That’s what you thought. No medical card yet. Elevation as in 11,200 yesterday & today.
Yesterday After a quiet night in the Best western parking lot hard under east bound exit ramp of I-70 and subsequent exit traffic perpendicular to I-70.
Did wash @ 8:00 in only laundromat in Frisco. Ate a big pecan sticky bun that my body didn’t make peace w/ until almost the end of the climb later today. Laundro filled up while my stuff was in the dryer.
Drove out to Dredge TH on Swan river road for another go @ part of CO trail. I moved my saddle a bit further forward that transfers more weight onto my hands which keeps the front end out of the sky which had been a curse on step ups. Should be able to pedal better also. TH parking was plugged, I snagged the last spot. Headed out. Caught up w/ Bruce who was riding w/o a map. Texans! He’s younger and maybe a bit stronger. I give him directions. He stays w/ me. We turn onto ST CO trail. He’s ahead, but he stops to grab a breather tree. I pedal slowly by. I tell him I will wait @ ist intersection. I grind upward. I might be ready for a new saddle as the padding has been sat on for 2 plus years: sore butt parts. I pass other riders walking their bikes or resting. I’m not on fire but I am the one pedaling. I stalled @ the same spot where the previous rider passed me. Gasped awhile, just about 11,000. I make the intersection and waited a good while. I allow Bruce to lead on DH and I stay back a little content to fly on just coasting. Rain starts to fall as we start up the short climb over a ridge for the last downhill. I pull on my rain jacket and pack raincover. I pedal back onto trail almost into the path of a flying rider, I stayed ahead of him w/ Bruce leading. The 3 of us flew down last downhill. The guy behind stuck to my wheel but didn’t ask to go by. We stopped @ intersection & trailing rider complimented me as he pedaled away on a hard tail. He was pretty good.
Rain continued till parking lot. Put bike on rack & covered them & climbed inside van. How nice it is to be inside out of nasty, able to stand up, and change into dry clothing. Hung in parking lot for awhile. Parking lot emptied during rain. Skies cleared bringing several rigs for beautiful late afternoon ride.
Drove back to Frisco where I parked in an approved over night parking spot behind Wilderness sports. I walked to shop and asked the 2 young wrenches in the shop tricks for adding more Stans to my tires. Gleaned 2 small tips. I set up the bike stand from Price Point and set to. Easily added Stans. I pulled the brake pads and emery papered them. I raised my saddle about 1/16″.
treated myself to mexican dinner out. Parked back @ same parking spot. Walked main street down to brew pub for a pint of Porter. Lasted till just after 10:00. Walked back to van; crawled into bed by 10:30.
Woke this AM almost 8:00. Drove up to Breck & stopped @ Elevation to listen to ride ideas. Dan greeted me. Visited for awhile, He is a contributing editor to DirtRag his card says. Used to live back there. I asked about the Firecracker 50 course. He mapped it as he could. It is confusing. I settled on big climb up Beaver Creek to Wheeler Pass ridge trail. After putting my front wheel in the fork I gave it a good spin. Noise! possible dry bearings. removed wheel & spun again w/ same results. Ignore it for ride or seek service? Ride won out. Ride is up county road inside ski area. About an hour of pedaling I just about made the peak 9 day lodge @ 11,100″. I spun the wheel again, same results. I had about another 1200′ before start of sweet ST. Clouds were showing storm signs. I turned around & cautiously descended back to TH.
Hub maintenance took me back to Elevation. Dan didn’t know how. Called 2 bike shops seeking knowledge. What si known shops don’t work on high end parts. Drove to Silverthorne to meet w/ wrench who sounded like he knew King hubs. A waste. Learned of Rec center nearby for shower. Clean again. I researched King on line. Lubrication needs to be their special lube. I call several more shops seeking lube. Opinion comes back that good bearing grease should work. Back @ Wilderness w/ King instructions on line. The shop turns too. Wrench filled bearings w/ grease. When seals were reinstalled the wheel did not spin freely because of too much grease. He removed some which lessened the drag. Got to find the King special lube.
Parked @ approved overnight parking lot like an alley off Main st.
Tomorrow I have a ride scheduled w/ Dan from Elevation, our ride is what I attempted. Tops out above 12,000′
Rebecca from Green Bay is in town this week. Her time is tied up w/ bike shop business. Might catch a social meeting.
Maybe Wed move onto Granby / Winter Park / Fraser, CO.