Rant: When I ride I am aware of a rider faster than me either going up or down and pull over to allow them to pass. Yesterday while climbing 2 Dog a woman rider was riding uphill faster than me. I pulled over @ the top of the hill before she got to me. I allowed her maybe 30 seconds before I started down. If she was as fast downhill as she was uphill I would not have caught up to her. I caught her right @ first turn, a nice berm. My front brake howls which announces my presence, she had to have heard me. I rode her wheel not saying anything. Two more bermed turns later she says she is a slow downhiller and she continued holding me up. She never yielded. Same thing happened last week during the Stoker rides, each time women. Where is their courtesy to allow a rider faster than them to go by? I could have stuffed her on a berm and passed which would have been a race tactic but there was no “competition”.
Enough.
2 nights ago the skies cleared after the gully washer giving way to a cloudless morning. The sun beat down on the ground converting the fallen rain into humidity. But today early was the ride to be. I saw just a few bike tracks ahead of me, they splashed thru the mud puddles. Saw only 1 other person. Trails were firm, not Hood River tacky, eliminating dust and firming up the tread. My fork has 2 3/4″ travel, not the 5″. I bottomed out several times, bummer. 13.51 miles in 1 hr 56 mins climbing 3060′ riding in the upper 5,000′ elevation. Burned only 767 cals. I drank a beer afterwards consuming almost the same calories I burned. Doesn’t seem right.
Back @ van the solar shower heated the h20 to comfortable temp. I stood outside in full sun and slight breeze. The h20 almost evaporated as fast as I wetted my body. Great to wash off salt and mud splatters.
I dallied at sleep spot then drove into town to library which is air conditioned to do computer tasks. Presently I am sending pics on the hard drive to a CD. Amazing how many minutes needed to transfer pics. I have hours ahead of me.
I walked to Powerhouse for a beer then back to grocery store for dinner groceries then drove out to Democrat gulch. Hot night. About 4:00 I awoke chilly and checked the temp: 42 degrees. I shut the door and rolled up the window and pulled the blanket over me.
Today is Chip’s Thurs shop ride. I did my wash first then drove to his shop to learn of ride plan. Out Deer Creek. Not a big ride. I decided to join them for the camaraderie.
92 degrees in Hailey.
today is the 5 year anniversary of Mountain Biking the States.
The frig temp is warming. I made an appointment for Mon to clean the jet. I also have a follow up DR appointment as the “rattle” is still present. Mon I UPS my fork to PUSH.
Going to spend the night up Deer Creek out of internet coverage. In the trees. Shade. Cooler.
Five years of doing your thing? Awesome! You are using the Force.
The view must has been good if you did not yell at her to yield on her left.