Dave31
Active Member
The other day I decided to ride up the back side of the Catalina mountains using the Old Mt. Lemmon highway.
Tried one time to make it up on the BoXer but it was just too steep for the gearing I had at the time. Wasn't sure if the 36t on the hardRock was going to work but it did.
My journey began at Peppersauce canyon, few miles from Oracle,AZ. I decided to truck my bike as it would have taken all day just to ride their from my home not to mention crazy amount of fuel I would need. In the end, the decision to truck my bike saved my butt. I still feel like I was on a episode of animal planets "I survived".
Did not carry too much with me on this trip other then 3 tubes, 2 patches; enough tools to change tires and water a few snacks to munch on. Normally i only carry one patch and one extra tube. Something told me to take more this time.
The first 5 miles was nice until i had my first flat on the front. Patched it was on my way again.
Then, I hit a huge rock with the rear and immediately the tire went flat. When i pulled the tire off realized this tube is gone, tossed in a spare.
I did not get but 2 miles and the rear went flat again! Looked like another pinch? Used another spare tube, i even questioned myself if i should continue or turn around back down the mountain. But i still had one spare tube and one patch i figured i was okay to keep going.
Nope! 3/4 of the way up rear went flat again this time with a huge thorn. Instead of patching I tossed in my last tube i was so close to the top I just wanted to get it over with by this time.
Six miles from the top the rear went flat again, this time i could not get my patch to hold. I must have pulled that rear tire off a dozen times. Tried patching all the tubes just would not hold. I tried black tape, duct tape, cutting a tube to make patches.
After a while of trying to Macgyver a tube to hold air it was getting late and I had to make a decision. I knew I had to abandon my bike, but do i continue walking up the mountain and looking for help? Or do I try to walk out of here to my truck?
So I stashed my bike under a tree and covered it with bushes. 5 1/2 hours later i finally made it to my truck. I was so tired I did not even want to go back to get my bike. I thought about abandoning it for good. I even started to drive back home when i thought, tomorrow i will feel better and regret leaving my bike. Turned around and made the long crazy drive back up the mountain.
Two attempts to go up it on a motorized bicycle and both times i failed. One day i will be the fist to ride up the back side on a motorized bicycle. it will be conquered.
Tried one time to make it up on the BoXer but it was just too steep for the gearing I had at the time. Wasn't sure if the 36t on the hardRock was going to work but it did.
My journey began at Peppersauce canyon, few miles from Oracle,AZ. I decided to truck my bike as it would have taken all day just to ride their from my home not to mention crazy amount of fuel I would need. In the end, the decision to truck my bike saved my butt. I still feel like I was on a episode of animal planets "I survived".
Did not carry too much with me on this trip other then 3 tubes, 2 patches; enough tools to change tires and water a few snacks to munch on. Normally i only carry one patch and one extra tube. Something told me to take more this time.
The first 5 miles was nice until i had my first flat on the front. Patched it was on my way again.
Then, I hit a huge rock with the rear and immediately the tire went flat. When i pulled the tire off realized this tube is gone, tossed in a spare.
I did not get but 2 miles and the rear went flat again! Looked like another pinch? Used another spare tube, i even questioned myself if i should continue or turn around back down the mountain. But i still had one spare tube and one patch i figured i was okay to keep going.
Nope! 3/4 of the way up rear went flat again this time with a huge thorn. Instead of patching I tossed in my last tube i was so close to the top I just wanted to get it over with by this time.
Six miles from the top the rear went flat again, this time i could not get my patch to hold. I must have pulled that rear tire off a dozen times. Tried patching all the tubes just would not hold. I tried black tape, duct tape, cutting a tube to make patches.
After a while of trying to Macgyver a tube to hold air it was getting late and I had to make a decision. I knew I had to abandon my bike, but do i continue walking up the mountain and looking for help? Or do I try to walk out of here to my truck?
So I stashed my bike under a tree and covered it with bushes. 5 1/2 hours later i finally made it to my truck. I was so tired I did not even want to go back to get my bike. I thought about abandoning it for good. I even started to drive back home when i thought, tomorrow i will feel better and regret leaving my bike. Turned around and made the long crazy drive back up the mountain.
Two attempts to go up it on a motorized bicycle and both times i failed. One day i will be the fist to ride up the back side on a motorized bicycle. it will be conquered.
