News

VVCC Member Scott Hansen

We recently ran into Scott as we usually do, on mountain bikes, and were able to convince him to be our next 5 Minutes With victim. As you will see, Scott has an affinity for the victim especially as it applies to the true nature of mountain biking...

Hi Scott, could you tell our readers about yourself and family?

When I met my wife, Joanie, 30 years ago in Seattle, she had a mountain bike. I rode her rigid “fat” bike, told her it was too heavy and slow, and convinced her to get rid of it. A year later on a vacation to the southwest we traveled through Moab, rented mountain bikes, rode Slick Rock, and went back to Seattle. Within two weeks we had new, matching bikes and a year later started racing our mountain bikes in western Washington.

In ’95 we moved to Phoenix, rode our bikes all over Arizona, and 14 years later moved to Reno, NV. After 5 years we retired, sold our house and contents, and hit the road with our bikes pulling a small travel trailer.

Where all did you go?

We circled the US and parts of Canada for nearly two years riding lots of great trails. We then packed up the bikes and went looking for fresh dirt. We spent a year traveling to Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and much of Europe. When we returned, we circled the west in our trailer and decided to come through Sedona for a couple of rides. We found a nice piece of dirt in the village, built a small house, and moved here this January.

What are your favorite local trails and upcoming plans?

We usually ride locally on my favorites including the Turkey Creek, Templeton, and Llama trails. We will hit the road again later this summer with our trailer and Tui – our puppy who we hope will become a mountain biking dog.

Through the VVCC we have met many other transplanted dirt heads – the most welcoming people ever. We are very happy here and look forward to many years ripping it up with our new friends.

What equipment do you recommend mountain bikers carry on long rides?

Allen wrenches, pliers, and chain tools are just too heavy and often difficult to use. I don’t bring them anymore. Energy bars are too highly processed and may attract bears. Over the years I tried lots of things and finally learned to bring only what I use most frequently. My basic pack for long rides now includes just the following: beer, bone saw, raw meat, wooden stake, embalming fluid, and a body bag. However, I usually bring two body bags on really long rides.

Tell our readers about your favorite crash...

A few years ago, I was riding way too fast down Little Horse and decided to test my front brake in a technical downhill section. During the resultant long, inverted flight I pondered the meaning of life and revisited the reasons why I had become a mountain biker.

Thankfully, I landed on my head and right shoulder so there was no blood anywhere. I was dazed and confused, my right shoulder was separated, and I couldn’t move for quite a while. My riding buddies knew the mountain biker code and dared not break it. They counted to ten, I wasn’t up yet, so they rode off leaving me to die slowly and decay or possibly live long enough to fight off the mountain-biker-consuming coyotes that are so prevalent here in Sedona.

Since I had no experience fighting coyotes and knew that they could probably smell me from a long way off, I finally got up, mounted my dented steed, and rode down the trail to the Bell Rock parking area using just one arm. I was lucky to catch them as they were driving away. Everyone wanted to know if the bike was okay. It might have been at that point when I decided to draw my comic strip and try to capture the true essence of mountain biking.

What is this Bike Comic thing you do?

After retiring I found myself with lots of free time so I thought I would try to capture the true, gruesome and very dark side of the sport of mountain biking. After all, the sport of mountain biking is simply rolling around aimlessly in the dirt until you crash, die, and get consumed by hungry wildlife.

When not mountain biking, I enjoy drawing Thin Dirt Line comic strips using my mouse and laptop. Please note that any resemblance between the characters depicted and some of the mountain bikers in Sedona is purely intentional.

Thanks Scott - VVCC Member Update readers will be able to discover more of Scott's Bike Comic thing beginning in the June 1, 2019 update. Stay tuned.

 

May 2005 the Noise creative arts & news Verde Column

On November 8, 2018, 24 volunteers descended upon the Cultural Park to break ground on the Western Gateway Trail System in the first volunteer trail work day of the 2018-2019 season. Those volunteers constructed .14 miles of trail and cleared far more.

All in all, the RRRD scheduled 27 workdays with the last one ending right where we started at the Cultural Park on April 25th. Two work days were cancelled due to the Federal government shutdown and two due to snowmaggendon. Of the 23 workdays that were held, 19 involved building the Western Gateway, another officially opened the Transept Trail in the VOC, followed by workdays at Adobe Jack area, Boynton Canyon and Mund Wagon/Huckaby.

Workday sponsors included the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund/REI, the Friends of the Forest, Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Absolute Bikes, Keep Sedona Beautiful, Enchantment Resort, Wildland Trekking, Over the Edge Sports, and the VVCC.

550 volunteers contributed over 2,200 hours and constructed 7.88 miles of trail, maintained another 18.5 miles, adopted .6 miles and rehabbed 2.13 miles. 

A huge thank you to the volunteers, sponsors and RRRD! Photos courtesy of the RRRD.

Randy Young was recently elected by the VVCC Board to fill the unexpired term of Don Mathieu who resigned recently. We caught up with Randy via email to find out more about him.

Randy, in your profile on the VVCC Director's webpage, you stated that cycling played an important role in your youth. Would you care to expand upon that?

Cycling played a huge role in my life while growing up and continues to do so. Bikes were a way to get places, explore and represented freedom. Fair play that the cutest neighbour a fella could have growing up just so happened to be a very talented MTB rider. In youth, one can't find greater inspiration to ride than trying to keep up with a ponytail belonging to a classmate they have a crush on. As I got a little older I discovered road cycling and was hooked. My wife and I met cycling, so it is easy to say cycling has had a huge impact on my life. Without it I may have missed out on knowing the best person in the whole world. 

How long have you lived in the Verde Valley?

I have lived in the Verde Valley most of my life besides some brief moments of exploration and adventure. 

Besides bicycling, what do you like to do for fun?

Whisping a fly-line over head and gently landing a hand tied insect on a waterways shimmering surface has a special place in my heart. Besides fly-fishing and tying flies, more a hobby of my youth, I also enjoy music. My wife Emma and I really enjoy traveling, though that almost always involves cycling in one form or another. Having a beer after a ride with fellow riders is a fairly good time. Basically most of all,I like bikes. 

Favorite Food?

 am quite a food fan, my favourite food being any creamy pasta dish unless sweets count and then it is cheesecake for the win. 

Beer?

Any quality Flanders Red, a beer slightly less sour than Gose. They are fairly hard to find as they are aged and don't bottle or sustain well. Wonderlust out of Flag makes a great one. I also like Belgium's, Porters, Ambers, Sours and IPA. 

Bike?

My favourite bike is definitely whichever one I am riding at the moment. For most occasions of trail riding the Trek Fuel Ex performs spot on. Fastest road bike I have ever ridden is my Trek Emonda and for me a road being fast is a huge factor. All that said single speed is really my thing and the only bike out of my stable that I wouldn't sell is a Canfield Nimble 9 setup XT with a 30:17 gear. 

Color?

Favourite colour is green. 

Where was your last trip to? Where's your next trip going?

Emma and I last adventured to Wales in the UK. We combined bike parks with a road trip along the Welsh coast. A beautiful country with amazing hospitality and splendid places to cycle, we would definitely go back! 

In late May of this year we plan to fly to Ireland, hop on bikes and tour. Keeping it laid back we don't have a solid plan. Just ride and explore for a couple weeks. If we like a town or attraction stay a spell. 

What type of impact would you like to make on the VVCC Board?

The Verde Valley Cyclist Coalition has a lot of great things going on at the moment. Be it trail projects or Verde Valley Bikes for Kids there is a lot to be excited and passionate about. As for impact, my goal as a board member is to help wherever needed. Being a bike commuter, MTB rider and roadie I hope to represent all types of cycling well and assist the VVCC in all advocacy. As a member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to the City of Cottonwood, safe cycling on the roadways for commuters and and recreational riders alike is very important to me. I am very excited to be accepted to the VVCC Board and am looking forward to seeing where I can help out the most. 

Over 70 students who participate in the Verde Valley Bikes for Kids after school bike clubs from seven Verde Valley public elementary schools shredded the Sedona Bike Park this afternoon.

Students were joined by coaches, teachers, parents, school administrators and onlookers.

