Group Ride: Sedona -- Saturday, October 24th (morning)

[Michael]

I have to be back in town at a reasonable time. Don't think I will be sticking around in Jerome for the festivities. If we get breakfast in Prescott, we should skip food at Waffle house otherwise we will not be leaving the valley till closer to 8:00. Also, I agree that a quick bite in Sedona would be better than Jerome as there are only a handful of restaurants and all are mind numbingly slow.

Breakfast
- I wanted to eat at Waffle House at 6:00am and then leave by 7:00am. And the idea there is if some guys didn't want to get up that early to be there by 6am, or were running late, then they would at least have that hour window.

So kickstands up -- gas in tank, food in stomach -- by 7:00am

Jerome
- I'm all for stopping in Jerome, but nothing more than just a rest stop or a quick lunch. I'm with Chuckles, I got stuff going on in the afternoon I've got to get back to.

Eating and Getting Gas
- No pun intended. I think Dietrich has the right idea. And whether we eat lunch in Jerome or Sedona is fine by me. I eat light anyway.

It sounds like Jerome would be a cool place to eat lunch, and we could probably beat the lunch crowd, even if there are events going on there that day. And if it turns out to be mad crowded, then we can just skip it; if not, then I'd love to hear a local band while I eat.

Rest Stops
I'd like to stop more often than not, even if it's just to pull off to the side of the road and shake out my arms. I don't have fancy-pants cruise control or grip pads, so I find my right arm and hand need regular breaks or they'll fall asleep.

[Dietrich]

I eat light anyway.

riiight! Mr.DoublePiezoockie!  hahaha! 

I'd like to stop more often than not, even if it's just to pull off to the side of the road and shake out my arms. I don't have fancy-pants cruise control or grip pads, so I find my right arm and hand need regular breaks or they'll fall asleep.

I think a few of us are used to running through a tank of gas without stopping, but I'm sure you won't have any complaints about a rest here and there.  Just make it somewhere scenic, give plenty of signal before pulling off, and we'll get some pics!

[brickdogg]

Michael,

count me in, how long do you expect the whole circuit to take?


I am trying to figure out how far I can ride before I need to split off to head to work.

Thanks!

[Michael]

If we leave right at 7:00am, go 75 mph non-stop, never slow down, then we'll all be home before 11:00am.

Seriously though, I'd guess 2:00pm (maybe 3:00pm at the latest).

Google says it'll take 6 hours, but someone else might be able to chime in and give you a more life-experienced answer.

The problem though, brickdogg, is that you can't just turn around and go back the way you came. I mean, you can, but that will be longer than the second leg of the trip (straight down I-17).

Here's what I would do, when we get to Prescott (just after we leave Jerome) decide whether or not to continue on to Sedona with us. If we're in Prescott and you have to be home within 2 hours, turn down highway 69 south and take the I-17 back to Phoenix. However, if we're in Prescott and you have at least 3 hours to spend, then continue on with us for the rest of the trip.

Now, I'm just using Google maps to recalculate the route, and I don't know what part of town you actually live in. If you're in AJ, then add another hour to that little scenario.

What time do you have to be home, anyway? 

[IZ]

The ride is going up Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks and back down, right?

[brickdogg]

thanks Michael, that is kinda what I was thinking of doing.  I have to be at work at about 1:30-2:00.  I intend to go right to work so no extra stop at home or anything.

[Dietrich]

The ride is going up Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks and back down, right?

Doesn't look like it IZ.  That would add a bit of time as it puts you nearly to Flag when you pop back out on I-17.  The first map in this thread is the proposed route.

For what it's worth I've made it from my house to Prescott in under 2 hours.  Of course I was trying to catch up to the rest of the group when I overslept.    If you plan to turn around in Prescott I would vote for going back the way we came, through the twisties.  White spars is the most fun road in the state IMHO.

[Michael]

The ride is going up Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks and back down, right?

Well, no ... like Dietrich said, we're just planning on Route #1. Route #3 included Oak Creek Canyon and only one person voted it, versus the four people who voted for Route #1. And the road up Oak Creek Canyon was really the only difference between those two routes.

Although ... for the sake of discussion ... if we just go up Oak Creek Canyon, not all the way to I-17, and come back down and then on Highway 179 as planned, that might be more appealing to the guys who didn't want to vote for #3.

Here is what that route would look like -- .

Is anyone opposed to that?

It'll add 34 miles to the trip (and probably another half hour at least), but I'm sure it'll be beautiful.

[Dietrich]

If traffic is light, and we're making good time I might be up for a run up the canyon.  Every single time I've been through there though I just get stuck behind RV's, gaggles of harleys, or white-knuckled automobile drivers.   

[Michael]

- New oil and new oil filter ... check
- Cleaned and sprayed the chain with Chain Wax ... check
- Measured the air in both tires ... check

[rule62]

Black Crowes at the State Fair last night was AWESOME - check

[Dietrich]

- swingarm shim adjustment ... check
- passenger peg mod complete ... check
- midnight shakedown run in shorts and sandals ... check
- kick tires to check for inflation ... check

 

FYI - Guys, history has proven that these rides take longer than anticipated, to much the dismay of significant others patiently waiting at home.  I would figure on rolling back to Phoenix around 3pm.  If you need to be back earlier then cut out at Prescott, which will still be an awesome group ride and save you at least a couple hours. 

The fact is even though on bikes we tend to have a higher average speed than autos & trucks, we make more stops for gas, rests, pics, etc., so it really takes about the same time the mapping sites suggest. Plus food stops.

Really looking forward to this one, hope to see some new faces!

[pennyrobber]

-Forget to check tire pressure...check
-Forget to clean bugs off of visor...check
-Drink too much the night before...check

[IZ]

I was just going to post a similar comment Penny!

Gas leaking from tank=Check
Multiple oil leaks=check
Fuses still blowing=check
Box of 25 extra "15" fuses=check  *think I should I buy more than that??
No nails or foreign object puncturing tires *AT THIS TIME)=check
No turn signals (or headlight/tail light when fuse is blown)=check!!
Still dirty as all hell?! CHECK!!


Did I miss anything?

[hoyden]

FYI - Guys, history has proven that these rides take longer than anticipated, to much the dismay of significant others patiently waiting at home. 

the who what? at home?!? 

bike=check
gear=check
alarm clock set=check
medications=check....