Butterknife and the Ribbon

Yesterday I drove down from Little Park to Mac Daddy for van service. Request was for parking brake service and check over the van for state of health. Parking brake needs a new cable that will take longer delivery time than I will stay here. Exam discovered the radiator has a small leak between the expansion chamber and the radiator. Just a matter of time before the crack blows up. I decided to let them replace the radiator. It was delivered mid morning. The front end of the van was disassembled to get at the radiator. I spent the day at the shop. This shop has Sprinter knowledge. Payden serviced the air conditioning which now works.

I drove back up to Little Park for the night setting myself for today’s ride.

The ride today started w/ a 1.2 mile climb on pavement to the dirt. Twist and shout leads to Butter knife which was built by motorcyclists to sustainable standards. It’s tight and twisty and rocky. Last weekend the bike race used the trail. It’s a tough tech trail that I poked along on and walked stuff. I just can’t imagine racers racing this trail. I looked forward to this trail riding my better bike and with improved skills. I lack confidence to ride what the bike can do and I have the ability to ride. It’s almost as if the better the bike I have the more I walk. 8.17 miles dropping 1582′ that will be climbed back up. The 4X4 road climb was a crusher climbing 966′ in 3.89 miles back to the pavement.

I chose the parking spot as it is just a short pedal up the pavement from the end of the Ribbon. At the pavement I decided to give the Ribbon a go which meant a big road climb to the top. 2.52 miles climbing 797′ took 27 mins. I stayed with it. Finally the TH at top. Then the descent. The first part of the Ribbon is a big slab of slick rock w/ no trail markers.

Ribbon
Ribbon

Don’t touch your brake rotors which heat up from keeping speed under control.

I wandered down until I came to a drop off. I switched my phone to MTBProject that had the ride on line. I used the data to find the correct exit, and it solved several other route confusion. There is a definite tire wear line on the big slab that can be seen from where I camped. Lower down the trail became a definitive track. There is a nasty steep slick rock problem that required me to lower my bike below me and used it as a climbing aid. NASTY. I could have used another rider to help lowering and down climbing. Sort of scary. Further down another nasty down climb. All the while I could see what I would climb to get out of the canyon.

in canyon at bottom of ribbon
in canyon at bottom of ribbon

Climbed out to pavement and a short tiring pedal back to the van. 2 hrs 59 mins covering 19.47 miles climbing 3212′.

I drank a beer and ate a sandwich then drove back to Fruita for a shower and dinner at Hot Tomato. I washed my bike at the other bike shop in town that allows anybody to use contrary to OTE. I drove back to camp spot above Rabbit valley at last west exit in CO.

Tomorrow I plan on riding Kokopelli trails w/ little wind then drive back to town to do my weekly laundry.

Friday my bracelet is to be repaired for pick up and check on and hopefully pick up my INR testing supplies at the post office.

Very pleasant night camped here. Sun has set, whisp of a breeze, window down and door opened. Listening to Mariners crush the As.

Friend Steve said that MBA mag printed my letter to the editor. New issue hasn’t hit the grocery store racks.

One comment on “Butterknife and the Ribbon

  1. Great title to the post, sounds like a bizarre spy novel title. Letter to editor? Did you post it here or are you waiting for the mag to hit shelves first. I’d like to be able to read your letter.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *