May 25th, 2013
Snug as a bug, warm and dry as temp is 47 and light rain is falling out here just past Phil’s TH, a place I found years ago and is my go to place. The FS opened the gate earlier this week, I learned of the opening on Fri ride. Three day weekend and the woods around these parts are populated w/ campers, all bikers. During today’s ride I missed an intersection of Storm King to cross the highway then down the river trail. I hit a road and thought I could ride it down to hwy then back uphill to Storm King. I saw a smokey campfire ahead of me. Camp appeared to be deserted. Shit, an unattended campfire. No, a woman jumped up and greeted me. She said have a drink. I said no, she asked again saying it was Bailey’s straight from the jug. I obliged her w/ a small sip. She said she is part of a group of bikers who are attempting to start a like Burning Man. She said last night they had a stripper. She hadn’t arrived yet.
That was one group. I saw several others that were unoccupied. Hopping holiday weekend in Bend.
So, I sat thru several movies @ the film festival. I bailed. The music grated on me.
Thurs I helped on a COTA trail maintenance project in the evening. A carpool out to Farewell TH then hike up a ways. I cut branches of this woody shrub w/ green leaves encroaching on the trail. I was pleased w/ my harming nature. Back to Web Cyclery for burgers and beer. Kevin provided vegie burgers. He put a slice of cheese over a cooking paddy where the cheese didn’t melt like on the beef burgers. I stayed out @ choice spot.
Fri my LEV seat dropper is to arrive @ Web. I rode from camp out past Phils. There is so much trail mileage here and the ability to make all kinds of loops. I put one together. 1 long climb up Ben’s to intersection of Phils and Storm King. That was the major climb while there are several short ups going back. Down Storm King the wandered back to van. I saw the road was ungated so I could drive to favorite spot @ Phils. The trails here are 85% pedaling on smooth narrow single track. Lot of turning on banked turns, even berms on the flat. Dusty. I ride by myself and I breath no dust.
I showered @ Snap which is between me and 10 barrels then over to Web to pick up and install my new dropper post. Kevin loaned me a required cable cutter. I dug out my tool box from the JOBOX on the back of van. Wind blew the instruction book askew hindering my knowledge to set up. Success! Test ride in the parking lot passed. Smooth. I learned that not like the Reverb that for the seat to drop I need to push the lever b4 sitting on the saddle to drop the seat. Learn new skill set. The Reverb still works albeit slowing from need of replacement seals. This post has a speedy return speed. First ride Sat.
I bought dinner @ a downtown Mexican restaurant. Drank a beer @ 10 Barrels then hit camp. I ran the heater on low all night.
Sat was sunny and chilly again. Forecast called for precip. I wore knickers and a long underwear wool top. New dropper. Climbed up to start of Storm King. A woman rider stopped there hollered my name. She and her husband met @ Dave’s in Sedona. We chatted. Storm King drops many feet on climbable grade. Berm turns. I have been dropping the seat and beginning to carve the corners becoming comfortable w/ sandy trail tread. Trails are cupped which creates small berms. Then the opening paragraph happens. Ride thru that w/ a slight temporary nausea. Met Kevin & Annette heading my way. Another long chat. Rode 23 miles.
upper start of Storm King
Campers next to me, first time ever I had company. I chose to drive into town for a shower, a social beer, and groceries then drive back out. I accepted the risk someone else would choose my vacant site. John the bartender was right on w/ a beer to me. Groceries then back out. Scored my spot.
During dinner sprinkles fell and have continued sporadically. A tent camper moved in between the first group.
I checked 3 day weather history for Roseburg, closest city to NUT. No rain of forecasted rain had fallen. Oakridge has also been dry. Bend trails need rain.
Forecast is for wet tomorrow. Conditions will determine.
I am here until at least Thurs for my PT appointment. Then prolly back to Oakridge.
May 22nd, 2013
Today the PT evaluated my shoulder and determined that I am all out of whack. Muscle inbalance which causes incorrect function of my shoulder. First off was “cupping” which softens up the soft tissue surrounding the joint. Next step is an exercise program to strengthen the correct muscles. I am pleased that my shoulder can be rehabilitated. I have another appointment tomorrow AM. Draw back is I am not to ride after treatment because I would assume the bad body positions which would negate her effort.
