I don't disagree with anything you said, but...
I think you may have mischaracterized riding in the southwest. It is hardly open and flowy. while the vistas are open, the trails are not... for example, there is no cutting an inside line, and there is no margin for error in a turn. you can't cheat a bit and brush up against the vegetation on the inside (or outside) of a turn. whether rebar tree, jumping cholla, or saguaro, that shit will make you bleed. for months. or break your bones. don't mess with the vegetation in the southwest.
flowy is also hard to come by... my experience from my travels there are that the rocks are merciless. And much of the trails are technical. you can find the flow, but it requires work... and the right bike!
also, hats off to Llama. but I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry...
Jan. 24, 2018, 6:26 a.m. - slyfink
I don't disagree with anything you said, but... I think you may have mischaracterized riding in the southwest. It is hardly open and flowy. while the vistas are open, the trails are not... for example, there is no cutting an inside line, and there is no margin for error in a turn. you can't cheat a bit and brush up against the vegetation on the inside (or outside) of a turn. whether rebar tree, jumping cholla, or saguaro, that shit will make you bleed. for months. or break your bones. don't mess with the vegetation in the southwest. flowy is also hard to come by... my experience from my travels there are that the rocks are merciless. And much of the trails are technical. you can find the flow, but it requires work... and the right bike! also, hats off to Llama. but I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry...