Pistons Then Pedals

Living in the western United States, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by vast natural landscapes. We have millions of acres of untouched public land available for exploration. Also, some of the best-known towns in the country for gravel cycling and mountain biking are just a few hours away.

Sedona, which is famous for its red rocks and dramatic mesas, features many miles of trails. That is about two hours north of me.

To the south, there is Patagonia, Arizona. Patagonia is a small town which is developing a reputation as a gravel cycling mecca.

There are also many other locations within the state which provide ample opportunities for exploration by bicycle.

Why I’m Considering An Emphasis Shift From Road Cycling to Gravel

My focus has been as a road cyclist for years.  Road cycling carries a certain appeal for me. When I’m on the bike, the combination of exercise, speed, and immersion within my environment are therapeutic. I can only describe it as a feeling of disassociation.

Similarly, I’ve been riding with a fast-paced group on Saturday mornings. That has been pushing me to improve and develop my confidence. I’ve also met new friends.

However, as with anything, I feel like I’ve fallen into a bit of a rut. I’m not leaving road cycling, but I would like an opportunity to explore more of the backcountry by bicycle.

Modifying My Current Bicycle into a More Competent Gravel Rig

My plan is to adapt my steel-framed Fuji Jari into a more capable gravel road tourer. Covering ground on a gravel fire road sounds more appealing to me than technical singletrack. Plus, I’d like to avoid storing another bicycle for now.

I’ll be investing in another wheelset from Astral Cycling to do this. Then, the bike will get wider tires intended for gravel. It seems like the Jari can handle either 700x40c tires or maybe even 700x42c tires, but that needs to be confirmed.

It will also be my first foray into tubeless tires. There’s just too much prickly stuff everywhere in the desert to stay with tubes.

The current wheelset, which has a dynamo hub and Schwalbe Marathon tires, will still be on hand for urban exploration or bicycling touring. But that’s just not the setup I need right now.

My specific timeframe for this hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I imagine it will be soon. It’s warming up here in the desert and I’d like to be able to use this setup on the Mogollon Rim in a few months.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Arizona’s bicycling has to offer beyond the reach of pavement and traffic.