Rapha Continental -The Navajo Nation Ride by Dave Wyman
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Rapha Continental -The Navajo Nation Ride
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  1. Dave Wyman's Gallery
  2. Rapha Continental -The Navajo Nation RideRapha Continental -The Navajo Nation Ride
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It was my privilege to serve as the "host" for the Rapha Continental ride, which wound its way around, through, up and down Navajo country, in North Eastern Arizona.


The route began from the parking lot of the Thunderbird Lodge, at the mouth of Canyon de Chelly National Monument. We rode through colorful red rock country, past a variety of Navajo communities, including Chinle, Many Farms, Round Rock, Tasile, and Lukachukai.


Much thanks to Jean Ray, who both drove much of the way to and from Arizona, and who served as the support vehicle/photography vehicle driver.


Technical Note: All photographs made with a Panasonic Lumix TZ5 digicam, which was compact and offered a terrific zoom range, from wide to telephoto.

Riding with Members of the Rapha Continental Team
Dying Technology
We approached the start of the ride from Southern California, passing along a stretch of old Route 66 in Arizona at sunset. It's too bad we could bike to the start of the ride, or take public transportation - I'm not sure which would have caused more difficulty.
Sunset Over Route 66
We Stop at a Navajo Rodeo
Along Highway 191
The "Indian Country" map, put out by the Auto Club, is my favorite map - I love the colors and, to my ear, exotic-sounding names.
Big Sky Reflection at 60mph over Jeans Windshield
Sunset Over Navajo Country
The Arizona sky was troubled the night before the ride.
Dawn Breaks over the Rapha Van
We planned for a 7:00 start. This was the wake-up view from my motel room.
Dominick
Rapha Continental Coordinator Daniel Wakefield Paisely
Velodramatic - The Team Photographer
Velodramatics blog, with his amazing cycling blog, is here.

Velodramatic Revealed
Michael Robertson was out early making photographs of the Rapha riders.
Dave - The Videographer
Unleashing the Rapha Steeds at Thunderbird Lodge
Rapha Van
First Things First - Breakfast
Time to Ride
Our 7 a.m. departure turned into an 8:30 a.m. departure, with the sun quickly warming the desert landscape. The predicted high was 94 degrees, but an unusually early cloud bank kept temperatures down for a while.
Early Morning Thunder Clouds at 25 mph
As we headed toward the base of a distant mesa, our speeds reached 25+ mph - far higher than I'm used to pedaling for any sustained amount of time. It probably wasn't particularly fast for the Rapha team.
Riding by One of the Local
Near the little community of Many Farms (Dáʼákʼeh Halání in Navajo), AZ
Flat Tire Repair
Other than a few flats, we encountered few problems during the ride.
Flat Tire Break
The Road Turns East
After a long pull to the north, our road began to head eastward, toward a short climb and the community of Round Rock. For the most part, roads were devoid of traffic.
Past the Mesa
This mesa and it's accompanying badlands marked the northern edge of our ride.
Approaching the Round Rock Trading Post
After our fast-paced beginning, and the short climb below the mesa, I was beginning to tire.
We Meet Another Local
He Should Have Been Riding with Us
Everyone we met on the ride was friendly, including this cyclist near the junction of Highway 191 and Indian Route 12.
At Tsé Nikání (Round Rock)
The van followed us into Round Rock, where we took a short break before turning south, toward the base of the big climb of the day, up to Buffalo Pass.
Cole Purchases H2O for the Van
Round Rock Trading Post
Bruised Cyclists Legs
I'm not sure how Hahn banged up his legs - I was too tired to think to ask.
Approaching Lukachukai
Kansas leads the van into the community of Lukachukai (in English,"Many White Reeds"), at the 50 mile mark - about halfway - into the ride. I was glad for the break, as my legs had been cramping, on and off, for the past several miles.
In the Tatsoh Trading Post, Lukachukai
I Am Revivified with a Navajo Pickle
Rarely have I been as tired on a long ride as I was when I rolled into Lukachukai. With my legs feeling like blocks of wood, and the climb to Buffalo Pass just ahead - 2,000 feet or so with a series of grades that reached at least 16% - I wondered if I'd have to accept a ride in the van. (I also wonder why I'm willing to show this photograph, made, I believe, by Kansas).

