Inspired by $4/gallon, and having happily used the same rack configuration on my trip to Moab, I dropped about $700 to get a new Yakima Holdup rack and trailer hitches for the Prius and the Acura from a U-Haul dealer near work. It allows me to take 2 bikes on either car, in a simple configuration that should not provide too much drag against my mileage. I averaged about 40 mpg in the Prius with 2 bikes to Globe and back, vs our normal 45 – not too bad, in the mountains. The rack is about 5 minutes work to put on and take off, along with the hitch weighs about 80 lbs, and tucks up nicely when not in use. It takes about 20 seconds to mount a bike, and less than 10 to get it off. Did you say 10 seconds? Yes, 6 seconds in fact when i timed myself!

$6000 hanging off that tiny car.

Getting everything ordered and picked out involved a few hours ordering from Agee’s, several trips through Scottsdale from U-Haul to work on my rollerblades, and of course the assembly. It was not bad, but did not go ideally. I put the trays on reversed – not backwards, but there was an ambiguity in the directions and of course i stumbled on it. Then trying the lock that attaches to the hitch bolt, i realized it can not be gotten off due to some metal on the hitch. How i got that on there was really just an exercise in willful stupidity, but realizing my brand new rack was now irrevocably locked to my car, i pretty much shit my pants. So i hacksawed through one of the metal loops on the bottom of the hitch that appearred to have no structural value whatsoever. This was confirmed the next day by the U-haul guys, thankfully after 30 minutes lying on my back sawing and and getting iron dust in my eyes and hair.

Alex and I gave took it on its first run to join u2metoo (Sam) and skinny-tire (Jeff) climbing Pinal Peak and then descending Six Shooter Canyon. It was 2.5 hours, 15 miles and 4500 vf to the top. Miles 10-14 were tough, you had to keep gut-checking through to the next switchback. I wanted to stop, but Alex wasn’t, so I didn’t. I needed that!!! Finally mile 15 rolled us to the trailhead. Very steep, super-thin trail in places on loamy sandy soil with pine needles forced me to stay in control the whole way down…way in control. Some trials and b-lines have been added to the trail and we hit every one we could find. The best was a log ride that is unlike anything i have done before – basically roll down a log’s length. The first time i stopped right at the entrance, the second i rolled off outside but felt comfortable since i didn’t fall, and then got it a couple times finally for fun. the trick was to just focus on what was there to ride on, and not what was not there. More trials, rock gardens, jumps, loose stuff, and boostable step-downs at the bottom – really just a huge variety of challenges in the hour and 15 minutes down through the entire scope of AZ terrain from Pine Forest to High Desert to Desert.

at the parking spot there was a Honda Element and a Prius and we thought by gawd the meth heads are gonna knock off these big city treehuggers!!! It took Alex and me just an hour and a half to get home, awesome riding for being so close to the East Valley.

Some vid from Sam: