Urban Bike To Downtown Scottsdale

The trip distance both ways from my house to Downtown Scottsdale: 41 miles, with some small detours. The destination was arbitrary. I figured Cartel Coffee was going to be open so I headed toward it from the North side of Mummy Mountain then down the streets near Scottsdale Road through places like the under ground parking and interior courtyard under Camelview Plaza where I saw  at least a dozen people being pulled by their dogs.

Scottsdale on a Sunday morning is pretty empty, but not completely. When I rode by The Breakfast Club all seats were full and it looked like a bunch of people were waiting for their turn at some morning grub. It must be good. After some here and there, I decided to have a latte to go at Cartel Coffee. I like this Cartel location and maybe even Downtown Scottsdale. It has a good feel and down to earth human sized feel. I'd avoid the busy tourist times, but that's easy. To my surprise it was quite busy. The latte and I took a seat on a bench near the canal - left bottom photo - it was great. I took out a book, sipped coffee and melted into the wonderful atmosphere. 

I mostly ride the streets, although I've taken my carbon Trek 5.0 on the trails as a short cut. It works, but it's a crazy way to go. The goal this winter for me is to get an Ibis Tranny - a carbon hard-tail , quasi folder - to hit the trails and do some more wild rides like the old BMX days when 360s in the air at 25 miles per hour were my daily fix: adrenaline rush. Sometimes just visualizing those jumps makes the natural drug pump through my veins and I'd like to go a little bit more wild and the urban streets of Phoenix with a POV - point of view - camera. It's going to happen, so come back for some wild rides.