Arriving at the Tatum Blvd. trailhead at 8 AM I gladly pulled into one of the four available parking spots and started off on the trail heading west.  Weaving along the shady singletrack quail and a few rabbits darted across the trail.  Reaching the end of the surrounding residential neighborhood the trail continued to climb with extended rocky sections.  Reaching a small summit the terrain opened up and widened a bit.  Picking up some speed I crossed several deep washes and passed a handful of additional trails to each side.  There were several hikers and dog walkers out enjoying the cool morning and I only saw one other rider.

Staying on Trail 100 I descended a loose rocky section and eventually hit some nice downhill.  I stopped for a short break after reaching the Dreamy Draw paved bike path.  From here I just retraced my route back east to the trailhead.  All of the climbing was manageable in either direction and again the 29er really felt nice on the rocky sections.  The combination of full suspension and larger diameter wheels (and therefore slightly more tire contact) was impressive.  I just rode right over medium sized rocks that I most likely would have maneuvered around on my traditional 26-inch rig.  Cruising down the final stretch of trail I was back at the parking area having ridden for two hours on the dot.

I really enjoyed both sections of Trail 100.  While it did have some wide and flat sections, there are certainly enough technical portions to keep things interesting.  It’s nice to get out and ride for several hours and not feel completely beat up.  And it was definitely great to escape the rainy Pacific Northwest and roll through the beautiful desert terrain while soaking up the sunshine.

Check out some photos of my two rides on Trail 100: Trail 100