Ride what I can. Yesterday I rode Scorpion which goes over many basalt babyheads on upper part. I walked over the usual ones then walked over some of ones I had ridden in the past. I am becoming more risk adverse and error on the it’s ok to walk. The babyheads are on the trail that has exposed rocks on either side. To loose balance on the tread might mean falling on the nasty outside the trail. Friend Doug with his bum shoulder kept him from leading me on this trail. He has left leaving me to be the chooser of my own challenges. I started from Sunset Park over to Old Post climbing up to Skywalker to its end at HS and start of Scorpion. Scorpion descends, I coasted past where I crashed 3 years ago. Pick up social trails over to Ramshead, another piece of social to Old Post climb out. Lots of breath and walk spots. Social over to Carroll cyn to Ridge to pavement. 8.89 miles climbing 1024′ moving time of 1 hr 28 mins. Average beats per min was 121, max was 141. Recovery time was 33 hours. This morning before coffee my heart rate was 47.

Alaska Doug and Rhama on ebikes descended past me. Doug called me by his given name of me  Talking Dude.

My breathing performance limits uphill progress, I run out of go and stop to find my breath. I am able to ride fewer climbs than what I used to ride. Disheartening not being able to do what I used to. This is a problem with riding familiar trails. Going to a new trail I have no past performance to compare. Aging takes a toll. I’m 75. I read info about heart rate and exercise to see that I ma exerting myself at the upper end of those values.

Revel Bikes abruptly went out of business. I googled Hub Cyclery in Bend, the shop that built my bike and my hang out with owner TJ. He closed doors at the end of March. May he remain on his feet.

Vegetation has been greening up for the still living plants.

Rock armoring. Pitches and pavers. There is a short climb on Llama that was rebuilt years ago that has a mix of the 2 surfaces which makes for traction for feet and wheels.

The pitches anchor the pavers. The rocks bordering the trail define the tread.

 

The Llama problem is an example of just pavers and using gargoyles to keep hikers on the trail. Pavers are slippery which causes hikers to walk off the armoring on dirt which defeats the armoring. The gargoyles defeat walking off of the pavers.

Another example:

 

 

 

Today is a rest day. I dropped my bike off at Absolute for fork maintenance service. The service intervals have been exceeded by many ride hours. Tomorrow, Thurs, is laundry day up in Sedona then a ride.

 

 

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The FS has embarked on creating a 30 mile trail network out at Turkey Creek area. Last week I hiked out there on existing trail then bush bashed up to a freshly built trail that I knew nothing of. SO I hiked it heading back to bottom of Transcept trail. But I did not know its end until I arrived at it. Hand built. I returned same trail. A FS person rode up to me. I asked about the trail and supported build. I spoke of pitches and pavers for rock armoring as I had watched 2 builders armoring a short ride with just smooth pavers. Pitches are narrow standing rocks interspersed with flat pavers which provide support for pavers and  acting as a traction cleat for hikers and bikers. Pavers are slick to both bike tires and hikers shoes. Over time hikers will hike off the edge of the pavers which defeats purpose of armoring.

He was doing buffing of trail. I offered and did pull pin flags on my return. Doug asked me when I was going to ride the new work. I did just that yesterday, I parked at start and rode the entire length of 3.1 miles climbing 230′ and descending 312′. Trail design is to be a fast blue rating to finish at to be developed Turkey Creek trailhead. Trail ended up on familiar trails. I added ocotillo forest loop which is monster push a bike up broken up sandstone, mostly fall line.

 

Years ago I learned to ride it the opposite to drag brake down the rubble and still have hike a bike pieces climbing to it. This way it’s just a push up then skillful negotiation of downhill. Many years ago I would ride from outlet mall out the road to start dirt ride then return on pavement. Why pedal when I can start right on the dirt?

I encountered the rock work right at start. Already a skid mark was on a paver. The pavers had be gargoyled to keep   hikers on slick pavers.

Friday rain fell most of daylight, wet snowflakes mixed in. Forecast didn’t call for as much fell. Sat morn while still in bed I heard the spit of rain drops on the roof. The rd out to camp spot is dirt with clay bogs intermixed. When that dirt is wetted it looses adhesion turning into slippery glop. I drove away while still dry. I hunkered down at outlet sheltered from rain.

