Trail Lovers

• Trail Lovers is a company in Sedona, Arizona that takes people out on mountain bike tours.
• They offer solo or group rides for 2, 3, or 5 hours.
• The narrator chose a solo 5-hour tour to explore the best views of Sedona.
• They provide transportation to and from your hotel, a guide, and a bike rental.

“Trail Lovers rented me a bike, and we’re going to go out for five hours and hit all the trails that we can.”

Bike Specifications

• The narrator’s bike is an Evil Offering LS made out of carbon fiber.
• It has a Rockshox suspension and a SRAM Eagle AXS 12-speed transmission.
• The bike has wireless technology and Industry 9 Enduro Hydro wheels.
• It also features a dropper seatpost.

“It is an Evil Offering LS. It’s made out of carbon fiber; it has a Rock Shock suspension, the SRAM Eagle AXS 12-speed transmission. It’s wireless. It has industry 9 Enduro Hydro wheels and a dropper seatpost.”

Starting the Ride

• The first trail they start on is the Big Park Loop, which is a mellow trail in southern Sedona.
• They plan to ride approximately 3 miles to warm up and get used to the bikes.
• After that, they will head to the west side of Sedona to open things up.

“We’re going to start off with a pretty mellow trail, known as the Big Park Loop in southern Sedona. We’re going to shoot for about 3 miles, get used to the bikes, get a little warmed up, and then we’re going to head a little bit north to the west side of Sedona, where we’ll really open things up.”

Adjusting to the Bike

• The narrator mentions it will take some time to get used to the gears on the bike.
• They are using a wireless AXS Bluetooth gear system, which is different from what they are used to.
• They express the need to learn how to handle the gears and find the correct adjustments.

“[It’s taking] a little bit to get used to these gears.”

Challenging Trail Experiences

• The narrator finds some parts of the trail challenging, particularly a steep section.
• Their guide, Zach, shows them how to navigate the difficult part and encourages them to give it a try.
• They also mention that the trail looks easier from a distance than it does from the handlebars.

“We’re to the first part that I consider challenging for me, so right now, Zach’s going to show me how to attack this line, and then hopefully, I’ll get the guts to try it. The funny thing is, from here, it looks easy, but from, from the behind the handlebars, it does not.”

Enjoying the Ride

• The narrator expresses their enjoyment of the ride and the beautiful scenery.
• They mention that the weather is cold but feels much warmer due to their exertion.
• The narrator also mentions wearing protective gear and removing layers due to heat.
• Despite the physical challenge, they are excited about improving their biking skills.

“It is 37° out, but it feels a lot harder than that with the amount of energy I’m exerting. So I have gotten rid of the other shirt, threw on this one, in case you guys are wondering. I’m wearing the Leatt full chest protection with back protection and all kinds of stuff, so it’s providing heat. So I had to break into a T-shirt and yeah, let’s continue on.”

Summing Up the Ride

• They conclude the ride after 5 hours of biking.
• The narrator reflects on the physical demands of the ride and the need to dress appropriately.
• They expressed gratitude for their guide, Zach, who provided helpful tips and guidance throughout the ride.
• The narrator encourages viewers to explore the trails in Sedona, either by renting a bike or hiring a guide from Trail Lovers.

“Today was a great day to go riding, but it was also a great day for me to get better at my skills. One of the cool parts about hiring you as my guide today is that I finally had somebody that was able to look back and see how I was hitting these certain features and help me correct my riding. And to me, that’s one of the very important things, one of the things I wanted to do while out here.”