Participating schools included: Beaver Creek Elementary; Camp Verde Elementary; Cottonwood Community; Dr. Daniel Bright; Mountain View Academy; Oak Creek Elementary and West Sedona Elementary.

Originally conceived by VVCC road cyclist, Rich Leaver, the Verde Valley Bikes for Kids serves students in the above schools. In addition to after school bike club rides, the program will give away 32 bikes this year to students who have exceeded school requirements for grades, attendance, conduct and citizenship.

A great day at the bike park!

A great time at the spring picnic today. Thanks to all that participated and donated!

VVCC Sponsor Dave Biermann standing next to the Bike Repair Station he installed at Yavapai Vista

Inspired by a trip to her hometown in Ohio, Sedona Chamber President and VVCC sponsor, Jennifer Wesselhoff, led the effort to get six bike repair stations installed at the following locations:

City Bike Park

Adobe Jack

Chuckwagon

Bell Rock

Yavapai Vista

Fay Canyon (installation coming soon)

A huge thank you to the Bike Repair Stations sponsors:

Over the Edge

Rick Wesselhoff, Coldwell Banker

Red Agave

Biermann Construction (installing the stations for us)

Enchantment Resort

Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition

And the City of Sedona

The Red Rock Bike Patrol will manage maintenance of the stations.

Thank you, too, to the Red Rock Ranger District for allowing us to do this!

We recently caught up with Dora after the St. Paddy's Day VOC ride at PJs. Here's what she had to say...

How long have you lived in the VOC?

- I have been in VOC for 6 ½ months now

Where did you move here from?

- Anchorage, AK

Where were you born?

- Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

Tell us about your family...

- I have been married for a third of the century to Mr. Bob and have 2 sons, one lives in Anchorage, who works in Telecommunications, loves to fly and be outdoors and the other one lives in Flagstaff, working at the Snowbowl and going to school.

What do you like about the VVCC?

- I really enjoy the group for their participation in maintaining and patrolling the trails systems, giving back to the community and the friendship that they have given to both my husband and I.

What do you not like about the VVCC?

- There are too many older people than me that kicks my butt on the trail 

Who has a stronger accent, Arianna Huffington or you?

- Must be her, because I have a perfect American Accent

VVCC and SRRTF's Presidents, Marty Glinsky and Kevin Adams, discussed the VVCC and SRRTF's activities at today's OLLI Lunch and Learn. After the event, OLLI Facilitator, Dr. Paul Friedman, sent the following:

"I was delighted to see that your L&L session was of such widespread interest that it attracted a roomful of people--and they were so intrigued by what you had to say that many stayed late to chat with you.

It was remarkably informative and engaging.  I had no idea that the VVCC has grown so much and has such a wide range of activities, or that the VVTF has made such big strides in its fund-raising efforts."

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Verde Valley and Sedona is a self-directed membership organization within Yavapai College. It has been created to meet the needs and interests of retirement-age people. The Institute recognizes the unique experiences and capabilities of its members by emphasizing and encouraging peer learning, member participation, collaborative leadership and social interaction. Lively discussions, plus experiential opportunities in personal growth, cultural and environmental explorations provide members a rich, continuing educational experience.

When the Festival gates were open at 9AM every morning, riders were rushing to 1) Buy Raffle Tickets or 2) Get their demo bikes?

When 8+ inches of snow fell on February 21-22, the prospects of a having a 2019 Sedona MTB Festival were bleak. But where Mother Nature giveth, she also takes away as the temperatures warmed, the Forest Service gave the go ahead and the Festival began on time!

Leading up to the Festival, the VVCC partnered with the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund on a combined raffle with ticket sales online during the month of February and onsite at the Festival. The raffle alone raised over $16,000 with the Giant bike giveaway a big draw.

Beer token sales and tips generated another ~$4,300 in trail contributions.

Exhibitors also got in the act with 510 selling hats to benefit our trails and Bike Magazine sponsoring Saturday night's film showing with those combined proceeds - ~$2,000 -  all going to the trails.

VVCC VP Dan Blaettler (L) and Prez Marty Glinsky (R) looking pleased at the Festival's fundraising results are being tallied

A very successful Sedona MTB Festival is now in the books. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and/or purchased raffle tickets.