The connective tissue in my right SI joint is painful from a) not stretching, and b) overuse. Today was to be a session w/ Dan teaching him what i remember from Better Ride then rest. Last night Steve and Morgan contacted me asking to join them on the Rim ride. I scheduled Dan @ 11: and during Steve’s call I learned they would be ready to ride @ 1:00. Dan and I were out near the interstate all the way out of Hurricane Valley. A slight rain fell that we practiced thru. The Rim ride might be wet.
Dan and I rode around a for sale mfg business bldg. The Better Ride clinic taught me skills that are more efficient and under control. Like all riders in their clinics we need to let go of how we used to ride and then internalize the new methods. I done it this way since I started, you want me to forget it and do it how? Riders can get down on themselves for slow progress of learning new stuff. Take (2) 60+ yo men and listen to the negative talk. Patience and practice will instill the skills. Dan struggled then pulled thru w/ some ah ha moments. To me it is all about vision: look where you want to go, sometimes beyond and you and the bike will follow your focus. Dan is getting it. His handlebar is 24.5″, way narrow.
I leave Dan and scoot thru town to meet Steve and Morgan. I drove thru numerous rain showers w/ h2o standing on the road. Shit, it’s wet and portending more rain. I meet S & M where they are hunkered inside their Subaru IMBA trail care crew vehicle out of the rain. I invite them over to my warm house to discuss the ride. Quentin cautioned us about the JEM if it got too wet. I outlined several options if we needed to bail. They said we came here to ride, rain be wet, we’re in. Raincoats on we pedaled up the H hill then onto ST on Goulds in slight rain. Once on the ST the trail we relished the rain as it wetted the clay just enough to wet the dust but not wet enough to stick to our tires. Steve flat out flew down the JEM on his 29er. I made the switchbacks where Steve did his only hike a bike as he aced everything else first time thru. We enjoyed some cloud thinning and no rain as we tackled the last 7 miles back to the TH. The 7 miles are the most technical and body punching of the whole ride. We finished just after 5 in the fading of the sun in the rain clouds. We stood around in the wet chill drinking a cold beer and savoring the ride. We talked about life and living on the road and riding many places throughout the US. They are nice people & I enjoy their company. Both parties have been guilty of stalking the other.
Late evening. Stopped @ OTE. Drove down to Washington rec center for needed shower. I bought some Harmon’s store prepared food for cold dinner then drove to a parking lot right front bumper away from the river bike trail for city camping night. I stayed here back in ’09. 8:00 AM eye dr appointment that will be a short distance from where I am parked. Raining desert serious.