Sedona Cycling: mind-blowing scenery, a fat tire paradise

Sedona is THE place for fat tire enthusiasts to get their jones on, year-round. The area has mild weather, mind-expanding scenery and interesting diversions like river crossings, mystical red rock landmarks, slickrock playgrounds and even hidden Anasazi ruins to explore.

"It's like biking on Mars," began Sedona's Mountain Bike Heaven wrench George Jones. "We've got more single track than Moab."

Jones said a lot of people come back from Moab disappointed with the lack of single track and plethora of jeep roads. "Then they bike out here and never leave. We have slickrock too, just ours is a little redder."

Flagstaff bike-a-holic Dave Snowberg said the best reason to bike is Sedona is "because you can." In other words, the clement climate means one can bike year round.

"I just went biking at night in Flag with halogen lights," Snowberg described. "Lots of ice patches made it dangerous, not to mention it being 20 degrees out. You can't really ride up here because even when there's no snow, there's ice." For low-elevation Phoenicians, 4,000-foot Sedona offers a cooler haven, with cleaner air, for springtime cycling.

"The thing Sedona has is great riding, great climate, great views...and biking available 365 days a year," Craig Crawford, owner of Sedona's Bike and Bean, enthused. "It's terribly unique."

"It's hard to beat the scenery. It's as close as you can get to wilderness without really being out in it," said Flagstaff cyclist Scott Lappi, sipping his Bike and Bean latte. "The area provides a variety of terrain; there's really something for everyone, regardless of ability."

A couple of caveats should be noted before setting off to ride this fabled Eden of red, red rocks. Though perched beneath the Mogollon Rim - and capable of seeing a bit of snow from time to time - this is still desert riding. Remember to bring plenty of water for your epic, some food bars or energy gel, sunscreen, spare tubes and your emergency bike repair tools.

Management at Mountain Bike Heaven shop recommends always "sliming" your tires, to prevent sudden flats from prickly trail vegetation.

A windbreaker stuffed in your Camelbak is another a good idea - in Sedona the weather can change suddenly, leaving you chilled and miserable. Stay on the trails and off the living 'cryptobiotic crust' - the living dirt that keeps the fragile soil from eroding away.

It's call whether you purchase a Red Rock Pass at the parking lots, but be prepared to accept the consequences of being ticketed if you feel rebellious. Lastly, ride responsibly, yielding the trail to hikers and equestrians (and those sweaty folks biking uphill when you're breezing down).

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