Sedona Arizona Marathon Bike Trip

Biking as much as we do, we are always looking, searching for new areas, trails and adventures. For quite some time Sedona Arizona has been on our list, but the 8 hour drive was just farther than we wanted to drive...normally. However, when we had a free weekend and over the edge sports had just published some pictures with a brief story about their trip, we decided it was time.

We left Utah at 5:00 Friday night and arrived home 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning. 17 hours driving, 12 hours biking. It was amazing!

We arrived in Sedona around 1 a.m. and found our campsite out side of town, with no real map, we were going on the details and explanation of the staff from Over The Edge, which luckily was accurate. We pitched a tent and were asleep by 2:30. We woke up at 6 and by seven were in the car ready for the first trail.

Our Morning View, no clouds, Bikes...we knew it was going to be a great day.

The First trail we rode was the Aerie/Cockscomb trail, a short 6-7 mile loop that is fun. It essentially winds around a small mountain, is somewhat technical in places but also flowy and fast in others, and the scenery was amazing. Definitely a repeat.

After the morning ride we headed into town to visit Over the Edge sports and get more beta about which trails to ride, including a map. (One side note here, there are trails all over Sedona and the map is not great, we got lost multiple times and even had a gps. Next time we plan to download tracks and follow them.)  We decided to do a big 35ish mile loop that started right at the shop. So we headed out of town;

And begun to climb, and Got Lost. But just look how gorgeous this area is.

We ended up doing Airport loop, the climb up was technical with baby head sized rocks, surrounded by cactus, but still a great time.

Flat tire, I hit a cactus.

Descending the airport loop is fun and scenic!

Now this is where the Pictures of Guthrie end. We began the actual real loop and my rear hub started having issues. I didn't want to get stuck out on the trail 15 miles from town so I rode back to the shop and rode a smaller loop closer to town that will still a blast, then rode in to meet Guthrie.

The new/used bike, (New to me) 2007 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert. I loved how it rode, plus now the blood doesn't show when it gets on the frame. This is where I waited for Guthrie.

He never showed because he got lost, and found his way back to town on a different trail, so I rode back to town alone, arriving at 6pm, just before dark.

We packed up the car and drove home. It took me 4 liters of mountain dew to make it home without falling asleep. I was in bed by 6am, then awake at 11 for church...I had to teach. Then I slept.

Sedona is an amazing place to ride, we will definitely be doing it again. However, some things we learned.

1- Gap (a town in AZ is creepy at night).

2- In Sedona, maps are not enough for a long ride. Ride with someone who knows the trails or download gps tracks before. (this is what we will be doing)

3- The trails and scenery are amazing, this is atleast a once or twice a year trip.

4- I want to go and stay over night to see the town, it looks sweet.

Christmas tree sledding.

Fun with family and Cousins!!

You know you've met Mike Gillings if. . . a 70th Birthday tribute!

My dad, Mike Gillings just turned 70, I hope at his age I still have the energy and vigor for life that he does.

Get to know him a little better.

You know you’ve met Mike Gillings if…

• On a week long scout trip the last advice to the scouts is “Say goodbye to your mom, you may never see her again”.


• When the word “only” is used to describe at 11 hour work day. Such as, “We only worked 11 hours today.”


• After a 12 hour work day you see a man on a “short” 12 mile run.


• When asking someone why they work on Saturday he responds, “The Lord said six days shalt thou work.”


• You share terrible event in your life and his response is “wait, I might have a tear in my eye. Nope, it must have been dirt.”


• If you fall, get injured and are in major pain and he says, “Wow that was awesome, get up.”


• After going on an amusement park ride a man comes up, shows you a bolt and says, “This fell out when we were riding.” Then when later asked, why do you have a bolt in your pocket he replies, “I always do, don’t you?”


• If when on a job and the superintendent says to the brick masons “after you are gone, I’m going to have to fix all your problems” a man climbs down off the scaffolding, pulls some change out of his pocket and says, “This should cover it.”


• When hiking and reaching the bottom of a large hill to rest he says, “You never rest at the bottom of the hill, only at the top.”


• If when hiking along and the rest of the group stops to rest and a 60+ man approaches and says, “I’m not stopping”.


• You see a man on a scaffold, blood running down his face with his hat pulled down tight, and you ask him what happened he says, “I sliced my head on the roof and the blood was getting in my eyes, so I pulled my hat on tight, now try to tie my hair together.”


• You leave to hang out with friends and he says, “If you get home late, my only rule is don’t wake me up.”


• If you see a man picking maggots out of his boiling ramen noodles, then still eating the noodles.


• If he describes a scout hike by saying, “Have you ever heard of Hell week in the army? This will be worse.”


• He falls asleep driving…or…marching…or…hiking…or…singing in church…or…while laying bricks…or…in a puddle during a snow storm.


• You see a man sitting on the stand in church popping little white pills.


• At 10:00 p.m. he falls asleep while talking to you.


• You see a 70 year old man who rides bikes, and then lift weights after working a full day.


• At 50 he could still out water ski anyone.


• You look into a pot, filled with anything he could find, and when asking what it is he responds, “Cowboy surprise.” Then his daughter leaves crying.


• When someone throws up in a car, causing a chain reaction his only response is, “Oh this is great.”


• When throwing up while sea fishing on a boat, his only response is, “Come do it over the side, it will attract the fish.”


• You see a man using a trowel with writing on it and you ask, “What is that?” and he responds, “The one the scouts presented to me, what else am I going to do with it?”


• He gets a wheelbarrow for Christmas, on HIS Lehi Block Credit.


• He suggests his “indestructible” son who is about to serve a mission hikes over the pass first to see if Lightning hits him.


• He describes gun owners as, “so wimpy he can’t fight so he needs a gun.”


• He backs into a gas station cover, smashes it and then looks at his son in the passenger seat and says; “Well, go tell them.”


• He describes you as a “Wuss”.


• He says to his kids, “if you eat your vegetables, you will grow up big and strong like your mom.”


• When on a hike another scout leader asks, “Who is this guy? Tie his shoe laces together next time you see him” as he mockingly waves to you from the top of the massive hill you have yet to climb.


• You meet a man running down Mt. Timpanogos with his severely dislocated arm in a sling because he didn’t want to waste money on the helicopter.


• He served more years than you are old in the scouting program.


• He leaves you behind on a camping trip and when you ask him why his only response is; “I said we were leaving at 5, you were late.”


• At a family party he is down stairs reading an encyclopedia because he is “Bored”.


• He opens and closes his flip phone multiple times because he doesn’t like or know how to use, the “back” button.


• You see numbers and addresses written on the unfinished wood wall of a house and he says, “Don’t cover that, I need it.”


• His address and information book looks more like fire kindling.


• At 70 he is in the 1% for weight, and health in his age class.


• He will serve in any calling for any amount of time and never complain while magnifying his calling.


• He has 4 of 5 children who served missions and 5 of 5 who are married in the temple and attributes it to “Just being Lucky”.

Here is the video: