, but seemed eager for company and we visited until the road tilted up at the Bush Highway exit ramp. It was over 90F by the time I reached top and with the wind it felt like a convection oven!

Its a nice descent to Saguaro Lake and trying to build speed for a steep roller the front wheel feels a tad mushy. A few minutes later, at the top of the roller I check the tire and its almost flat. I found a shady spot to change the tube and was soon back on the road and the building heat.

Chez Circle K, sidewalk seating in the shade please!

The last official control was in Mesa with 50 miles to go. I rolled into a Circle K for a brevet dog and some chips. I figured to make one more water stop before the finish, but ended up missing timing the stop and running low on water in the residential 'desert' of Sweetwater Ave and 56th Street between 104th Street and Bell Road!

Two Circle Ks on opposite corners were my oasis at 56th and Bell! I topped off the bottles at one, and enjoyed an ice cream at the other ( the first one's freezer was broken!) before putting the last 15 hot miles of this one in books.

Rolling into the hotel at 5:27, this one was done in 35 hours and 27 minutes!  This completes my brevet Super Randonner series for 2022, but there is still time sign up for the 'near' Kitt Peak 400 and 600 brevets on April 9. Check out Azbrevet.com for all the details!

Thanks for riding along!

Final statistics

The Scorpion 600 is in the bag!

Click here for GPS data