temp was just under 70 degrees last night. QAuiet night, slept till 7:30.
Drove over to OTE for whatever. Moved on to Kokopelli trails out between I-70 and the CO River west of town. Pulled into almost empty parking lot because it is mid week and summer heat. While preparing myself w/ a safety meeting a VW Vanagon Westie parks alongside, the driver gets out, & raps on the closed door. Gene is his name, a local but also a road traveler, intros himself.He read the Bike Mag article and wondered if he would ever run into me. I inspired him so much. We got to ride a bit together. He is a better stronger rider but he wasn’t much further ahead, or, more likely, he was being sociable. I followed him on some lines to ride faster and jump further than my speed. He rode a chunk of the Horse Thief drop in. We rode the loop and climbed back out. At the top there were 2 small rock ledge step ups then the cattle guard made of like railroad rails. I made the 2 steps which robbed me of the speed I needed when I stuck my front wheel on the cattle guard. No speed stuffed my front wheel and stalled me. The handlebar twisted to the left and I fell to the right landing full force on my right hip on the first rail. Ow! Going to be a big bone bruise. Some pain was felt as I continued to pedal further into my ride. Gene left me and I continued on my own w/ visions of a longer loop. I bailed on Troy built and exited down Lions and suffered the long gravel road back to van. I rode more stuff than previously and did better on all, thanks to PUSH and finessing my bike fit.
Hot w/ no shade or clouds.
Back in Fruita I did my wash. I visited Hot Tomato and said Hi to Jen, Ken. I rode w/ Ken in Maine and ran into him @ Rothrock SP. He read I was in CO and turned me onto Hot Tomato. I had a beer and 2 large slices of pizza.
Forecasts have been for possible heavy rains w/ flash floods. Lyons showed past heavy runoff. Plan on driving out to Book Cliffs north of town to camp and ride gentler trails tomorrow. Or, if still too sore just drag my brakes b4 heading on. Have maybe another ride, a new one, Turkey Flats in the Monument NP.
My lower right ribs still hurt f rom fall back on Big Schloss trail 8 weeks ago, painful to sleep on my belly. Hip adds another painful bed contact.
Ken sure does get around! Just saw him at the Wilderness 101 in Central PA. He’s got his priorities right. Enjoy Book Cliffs, some fun stuff back there.