Leisurely get up this AM as my schedule is a 6:00PM shop ride w/ Red Canyon cycles. Used GPS to navigate to store. Put 0.50 in parking meter for 60 mins. Entered store & met shop owner Doug. Our conversation length exceeded meter $. I bid adieu till evening ride.
Back in maybe 2000 I had the misfortune of seeking VW aid for my camper in Grand Junction. Nearby is DT- Swiss, whose rims & spokes are on my wheels, and Wiggys, makers of insulating items of whom I have a sleeping bag. At DT-Swiss Mike gave me a tour of the shop which only makes the spokes here, the rims, hubs, & forks are built in Switzerland which has the canache of superior quality over US and Asian labor. He read the Bike mag article. he wondered if someday when he was driving down I-70 he would see my van. Wow! he not only toured the van he shared time w/ me. Grace asked if I autographed anything and I said nothing was presented. She said I should have signed something even if it was on the restroom wall. I Asked her about Mandi at Trailhead in Huntsville. That’s another story.
Left there w/ stickies and 2 pairs of DT Swiss socks which will replace worn socks. Next stop was Wiggy’s 3 blocks down the way. Opened door almost into Wiggy’s face. Awkward conversation between us occurred. I just wasn’t on his wave length.
Drove around GJ seeking parking spot w/ shade, temp is in lower 90s. Found some @ a city park and worked internet.
Headed over to Lunch Loop trails across the river from GJ. Met Doug and other local riders. Joe is 69. Oh no! I am going to be riding w/ someone older than me and will I a stronger rider. Ego fear. He was stronger and a better rider, perhaps because he is on home turf. For years I have read about GJ trails described as technical. I envisioned pads & behind the seat riding which is not my level so i avoided riding here in spite of maybe 7 trips to Fruita / Moab. Well, the trails we rode were technical but I just walked several more difficult challenges. The trails are blue level technical, many ran right@ bluff edge, a miscue would result in gravitational pull over many feet. Pay attention to details @ speed my reflexes could comprehend made for a challenging successful ride. Jimmy, I am improving my rear wheel jump up, step ups, and roll overs. riding is like Fruita which it should because Fruita is 10 miles away. bentonite outcroppings covering sharp edge rock, some pieces of sandstone slick rock, others a harder sharp edged rock. Brutal short climbs. More challenging than Fruita. Black and double black diamond trails exist but we stayed away. Short ride under 60 mins.
Back @ parking lot Doug hosted a cooler of iced adult beverages. Tongues loosened and stories of medical recovery from our mistakes. Wild skies over Book Cliffs, no pics taken.
After dark and 2 beers on empty stomach I drove away seeking City Market for store made salad then Gold gym for a shower. Food score was easy. Golds is you can’t get there from here location. Several miscues later I parked out front. The attendant said they do not have a policy for selling showers so he said enjoy. 82 degrees outside but the sweat & dirt from the ride are gone.
Wandered around till I found likely looking parking lot for the night. Under 5,000′ feet and it is hot.
I will ride here again tomorrow as there is more to sample and repeating any will be enjoyed. I haven’t discovered much riding in UT on my route to justify leaving rides here on the table. Maybe Fruita on Thurs then.