On 2 wheels that is.
Fruita has some chunky riding. Perhaps my hardest trail ever on Butter Knife. For scary exposure is out @ Kokopelis.
Friday started w/ a glass repair service performed on windshield. Guy sucked the air out, then glued it w/ an ultraviolet light curing adhesive(?) then cured w/ infrared. No spidering and per the tech it is legal.
I bought dinner on the way to my start @ Little Park TH anticipating sleeping in the parking lot like I did last year w/ Charlie and Ardell from Fernie (more later). Plan was to ride Butterknife then up to The Ribbon down and be w/in .25 road miles of van. First was 1.2 mile road climb up to 12 % grade to the dirt. Across the road were 2 cars w/ empty bike racks, I made one license plate to be from BC. I remember riding BK when it was brand new 3 years ago. Today it shows its popularity in overuse perhaps by lesser skilled riders. The trail snakes along edges of deep washes, skinny narrow w/ outside bar end out in space. Brake stutter ruts on down hills from rear brake drag. Occasional loose chunks of rock to figure out how to ride them. Step ups and roll downs. Still stuff that I won’t commit to. I am more confident and choose to challenge myself as I am willing to accept the consequences of failure. I ride what I can and walk what I need to.
Up ahead i heard women’s voices. I caught up to 3 well into the riding here, no spandex in this crowd: Full on all mountain bikes. And they are from Fernie, BC as was Ardell from last year. They did not know here. I enjoyed chatting. We pedaled off together until the slowest one was a concerned ways back so she stopped to wait. Darn.
I pedaled the 1000′ elevation gain from low point on BK ST onto rocky jeep road out to hard road. I was facing 5 miles gaining 1000′ to get to top of Ribbon. I talked myself into a beer reward by screaming back down the pavement I rode up on. Computer clocked me @ 35mph just coasting.
The Fitness program showed Golds Gym in GJ and Fruita community center as participating members: free showers. I am now in Golds database. Kyle did the work. He is a mountain biker riding a Transition bike.
Late afternoon as I headed back to Fruita. I was considering socializing @ the Tomato then drive out to camp @ RD 18. Fri early evening I believed that I would find an open camp site. I skipped the beer to find a camp site b4 dead dark. Stutter bumped gravel road kept my speed down to a crawl. I was passed by several rigs driving like 45 mph. The camp sites were all occupied, lots of bikers. I drove back down to the lower TH parking lot and found the best level spot for the night. Beautiful sunset over the desert mountains.
Sat I dallied waiting for the sun to drive the night chill away. Parking lot filling w/ riders. Great to see so many riders. Means an economic impact to local economy. My plan today was to ride Joes ridge and Zippity do, both on the front side. Prolly outside Slick Rock trail I encountered the most number of riders. Well mannered. I chatted w/ 2 young physical therapy students in SLC. One, Kyle, graduated from Gonzaga and rides a Transition bike. Second pair I have met w/in 24 hrs. I told this to the second Kyle. He said that the owner of Transition bikes is named Kyle. I didn’t meet him. Zippity still has a roll in turn dropping down a knife ridge. This year I checked it out first. The critical upper tread is broken up and loose. I didn’t want to commit leaving to walk what i need to.
I found a new piece of trail, Zip Off, that took me around to Western Zip to climb back to Front Edge trail over to Joe’s ridge which dropped down to Kesells back to van almost all down hill coasting while negotiating the tech challenges. Great seat dropper on great performing bike. I am just the engine that overcomes gravity getting both of us up. At the top the bike takes over.
I passed 2 riders, one of them hollers something about reading about me. We stopped and chatted. He is 60 and riding a single speed hard tail.
Back @ the TH a neighboring rider spoke up about reading about me in Marquette where he has ties.
Bluebird day, temp in upper 60s, no wind, comfortable riding weather completely exposed to the elements as you see.
I drove back down the same stutter bumped road being passed again. I ride this area 1 round trip only. I rode my ride here and I was moving on. I found the Community center and passed muster to be issued a mag card for access. Great, another shower after a ride. I chose not to install a shower. During the summer I use the solar shower. My chill tolerance is pretty low so I eschew a shower when temp is below 70. Getting a shower is part of my adventure. Meet new people.
Next was The Hot Tomato. Jen was passed her elbows in dough making I shouted greetings as did she. I drank a pint of 1554. Anne arrived and we chatted. Ah, familiar faces.
I walked across the street to Over the Edge shop. I found Drew working there, we chatted between customers. He is happy to finally work here. While there one of the Fernie ladies pushed her bike in. We chatted. Later I visited Suds which is a brew pub across the street. She and the remaining other 3 ladies were there. More chatting until they begged off for crammed vaca schedule chores.
I slept in town.
Fall back last night. 27 degrees. Today I plan on riding Kokopellis then stay out above Rabbit Valley where I have stayed many nights. I arrived @ the TH early enough to score the levelest spot in the parking lot. Other rigs poured in after me. Place was getting packed. Again, so great to see so many riders. Blue bird day.
My plan was a longer ride including the killer climb up to Macks ridge. Mary’s has some still walkable pieces for me. Today I rode the drop in a step up out of wash right above a pour over. I had the needed confidence. Challenging riding. I mostly met approaching riders. Serious exposure.
I saw a sign on a new piece of trail pointing to Macks ridge. Hmm, never ridden, definitely a short cut, would gain the same elevation as killer climb but shorter, maybe. I chose it. It headed up, I hike a bike about half of it. It topped out on the ridge. Trail builders some times locate the trail right @ edge of abyss. No room for listening to music w/ ear buds. I misjudged a turn because I was planning for the immediate next one squashing my right foot against the rock. I was in a pickle getting myself free.
I rode Marys back. Approaching group of riders included Drew were riding last century bikes. A rider was on an AMP B4 like I rode to death. I asked him his opinion, he said it sucked. It was so leading edge back in mid 90s. How designs and products have so improved.
I sat in the sun @ the TH for awhile soaking up the sun. i decided to forgo a shower to drive further west to camp spot above Rabbit Valley. I got the spot I wanted having stayed here most nights. I set out my chair and read. A rig drove into the camping area but was partially blocked by junipers. His head lights were on bright and shone right at me. Full daylight but high beams still hurt eyes. After awhile i walked over to check on what’s up. I was concerned the driver might have left the lights on. He wasn’t more than a rope length behind me. Then I saw trhe light bar on top and there was a second rig: armed law enforcement officers. Too late to turn around. I walked up to the meaner looking of the 2 and told him of my concern and that i was glad the driver still intended to have the lights on. I started a mtn biking conversation. The other officer was a rider, he told me of some trails that he likes which are more gravel road rides. I was getting chilly in the gloaming of the day so i bid adieu. One officer drove right behind me as he left.
Weather forecast is more of same, just excellent conditions to be outdoors. I will take a rest day tomorrow.