However, chomping down a violently salty Navajo pickle, downing half a bottle of Gatorade, resting 15 minutes or so, and ingesting two electrolyte tablets, compliments of Dominick, brought me back from the edge.
Dave
The videographer took a break with the rest of the group.
Pierre
Pierre was King of the Mountain, the first to summit Buffalo Pass.
Departing Lukachukai
Beginning the Climb to Buffalo Pass
We began the second half-century; the start of the climb led through a series of massive sandstone monoliths.
More Locals in the Chuska Mountains
Pines Instead of Sagebrush
The terrain began to change rapidly, the landscape losing it desert sage, but gaining pinyon pines and then ponderosa pines. Eventually we broke through the phalanx of sandstone monoliths, and climbed onto the pine-covered slopes of the Chuska Mountains. Pierre was in front, the rest not far behind him, and I trailed in the rear, keeping my own pace, keeping the cadence going while listening to music on my mp3 player.
Lunch Break
After gaining the summer, which included views out into New Mexico, we dropped own several tight turns to a Navajo food stand.
Navajo Food Stand Just Below Buffalo Pass (8,400 Feet)
Navajo Chef
A beautiful, young Navajo woman, Roberta Nez, prepared our lunch.
Kansas Attacks a Navajo Taco
Daniel
Hahn
Runt of the Litter
Its a Dogs Life
Diverting Ourselves with a Little Climb
This photograph was made as Cole made his way down a sandstone slab, into which some shallow cuts have been placed for reasons unknown. I had earlier followed him up the slab, much to my discomfort as my bike shoes began to slip close to where the slope leveled off.
On the Sandstone
Perhaps the view was the reason someone put those cuts into the rock.
Pierre, Albert and Kansas Hanging Out at the Totsoh
The lower reaches of Indian Route 13, which had taken us from Lukachukai up to Buffalo Pass, were blasted by a dust storm as we made our way back to the Totsoh Trading Post. We took a short break as the winds died down.

After arriving at the trading post, I thought perhaps I should climb into the van. I knew I could finish the century, but I didn't want to hold up the Rapha riders. Everyone encouraged me to continue - at my own pace - and I did. One or even all of the riders always stayed with me, or let me escape up the road for a while.
Riding with Members of the Rapha Continental Team

Riding with Members of the Rapha Continental Team  133 views

Dying Technology

Dying Technology  129 views

Sunset Over Route 66

Sunset Over Route 66  129 views

We Stop at a Navajo Rodeo

We Stop at a Navajo Rodeo  128 views

Along Highway 191

Along Highway 191  129 views

Big Sky Reflection at 60mph over Jeans Windshield

Big Sky Reflection at 60mph over Jeans Windshield  128 views

Sunset Over Navajo Country

Sunset Over Navajo Country  128 views

Dawn Breaks over the Rapha Van

Dawn Breaks over the Rapha Van  128 views

Dominick

Dominick  130 views

Rapha Continental Coordinator Daniel Wakefield Paisely

Rapha Continental Coordinator Daniel Wakefield Paisely  131 views

Velodramatic - The Team Photographer

Velodramatic - The Team Photographer  139 views

Velodramatic Revealed

Velodramatic Revealed  134 views

Dave - The Videographer

Dave - The Videographer  135 views

Unleashing the Rapha Steeds at Thunderbird Lodge

Unleashing the Rapha Steeds at Thunderbird Lodge  146 views

Rapha Van

Rapha Van  139 views

First Things First - Breakfast

First Things First - Breakfast  99 views

Time to Ride

Time to Ride  97 views

Early Morning Thunder Clouds at 25 mph

Early Morning Thunder Clouds at 25 mph  119 views

Riding by One of the Local

Riding by One of the Local  109 views

Flat Tire Repair

Flat Tire Repair  97 views

Flat Tire Break

Flat Tire Break  98 views

The Road Turns East

The Road Turns East  101 views

Past the Mesa

Past the Mesa  96 views

Approaching the Round Rock Trading Post

Approaching the Round Rock Trading Post  98 views

We Meet Another Local

We Meet Another Local  96 views

He Should Have Been Riding with Us

He Should Have Been Riding with Us  100 views

At Tsé Nikání (Round Rock)

At Tsé Nikání (Round Rock)  107 views

Cole Purchases H2O for the Van

Cole Purchases H2O for the Van  100 views

Round Rock Trading Post

Round Rock Trading Post  110 views

Bruised Cyclists Legs

Bruised Cyclists Legs  99 views

Approaching Lukachukai

Approaching Lukachukai  100 views

In the Tatsoh Trading Post, Lukachukai

In the Tatsoh Trading Post, Lukachukai  106 views

I Am Revivified with a Navajo Pickle

I Am Revivified with a Navajo Pickle  105 views

Dave

Dave  101 views

Pierre

Pierre  98 views

Departing Lukachukai

Departing Lukachukai  102 views

Beginning the Climb to Buffalo Pass

Beginning the Climb to Buffalo Pass  102 views

More Locals in the Chuska Mountains

More Locals in the Chuska Mountains  101 views

Pines Instead of Sagebrush

Pines Instead of Sagebrush  103 views

Lunch Break

Lunch Break  104 views

Navajo Food Stand Just Below Buffalo Pass (8,400 Feet)

Navajo Food Stand Just Below Buffalo Pass (8,400 Feet)  104 views

Navajo Chef

Navajo Chef  106 views

Kansas Attacks a Navajo Taco

Kansas Attacks a Navajo Taco  106 views

Daniel

Daniel  102 views

Hahn

Hahn  101 views

Runt of the Litter

Runt of the Litter  422 views

Its a Dogs Life

Its a Dogs Life  419 views

Diverting Ourselves with a Little Climb

Diverting Ourselves with a Little Climb  422 views

On the Sandstone

On the Sandstone  419 views

Pierre, Albert and Kansas Hanging Out at the Totsoh

Pierre, Albert and Kansas Hanging Out at the Totsoh  422 views

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