Pemberton is a loop trail at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, and is used for a few races locally. In addition to the 15 mile Pemberton loop, McDowell is home to a competitive track that includes multiple loops and a technical section.

I went out there today with the intention of clearing the course in 1:30. I didn’t quite make it - came in at 1:36. The course, shown below, is just over 1,000ft of climbing over 15.36 miles. The Pivot handled it particularly well. Mike at lacemine29.com has repeatedly told me that my wheel/tire combo will be the best for desert riding (glad to see someone stand behind their work), and while Pemberton is really tame desert riding, I still think this set up is a keeper. The fat contact patch provides for significant traction, and while it wasn’t quite as soft as it has been in the past, Pemberton does have some decent sandy sections that the Gordos float right through.

I kept the ProPedal turned off the whole time - the only time I felt any real bob was when I was climbing out of the saddle. Outside of that it was a pretty smooth ride and I felt like power transfer was at or near 100%. The suspension and 29″ wheels make it very easy to pedal over small rocks - quick switchbacks seem to be the challenge, and while part of that is due to wheel size, I think more is due to necessary improvements in skill.

Pemberton Loop