It was 27 degrees and lightly snowing @ 7 AM when i peaked out from underneath the covers. Snow fell on Bachelor.
Tonight is Bend’s mtn bike film festival. Social evening.
I electronically filed my King County jury summons asking to be excused because I am traveling.
Yesterday I readjusted my saddle position. My LEV seat post should be here this Fri.
May 21st, 2013
Jesse and I agreed for a Thurs meet to ride the NUT when I left Jason’s house. I decided to go to Oakridge for the days b4 our NUT trip. I spent the night in a FS XG right on hwy 58. I was too tired to realize how close I was to free Oakridge.
On a sunny morn I drove into Oakridge to the Willamette Mercantile hoping to connect w/ people I know. I met Richard who speaks wild flowers in We Speak Oakridge language. We enjoyed each other’s company as either were eager to move on, he work and me a gargantuan climb up Alpine.
I drove back road to Westfir and Office Bridge, the longest covered bridge in OR and the start of the Alpine trail. I filled up the solar shower and hung it on the side of my van. I geared up then pedaled off. The first part was along the N Fork Middle Fork Willamette River. I encountered 3 GOATS working on the trail. They had a tracked like dump truck bed that they used to haul gravel to ameliorate several wet spots. Their effort has been more successful than my creating flow lines w/ a shovel b4 the 2011 race. Poison oak did not attract my attention.
The trail dumped out on FS road 1910 and the hurkin logging road climb to Windy Pass which is not quite @ top of Alpine, it was as far as I wanted to expend effort for. 7.85 miles climbing 2588′. Beat me up. I raised the tip of my saddle because I thought my pain was caused by it being too low. Wrong move as my sitting area was toasted and painful. The road gave way to single track for next 8.76 of wooded deep tree cover old hand built hiking trail dropping 3253′. Stupendous as always. Last summer a fire burned over some of the trail. Very steep hillside on narrow bench cut trail. Big trees. Lots of moisture. Man, spectacular. Come ride Oakridge.
Diamond Peak under snow
Alpine trail up high
At Red Bridge a young couple were preparing to shuttle him to top of Alpine. Toy truck. He asked me if I wanted a shuttle back up to ride it again. Shit, I was 3 sips into a beer and mentally satiated from my ride. I declined. I told him about 2 guys who might be on the road climb and they might want a ride. My solar shower delivered hardly tepid temperature. Wind was blowing, too cold to stand outside for a shower. I took my shower stuff to the restroom that has a large enclosed toilet area and a floor drain. I shut the door and hung the shower over a partition and took a wind protected chilly shower.
I dallied passing time till a 5:00 beer @ Brewers Union which is on Main street in old town. Craft beer, theirs is cask condition. Ben was involved on the patio. Catrina entered. What a spark plug woman. She was involved in creating I Speak Oakridge. Warm hug. I sat outside sipping my beer. A rider pedaled up that turned out to be Derick whom I was looking forward to spending time w/. Warm greeting. He is a co owner of the Cream Puff. He filled me in on what is happening w/ trail access. Oakridge is about to blow up. They are earning their IMBA ride center rating. Although the pump track is grassed over. Wonderful being back in town. I split just b4 dark to sleep out by the airport.
Forecast was calling for serious rain as far as the weekend. I checked bend’s forecast which called for slightly drier conditions. I drove back to Bend today after visiting w/ Eugene @ the Mercantile. Cool bunch of people.
My right shoulder is not happy. It hurts 24X7. Today I made a PT appointment for tomorrow.
My ordered seat post didn’t happen. I asked Web Cyclery if I could ship a post I bought on line to them. They said Yes. I have a LEV coming arriving Fri. My Reverb needs new parts. The LEV is a better post that in the long run I save $.
Stopped for a pint of beer @ 10 Barrels. Mike, the manager remembered me. The bar tender poured me a beer, cutting in line. Everybody knows your name. So great for connections which take time to develop. Visiting new spots just aren’t the same but they are what living on the road are about. I received a jusy summonds for King County that I need to turn down.
Morgan of the former IMBA TCC published their ride story of the Maah Daah Hey trail. Great pics, I lacked the time to read the article and cash to buy the mag.
I drove out to my new sleep spot in time to see slow flurries falling in the sunlight. Forecast calls for 50% of .5 of snow.
