Catch up from Wed:
Tues eve Jamie & I planned a ride for 4:30 Wed eve.
Wed AM I accepted the fact that I needed to do my taxes and I could not find a constructive reason not to do them this AM. I went on line, filled in all the blanks w/ good sounding numbers. Stress level pits wet satisfying the data requirements and bad news fear that I would owe $. The program crunched the numbers and returned refund numbers that were good enough for me to convert a wish into purchase of a Chris king front wheel. Pits dried out. Found that Trailhead right near by was the only store with a web presence for custom built mtn bike wheels. Met Tommy the owner of the shop and certified wheel builder. We struck a deal and he committed to putting the new wheel on my bike before I leave. Cool: Big time Chris King component bike: headset, rear wheel, bottom bracket, and front wheel. Refund goes to general pool of $ but i figured how many miles of travel it will but and I am in the 9000 mile range.
Tommy told me about the shop’s Wed night ride and post ride rider meeting at the shop.
Drove back to Jamie’s house for our ride. She called me and cancelled because a work project became important. Bummer. But, the shop ride was on. Back to shop to learn ride details. Tommy had left. Learned to meet up in park @ bike TH @ 5:30. Drove up, only one in parking lot @ 5:30. Then Freddy and later, Chad arrived, riders Gracie told me about and hoped that I would meet. Trails close 30 mins b4 sundown & park closes @ sundown. We had about 60 mins of riding b4 we were illegal. We dropped in and they put energy to the pedals and I did what i could. I rode behind Chad on a hard tail single speed 29″ for some feet. His bike makes for different pedaling & line choices that I got sucked into so I dropped back and that’s my story just because I couldn’t stay on their wheels. Hard fast ride. Gracie is a strong rider, these guys got after it. And they were chatting w/ each other. Chad tried a huck move just b4 the TH and went down hard. It was almost dark when we pulled in.
Drove back down hill and later drove by shop and saw cars in parking lot but lights were off but I saw someone inside leading me to believe that there was a rider’s meeting going on. I drove around the block, parked and knocked on a door like a speak easy and said Tommy sent me and I was let in. There were a few rguys hanging doing what guys do. Beer & bikes. Party. The store has a tiny bike w/ like 8″ wheels that we all were riding. My leg muscles wouldn’t allow a pedal stroke. Big guys on this little thing. 1 rider held onto his beer bottle while he rode laps around the store. By the 2nd lap beer was foaming out of neck. One guy pulled the move of the night by hucking a 2 step drop down. He crashed 2x to the howl of the crowd.
Late night. Got a shower @ the shop. Drove to Jamies after 11:00 ands saw her @ her computer still working. I woke up @ 12:30 and looked out my window and she was still at it. Not me. I was under the covers.
Monday & Tuesday’s rides were hot & humid. Wed AM the temp dropped into lower 40s. I wore tights, long finger gloves, & wool jersey for ride. In upper 30s when i woke Thurs so i turned on heat for comfort. Big temp fluctuation.
Raining of sorts Thurs AM. Have day ahead of me w/ nothing on my dance card.
Tommy built my wheel. I hung @ Trailhead. It rained which makes the rocks slippery so no ride on new wheel.
Stopped @ the Nook for a choice of non white bread beers. Not a happenening place but did have some good beers.
Forecast is for rain for days out. Might have to find how slippery rocks get.