Need to ride today come snow or sunshine. Woke hungry & no XM reception. Been doing core exercises on my bed. Sunshine broke over the ridge that soon clouded over. Forecast was for 20% showers. I’m riding! Joe picked another day. I loaded Sunday’s ride back into my edge and followed the small screen to keep me on the previously ridden ride. Out here there are numerous side trails to add to confusion. I chose to let the gps tell me which intersection to take. This saved my bacon several times. I rode by myself and saw only 2 USFS guys enjoying their lunch.
As I was checking out my bike I spun the rear wheel which spun several revolutions then abruptly stopped. Pulled the wheel from the frame and checked the hub. It spun freely. Shit, I saw 2 of the 6 bolts holding the rotor on were backed out and the remaining 4 were loose. Shouldn’t be. Tightened them down and put the wheel back in the frame and gave it a spin. Fixed. I booked a spot in a Better Ride clinic in Bend for July. I have been receiving emails w/ riding tips from the school. Last night I learned that my brake levers were too far down, I set them up like my dirt bike of yore: angled down because when i stood up and used the levers my wrists were in a straight line. The tip sheet said to raise the levers till just about parallel and out to the bar ends. This puts the brake levers in better position to control downhill speed. Hook an index finger on the crook of the brake lever. Better stopping power.
Headed out by myself following the map on the gps. I worked controlling my breathing. I get out of breath so quickly perhaps because I over ride my breathing, if I would slow down on the climbs and let the spinning carry me to the top life would be better. I over ride. I blew up several times and stopped to litterally catch my breath. I rode the same ride as Sunday w/ Joe but todady I set my own pace. My overall time was 5 mins slower but overall 30 mins faster because on Sun we stopped more. Trick is to breathe in thru the nose for count of 4, hold breath for 4, exhale thru mouth for 4 then repeat.
Got back to van and caught a weak snow shower.
Today is a shower and pick up my new shoes. Absolute really went to bat for me and Specialized went along. I am now back in the smaller shoe size, brand new also. I am wondering how long i will get to this pair?
Tomorrow is MRI and more riding.
Joe told me of another place to camp just a bit further out of town past Schultz creek that requires less dirt road driving. Found it and found a spot. A bit lower elevation and not as far off the paved road but less beat up road driving.
Still using the heater after dark.