Wow. The joy of riding w/ locals to ride the goods.
Yesterday I rode w/Nan, Kyle, and Josh & Mary. We rode from town to Horse Gulch entrance up Telegraph Hill. I of course brought up the rear on the climbs. Kyle rode a Surly Pugsley w/ huge tires. Beautiful day for ride. South Rim above the city. I followed the boys into a corrugated underpass that started out level them broke off into a descent down the pipe! No stopping, just let it run. I enjoyed being w/ these folks as they are good friends enjoying each other’s company. Nan was a professional dancer who still has the dancer body and is a strong rider. We finished our ride making plans for another ride on Thurs.
I went to the rec center for a shower. I ran into the Craig who invited me to the 5:00 gathering @ Old Timers tavern downtown. Told him I would be joining him later.
At Old Timers Craig and several Bobs, Craigs and Johns mingled over beer and stories. John is retired from FL and rode some of the same stuff back east I did. Another John and his wife rode 35,000 miles around the world on their road bikes, he is also active in Devo which is a program to introduce young people to mtn biking. I lined up a ride w/ Craig for today.
Spent the night back up @ Junction creek XG snug as a bedbug in a warm bed.
Today I met Craig and we rode from town on more local trails that I would not have been able to find. First part was technical on rocks slithering around on south facing hillside in scrub oak and P -pine forest. Sun was warm. We dropped off the hillside and climbed up a north facing hill on ST sporadically covered w/ snow that had been hiked and ridden down creating a firm surface. I was apprehensive w/ tire traction. Steady as I pedaled. We rode up a wash canyon as out & back. Deep shade and cold. Towards the top we encountered water ice and turned around. Craig guided me well. I just do not remember the trails we rode which is another shortcoming of mine.
My SI joint problem is clearing up w/ the 9mm heel riser in my left shoe.
I called Stephen Barnes in Cortez about a ride. Chris Lesser gave me his name. In the Nov 2010 issue of Mountain Bike there was an article about Cortez. In it Stephen was credited w/ much of the later trail work @ Phil’s world. He said the snow is melting and is rideable. We won’t be able to share a ride. I plan on riding Phils as I head to Hurricane because it really is just so much fun.
Another night @ XG. A ride w/ same people plus other Mary, Travis Brown’s wife, tomorrow. I hope the fork part comes in tomorrow.