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Friday was another great ride in the desert.  There were just two of us, the weather was around 70F, and the trails were empty, given that most people were working.  We found some new trails in an area even closer to our houses as well as a better parking / staging area.  In addition, this staging area serves as a good target shooting location, but not both at the same time.

We covered about 30-40 miles (using fuel level as a gage) in two hours in all kinds of terrain.  Rock climbing, open two-lane with whoops, single technical trails, washes, you name it.  The cool thing is we literally ended up at our parking spot at the end of our ‘guessed’ loop.  This will make a great default ride in the future.

The interesting part for me is not so much the day’s event, but rather the combined riding I have been doing lately.  I have realized now that I competely enjoy the trail riding as its both challenging and relaxing at the same time.  The scenery is incredivble and the options are unlimited in terms of the route.  I said to my buddy when we were loading up the bikes to go home, “You know, the more I do this the less likely I will replace the SV650 track bike”.  And its true.

I like the track, no doubt.  But there are a couple of things that the desert offers that simply cannot matched at the track.  First of all, a track day is a full-day time commitment as well as a good amount of prep the night before.  Period.  Second, its no less than $200 per day when all is said and done - the desert is $15 per year to get a State Trust permit and BLM is free.  Not a big deal by itself, but when comparing the two side-by-side…  Third, for me the track day s not relaxing - its work, the scenery sucks (GB in UnderArmor in the pits ), and you have the same 10-15 turns all day.

Of course, each have their merits.  The track days help keep the red mist away when I’m in the mountains (I like to tell myslef that).  It is safer to some degree, and there are no speed traps.  But in the end, its a lot of effort to participate and its a lot of work to ride.  The desert trails, on the other hand, is rather relaxing no matter the difficulty level.  I can enjoy myself at any pace, and I’m in the middle of the mountains away from the city elements.  After a desert ride, I have never asked myself if it was worth the cost.

I’m not bagging on track days as I enjoy that too.  If there were a bunch of track around Phoenix where competition dropped the price and improved the track layouts, I’m sure I would have a different outlook.  But there isn’t at the moment.  Even with two kids, I can go out to the desert every Sunday morning (my wife takes the kids to the gym) to get my fix, change the oil every 5-10 rides and I’m good to go.  As a man of convenience and increasing age, this is likely my future.