2 Rides on new Spot

Yesterday B & B finished the bike build up.  Need front brake adapter for 180mm rotor. Use bigger brake on front for getting down stopped. Original front derailleur interferes w/ suspension. And I had the new one I bought that I didn’t think I was going to need.

I headed out from shop, rode a little pavement and then jumped on Sedona single track. The first tech feature was a small tree across the trail w/ rock ramp built up & over it. I sessioned this piece last ride thru on old Spot and finally made it. This time it was almost a point and shoot and rolled up & over and was in balance. Notice right away that i am not jarred off line I am taking. I do have a new fork, Rockshox Revelation, w/ 5.9″ of travel. A new front wheel using the maxle from the fork for a 20mm axle laced to a beefier rim. My shock has been PUSHed as it was put on the bike. Too many things to isolate to maybe say that the frame is what it is all about. The frame pulls it all together.

Just past this feature I encountered 2 40ish men stradling their bikes talking. I pull up horribly out of wind. When my wind came back i got windy and answered their questions about my odyssey and then they allowed me to ride w/ them. They were usually out of my sight as I pedaled along discerning the characters of this new bike. We rode a wet wash somewhere out on Rabbit ears. I rode way more and was in more control and balanced. Oh, I was also using my new Crank Bros Candys which use the same 4 springs as the Eggbeaters that I have retired and adds a small like pedal cage that gives  more surface for the foot to rest on. Harder to get into but stayed clipped in. Made a long afternoon out of it w/ the 2 locals. Back @ shop cheered everyone on w/ my joy of the new bike.

Too late for shower. Headed out S of town to Beaverhead w/ plan of riding nearly today and then get a shower b4 1:30. Made B & B for heated restroom & chatted. Gonzo joined me for his ride. I rode more stuff, notably an off camber dropping down piece of slick rock. Mistake would be a side slip into bedrock creek bottom. I finally allowed myself to roll down it and trust the friction of my tires and my counter weighting. I rolled it. And then i did another one. Wow. Confidence building in the bike. The route was over slick rock, some sand patches, and the always present wash. Heavy rains moved the rider located rocks around. I rode way more. Another big smile on my face. Yes,  I bought a successful bike. Rolled down the highest roll over yet. Gonzo rides an earlier Turner. I rode behind him and watched him move around like I imagined myself previously doing. I was straight ahead.

Drove down to Hilton b4 1:30. Darn, my guy doesn’t work today. No shower here. Drive to W Sedona to laudromat and clean clothes. Next shower loc is RV park out past Deer Pass where I have been staying. OK. 8 miles further. Clean for clean sheets tonight.

Last week’s rains damaged the road to 7 Springs where Rama was taking me tomorrow cancelling the ride.

Back @ Deer Pass rd, generator man is gone. By myself. Last night @ beaverhead the internet access was poor.

The Zags were pulled from free web TV I was watching. Couldn’t find a web site that I was comfortable downloading or had a fee attached. Darn.

Tomorrow is MBH shop ride. Get to show off new bike and ride a bit better.

Trails today were jsut perfect w/ right amount of wet in the sand. Still a lot of h2o around and running.