The human body is a remarkable piece of evolution. It keeps fulfilling our voluntary requests time and again over our life. Our genetics and life style choices affect how long and how well our body allows us to live. My body is manifesting expressions that I am coping w/ the help of the orthodox medical community. The cause of my headaches appear to be bigger than too tight shoes. Prescription meds affect me more than my self medication w/o a medical card. Keep riding, keep living. Drink good beer and enjoy companionship.
Time to blog has gotten away from me as you will notice. Again catch up.
Beautiful Arizona 4500′ elevation February weather for riding. Rode yesterday mid morning in 68 degree temps, sunny skies, and no wind. It’s hot! Last night I slept w/o the heater on, inside temp was 44 degrees but under my down blanket I was snug and comfortable, way more so than w/ heater on low upping the inside temp to low 60s. My old heater was used that lacked efficient heat output. But @ low setting I was comfy. The new heater of the same model is new efficient and over sized for my cubic volume. On low setting it is too hot. Oh well.
yesterday I rode Dry Creek area for pedaling fun. I know the route. I parked @ the library, rode Dry Creek road to lower lizard head to chuckwagon over to gunslinger to mescal, dropped down canyon of fools then found my way to anaconda climbing back to dry creek road, picked up lizard head then back to road to library. 15 miles in 1 hr 55 mins climbing 1652′.
Dave from Green Bay told me about the Strongback camp chair that has a lumbar frame that changes the sitting posture to the good from the regular fabric chairs. i bought one for $78. I enjoyed the sitting comfort yesterday as I sat in a park reading the new issue of BikeMag. The chair requires more space in my storage box but I managed to accommodate. Space determines what I keep. My tree sprayer I use to wash off my bike is still in the mix. Thanks for suggestion, Dave.
Question to you all: Tell me your experiences w/ the 2X10 drive train. Please. This issue of MBA has an article about the drive train. The gear changes are greater than 3X9 but according to the article this greater jump is better for torquing up steep loose stuff vs an easier spinning gear.
Today is another shop ride.
I have been giving thought to further travels, maybe getting antsy to leave the desert. Weather where I want to go hems me in. Too early and snow will still be up high, or tornadoes, or heavy spring rains. Too late means high temp and humidity somewhere else. I am planning on Ohio in July and will back schedule from there. So many places to ride but so few great riding windows.
I looked @ my insurance policy for coverage on my $5,000 Turner. I couldn’t find line coverage. I called the broker. My RV policy caps sporting equipment, which is what my bike is @ $1,000. More coverage is needed. Lesson is to assure that you have ample coverage. My bike is still safe but not as fully protected as i was lead to believe.
I’ve been using Shimano SLX 2×9 on my Trek Remedy for 3.5 years and find it’s all I need for a Mtn Bike. The SLX has an integrated bash guard instead of a big ring. Set up is 22-36. Where I ride we typically grind our way up steep hills in the granny gear to get to the steep descents. If you’re strong enough to “Torque” your way up the hills then big gears will work for you. I’m an old guy who needs all the help I can get to make it to the top of those hills. “Torquing” also works on rolling hills.
My wife an I will be in Sedona for a few days starting March 12. Our place is close to the B & B
Hi Craig – we met a couple of times at BnB this week and last. It was nice to meet you and have a chat. Thanks for the encouragement on stepping off the ol’ treadmill. I regret that we did not go out for a ride together! I’m back in Petaluma now. I sure had a great time riding in Sedona. I’m sure I’ll go back.
My new bike has XTR 2×10. I’m coming from many years of using XT/XTR 3×8. I like the 2×10. It’s simple, and the gears it has are useful. You give up a little on the extreme low end and high end compared to 3x, but I have not found this to be a problem. (My last bike was set up for me as a younger fitter rider, so my new setup with 26/36 teeth actually is a lower lowest gear, so I feel like I have plenty of climbing ability.) I’d say that if you can live with the low-gear limitation of 2×10, it’s a good way to go.
Dave