Years ago my family had a Siamese cat named Sumfun. Old age took him and my parents replaced him w/ another Siamese named Morefun. OK, so I am not dealing w/ a cat but I am having fun in Durango riding w/ interesting people.

Today Mary Monroe past VP of IMBA and present board member of Trails 200o in Durango hosted my ride. Joining us were Sean, another board member and Jay. Durango is somewhat surrounded by various public lands that have bike trails on them. Today’s ride was some of what Craig & I rode yesterday w/ a bunch more thrown in. We rode up on like the Test Track trails. Very well designed and executed. Mary said that for helpers they get college students who have to do community service for like DUI. Trails go thru scrub oak thickets. Little climbs done well w/ climbing switchbacks just about the blow up time a reprieve occurs. Some of the trails we rode are on north facing slopes and have packed snow on them. Several of the climbing switch backs spun out. We rode back down some of it and I carefully trusted my tire adhesion to the snow. No falls or unplanned get offs. Some of the soil is shale that breaks in very small pieces generating little traction. Never would have figured these trails on my own.

Mary from Travis gave me a jug of  FRS an energy drink concentrate fueled by Quercetin a powerful antioxidant. Stuff is found in like blueberries. Hey, if it works for Travis Brown, I’m all in.

Another beautiful day, warmed up comfortably. A shower @ rec center. This time the young girl attendant gave me the senior discount w/o asking.

Fork parts didn’t arrive today. Sure hope tomorrow. Snow is forecast this weekend, I sure would like to be on the road Sat for Hurkin (Hurricane, UT).

Another night up @ Junction creek XG, still free. It is warmer there than down in town early in the AM.

Joys of medical marijuana and dispensaries. I can’t qualify for a card because I am not a CO resident but I have health issues that would grant me a card.

I ran the numbers 3 days ago and I have 3000 miles and 193 rides on my Turner DW Spot.

One thing about riding w/ locals is they ride the trails so often they are familiar with them and the views from them. I bring up the rear arriving @ a rest spot after they have rested and push off almost when I arrive, such that I don’t take pictures. Friends in Spokane call it the 29 30 rule where they wait 30 seconds for slower riders but what they do is count 29, 30 and push off regardless of how much time spent waiting. The slower riders never get a rest. I won’t swap the benefits of a guide for pictures.

Sundown is 5:01 after the heat of the day has started leaving. Off to campground out of cell phone access.

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.

yesterday AM by light’s early dawn I saw wet streaks on the outside of my windshield. Forecast called for partly sunny skies, no precip prob. It was snow! Got dressed and opened the door to falling snow. I covered the bikes & fixed bfast & cleaned up. I am driving to Durango to Mountain Bike Specialists to have my Rockshox Revelation fork fixed. I might have a snow covered road to drive that I do not like.

Snow kept falling as I drove into Cortez. I stopped @ visitor center again for facilities and road condition update. Outdated info said roadway was clear. RT 160 is a major hwy and should be well attended i reasoned. Not so. I saw numerous skid offs and no evidence of plowing or sand trucks having treated the highway. Snow fell most of the way to Durango that the vehicle traffic packed down to compact snow. Slow driving, not full on white knuckle. I have almost new M & S tires that I trusted to maintain my purchase on the slippery. I used mo as my friend and kept traction staedy acceleration going uphill. I came upon a driver that was literally creeping going up the grade and I needed the mo to make it myself so I passed. Wow.

Several miles West of Durango the hwy department caught up w/ conditions and the snow stopped falling and the sun came out warming the black pavement melting the snow. Durango didn’t receive any snow.

Found bike shop. Service mgr called Rockshox to order replacement bushings. RS said that was unusual wear or problem so they are warrantying the replacement parts. I will be in Durango until parts arrive till maybe Friday. I will learn local rides while here.

Mike works @ bike shop is a certified bike fitter. We got to chatting and I told him about my leg length difference and asked how that would affect my riding. We negotiated a $30 fee for a fit evaluation. He put my bike w/ a road wheel on a resistance trainer that is hooked up to a computer that reads pedaling effort. Both legs have almost equal power. He determined that I could lower my seat a scosh as move my seat forward just a little. Both of these adjustments improved my efficiency by a small amount. I now know optimum settings.

Called Over the Edge in Hurricane & spoke w/ DJ. Enjoyable to converse w/ people who remember me friendly.

Today I ride w/ Mary I met @ Phil’s world.

Started process for seeing a pulmonary dr in ST George. I really read the breathing test results taken back in Spokane. Conclusion: a “reduced diffusing capacity, minimal airway obstruction and overinflation are characteristic of emphysema.” Don’t bid the devil good day until I met him.

Last night I camped @ Junction creek xg where I stayed when i was here back in ’08. It is almost @ the Colorado terminus. I was surprised that it was opened as it is after season but it was and it was free. No cell phone reception. I watched Pulp Fiction again. Tarrantino masterpiece.

Today I drove into town looking for propane. I pulled into a parking lot to U-turn when a pick up pulled up beside me. A guy jumped out and introduced himself saying he read the Bikemag article and recognized me. He invited me to a local weekly socializing gathering tonight in town. Several of the gatherers are Turner riders. Cool. This visit is much different than when i was here during tourist season and b4 mag articles.

Sunny chilly clear day for a ride. Lower trails will be free of snow.

I have been receiving emails and blog comments from riders around the US. Thanks all for your comments and invites. One said thanks for sharing my adventures as it provides an escape during his day. As a comment: my writings are an attempt to capture what happened and experiences had and are not meant for an English paper. I grab a few minutes when I am internet coverage and 4 finger type quickly. No Gonzo journalism. Just spew. Spell check is rudimentary capturing some misspellings. No grammer check.

Off to get ready to ride.