Bill and Susan left on Sat after a ride down here and reported trails were drier than I suspected them to be.

On Sun I drove up to borrow pit spot off Dry Creek rd. The FS has been doing site preparation for parking? I rode a mix of system and social trails. I rode Aerie from N to S. From high point heading S the rocks have grown to work my bike’s suspension. Writing of bike suspension, I ride a Revel Rail, Days ago Revel said they were abruptly going out of business as they lost their $ backers, Debt. My bike is almost 4 years old. I like the suspension.  Nary another recreator. Many miles of trails spread people out.

So, I am waiting arrival of mail order pieces some to arrive next week. I will be free to roam the country again. I will start planning my mountain biking the states travel. Dolores, CO, Boggy Draw will be ist stop about a 5 hr drive.

Temps will be in 70s which can be warm when exposed to sun. Night time has been open side door until bed time, then quiet no blower noise or music. I have been firing the heater in morning before crawling out from under my covers. wearing full time summer weather shorts and shirts.

Vegetation is greening up on plants still alive. Catclaw has been leafing for a week. Desert is still dead dry. Cows have been turned loose to graze out where I sleep. Environmental destroyers.

 

So, I returned to using the data gathering device, affectionately (?) called Boss by Susan. This morning I checked the sleep data and saw my heart rate was in the 50s versus upper 40s signifying insufficient recovery from yesterday’s ride and prolly from the day before cumulative from days before. Friends Bill and Susan from Gunnison arrived on Sunday, they coming from snow country and younger. I shared my trail knowledge and I hiked my bike.

Yesterday was a ride out at western Gateway on a mix of system and social trails under sunny skies and a stiff breeze. Started high dropping down to Dry Creek then climbing out other side for the likes of Last Frontier etc then dropping back to creek then climb out. 12.6 miles climbing 1165′ pedaling for 2 hrs.

The day before it was the Hogs and 80 degrees. This ride was the most technical for this visit. I am familiar with the trails. Susan asked me if there were trails here that I would want to ride but not by myself. My ride choices have been ones of mostly pedaling with tech features mixed in, this ride was heavy on the tech. 14.6 mikes climbing 1280′ pedaling for 2 hrs 19 mins. Recovery time per Garmin was 38 hrs.

On Monday I was fitted with a new night guard device replacing the current 1 that is 11 years old. Afterwards we rode out from the borrow pit off Dry creek, this ride has been the shortest with them.

Sunday Ian drove Brian and me over to Prescott to meet up with Jimmy for a ride. Our starting point was the high point of the route. It was like eating desert before the broccoli on the climb back. I prefer the opposite direction. I was the slowest, the others waited at trail junctions for me. Open forest, decomposed granite tread. Jimmy’s route choice lessened the climbing back, less painful. 9.95 miles climbing 778′ pedaling for 1hr 25 mins.

The younger riders talk during the climbs, me, not so as I am way out of earshot and just struggling to make air intake drive my legs.

REVEL bikes has closed its doors just now. Lost their sugar daddy to service debt. They just introduced 2 models, 1 being an enduro ebike. Bill and Susan own Tomichi Cycles in Gunnison. Informative conversations from their shop owners’ take. Industry is shaking.

We have been camping off Beaverhead. We left camping stuff there with a note attached with hope that the stuff will still be there and the spot will be saved for us. So far dispersed camping etiquette  is respected.

Forecast 2 days ago wanted showers for today which came to be. I was laying in bed when I heard the first spits of rain on my roof. It turned to be a harbinger of the day so far. They drove away this morning for their ride while I drove into the village incase the rain wetted the clay dirt enough to make it slippery. Light rain is falling now, more than showers forecast.  I might be city camping tonight.

Temperature dropped to chilly, heater running and long sleeved shirt, still wearing shorts but a jacket. Bill and Susan’s van is for carrying their stuff and sleeping, they live outside. Rain and chilly will affect them. 40 degrees, forecast says maybe snow.

So much for catching up.