SO you want tough?

Newest hardest riding: Michaux State Forest west of Gettysburg.

Yesterday AM I left the XG seeking Big Flat TH to start the ride that I loaded into my GPS. I struggled to interpret the small scale map. I drove a single lane logging road then learned that a paved road paralleled it. I found the TH after asking a passer by. I parked in the ATV parking lot where I was dusted by a pit racer. I called up the ride on my Garmin and tried to find where the route left another parking lot. I ended up riding the course backwards. No big deal as the track still worked. Some of the trails were “rake and ride”, like following a drunk staggering home from a bender. How he got over the rocks is a mystery. Flat out technically hard riding. No big step ups just lots of rock gardens that I used the second leg of my Life Style Rider and walked want I needed to.

New definition of rocks. 22.34 miles in 3 hrs 54 mins. climbed 2754′. Mileage and time tell the tale. Twisty. Did I tell you about the rocks? Hot. I kept the gps on the map page and only learned of the ride data once I got back to my van. I rode pretty much non stop. Like it, going back for some more. I encountered one group 0f 3 riders entire ride. Sunday.

My Reverb is dropping the seat uncommanded. I need it fixed.

I drove over to the non ATV parking lot for the night. 3 obnoxious ATVers enjoyed their recreation spinning in the gravel. Conflict of my fist hitting your nose. We talk of self policing and peer pressure. These guys were the type that I did not want to explain my desire to be quiet and play somewhere else.

Hung the solar shower full sun exposure which made for a hot shower.

Slept well although dehydrated. 66 degrees @ 6:30 AM.

Today I drove down to Gettysburg to bike shop to seek seat dropper fix. Wrench called Rockshox to learn cause is air in the line needing bleeding. Bike is in air conditioned shop and I am in hot parking lot. Bike will be ready sometime today. They don’t see many seat droppers, they don’t sell 26″ wheel bikes as the 29er is superb for the rocks.

I drove around Gettysburg trying to find groceries, diesel, and propane. Tough tourist traffic, day 2 of battle of Gettysburg. Another hot day.

Camping w/ no cell phone reception.

Beautiful countryside and old stone houses. The old brick buildings are located right on the road side. In the cities they are right on the sidewalk and then the curb and moving traffic. Didn’t see the motor vehicles in the future. I lived in Manheim, PA from 1972 to 78 which is much the same as Gettysburg.

later in the day:

Kent @ Gettysburg bike bled the Reverb that seems to be working. He comped the price.

I called the Michaux SF office for a camping permit @ the TH for tomorrow’s ride: 1/2 teaberry, 28 miles.Then drove to TH parking.

I pulled my bike off the mount to prep it for the ride. I happened to look @ the frame where I was zip tying the rear brake hose and noticed…. a crack thru the entire weld where the seat tube is welded to the suspension fitting. Cracked all the way around.

After the new bushings were installed I still heard a sqrueatch, a complimentary cup 0f Starbucks coffee says that the noise and flex was from the broken weld and not the bushings. I called Turner and spoke w/ Greg in warranty, real live Greg. I enjoyed Turner’s excellent customer service. Greg remembered me,I shared what I saw. He said where do I want the replacement frame sent. He looked on line at his dealer network and found a PA shop in Skipjack outside of Philly. He will UPS the frame to that shop, it will prolly arrive next Mon. Greg said that a revision was made to the frame to weld a gusset where mine  broke. The new frame has a slightly slacker head angle that will be more stable @ speeds.

Turner will be selling a 650b frame made in America this fall. Reviews on the 650b score it the best wheel size  beating the 26 and 29er. I would need way new stuff to equip that I am unwilling to spend $ on, plus I would wait until fall sometime. I rode 493 rides and 7278 miles plus on the frame. A new headset is needed that he is sending meaning that the last remaining original build parts are no more. Everything on this $6,000 bike is new since I started just about 4 years ago. The oldest part now is the Formula Oro front brake then the saddle from 2 years ago.  Almost 13,000 miles and about 825 rides.

No bike until a week. How to spend no bike time? I might spend time @ Gettysburg, I might outfit my backpacking outfit and hike some miles on the Appalachian trail nearby. I could go to Independence Hall in Philly for the 4th, a city adventure taking mass transit.

I missed damage or disaster from last Fri’s dericho ( wikapedia it, thanks Joe), not the same as millions of people who have no electric. Summer time and no refrigerator equals lost frozen and refrigerated foods. Hot houses that were accustomed to air conditioning. I am living large in the hot outdoors.

Shopped @ local grocery chain today., I checked the deli dept and saw pickled red beet eggs. What memories. I bought 2. I learned that ShoeFly pie is available. PA Dueitch treats remembered from times past.